Sokcho Tide Lodger · 36 stories

Setting Down Chopsticks

I write about meals and restaurant visits in Gwangju and Jeolla. · Writes about: Restaurants · Cafés · Shopping · Home & living · Stays · Hair & beauty salons · Bars

PlaceSuyeong, BusanRestaurants

Clam grill in Gwangalli, Busan near closing: a window seat at Josaeho

Josaeho Gwangalli Main Branch (조새호 광안리본점) is a clam grill restaurant on the 2nd floor of 199 Gwanganhaebyeon-ro in Suyeong, Busan, with floor-to-ceiling windows facing Gwangan Bridge. Stopping in Busan the day before flying to Cebu, the writer arrived near closing time, got a window seat right away, and ordered the 3-tier clam grill (70,000 won), which came with complimentary ra-bokki, corn cheese and clam soup. Josaeho Gwangalli Main Branch is a great spot for two to share grilled clams and soju over the night view, and the writer would go back on the next trip to Busan.

Written Apr 18, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJinju, GyeongnamRestaurants

Jinju anglerfish restaurant: double kalguksu agu-jjim, Yangpohang

Yangpohang Jinju Pyeonggeo Branch (양포항 진주평거점) is an anglerfish restaurant in Pyeonggeo-dong, Jinju, serving agu-jjim (spicy braised anglerfish), flame-grilled agu bulgogi, fried anglerfish and kkanpung agu (sweet-spicy fried anglerfish). A visitor from Gwangju ordered the small agu-jjim right at weekday opening, had the agu-tang (anglerfish soup) that comes with it, added kalguksu (knife-cut noodles) twice and finished every bit of the fried rice. Yangpohang Jinju Pyeonggeo Branch is an agu-jjim spot whose seasoning is its strength, good enough that even a Gwangju local with high food standards wants to return.

Written Apr 24, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJeonju, JeonbukHair & beauty salons

Jeonju Thai massage for a knotted shoulder and migraine: Kim's Thai

Kim's Thai Jeonju Sinsigaji Massage is a Thai massage shop on the 4th floor of a building on Hongsan 3-gil in Wansan-gu, Jeonju. The writer, troubled by a knotted shoulder and tech-neck migraines, had the 60-minute full-body Thai massage (₩38,000 per person) with a companion, after which the shoulder rotated smoothly again and the writer's head felt clear for several days. Anyone disappointed by a weak massage in Cebu will likely find the firm, satisfying pressure at Kim's Thai Jeonju Sinsigaji Massage worth it.

Written Apr 24, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJeonju, JeonbukRestaurants

Jeonju Sinsigaji bar for rare duck steak and white ragu pasta: Japrenn

Japrenn (자프렌) is a small bar and restaurant on Hongsanbuk-ro in Jeonju, between the Sinsigaji area and Hyoja-dong. The writer went to Japrenn for its hard-to-find duck steak, ordered it with white ragu pasta, and was happy with everything from the house-made potato chips to the duck steak, crisp outside and juicy inside. If you want something different to eat in Jeonju, Japrenn is worth trying at least once.

Written Apr 26, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJeonju, JeonbukCafés

Jeonju dessert café over bibimbap: Ferrero Rocher financiers, Ppajak

Ppajak Financier Bar (빠작 휘낭시에바) is a dessert café on Beotkkot-ro in Deokjin-gu, Jeonju, specializing in bar-shaped financiers. Looking for a dessert course in Jeonju instead of bibimbap, the writer bought several Ppajak financiers, which are crisp outside and moist and chewy inside, and was also happy with the slightly acidic ₩3,000 americano and the orange gift wrapping. If you can pick only one, the Ferrero Rocher and honey rice cake (kkultteok) flavors at Ppajak Financier Bar were the best.

Written Apr 24, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJeonju, JeonbukThings to do

Navy plus-size hanbok rental & 5-minute braids in Jeonju: Gwijok

Gwijok Uisangsil Hanbok Jeonju Hanok Village Branch is a hanbok rental shop on Choemyeonghui-gil in Jeonju Hanok Village, stocking sizes up to 5XL. The writer, who had long given up on hanbok because of body size and bust, wore a navy hanbok with a companion, had a braided hairstyle done in 5 minutes and still got photos on a visit of under an hour. If you have hesitated over hanbok because you wear a plus size, Gwijok Uisangsil lets you choose both size and design.

Written Apr 24, 2026Sponsored
PlaceDong-gu, GwangjuRestaurants

Gwangju pho restaurant: seafood pho and shrimp curry at Saigonjang

Saigonjang (사이공장) is a Vietnamese restaurant on Jangdong-ro in Dongmyeong-dong, Dong-gu, Gwangju, set in a red-brick building with arches and wood-toned interiors. The writer ordered Pho Hai San (seafood pho), Saigon curry topped with fried shrimp and Saigon wings with a Tiger beer, and found the seafood broth clean and not fishy, the curry generous and the wings crisp. For Vietnamese atmosphere and flavor without the trip to Vietnam, Saigonjang in Dongmyeong-dong is a good choice.

Written Apr 27, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGwangsan, GwangjuRestaurants

Pot rice restaurant in Cheomdan, Gwangju: King's Table, Bohyangmi

Bohyangmi (보향미) Cheomdan is a Korean restaurant serving sotbap (rice cooked in an individual pot) and bossam (boiled pork wraps) on Cheomdanjungang-ro in Gwangsan-gu, Gwangju. The writer ordered the King's Table for 2 and had chewy pot rice, tender bossam, boneless mackerel, myeongnan-jeot (salted pollock roe), a range of side dishes and ice cream for dessert. For a quick, satisfying lunch in Cheomdan, Bohyangmi is a good choice.

Written May 4, 2026Sponsored
PlaceBuk-gu, GwangjuRestaurants

Gwangju bossam spot for dieters: boiled pork over grilled, Kkankkanhan

Kkankkanhan Jokbal Yongbong Branch (깐깐한족발 용봉점) is a jokbal (braised pig's trotters) and bossam (boiled pork wraps) restaurant on Yongbongtaekji-ro in Yongbong-dong, Buk-gu, Gwangju. While dieting, the writer craved boiled rather than grilled meat and ordered the charcoal bossam, which had a subtle charcoal aroma and a good lean-to-fat ratio, with generous fish cake soup, steamed egg and wrap vegetable refills. Kkankkanhan Jokbal Yongbong Branch is famous for jokbal, but its bossam alone is worth the trip.

Written May 13, 2026Sponsored
PlaceNamwon, JeonbukRestaurants

Namwon noodle house packed in 10 minutes at lunch: Pungnyeon Kalguksu

Pungnyeon Kalguksu (풍년칼국수) is a kalguksu (knife-cut noodle soup) restaurant on Sicheongdong-ro in Namwon, Jeonbuk. Still craving it after a trip to Namwon, the writer went back for mixed clam kalguksu and pajeon (scallion pancake), and watched Pungnyeon Kalguksu go from quiet about an hour before lunch to completely full within 10 minutes. A refreshing broth with seemingly endless clams and fresh geotjeori kimchi have now brought the writer back to Pungnyeon Kalguksu five times.

Written May 17, 2026Sponsored
PlaceNaju, JeonnamRestaurants

Naju octopus buffet for an early weekday dinner: Sin Jjukkumi

Sin Jjukkumi Mugonrifil Naju Bitgaram branch (신쭈꾸미 무한리필 나주빛가람점) is an all-you-can-eat jjukkumi (webfoot octopus) and thin-sliced pork belly restaurant near Bitgaram Lake Park in Naju, Jeonnam. The writer ordered Set A around 5:30pm on a weekday and got separate grills for the octopus and the pork belly. The writer ate until completely stuffed, with water dropwort and bean sprouts from the big self-bar, and was very pleased with how friendly the owner and staff were. For anyone who wants to grill plenty of octopus, Sin Jjukkumi Naju Bitgaram is a place worth coming back to.

Written May 23, 2026Sponsored
ProductAutoGroomingHome & living

Oil film remover for windshield night glare: AutoGrooming Clean View

AutoGrooming Clean View is a 120g lotion-type oil film remover for car glass that comes with a work towel and sells for under 10,000 won. The writer used AutoGrooming Clean View on a front windshield at a self-service car wash, learned the hard way that only the spots rubbed on wet glass came clean, and afterwards noticed better water beading and less headlight glare when driving at night. AutoGrooming Clean View is cheap and simple enough for car-wash beginners.

Written May 30, 2026Product provided