Hillside Supper Notes · 13 stories

Night Menu, Gangwon-Seoul-Daegu/Gyeongbuk Restaurants and Bars

Writes about restaurants and bars across Gangwon, Seoul, Busan-Gyeongnam, Incheon, Gyeonggi, and Daegu-Gyeongbuk. · Writes about: Restaurants · Bars

PlaceSeocho, SeoulRestaurants

Gyodae Station Korean pub: rice cake dumpling soup on a burner, Daseon

Daseon Kalguksu (다선칼국수) Gyodae branch is a company-run outpost of a 25-year-old Suwon hangover kalguksu (knife-cut noodle) specialist, in the food alley off Exit 14 of Gyodae Station in Seocho, Seoul. On a rainy day the writer stopped by Daseon Kalguksu with friends for a second round of plate suyuk (boiled pork) at ₩15,000, blanched cuttlefish, kongguksu (cold soy milk noodles) and tteok mandu-guk (rice cake dumpling soup) with soju, and staff brought a pot and gas burner to reheat the soup once it had cooled. Daseon Kalguksu Gyodae is a solid Gyodae Station spot for both a meal and drinks.

Written Jun 11, 2026Sponsored
PlaceNowon, SeoulRestaurants

Solo drinks at a Nowon conveyor sushi bar: cheese shrimp, Sushi Ianen

Sushi Ianen Nowon Station is a conveyor sushi restaurant on the 3rd floor of an arcade building near Exit 2 of Nowon Station in Nowon, Seoul, with every plate priced at ₩1,990. Sitting alone at the end of the bar with soju and beer mixed together, the writer picked egg sushi, sweet shrimp with gamtae seaweed, raw fish with aged kimchi, futomaki (thick sushi roll) and cheese-topped grilled shrimp. The Sushi Ianen staff were friendly even to a solo drinker, making it an easy place to eat your fill without pressure.

Written Jun 15, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJungnang, SeoulRestaurants

Sangbong food street pub: baby octopus and 10 soju-beers, Joajukne

Joajukne Jjukkumi (조아죽네쭈꾸미) is a baby octopus and pork belly pub with outdoor street tables on the Sangbong food street in Jungnang, Seoul. Joajukne Jjukkumi was full before sunset, so after a short wait the writer sat indoors and shared the Nunchi Jjuksam set with sungnyung (scorched-rice tea) and assorted add-ons, 20,900 won, for 2, plus cheese and ten glasses of soju-beer with a friend. Missing an outdoor table was a pity, but the tender baby octopus, spicy sauce and staff who stir-fry everything at the table make Joajukne Jjukkumi easy to recommend to anyone who loves baby octopus with pork belly.

Written Jun 18, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeongdong, SeoulRestaurants

Taiwanese food and beer in Seongsu with friends: Bao Seoul Seongsu

Bao Seoul Seongsu is a Taiwanese restaurant on Yeonmujang-gil in Seongsu, Seoul, that works as both a place to eat and a place to drink. On a first round out with a friend, the writer ordered classic bao, Taiwanese beef noodle soup and a dongpo pork rice bowl with Sapporo draft beer and a 600ml Taiwan Classic Lager, and the well-seasoned dongpo pork rice bowl was the personal favorite. The beef noodle soup grows on you even if you are sensitive to spices, and the generous portions make Bao Seoul Seongsu a filling meal.

Written Jun 24, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangdong, SeoulRestaurants

Gildong sundaeguk spot for solo drinking: spicy set, jeon, Sinjuokmi

Sinjuokmi Gildong Direct Branch is a 24-hour sundaeguk (Korean blood sausage soup) restaurant in Gildong, Gangdong, Seoul. On a rainy day, a second visit to Sinjuokmi meant a solo drinking meal of the spicy sundaeguk set, which adds suyuk (boiled pork slices) for 3,000 won extra, plus mixed jeon (assorted Korean pancakes), and even the liver and lung had no gamey smell. For anyone who loves sundaeguk, the 3,000-won suyuk set at Sinjuokmi is well worth ordering.

Written Jun 29, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGwangjin, SeoulRestaurants

Gwangjin Korean restaurant: mandu and bossam with soju, Sosa Myeonok

Sosa Myeonok (소사면옥) is a Korean restaurant specializing in Hamheung naengmyeon (cold noodles) and bossam (boiled pork) on Neungdong-ro in Gwangjin, Seoul, between Children's Grand Park and Gunja Station. After an earlier visit with their father, the blogger returned to Sosa Myeonok with a friend for dinner and drinks, ordering Daega Bossam, the handmade mandu (dumplings, 8,000 won for 5) they had been too full to try last time, and Hamheung mul naengmyeon, all with somaek (soju mixed with beer). The bossam and naengmyeon were as good as before and the mildly seasoned mandu were nice, making Sosa Myeonok a recommended Korean restaurant with solid fundamentals.

Written Jun 27, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeongdong, SeoulRestaurants

Eel BBQ buffet in Seongsu for midday drinks with Dad: Songnim Bok

Songnim Bok Jangeo Unlimited Freshwater Eel Seongsu Branch is an all-you-can-eat Korean BBQ restaurant at the end of the old Ttukseom road in Seongsu, Seoul, serving unlimited eel, pork belly and chicken neck for ₩29,900 per adult. The writer arrived with their dad right after opening, started a daytime drinking session with somaek (soju mixed with beer), and went through green onion kimchi from the self-serve bar, chicken neck and a final bowl of eel soup, finishing 3 bottles of soju, 1 beer and 1 bokbunja (black raspberry wine). The eel at Songnim Bok Jangeo is on the small side and you grill it yourself, but for an easy daytime drink with no extra charges, it delivered everything the writer wanted.

Written Jul 4, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYongsan, SeoulBars

Samgakji izakaya for round two: Ilpoom Jinro soda set, Hatpiendo

Hatpiendo is an izakaya on Yongridan-gil near Samgakji Station in Yongsan, Seoul. After a first round of dakgalbi (spicy stir-fried chicken) near Sookmyung Women's Univ. Station, the writer came to Hatpiendo for a second round of crab tomalley risotto and limited-quantity mackerel bar sushi with an Ilpoom Jinro, Singha soda water and lemon set. Even on a full stomach both dishes were delicious, making Hatpiendo a bar worth returning to on any trip to Yongsan.

Written Jul 12, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGwangjin, SeoulRestaurants

Sunday day-drinking at a Guui-dong Korean BBQ with Dad: Ssamchae

Ssamchae Sotttukkeong Samgyeopsal (쌈채솥뚜껑삼겹살) is a new iron-lid and charcoal Korean BBQ restaurant in Guui-dong, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, in the Jayang Haneulchae Vere shopping arcade at the north end of Jamsil Bridge. On a Sunday afternoon of day-drinking with Dad, the writer ordered the charcoal-grill Ssamchae half set of beef flank, premium beef rib meat and pork skin, plus doenjang jjigae (soybean paste stew), with soju at 2,900 won and a small Hanmac draft beer at 1,900 won. With a good-value set, unlimited wrap vegetables and cheap drinks, Ssamchae Sotttukkeong Samgyeopsal is a satisfying day-drinking spot.

Written Jul 10, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJongno, SeoulRestaurants

Dongdaemun chicken hot pot and soju on a rainy Chobok: Sunhuine

Sunhuine Bindaetteok Dak Hanmari Dongdaemun is a dak hanmari (whole-chicken hot pot) and bindaetteok (mung bean pancake) restaurant in Jongno, Seoul, right next to Jinokhwa on Dongdaemun's dak hanmari alley. On a rainy Chobok (the first of summer's hottest days), the writer and a younger sibling ordered dak hanmari, meatballs and mung bean pancake for a daytime soju lunch, and liked the chicken with no gamey smell, the hangover-soothing broth and the friendly service. Sunhuine Bindaetteok is a solid alternative when the wait at Jinokhwa feels like too much.

Written Jul 15, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeongdong, SeoulBars

Second-round izakaya near Seongsu Station with free fried tofu: Kitpou

Kitpou is an izakaya (Japanese-style pub) on the ground floor of Korea IT Center near Seongsu Station in Seoul, open from 17:00 to 01:00. The writer arrived for a second round already full and ordered mackerel bou-zushi (pressed mackerel sushi), sliced tomatoes, a Suntory highball and soju, while the staff brought complimentary snacks such as fried tofu. The mackerel bou-zushi was a little over-torched that day but still tasted good, and Kitpou's cozy lighting, quieter atmosphere and friendly service make it a memorable second-round izakaya near Seongsu Station.

Written Jul 28, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGwangjin, SeoulRestaurants

Day-drinking Korean BBQ in Guui with parents: pork jowl at Sanggu's

Sanggu's Sotttukkeong Samgyeopsal Guui Branch is a cauldron-lid pork belly restaurant in Guui, Gwangjin, Seoul, between Guui Station and Gangbyeon Station, where staff grill the meat for you. The writer had a Sunday lunch with their parents: a half-plate set of fresh pork belly and pork neck, then added pork jowl (200g for 17,800 won), doenjang stew (soybean paste stew) made with cheonggukjang and fried rice. With 2,900 won soju and self-serve wrap vegetables, Sanggu's Guui Branch is a good-value Korean BBQ spot for easy daytime drinking.

Written Jul 25, 2026Sponsored