Crooked Bench Mapo · 18 stories

Crooked Bench, Gangwon-Seoul Outings

Writes about cafes, restaurants, and things to do around Gangwon, Seoul, and Incheon. · Writes about: Cafés · Restaurants · Things to do

PlaceGangnam, SeoulRestaurants

Gangnam poke restaurant, salmon solo set with two mayo dips: Ola Poke

Ola Poke Gangnam is a poke restaurant on basement level 1 of a building on Teheran-ro 4-gil, in the alley behind Daeryung Tower near Gangnam Station, Seoul. With time to kill before an appointment, the blogger stopped in alone and ordered the solo hearty set (spicy tomato soup, salmon poke and Pepsi Zero) at the kiosk, dipping the salmon poke alternately in wasabi mayo and sriracha mayo. Ola Poke Gangnam is a poke spot near Gangnam Station for a filling, easy-on-the-stomach meal that never feels awkward to eat alone.

Written Jul 26, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulRestaurants

Gangnam Station ramen shop: black tori paitan shoyu at Sanshoku Ramen

Sanshoku Ramen Gangnam Main Branch (산쇼쿠라멘 강남본점) is a Japanese-style ramen shop tucked into an alley off Teheran-ro 4-gil near Gangnam Station, Seoul. On a weekday evening the writer walked in with no wait and used the kiosk to order the signature black tori paitan shoyu (soy-seasoned ramen in a rich chicken broth), fried chicken, fried shrimp and a can of oolong tea. The broth was rich and thick, the chashu generous and the soft-boiled egg runny. Sanshoku Ramen is a good Gangnam Station stop for a hot bowl of ramen to unwind after work.

Written Jul 30, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulRestaurants

Yeonnam-dong pasta restaurant, mild chili pasta lunch date: Hey Joji

Hey Joji is a pasta restaurant on Donggyo-ro 46-gil in Yeonnam-dong, Mapo, Seoul. On a weekday lunch date, the couple got a table with no wait and shared the bocconcini meat chili tomato pasta and sweet potato fries, two dishes that satisfied both of them in portion and flavor. Despite the "chili" in its name, Hey Joji's tomato pasta is easy to eat even for people who can't handle spicy food.

Written Oct 6, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulRestaurants

Gongdeok, Seoul Korean beef dinner with 1++ sirloin: Usu Dinner B

Usu (우수) is an all-private-room Korean beef (hanwoo) course restaurant on basement level 2 of Lotte Castle President, right outside Exit 2 of Gongdeok Station in Mapo, Seoul. The Dinner B course (90g) at Usu opened with a treasure box of caviar, truffle, abalone, shrimp and hanwoo revealed in dry-ice smoke, then moved through ugyejuk (beef and chicken porridge), tilefish, abalone five-color gardenia noodles and a 1++ sirloin hanwoo grill set. Usu suits anyone looking for a quiet, formal setting for meeting the in-laws or celebrating an anniversary.

Written Jul 28, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulRestaurants

Hapjeong shabu-shabu with extra vegetables and porridge: Nahonsha

Nahonsha is a solo shabu-shabu and sukiyaki restaurant a 3-minute walk from Hapjeong Station in Mapo, Seoul. On this visit the order was the tomato broth, with a second round of napa cabbage, bok choy and mushrooms added to the sweet-and-sour soup and a vegetable porridge cooked in the leftover broth at the end, like a full course. Nahonsha suits an evening when a warm bowl of soup is the comfort you are after in Hapjeong.

Written Sep 26, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulRestaurants

Hongdae pasta restaurant for clam vongole and salmon Benedict: MELA

MELA Hongdae is a pasta and brunch restaurant with a red apple logo, located in a Seogyo-dong alley off Hongik University Station in Mapo, Seoul. At MELA Hongdae, the vongole pasta is packed with plump clams, and diners squeeze lemon over it themselves for a bright, non-greasy finish. The salmon egg Benedict fills the plate with hollandaise sauce and a side salad. MELA Hongdae is worth a stop when you want clam-loaded vongole and brunch at the same table in Hongdae.

Written Sep 29, 2026Sponsored
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