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Shared Bowl

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

PlaceGangdong, SeoulRestaurants

Home-style tonkatsu set and fizzy cold soba in Gangdong: Katsu Monster

Katsu Monster Gangdong Office Branch (카츠몬스터 강동구청점) is a Japanese-style tonkatsu restaurant on Seongnae-ro in Gangdong, Seoul, near Gangdong-gu Office Station. The Mixed Katsu A (loin and tenderloin) arrives as a neat set with rice, soup and salad, and the separately ordered cold soba has a fizzy, tingly kick that kept the writer coming back for more. Katsu Monster Gangdong Office Branch is a good fit for a quiet solo meal of Japanese home-style tonkatsu near Gangdong-gu Office.

Written Oct 7, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGurye, GwangjuStays

Gurye private villa with a hinoki cypress room: Jirisan Secret Garden

Jirisan Secret Garden (지리산시크릿가든) is a private villa pension on Piagol-ro in Toji-myeon, Gurye, South Jeolla Province. At the end of the Chuseok holiday, the writer spent 1 night and 2 days in the villa, using the hinoki (cypress) room, two bedrooms and two bathrooms, grilling over charcoal the owner lit and singing for 2 hours in the in-room karaoke. Of all the private villa pensions the writer has stayed at, Jirisan Secret Garden was the most satisfying.

Written Oct 4, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGwangjin, SeoulRestaurants

Korean soup restaurant in Gunja, Seoul: extra-meat gomtang at Dimideun

Dimideun Gunja is a newly opened gomtang (beef bone soup) restaurant and Korean pub near Gunja Station in Gwangjin, Seoul. The writer went solo and ordered the signature Dimideun gomtang special (₩3,000 extra) and a half plate of suyuk (sliced boiled meat) with soju. The broth tasted richer than milk, and the meat portion was as generous as at a sundae gukbap restaurant, so the writer finished two bowls of rice. Dimideun Gunja is a calm, upscale spot near Gunja Station for thick gomtang and a drink.

Written Oct 4, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulRestaurants

Post-workout tonkatsu in Yeonnam-dong on a 36°C day: Katsu Monster

Katsu Monster Yeonnam Main Branch is a tonkatsu (pork cutlet) restaurant tucked into an alley in Yeonnam-dong, Mapo, Seoul, about a 5-minute walk from Hongik Univ. Station Exit 3. After a back workout on a 36°C day, the blogger ordered the 1-person set of triple katsu (loin, fillet and cheese katsu) with cold soba, and remembers the owner turning on a fan for them. For tonkatsu and cold soba in one meal in Yeonnam-dong, the Katsu Monster Yeonnam Main Branch 1-person set is a solid choice.

Written Aug 3, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeongbuk, SeoulThings to do

Gireum PC café that rewards LoL rank wins with free time: ZERO100

ZERO100 PC Gireum is a PC café on a basement level near Gireum Station in Seongbuk, Seoul, that gives back play time when you get kills or wins in game. Two friends sat at a 2-person seat, earned 30 minutes of free time for two League of Legends ranked wins, and ordered an Americano, a real strawberry latte, cola popcorn chicken, and a hot dog. With slippers handed out at the door and a 5-person team room, ZERO100 PC Gireum works for both friends and couples.

Written Aug 18, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangseo, SeoulRestaurants

Gangseo donburi spot with phone-holder solo seats: Hekbap Kkachisan

Hekbap Kkachisan Branch is a Japanese rice bowl (donburi) restaurant on the 2nd floor, a 2–3 minute walk from Exit 3 of Kkachisan Station in Gangseo, Seoul. After finishing the Korean History Proficiency Test, the writer came alone and ordered the meat-loaded rice bowl set and the new spicy Western-style giant pork cutlet, eating at a window solo seat fitted with a phone holder. It was the third visit in under a week, and Hekbap again delivered a filling, protein-heavy meal.

Written Aug 11, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJung-gu, SeoulRestaurants

Draft Asahi and spicy tonkotsu at a City Hall ramen shop: Mentsuru

Mentsuru City Hall Branch is a ramen restaurant one minute on foot from Exit 10 of City Hall Station in Jung-gu, Seoul. After finishing a computer skills exam, the writer ate alone at Mentsuru, ordering tonkotsu ramen in the spicy version with extra pork belly chashu, chicken karaage for 7,000 won and a draft Asahi, and the broth was rich enough to finish with the free bowl of rice. A satisfying solo meal, though the 1st-floor and basement kiosks list different menus, so check before ordering.

Written Aug 15, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulRestaurants

Hongdae highball and chicken bar: Original double portion at Goobne

Goobne Chicken Hongdae Red Road is a chicken pub on Jandari-ro 2-gil in Mapo, Seoul, set between Hapjeong Station and Hongik Univ. Station and serving draft beer and highballs in a hip new space. A double portion (gopbaegi) of Original chicken, ordered for takeout, came to one and a half birds — three legs and three wings — and the bar tables and outdoor terrace seats made it tempting to stay. Goobne Chicken Hongdae Red Road is a takeout stop worth returning to for a sit-down chimaek night.

Written Sep 21, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYongsan, SeoulHair & beauty salons

Men's long hair leaf cut, no perm, at ONLY FOR YOU Hannam hair salon

ONLY FOR YOU Hannam Main Branch is a hair salon in Hannam-dong, Yongsan, Seoul, at 70 Dokseodang-ro, 3rd floor. Returning a year after a first long-hair styling at ONLY FOR YOU, the writer got a leaf cut on designer Youngseo's recommendation — cut only, no perm — and the heavy feel of long hair was clearly gone. The salon covers 3 hours of free parking in the Hyundai Liberty House basement lot, so driving there was easy too.

Written Sep 19, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGuro, SeoulRestaurants

Guro chicken buffet with unlimited drinks, ₩30,000 a head: Bak Jeongmi

Bak Jeongmi Dakgalbi (박정미 닭갈비) is an all-you-can-eat dakgalbi and chicken restaurant on the 3rd floor of Huijeon Building near Exit 2 of Guro Digital Complex Station in Seoul. Four friends paid 30,000 won each — 20,000 won for unlimited dakgalbi plus 10,000 won for unlimited drinks — and worked through salt-grilled dakgalbi, gochujang dakgalbi and rounds of fried chicken. With first and second rounds of drinking covered inside the 2-hour limit, Bak Jeongmi Dakgalbi is strong value for a friends' night out or a work dinner.

Written Sep 20, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulRestaurants

Solo sundaeguk with self-serve bar near Gangnam Station: Sinju Okmi

Sinju Okmi Gangnam Branch is a sundaeguk (pork and blood sausage soup) restaurant on Teheran-ro 10-gil near Gangnam Station in Seoul, open straight through with no break time. After a 30km long run, the writer arrived alone at 4pm, took a solo seat, and ordered a half plate of assorted sundae and the special spicy bracken fern sundaeguk, adding free chives and somyeon noodles from the self-serve bar. With makgeolli at 4,000 won, Sinju Okmi is an easy, affordable solo meal for the Gangnam Station area.

Written Sep 14, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJungnang, SeoulCafés

Dongbu Market bakery in Jungnang with ₩3,900 tripe soup: Daroa

Daroa Dongbu Market Branch is a bakery inside Dongbu Market in Jungnang, Seoul, about 343m from Jungnang Station Exit 4. This visit covers three today's bread picks — red bean, cream and sweet pea paste — plus ₩3,900 instant tripe soup and boneless chicken fried to order. Daroa is an easy stop to pick up snacks and side dishes at the end of a market walk.

Written Sep 5, 2026Sponsored