Hotpot Gatherer · 34 stories

The Shared Pot

I write about restaurant meals I come across in Gyeonggi. · Writes about: Restaurants · Hair & beauty salons · Cafés · Things to do

PlaceDongjak, SeoulRestaurants

Kitchen-grilled hanwoo gopchang in Sadang, no splatter: Bareun Hwangso

Bareun Hwangso Gopchang (바른황소곱창) is a hanwoo (Korean beef) gopchang restaurant, serving grilled beef small intestine, near Exit 10 of Sadang Station in Dongjak, Seoul. At Bareun Hwangso Gopchang the kitchen grills the gopchang and staff toss it once more at the table; the writer had 2 servings of hanwoo gopchang (25,000 won per serving) and fried rice (4,000 won). With no grilling to manage and room to talk, Bareun Hwangso Gopchang is worth remembering for a group meal or team dinner near Sadang Station.

Written Oct 27, 2026Sponsored
PlaceHwaseong, GyeonggiRestaurants

Beef soup restaurant in Hwaseong with a suyuk set: Hagane Naju Gomtang

Hagane Naju Gomtang Hwaseong Jangan branch is a Hanwoo beef gomtang (beef bone soup) restaurant on Poseungjangan-ro in Jangan-myeon, Hwaseong, Gyeonggi. We ordered the Hagane set (13,900 won) and the Hagane suyuk set (15,900 won), which brought Hanwoo gomtang, boiled beef suyuk and doganimuchu (beef knee cartilage salad). We stirred in noodles and then rice, and the broth stayed rich without being greasy. For a hearty meal or a family meal out in Jangan-myeon, the suyuk set at Hagane Naju Gomtang Hwaseong Jangan branch is a satisfying choice.

Written Jun 4, 2026Sponsored
PlaceHwaseong, GyeonggiRestaurants

Clear vs milky gomtang near Gungpyeong Port, Hwaseong: Haga Naju

Haga Naju Gomtang Hwaseong Woojeong branch is a hanwoo (Korean beef) gomtang restaurant on Maehyangseokcheon-ro in Woojeong-eup, Hwaseong, Gyeonggi. On a trip to Gungpyeong Port, the writer ordered the clear meat-broth Hanwoo Naju Gomtang and the milky bone-broth Hanwoo Gomtang (9,500 won each), plus suyuk buchu muchim (sliced boiled beef with seasoned chives, 16,000 won), to compare the two broths side by side, and found the hanwoo beef melt-in-your-mouth tender. With its own parking lot and a spacious hall, Haga Naju Gomtang is a filling stop for a Gungpyeong Port date or a family meal.

Written Oct 26, 2026Sponsored
PlaceHwaseong, GyeonggiRestaurants

Summer Japanese lunch for 3 in Bongdam with folding doors: Sindong Lab

Sindong Lab Hwaseong Bongdam Branch is a Japanese restaurant on Wau-ro in Bongdam-eup, Hwaseong, Gyeonggi. Three people booked a weekend 11:30 lunch through Naver, got a roomy six-seat table, and ate a sukiyaki set, double gyukatsu 250g with ricotta cheese salad, and mazesoba for 80,200 won in total. Sindong Lab fills up right after opening, so booking ahead is the smart move for a weekend visit.

Written Jun 6, 2026Sponsored
PlacePyeongtaek, GyeonggiRestaurants

Octopus shabu-shabu and snow fungus in Anjung, Pyeongtaek: Songdam

Songdam Kalguksu (송담칼국수) is a Korean restaurant specializing in kalguksu (knife-cut noodle soup) and shabu-shabu on Gangbyeon-ro in Anjung-eup, Pyeongtaek, known for its sanghwang mushroom broth and hand-cut chive noodles. The meal was octopus shabu-shabu for two (28,000 won) with 140g of extra beef (7,000 won), plus a pre-meal barley rice starter, white wood ear mushrooms (snow fungus), dumplings, kalguksu and self-made egg porridge (3,000 won). Songdam Kalguksu is an even better deal if you check the kiosk notice on cross-ordering menu items before you order.

Written Jun 7, 2026Sponsored
PlaceHwaseong, GyeonggiRestaurants

Sangni, Bongdam Korean BBQ: 144-hour aged belly & gabrisal, Hanmaeum

Hanmaeum Jeonguk Sikdang Bongdam is an aged-meat Korean BBQ restaurant on the 2nd floor of the Sangni central shopping arcade in Bongdam-eup, Hwaseong, Gyeonggi, known for pork aged 144 hours at 2°C. On a weekday at 8 p.m. the writer ordered aged pork belly, aged gabrisal (pork shoulder cap) and mul naengmyeon (cold buckwheat noodles), and rated the juicy, odor-free meat, the grill plate that leaves sear marks, the spacious dining room and the kids' zone highly. For aged pork belly in the Bongdam 2 district, Hanmaeum Jeonguk Sikdang Bongdam is worth a return visit.

Written Jun 9, 2026Sponsored
PlaceHwaseong, GyeonggiHair & beauty salons

Dongtan hair salon matte brown to calm reddish long hair: Juno Hair

Juno Hair Dongtan Solbitnaru Branch is a reservation-only hair salon on the 2nd floor of Jeongrim Plaza, 65 Dongtansolbit-ro in Dongtan, Hwaseong, with a kids' room and underground parking in the building. At Juno Hair Dongtan Solbitnaru Branch, the writer had an all-over matte brown dye from designer Bom-i without changing the length of her long hair, and her warm, reddish brown settled into a calm brown tone. For long hair that needs a new look through color alone, this matte brown dye is worth considering.

Written Oct 23, 2026Sponsored
PlacePyeongtaek, GyeonggiRestaurants

Pyeongtaek pork galbi for 2 & Tank Boy-like pear slush: Ihwajeong

Ihwajeong Charcoal-Grilled Pork Galbi is a charcoal-grill pork galbi restaurant on Manse-ro near Sosabeol in Pyeongtaek, known for its 144-hour cross-aged marinated pork galbi and organic pear marinade. The writer paid ₩54,000 for 2 servings of marinated pork galbi with mul naengmyeon (cold noodles), doenjang jjigae (soybean paste stew), rice and a zero cola, then finished with a pear slush that tastes like Tank Boy, the Korean pear ice bar, on the way out. Verdict: Ihwajeong is worth saving if you're looking for a great meat restaurant in Pyeongtaek.

Written Jun 8, 2026Sponsored
PlaceHwaseong, GyeonggiRestaurants

Hwaseong Chinese restaurant with whole squid jjamppong rice: Bobae

Bobae Banjeom Bongdam Branch (보배반점 봉담점) is a Chinese restaurant specializing in jjamppong (spicy seafood soup) in the central Bongdam2-jigu shopping area of Hwaseong, Gyeonggi. The writer ordered whole squid jjamppong rice, Bobae gan-jjajang (stir-fried black bean noodles), Harim puppy jajangmyeon for their dog and two drinks for ₩35,000; the whole squid on top and the deep, savory broth were the highlights. With roomy seating, free rice and a free Americano after the meal, Bobae Banjeom Bongdam Branch is a good pick for family meals or group dinners in Bongdam.

Written Jun 11, 2026Sponsored
PlacePyeongtaek, GyeonggiRestaurants

Mild pork bone stew piled with bean sprouts in Godeok: San Ppyeojjim

San Ppyeojjim (산뼈찜) is a pork bone stew and bone soup restaurant on Tanhyeon-ro in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi, near Seojeongni Station. On a weekday around 4 p.m., two adults shared a small San Ppyeojjim (30,000 won) with extra bean sprouts and were struck by the mountain of sprouts, the large, tender pork spine bones and the rich, non-spicy broth. For anyone who prefers a mild pork bone soup to a fiery gamjatang (spicy pork bone stew), San Ppyeojjim is a satisfying choice.

Written Jun 13, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulRestaurants

Sushi and Kansai oden in Hapjeong: 13-piece set & wagyu, Sushi Sakaba

Sushi Sakaba Hapjeong is a sushi izakaya on the 2nd floor of a building in Mapo, Seoul, a 5-minute walk from Hapjeong Station Exits 3 and 4. It took over and renovated a former Hapjeong sushi restaurant and is now run by an owner-chef with an overseas fine-dining background. On a weekend evening the total came to ₩71,200 for the 13-piece Jeong sushi set, Kansai oden soup and six single-piece nigiri, with the wagyu nigiri, ankimo (monkfish liver) nigiri and oden broth standing out. Sushi Sakaba Hapjeong suits a Hapjeong date or blind date where you want sushi alongside a hot soup to share.

Written Jun 14, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeocho, SeoulRestaurants

Gyodae pork belly BBQ with lettuce-scallion salad: Yuk Tongryeong

Yuk Tongryeong Gyodae Direct Store (육통령 교대직영점) is an aged pork belly restaurant near Gyodae Station in Seocho, Seoul, serving Korean Handon pork belly aged for 15 days with omija (schisandra berries). The writer ordered two portions of Handon pork belly (150g for 16,000 won per portion) with tojang jjigae (soybean paste stew), Paju Hyangmi rice and mul naengmyeon (cold noodles), and staff grilled the meat over charcoal; salt and the lettuce-scallion salad paired best with the pork. Yuk Tongryeong Gyodae Direct Store is a solid choice near Gyodae Station for a hearty aged pork belly meal with coworkers or friends.

Written Oct 18, 2026Sponsored