Folded Map Walker · 13 stories

Afternoons Out, Seoul

Writes about places in Seoul worth spending an afternoon on, told from one visit. · Writes about: Things to do · Restaurants · Bars · Hair & beauty salons

PlaceMapo, SeoulRestaurants

Hapjeong sushi restaurant: draft beer & conch nigiri at Sushi Sakaba

Sushi Sakaba Hapjeong is a sushi restaurant on the 2nd floor at 38 Dongmak-ro 3-gil in Mapo, Seoul, about a 5-minute walk from Exit 3 of Hapjeong Station. The writer ordered the 12-piece Hap sushi set (₩24,000) and the 13-piece Jeong sushi set with conch nigiri (₩28,000) with two Asahi draft beers. The writer was surprised that mini udon, steamed egg, a rich broth and salad came with the sets. Verdict: Sushi Sakaba Hapjeong is a good place to drink and eat your fill, with fresh sushi and generous sides.

Written Oct 23, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulRestaurants

Terrace Korean BBQ in Hongdae: dwitgogi in anchovy sauce, Chopilsal

Chopilsal Pork Grill Hongdae Branch is a pork BBQ restaurant in Mapo, Seoul, about a 4-minute walk from Exit 1 of Hongik Univ. Station, with terrace seating out front for grilling meat in a casual open-air street atmosphere. Two people ordered 2 servings of salted pork belly (₩24,000) and 1 serving of dwitgogi (pork trimmings from behind the head and shoulder), plus half a bunch of water dropwort (₩7,000), country-pork kimchi stew (₩9,000) and a ₩2,000 radish salad rice bowl; the first-ever taste of dwitgogi dipped in salted anchovy sauce warmed on the grill was the highlight. For meat and a drink while people-watching in Hongdae on a cool day, the terrace at Chopilsal Pork Grill Hongdae Branch is a great fit.

Written Oct 21, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJongno, SeoulRestaurants

Gwanghwamun Korean restaurant: pre-wedding lunch of mild tripe hot pot

Modam Dining Gwanghwamun is a Korean course restaurant on basement level 1 of Deoksugung The Palace in Gwanghwamun, Jongno, Seoul, with gallery-like interiors and private rooms. On a weekday lunch with a friend getting married that weekend, the writer had the 1++ Korean beef tripe hot pot set (39,000 won per person), with a generous starter course running from seasonal porridge to plum tea and a tripe hot pot much milder than its red broth suggests. Modam Dining Gwanghwamun suits a slightly special office lunch or a more formal get-together.

Written Oct 22, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJung-gu, SeoulRestaurants

Euljiro date restaurant under a fabric ceiling: truffle risotto at Pyu

Pyu Euljiro is a pasta and risotto restaurant near Exit 9 of Euljiro 3-ga Station in Jung-gu, Seoul, known for its wood-tone interior and fabric draped across the ceiling. The writer tried ragu pasta (₩25,000), a truffle mushroom risotto piled high with mushrooms (₩26,000), grilled yuzu chicken thigh (₩28,000) and a pink peach sherbet topped with fresh flowers. With its small-gallery feel and partitioned seats, Pyu Euljiro is an easy recommendation for a date or blind date in Euljiro.

Written Oct 18, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYeongdeungpo, SeoulBars

Dangsan Station outdoor-table izakaya for sake-steamed clams: Atashi

Snack Bar Atashi Dangsan Station Main Branch is a Japanese back-alley-style izakaya near Exit 12 of Dangsan Station in Yeongdeungpo, Seoul, with outdoor tables out front and indoor counter seats. The writer walked in for Asahi draft beer with flounder salt gimbap (₩35,000) and sake-steamed clams (₩19,000, plus ₩3,000 for pasta noodles), and the owner added raw shrimp sashimi on the house. Snack Bar Atashi is a great pick for a beer at an outdoor table on a nice day, or for pairing cold sashimi with a hot, brothy dish.

Written Oct 16, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulRestaurants

Apgujeong Chinese restaurant: dongpo pork in flower buns, Bobo Sikdang

Bobo Sikdang Apgujeong is a modern Chinese restaurant in Apgujeong Rodeo, Seoul, run by chef Jang Bo-won, who competed on Culinary Class Wars 2 as "Samdaega Jungsik" (third-generation Chinese cooking). Over a weekend lunch for two, we wrapped the signature dongpo pork (₩45,000) in steamed flower buns with cucumber and scallion, then tried the abalone samseon jjajangmyeon (₩25,000), black bean noodles topped with a whole abalone. At Bobo Sikdang, the dongpo pork is the one dish you must order.

Written Oct 16, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYeongdeungpo, SeoulBars

Dangsan Station pizza pub with wristband beer taps: Long Time No See

Long Time No See Dangsan Branch (롱타임노씨 당산점) is a pizza pub on the 2nd floor right by Exit 12 of Dangsan Station in Yeongdeungpo, Seoul, where you tag a wristband and pour any of 29 draft beers yourself. On a weekday evening walk-in, the blogger ordered a half-and-half double pepperoni and combination pizza (20,500 won) with an added cheese crust (3,000 won) and compared several beers in small pours. Thanks to the 72-hour aged dough, even the usually abandoned crust ends got eaten, making Long Time No See Dangsan a satisfying pizza-and-beer date spot by Dangsan Station.

Written Oct 15, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulHair & beauty salons

Apgujeong nail salon fig nails on short nails from a photo: Naeil Didi

Naeil Didi (내일디디) is a nail salon specializing in wedding nails, on the 6th and 7th floors of a building on Apgujeong-ro 50-gil near Apgujeongnodeo Station in Gangnam, Seoul. The writer showed one saved photo of fig nails and got sheer autumn fig nails on short nails, with red fig-flesh tones and a faint green tint. Basic one-color gel at Naeil Didi costs ₩40,000 for members and ₩50,000 for non-members. The verdict: Naeil Didi kept the colors of the reference photo just as they were.

Written Oct 13, 2026Sponsored
PlaceBucheon, GyeonggiRestaurants

Bucheon Korean restaurant, cheonggukjang beats soy crab: Gim Myeongju

Gim Myeongju Tteuranchae Bapsang (김명주뜰안채밥상) Sinjungdong Branch is a spacious Korean set-meal restaurant near Sinjungdong Station in Bucheon, with a ground-floor car park and private rooms. A writer who lives alone ordered the Tteuranchae Bapsang for two (26,000 won) and added soy-marinated crab (18,000 won) for a full spread of pot rice, namul (seasoned vegetable) side dishes and cheonggukjang (fermented soybean stew). The writer found the crab plump and not too salty, but fell even harder for the cheonggukjang, which they had expected to be a mere side. The verdict: Gim Myeongju Tteuranchae Bapsang is a filling choice for solo dwellers missing home-style side dishes and for families or groups wanting Korean food with easy parking.

Written Oct 10, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYeongdeungpo, SeoulRestaurants

Seonyudo burgers to share before a Yanghwa Hangang Park picnic: BAS

BAS Burger Seonyudo is a handmade burger restaurant right outside Exit 4 of Seonyudo Station in Yeongdeungpo, Seoul. On the way to a picnic at Yanghwa Hangang Park, two of us shared a Double BAS Burger set (15,800 won) and a Mushroom Burger combo (14,100 won) at BAS Burger Seonyudo, with unlimited potato chips, 7 free sauces and soda refills. BAS Burger Seonyudo is a great place for a filling meal or takeout before an outing to Seonyudo Park or Yanghwa Hangang Park.

Written Oct 9, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYeongdeungpo, SeoulBars

Dangsan izakaya for solo drinking and spicy miso motsunabe: Kaken

Kaken is an izakaya in Dangsan, Yeongdeungpo, Seoul, a 1-minute walk from Exit 2 of Dangsan Station, with U-shaped bar seats wrapped around the kitchen that make Kaken an easy place to drink alone. On a Friday night the writer sat alone at Kaken's bar seats with Cass draft beer and soju, ordering bacon tomato skewers (₩5,000) and karamiso motsunabe (spicy miso offal hot pot, ₩30,000), and the owner sent out fried sasami (chicken tenderloin) on the house. For a low-pressure solo drinking hideout in Dangsan, Kaken's bar seats are an easy pick.

Written Oct 8, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJung-gu, SeoulRestaurants

City Hall Station Korean BBQ lunch: galbi and galbitang, Geumseong

Geumseong Hoegwan Seoul City Hall Direct Branch is a charcoal Korean BBQ restaurant in the Bukchang-dong food alley near City Hall Station Exit 7 in Jung-gu, Seoul, serving marinated galbi set meals as a lunch special. Three people ordered 2 servings of the marinated beef short rib set (27,900 won per person) plus Geumseong galbitang (beef short rib soup, 16,000 won), and the big ribs, not-too-sweet Naju pear marinade, sundubu jjigae (soft tofu stew) and side dishes made a very filling lunch. For an office lunch or team dinner with proper grilled meat near City Hall Station, Geumseong Hoegwan Seoul City Hall Direct Branch is a good choice.

Written Oct 8, 2026Sponsored