Signpost Diner · 56 stories

Signs Before Dinner

I write about meals at restaurants in Seoul and Gyeonggi. · Writes about: Restaurants · Bars · Hair & beauty salons · Cafés

PlaceSuwon, GyeonggiBars

Terrace bar near Nahyeseok Street, Suwon: beef cheese roll at Raon

Raon Asian Dining Bar (라온 아시안 다이닝 바) is a terrace Asian dining bar in a high-rise near Nahyeseok Street in Suwon, Gyeonggi. On a weekend visit, the writer looked down over Nahyeseok Street from the terrace while sharing perilla leaf and pollock roe bibim pasta, a handmade beef cheese roll and a Hi Piggy highball, and named the handmade beef cheese roll the must-order dish. Verdict: Raon Asian Dining Bar has the mood and the food for a can't-miss date or anniversary on a nice day.

Written Apr 27, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulRestaurants

Affordable fine dining in Mangwon: truffle gnocchi & arancini, Noju

Noju is an affordable Western fine dining restaurant serving course menus on the 2nd floor of a building in Mangwon, Mapo, Seoul. At lunch, the writer ordered Noju's Signature Lunch Course (55,000 won) of 7 dishes plus a homemade walnut ice cream dessert, and the potato gnocchi topped with Himalayan truffle was the favorite. Noju is a good place to enjoy a carefully made course at an easygoing price in a sunlit room with floor-to-ceiling windows.

Written Nov 12, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSuwon, GyeonggiCafés

Pink sofa cake café in Suwon: green tea strawberry & choco cake, Diaz

Diaz Cake Boutique (디아즈케이크부띠끄) is a cake café on the 2nd floor of a building at the start of Nahyeseok Street, near Exit 9 of Suwon City Hall Station in Suwon, Gyeonggi. In a pink space with upscale décor, two slices on a plush sofa seat, a strawberry fresh cream chocolate cake and a green tea strawberry cake, both had melt-in-the-mouth sponge packed with fruit. Diaz Cake Boutique is a great cake spot near Suwon City Hall Station for a sugar boost on a day you want to feel special.

Written Apr 27, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulRestaurants

Holiday conveyor sushi in Daechi-dong: shrimp & skewers, Sushi Ian N

Sushi Ian N Seolleung Station is a conveyor-belt sushi restaurant in Daechi-dong, Gangnam, Seoul, near Exit 2 of Seolleung Station, where every plate costs ₩1,990. A self-described sushi lover visited on the first day of a holiday weekend and ate sushi topped with both raw shrimp and shrimp tempura, a flying fish roe bite, skewers and beef sushi, then finished with fruit and cake for dessert. Sushi Ian N Seolleung Station is an easy, affordable pick for days when you want a meal and dessert in one place.

Written May 1, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulCafés

Sunlit Garosu-gil café: kadaif coffee & ribbon box, Butter & Shelter

Butter & Shelter Gangnam-Sinsa is a butter bar dessert café on Garosu-gil, near Exit 8 of Sinsa Station in Gangnam, Seoul. At Butter & Shelter Gangnam-Sinsa, the blogger drank a coffee topped with cream cheese, pistachio and kadaif in a sun-filled room with green accents, then had desserts boxed to go with a ribbon color of their choice. Butter & Shelter Gangnam-Sinsa is a Garosu-gil café that works both for soaking up the sun and for picking up a light dessert gift.

Written May 2, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYeongdeungpo, SeoulBars

Cocktail bar at Dangsan Station: smoked cinnamon Godfather at Yahwa

Yahwa Honsul Bar Dangsan Station branch is a solo-drinking and cocktail bar on basement level 1, right in front of Dangsan Station Exit 1 in Yeongdeungpo, Seoul. On a Friday after work, the writer stopped by with a friend for a second round, ordering a Godfather with smoked cinnamon aroma and a sweet-tart signature cocktail, and took free black-and-white instant photos. With easy prices and a calm atmosphere, Yahwa Honsul Bar Dangsan Station branch is a good spot for one more drink on nights you're not ready to go home.

Written Nov 8, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSongpa, SeoulRestaurants

Saenae snack bar, old-school tteokbokki & tuna gimbap: Jamsil Cheotjip

Jamsil Cheotjip is a Korean snack bar (bunsik) on basement level 1 of the Treezium shopping arcade, directly connected to Saenae Station in Songpa, Seoul. Eating solo, the writer ordered rice tteokbokki, aged kimchi tuna gimbap and a Coke Zero for about ₩14,000 and dipped the gimbap in the tteokbokki sauce. Jamsil Cheotjip is a good fit when you want sweet, old-school tteokbokki and well-stuffed gimbap at a low price.

Written May 7, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeocho, SeoulRestaurants

Spicy jjamppong pasta and melon ricotta in Nonhyeon: Pasta Trio

Pasta Trio is a casual pasta restaurant in an alley near Exit 5 of Nonhyeon Station in Seocho, Seoul. On a weekday evening the blogger ordered spicy tomato jjamppong pasta (inspired by the spicy Korean-Chinese seafood noodle soup), a handmade ricotta cheese salad with Korean melon and orange, and crème brûlée at ₩1,000 per main dish, and loved the seafood-packed spicy sauce and the terrace. Pasta Trio is an easygoing Nonhyeon Station pasta spot for a blind date, a date or a work lunch.

Written May 12, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJongno, SeoulRestaurants

Jongno 3-ga Korean BBQ, packed Wednesday, dropwort & pork neck: Cham

Cham Dwaejitgan Jongno Main Branch (참돼짓간 종로본점) is a Korean BBQ restaurant in Jongno, Seoul, right outside Exit 2-1 of Jongno 3-ga Station, grilling domestic pork over real charcoal. On a Wednesday evening, the writer and friends ordered 2 portions of pork belly and 1 of pork neck, grilled them with minari (water dropwort), kimchi, bean sprouts and mushrooms, drank somaek (soju mixed with beer) and finished with fried rice. With pork that had no gamey smell and a free vegetable self-serve bar, Cham Dwaejitgan left every friend at the table fully satisfied.

Written May 14, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulRestaurants

Post-workout poke dinner in Seolleung: Buldak salmon & soup, Hola Poke

Hola Poke Seolleung Branch is a poke shop on the second floor at the start of the food alley off Exit 2 of Seolleung Station in Gangnam, Seoul. After an evening workout, the writer ordered the spicy Buldak salmon poke on half salad and half oat-brown rice, with a savory soup added as a set. For a healthy yet filling dinner on a chilly day, the Buldak salmon poke and soup set at Hola Poke Seolleung Branch is an easy recommendation.

Written Nov 6, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulCafés

Pre-work breakfast café in Yeonnam-dong: mocha bun croissant, Noknok

Noknok (녹녹) is a two-floor bakery café beside Gyeongui Line Forest Park in Yeonnam-dong, Mapo, Seoul, open daily from 8:30am. After Monday dawn yoga and before work, the writer had a latte, an egg ham croissant and a mocha bun croissant at a Noknok window seat. With coffee that's cheap for Yeonnam-dong and freshly baked bread, Noknok is a great place to start the morning.

Written May 18, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulBars

Sommelier-picked wine bar in Yeonnam-dong: Carundo rosé at Yozeum

Yozeum is a wine bar on the 3rd floor of a building on a Yeonnam-dong side street in Mapo, Seoul, and it sells only wines that a professional sommelier has personally tasted and selected. At Yozeum the writer ordered Carundo rosé, a prosciutto arugula pizza and a tuna truffle canapé, and spent a relaxed evening thanks to the soft lighting, open kitchen and floor-to-ceiling windows. The verdict: Yozeum is a quiet Yeonnam-dong spot for dates and get-togethers over wine and small plates, and one worth going back to.

Written May 20, 2026Sponsored