Round Table Pair · 6 stories
Writes about small restaurants and bars across Seoul, Gyeonggi, and Incheon worth a second visit. · Writes about: Restaurants · Bars
Yeokjeon Pojangmacha Yeongdeungpo is a retro indoor pojangmacha (street-tent bar) style bar near Yeongdeungpo Station in Seoul. After a full dinner, two of us stopped by for a second round and shared one Yeokjeon Odeng-tang Basic (fish cake stew, 14,900 won) with soju. With its variety of fish cakes and clean broth, the Yeokjeon Odeng-tang was an easy, light snack even on a full stomach.
Robatayaki Sodam Guro Digital Complex Branch is a Japanese-style izakaya near Guro Digital Complex Station in Guro, Seoul, where robatayaki grilled dishes are served as drinking food. The writer came for dinner and drinks, ordered grilled rockfish, grilled shrimp and chicken cartilage, and named the tender, moist grilled rockfish the best dish. For grilled fish with dinner and drinks in Guro Digital Complex (Gudi), order the grilled rockfish at Robatayaki Sodam first.
Mannyang Sijang Suwon Station branch is a budget-friendly bar with a retro pocha (Korean street-pub) feel on Hyanggyo-ro near Suwon Station in Suwon. On a second-round date, the writer walked in with no wait around 7 p.m. on a Saturday and ordered Chamisul Fresh soju, Chilsung Cider and a strawberry condensed milk ice cream bingsu (Korean shaved ice), for a total of 18,500 won for two. Mannyang Sijang Suwon Station branch is an easy, low-cost pick for couples who want a light drink or a sweet snack after dinner.
Dwitgolmok Ddotgalbi is a Korean BBQ restaurant serving aged Jeju pork in Dangha-dong, near Wanjeong Station in Incheon. The writer had the signature ddotgalbi (Jeju-style pork ribs) for dinner, asked staff to cut the large pieces smaller, and finished with a seafood doenjang jjigae (soybean paste stew) with two abalone and shrimp. Ddotgalbi followed by the doenjang jjigae makes a filling pork dinner near Wanjeong Station.
Monthly Beer Guro Digital Complex Station Branch is a casual pub serving food near Kkalkkal-geori (깔깔거리) in Guro, Seoul. After a first-round date, the writer walked into Monthly Beer around 8 pm with no wait and ordered gambas al ajillo for ₩18,900, with Chamisul soju and Cass beer at ₩5,000 each; the salty garlic oil and plump shrimp went especially well with beer. Monthly Beer is a good second-round bar for a drink over one shared dish.
Champpoppo Jjokgalbi Hapjeong Branch is a pre-grilled pork rib restaurant on Yanghwa-ro 6-gil near Hapjeong Station in Mapo, Seoul. A family of four ordered two servings of soy-marinated jjokgalbi (300g) and two of sauced jjokgalbi (300g) plus kaljjebi (knife-cut noodle soup), doenjang stew and two bowls of rice for 71,000 won, after a 30-minute wait outside and 15 minutes for the pre-grilling. The soy-marinated ribs were the highlight at Champpoppo, with thick, tender meat clinging to the bone.
