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

PlaceSeocho, SeoulRestaurants

Post-workout poke takeout in Seocho: fresh an hour later, Olla Poke

Olla Poke Seocho Gyodae Branch is a poke and salad restaurant on basement level 1, near Exit 14 of Gyodae Station in Seocho, Seoul. After a workout, the writer ordered a Super Protein poke with an added steak topping to go, and even after an hour's trip home the vegetables weren't soggy and the salmon was tender with no fishy taste. With calories listed for every menu item and topping, plus solo seats with outlets and phone stands, Olla Poke Seocho Gyodae Branch is a Gyodae Station salad spot well suited to anyone watching their diet.

Written May 22, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeongdong, SeoulRestaurants

Seongsu Thai restaurant after a workout: beef noodles, Thanon55

Thanon55 Seongsu main branch is a Thai restaurant in Seongsu, Seoul, on a side street about a 10-minute walk from Seongsu Station Exit 3. On a hot day after a workout, the blogger ordered the beef rice noodle soup and, for the first time, mu thod curry (crispy meat with an egg-based curry); the mild egg-based curry paired well with the cool, refreshing broth loaded with brisket and chadol (thin-sliced brisket point). Verdict: if the heat has killed your appetite and you want Thai food in Seongsu, the beef rice noodle soup and mu thod curry combo at Thanon55 is a satisfying choice.

Written May 27, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangseo, SeoulCafés

Balsan Station café: pick-your-own financier birthday gift, Byway

Byway Bakers Balsan Station (바이웨이 베이커스 발산역점) is a dessert café focused on financiers and salt bread, near Exit 3 of Balsan Station in Gangseo, Seoul. The writer hand-picked five financiers as a boxed set for a friend's birthday, and the friend meant to eat just one late at night but ended up finishing all five. Affordable and fully customizable, Byway Bakers is a good place near Balsan Station to pick up a casual dessert gift.

Written Jun 1, 2026Sponsored
PlaceUijeongbu, GyeonggiRestaurants

Post-workout sundaeguk and makgeolli in Uijeongbu: Yetnal Gyeongseong

Yetnal Gyeongseong Sundaeguk Nogyang Branch is a sundaeguk (Korean blood sausage soup) franchise restaurant on Dongil-ro in Uijeongbu, Gyeonggi. After a back workout, the writer stopped by alone for the basic sundaeguk set with a bottle of makgeolli (rice wine) and was happy with the spacious dining room, private parking lot, self-serve bar, and the chewy sundae and pyeonyuk (boiled pork slices) plate. For a solo lunch or a relaxed daytime drink at a gukbap (rice soup) restaurant in Uijeongbu, Yetnal Gyeongseong Sundaeguk Nogyang Branch is a good fit.

Written Oct 22, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJongno, SeoulRestaurants

Indoor Korean BBQ in Jongno 3-ga, pork skirt in a jar: Meongseokjip

Meongseokjip Jongno 3-ga Branch (멍석집 종로3가점) is a Korean BBQ restaurant in the pork skirt alley near Exit 4 of Jongno 3-ga Station in Jongno, Seoul, known for its indoor street-stall atmosphere. After having aged pork belly on an earlier visit, the writer came back on a bright, sunny afternoon, sat indoors and ordered 2 servings of galmaegisal (pork skirt) served in an earthenware onggi jar, plus 1 bottle of Chamisul. Meongseokjip's pork skirt is nutty and chewy with no gamey smell, a satisfying choice for anyone looking for pork skirt in Jongno 3-ga.

Written Jun 5, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJung-gu, SeoulRestaurants

Post-workout donburi spot in Chungmuro: meat bowl & ramen at Haekbap

Haekbap Dongguk (핵밥 동국대본점) is a Japanese restaurant serving rice bowls, ramen and tonkatsu, about a 5-minute walk from Chungmuro Station Exit 1 in Jung-gu, Seoul. After a Saturday morning workout, the writer went to Haekbap Dongguk alone around 2 PM, ordered by table tablet, and had the Haekbap meat-loaded rice bowl, Haekbap tonkotsu ramen and a tonkatsu (pork cutlet), praising the generous portion of meat and the rich tonkotsu broth. Haekbap Dongguk is a great place in Chungmuro for a filling solo meal without feeling awkward.

Written Jun 6, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulRestaurants

Pre-movie Yeonnam-dong tonkatsu, spicy fish cake udon: Katsu Monster

Katsu Monster Yeonnam Main Branch is a tonkatsu (breaded pork cutlet) restaurant in Yeonnam-dong, Mapo, Seoul, near Exit 3 of Hongik Univ. Station, open with no break time. Before a movie, the writer had a late 4 PM lunch there: a solo set with triple katsu and spicy fish cake udon, their first udon of the year, at a solo seat with a kiosk, sauces and water within reach. For a filling solo meal at an awkward hour in Yeonnam-dong, Katsu Monster Yeonnam Main Branch is a very handy choice.

Written Oct 23, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJongno, SeoulRestaurants

Jongno 3-ga dumpling shop: bibim kalguksu, ₩3,000 soju, Jongga Mandu

Jongga Mandu (종가만두) is a handmade dumpling restaurant between Jongno 3-ga Station and Cheonggyecheon in Jongno, Seoul. Instead of the dumpling hot pot, the blogger ordered bibim kalguksu (mixed knife-cut noodles) topped with 2 fried dumplings for ₩13,000 and a plate of 8 boiled mandu (dumplings), half meat and half kimchi, for ₩8,000, plus a ₩3,000 bottle of soju. Jongga Mandu is a good-value Jongno 3-ga dumpling spot for a plate of mandu and a casual drink.

Written Jun 10, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJung-gu, SeoulRestaurants

Hangover ramen shop at City Hall Station: spicy shoyu, Asahi, Mentsuru

Mentsuru City Hall Branch is a Japanese ramen restaurant right outside Exit 10 of City Hall Station in Jung-gu, Seoul. Back for a hangover cure, I ordered Mentsuru's spicy shoyu ramen (known as the hangover ramen), a mini rice bowl and chicken karaage, and ended up adding a draft Asahi too. With bar seating that makes solo dining easy and consistently good flavor, Mentsuru City Hall Branch is a ramen shop I plan to visit again.

Written Jun 14, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJongno, SeoulBars

Jonggak monastery bar for a Sunday catch-up: strong ale, Sudowonui

Sudowonui Bimil Jeojanggo (수도원의 비밀 저장고) is a medieval monastery-themed bar and restaurant on basement level 1 near Jonggak Station in Jongno, Seoul. On a Sunday night, the writer and a high school friend stopped by for a third round of strong ale, jambon and arugula wood-fired pizza and cheesecake, and found the interior, music, food and beer all satisfying. Sudowonui Bimil Jeojanggo is a good pick near Jonggak Station for a date or a drink somewhere different.

Written Oct 16, 2026Sponsored
PlaceEunpyeong, SeoulRestaurants

Post-workout tonkatsu lunch in Yeonsinnae: triple katsu, Katsu Monster

Katsu Monster Yeonsinnae Branch is a Japanese-style tonkatsu restaurant about a 2-minute walk from Exit 4 of Yeonsinnae Station in Eunpyeong, Seoul. After several revisits and trying the loin, tenderloin and cheese katsu separately, the writer had a solo post-workout lunch of triple katsu with the one-person cold soba (chilled buckwheat noodle) set and concluded that the triple katsu is the best choice. With kiosk ordering and a calm atmosphere, Katsu Monster Yeonsinnae Branch is a satisfying spot for a solo lunch in Yeonsinnae.

Written Jun 16, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGwangjin, SeoulBars

Solo bar near Konkuk Univ., Seoul: a first visit with a friend at Uu

Uu is a solo bar on the 3rd floor of a building in Gwangjin, Seoul, about a 5-minute walk from Exit 2 of Konkuk Univ. Station. On a weekday evening, two male friends made the writer's first-ever solo bar visit at Uu. They picked a visit purpose and MBTI, heard the house rules, and tried the cards, games, prize draw and hygiene items. If going to Uu alone feels daunting, a first visit with a friend is perfectly comfortable.

Written Oct 17, 2026Sponsored