Hanam Misa Japanese restaurant for one: Friday night at Roi Sikdang

Friday evening, choosing Roi Sikdang over home cooking

Fridays end a bit earlier for me so I usually have more time than usual, but for some reason I just didn't feel like cooking at home.

I opened the fridge and there was nothing I really wanted to eat, but going far out for a big meal felt like too much too.

So I looked for somewhere with a decent atmosphere that would be comfortable to eat alone, and that's how I found Roi Sikdang, a well-known spot in Hanam Misa.

Since it's a Japanese home-style restaurant, it seemed like a good fit for solo dining, so I made a Naver Reservation that morning and headed over.

Roi Sikdang's cozy atmosphere made it even more comfortable

Roi Sikdang Hanam Misa Main Branch isn't a huge place, but what struck me first walking in was how clean and comfortable the atmosphere felt.

The restaurant itself isn't very large, but maybe that's exactly why it felt cozy rather than cluttered.

A menu book with hand-drawn illustrations

Above all, the menu book was fun.

It had what looked like hand-drawn illustrations throughout, so I found myself flipping through and looking at them one by one while deciding what to order.

These small details matched the simple, comfortable feel that Japanese home-style restaurants tend to have. Some places feel awkward when you go alone, but Roi Sikdang didn't feel burdensome at all for solo dining.

The place I visited, Roi Sikdang in Hanam Misa, serves rice bowls and full-table sets based on Japanese home cooking.

What I ordered: the eggplant tempura meat rice bowl set

The dish I chose at Roi Sikdang that day was the eggplant tempura meat rice bowl set.

I usually like eggplant, and a rice bowl with meat added seemed more filling than just plain rice, so I went with that.

The eggplant tempura had a lovely crispy texture, and eating the soft eggplant together with the meat and rice made for a good combination.

Eggplant's texture really changes depending on how it's cooked, and frying it gave it a crispy outside with a soft inside that went really well with the rice.

It felt like a meal that was different from the usual home cooking I'm used to.

That day I felt like I'd made a good choice instead of cooking at home. Having a clean, satisfying Japanese home-style meal at Roi Sikdang in Hanam Misa turned out to be perfect for a small Friday evening treat.

From solo dining to dates and family meals

Roi Sikdang has tables for two as well as larger tables for groups, so it looked good for both solo visits and meals for two. Given it's Japanese home-style food, it seemed like a fine spot to bring parents, and equally casual enough for a quick lunch with friends or a date.

Honestly, eating alone made me think about wanting to bring my kid here too. I guess that's just what being a mom does to you. -_-haha

I also think booking through Naver Reservation ahead of time was a smart move. From what I read beforehand, the place gets fully booked at lunchtime and some people had to wait a bit.

Roi Sikdang Hanam Misa Main Branch business info

• Address: 75 Misagangbyeonbuk-ro 30beon-gil, 1st Floor, Hanam-si, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea
• Hours: Daily 11:00 – 21:00
• Break time: 15:00 – 17:00
• Parking: Available
• Reservations: Available
• Group dining: Available
• Takeout: Available

※ It's a good idea to double-check business hours or availability with the restaurant before you visit.

A Friday when home cooking feels tiring, work ends early but going home feels like a waste, and you just want to eat a comfortable meal alone — if that's the kind of day it is, I'd go back to Roi Sikdang in Hanam Misa again.

The receipt review event was a nice little bonus too. ^^ It's not a big, flashy restaurant, but in a cozy space I got to look through the cute menu book and have a hearty Japanese home-style meal, which I really enjoyed.

If you're looking for a place to eat solo with a comfortable atmosphere, this might be worth checking out. Next time I'd like to try other Japanese home-style dishes instead of the eggplant tempura meat rice bowl. Choosing Roi Sikdang in Hanam Misa over home cooking that Friday — I was pretty satisfied with that decision.