Shared Table Guest · 53 stories

Shared Bowl

I write about restaurants I visit around Seoul. · Writes about: Restaurants · Cafés · Hair & beauty salons · Things to do · Bars · Stays

PlaceJungnang, SeoulRestaurants

Solo tonkatsu in Myeonmok: olive-oil katsu & spicy udon, Katsu Monster

Katsu Monster Myeonmok is a tonkatsu (pork cutlet) franchise with mostly bar seating on Sangbong-ro in Jungnang, Seoul, right next to the Myeonmok Bondong Police Station. For a solo lunch, the blogger ordered the Katsu Monster one-person set of fillet and loin mixed katsu with fish cake udon. The freshly fried, crispy cutlets paired well with the slightly spicy, tangy udon broth. Katsu Monster Myeonmok won't blow you away, but it is an easy, good-value tonkatsu spot in Myeonmok for eating alone.

Written Apr 21, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJung-gu, SeoulRestaurants

Chungmuro ramen shop for solo dining: tori paitan with rice, Mentsuru

Mentsuru Euljiro Branch is a ramen shop between Euljiro 3-ga Station and Chungmuro in Jung-gu, Seoul, open daily from 11:00 to 21:30 with no break time. During Mentsuru's 1st anniversary event, the blogger stirred a bowl of rice into tori paitan (rich chicken-broth ramen) and added chicken karaage and a bottle of Kirin beer. For solo diners in Chungmuro who want a broth richer than clear ramen but lighter than tonkotsu, Mentsuru's tori paitan is a good fit.

Written Apr 29, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJongno, SeoulCafés

Ikseon-dong bakery, 3rd visit: last garlic bread & coffee bun, Munhwa

Munhwa Bakery (문화제빵) is a small, takeout-focused bakery on Donhwamun-ro in Ikseon-dong, Jongno, Seoul. On a third visit, the writer waited about 15 minutes on a weekend afternoon, then took home the last garlic bread and a coffee bun filled with coffee cream. Munhwa Bakery's garlic bread has a clear but gentle garlic flavor and is satisfying even without a drink, making it well worth a stop for takeout bread on an Ikseon-dong stroll.

Written May 3, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJongno, SeoulRestaurants

Jongno jokbal with Suncheon-approved Yeosu cockles: Yeonnam Jokbal

Yeonnam Jokbal 1987 Jonggak Branch is a jokbal (braised pork trotter) restaurant in Jongno, Seoul, near Exit 4 of Jonggak Station, specializing in fried jokbal. The writer, a repeat visitor originally from Suncheon with a picky southern Korean palate, eased a hangover with the bean sprout soup served alongside the fried jokbal and also tried the Yeosu cockles and shredded potato pancake. Yeonnam Jokbal 1987 often has a dinner wait, so booking on Naver before going is the smart move.

Written Nov 5, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJung-gu, SeoulRestaurants

Euljiro ramen shop, solo beer: spicy shoyu, sous-vide chashu, Mentsuru

Mentsuru Euljiro Branch (멘츠루 을지로점) is a Japanese ramen restaurant in an alley between Euljiro 3-ga Station and Chungmuro Station in Jung-gu, Seoul. Around 6:30 PM, with Mentsuru almost full, the writer took the last solo seat and ordered spicy shoyu (soy sauce) ramen with extra sous-vide chashu, plus chicken karaage and an Asahi draft beer. The spicy broth cut through the richness and rice is free, making Mentsuru Euljiro Branch a good spot in Euljiro for eating or drinking alone.

Written Nov 8, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGuro, SeoulBars

Guro third-round bar for seafood pajeon and kimchi udon: Eulji Pocha

Eulji Pocha Guro Digital Complex Branch is a retro Korean pub in Guro, Seoul, about a 5-minute walk from Exit 2 of Guro Digital Complex Station, styled after the old street-stall pochas of Euljiro. On a third round of the night, the blogger ordered crispy fried seafood pajeon (savory pancake) and a 12,000-won spicy kimchi udon, then used the coins handed out with every order on the claw machine and enjoyed song requests. Even on a full stomach the dishes were almost cleared, which makes Eulji Pocha a genuinely tasty bar in the Guro Digital Complex (Gudi) area.

Written Nov 4, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGuro, SeoulBars

Gudi second-round izakaya: chicken and heart skewers, rockfish, Sodam

Robatayaki Sodam Guro Digital Complex Branch is a charcoal-grill skewer and grilled-fish izakaya on the 2nd floor of a building in the Gudi food alley in Guro, Seoul. On a second round of drinks at a well-separated table, the writer ordered 4 chicken skewers and 4 chicken heart skewers, plus a salt-grilled rockfish served whole. Robatayaki Sodam is a satisfying pick near Gudi Station for a quiet second-round drink or a date where you can actually talk.

Written Nov 4, 2026Sponsored
PlaceUijeongbu, GyeonggiRestaurants

Gomtang spot in Uijeongbu: rainy Sunday soju & chive pancake, Hagane

Hagane Hanwoo Gomtang Uijeongbu Main Branch (하가네한우곰탕 의정부본점) is a Korean beef bone soup (hanwoo gomtang) restaurant in Uijeongbu, Gyeonggi, directly across from Eulji University Hospital. On a rainy Sunday afternoon the writer ordered the signature Hagane hanwoo gomtang and a beef-loaded chive pancake with ₩2,900 soju, and found the unlimited free noodle refills, ample parking and the 11 AM–2 PM roadside parking zone especially convenient. With hanwoo gomtang under ₩10,000, Hagane Hanwoo Gomtang covers everything from a filling meal to a rainy-day drink near Eulji University Hospital.

Written Nov 2, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJongno, SeoulRestaurants

Insadong solo-dining noodle spot after a run: steak bowl, Jemyeonso

Insadong Jemyeonso Annyeong Insadong Branch (인사동제면소) is a rice bowl and noodle restaurant on the 3rd floor of Annyeong Insadong on Insadong-gil in Jongno, Seoul, open with no break time. After a run, the writer ate alone at Insadong Jemyeonso around 2:30 p.m., ordering a steak bowl and karaage (Japanese fried chicken) cold soba. The writer was happy with the medium-well steak, the fluffy rice and the refreshing, icy cold soba broth. Insadong Jemyeonso is worth recommending for a solo meal in Insadong at an in-between hour.

Written May 20, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeocho, SeoulRestaurants

Gyodae Station gimbap shop for exam prep: chicken set to go, Halls

Halls Gimbap Main Branch (홀스김밥본점) is a gimbap, dakgangjeong (sweet crispy fried chicken) and tteokbokki shop down a side street about a 5-minute walk from Exit 1 of Gyodae Station in Seocho, Seoul. Before a Saturday exam, the writer took out a Jindo scallion tuna gimbap and dakgangjeong set plus a classic Halls gimbap, and the dakgangjeong, which was expected to be the lesser order, turned out moist outside and cracker-crisp inside and was gone in moments. Halls Gimbap Main Branch is a gimbap shop where the dakgangjeong is the real star, worth a return trip just to take out a whole box.

Written May 21, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGuro, SeoulRestaurants

Guro tofu restaurant: oyster vs seafood soft tofu stew, Maetdolloroman

Maetdolloroman Guro Branch is a soft tofu restaurant on Dijiteol-ro 31-gil in Guro Digital Complex (Gudi), Seoul. Over lunch with a friend, the writer ordered one oyster soft tofu stew and one seafood soft tofu stew, and before the mains arrived both helped themselves to as much silky soft tofu as they wanted from Maetdolloroman's free self-serve tofu bar. Ordering the oyster and seafood soft tofu together makes it easy to compare the two, and Maetdolloroman Guro Branch is a good pick for a Gudi office lunch or a solo meal.

Written Nov 3, 2026Sponsored
PlaceUijeongbu, GyeonggiRestaurants

Patented Uijeongbu dakgangjeong shop after a rainy 21km run: Dalgom's

Dalgom's is a patented dakgangjeong (sweet crispy fried chicken) shop inside Jeil Market in Uijeongbu, Gyeonggi. After a 21km run on a rainy day, the writer ordered a 1.5-chicken box with three flavors for 24,000 won: sweet, garlic-chili and Bburinkle, and found the cracker-crisp coating and fresh, tender chicken impressive. The top pick at Dalgom's was the garlic-chili dakgangjeong, with a pleasant, Korean-style spicy kick.

Written Nov 1, 2026Sponsored