Trail Companion · 9 stories

Worn Map, Seoul/Gangwon Restaurants and Things to Do

Writes about restaurants and things to do around Seoul and Gangwon, mostly places reached after a long bus ride. · Writes about: Restaurants · Things to do

PlaceSokcho, GangwonRestaurants

Sokcho crab restaurant, D vs E course for a bigger crab: Hanggu Hwareo

Hanggu Hwareo (항구활어) is a snow crab and raw fish restaurant in Building S of Daepohang Fish Market in Sokcho, Gangwon. Two diners ordered the snow crab D course at an ocean-view window: abalone, sea squirt and squid side dishes (skidashi), assorted sashimi, a large snow crab, crab shell fried rice and spicy fish stew. The D course has the same lineup as the E course but a bigger crab, and choosing D at Hanggu Hwareo proved the right call.

Written Jun 24, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSokcho, GangwonRestaurants

Seafood shabu restaurant in Sokcho: lunch waitlist and cooking order

Sokcho Haemul Kkot Jangkalguksu is a seafood shabu and jangkalguksu (knife-cut noodles in a spicy paste broth) restaurant on Joyang-ro in Sokcho, Gangwon. On a Sokcho trip, the writer arrived around 1pm, added a name to the waitlist, got a phone call when the table was ready, then cooked the Special Haemul Kkot Platter Shabu Jangkalguksu for 2 in the order the restaurant suggests: seafood first, then beef brisket, then the knife-cut noodles. With fresh seafood, a broth that grows richer as it cooks and a sprout ginseng on top, Sokcho Haemul Kkot Jangkalguksu is worth recommending to anyone after a restorative meal in Sokcho.

Written Jun 21, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJongno, SeoulRestaurants

Kaisendon restaurant in Gwanghwamun with hidden ankimo and crab: Ilpum

Ilpum Gwanghwamun (일품 광화문점) is a Japanese restaurant specializing in kaisendon (seafood rice bowls) and unagi don (eel rice bowls) on B2 of Le Meilleur Jongno Town in Gwanghwamun, Seoul. The writer booked through Naver, ordered the premium kaisendon and an unagi don topped with a whole eel, and enjoyed how chawanmushi, miso soup, cold karaage udon and mango panna cotta followed like a course. Verdict: the kelp-aged premium kaisendon at Ilpum Gwanghwamun is deeply savory, and its uni was the writer's top pick.

Written Jun 29, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeocho, SeoulRestaurants

Healthy restaurant in Bangbae: açaí bowl, noodle salad, Botanic Market

Botanic Market is a healthy salad and poke restaurant in Bangbae, Seocho, Seoul. At Botanic Market I ate a topping-loaded açaí bowl in the shop and took home a regular-size Signature Salad Bowl with whole wheat noodles and Botanic Basil dressing. Botanic Market is a Bangbae healthy food spot that changed my belief that healthy food never tastes quite good enough.

Written Jul 2, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulRestaurants

Yeonnam-dong Korean BBQ lunch: hanwoo ribeye vs 1% black beef, Hwaseol

Hwaseol Yeonnam-bonjeom (화설 연남본점) is a Korean BBQ restaurant on the main street of Yeonnam-dong in Mapo, Seoul, grilling hanwoo (Korean beef), wagyu and Korean pork over hardwood charcoal. For lunch I ordered hanwoo 2+ ribeye, 1% black beef kkotsal (marbled cut), fresh beef short rib and mul naengmyeon (cold noodles), and staff grilled everything from start to finish, so comparing the texture and flavor of each cut was easy. Hwaseol Yeonnam-bonjeom is worth a visit for anyone looking for a Korean BBQ spot in Yeonnam-dong for a date or group meal.

Written Jun 30, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulRestaurants

DMC eel restaurant lunch: hitsumabushi with pickled tomato, Ryeok

Ryeok Minmul Jangeogui Jeonmunjeom (력 민물장어구이전문점) is a freshwater eel restaurant in Sangam-dong, Mapo, Seoul, near Digital Media City Station. From the lunch special, the writer ordered the special eel bowl hitsumabushi (grilled eel over rice) and the egg eel bowl. The hitsumabushi was split into four sections with a + cut and eaten with pickled mustard greens, as ochazuke (tea poured over rice) and with pickled tomato, and the set came with chawanmushi (steamed egg), seaweed soup, chocolate cake and a Yakult. Ryeok Minmul Jangeogui Jeonmunjeom suits office workers in Digital Media City who want a proper eel bowl lunch.

Written Jul 8, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulThings to do

Hongdae self-photo studio for first-time maternity photos: U&I Studio

U&I Studio Hongdae Branch is a self-photo studio near Hongik Univ. Station in Mapo, Seoul, with a 4m-high white cyclorama. Although it was her first self-shoot, the writer booked the 150,000-won Premium Full Package and took her own maternity photos at U&I Studio using a wildflower centerpiece and free maternity dresses and props. Verdict: the live iMac screen, wireless remote and pre-set lighting at U&I Studio Hongdae Branch let even a self-shoot beginner capture maternity photos in the mood she wanted.

Written Jul 5, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeocho, SeoulRestaurants

Yangjae Korean restaurant lunch: bibimbap vs boyang gukbap at MUSEO

MUSEO is a Korean course-dining restaurant built on seasonal ingredients, located on basement level 1 of Gangnam-daero 47-gil near Yangjae Station in Seocho, Seoul. On a weekday lunch, the Premium Lunch Baekban was reserved with one of each main, the hanwoo kkuritsal yukhoe namul bibimbap and the MUSEO boyang gukbap (11,000 won extra). Steamed egg, mulhoe, hanwoo ox-foot and a makgeolli ice cream dessert arrived in turn, paced to how fast the table ate. MUSEO suits Gangnam course-meal dates or wedding invitation lunches where atmosphere and service matter.

Written Jul 18, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGwangjin, SeoulRestaurants

Italian restaurant in Gunja with pen shell oil pasta: Osteria Hyeon

Osteria Hyeon (오스테리아 현) is a Blue Ribbon Survey–listed Italian restaurant on Neungdong-ro in Gwangjin, Seoul, near Children's Grand Park Station. On a weekday lunch visit, booked ahead and with every table full by 1:30 pm, the writer ate a prosciutto cotto arugula pizza, a pen shell oil pasta and a seafood tomato risotto. From the oak wood-fired pizza dough to the seafood-packed risotto, Osteria Hyeon balances atmosphere, food and service, making it a solid restaurant pick in Gunja.

Written Aug 3, 2026Sponsored
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