Next-Seat Neighbor · 62 stories

Beside the Soup Pot

I write about restaurant meals I find around Gyeonggi. · Writes about: Restaurants · Bars · Hair & beauty salons · Cafés · Things to do

PlaceSokcho, GangwonRestaurants

Sokcho Japanese lunch: chikso eggplant & eel bowls, Kaisho Yeongrang

Kaisho Yeongrang is a Japanese rice bowl restaurant directly across from Yeongnang Lake (Yeongnangho) in Sokcho, Gangwon, serving bowls made with ingredients from Yangyang and Goseong. At lunch, the Yangyang freshwater eel bowl set had well-seasoned eel that paired well with the rice, while the Goseong chikso (brindle Korean cattle) eggplant bowl tasted more Chinese than Japanese, an unusual twist. Kaisho Yeongrang suits anyone who wants a relaxed lunch of Gangwon ingredients paired with a Yeongnang Lake walk.

Written Oct 30, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulRestaurants

Nonhyeon seafood pub: salt-grilled prawns & wine corkage, Sanhocho

Sanhocho Nonhyeon (산호초 논현점) is a seafood pub near Exit 3 of Nonhyeon Station in Gangnam, Seoul, close to Yeongdong Market. On a return visit as a second stop of the night, the writer ordered salt-grilled prawns and steamed Wando abalone with hot-plate truffle fried rice, and brought a bottle of white wine to drink with corkage (20,000 won per bottle of sake or wine, 30,000 won for whisky). Sanhocho Nonhyeon is a good second-round pub near Nonhyeon Station for live prawns with your own wine.

Written Oct 29, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulRestaurants

Corkage-free Korean course lunch at Gongdeok Station for in-laws: Usu

Usu is a hanwoo (Korean beef) set-course restaurant on the second basement floor of Lotte Castle President by Gongdeok Station in Mapo, Seoul, where every seat is in a private room. At lunch the writer ordered the Usu Lunch C course for 2: six courses running from a showing box through jinjuk (rice porridge), three bite-sized dishes, abalone five-color gardenia noodles and a 1++ hanwoo grill set meal to a Korean melon sorbet. The mild flavors and Korean-style plating seemed well suited to older relatives. With private rooms, free corkage and 3 hours of parking support, Usu is a strong choice for anyone looking for an in-law meeting restaurant in Seoul.

Written Jun 5, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSokcho, GangwonRestaurants

Sokcho sashimi takeout near Jungang Market, ready in 15 min: Hoega

Hoega (회가) is a sashimi takeout restaurant near Jungang Market in Sokcho, Gangwon, selling live fish sashimi, assorted sashimi platters, mulhoe (cold raw fish soup) and maeuntang (spicy fish stew). The writer phoned in an order and picked up a 43,000 won small assorted platter and a mulhoe with a whole abalone 15 minutes later; the platter held four fish (flatfish, rockfish, righteye flounder and marmi), and with sides like vinegared rice and aged kimchi it fed 3 to 4 people. For sashimi to take back to your lodging in Sokcho, Hoega satisfies on both portion size and freshness.

Written Oct 24, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulRestaurants

Hanwoo restaurant in Nonhyeon: medium top blade, free corkage, Hwadain

Hwadain Nonhyeon Main Branch is a hanwoo (Korean beef) dining restaurant with a black-toned interior, on the 4th floor of a building between Nonhyeon Station and Sinnonhyeon Station in Gangnam, Seoul. At Hwadain Nonhyeon Main Branch, the writer ordered 300g of top blade, grilled to medium by the staff, and finished with bibim naengmyeon (spicy cold noodles). With braziers at the tables, an upscale mood and a free wine corkage event, Hwadain Nonhyeon Main Branch is a hanwoo restaurant that suits a date in Nonhyeon.

Written Jun 8, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulRestaurants

Nonhyeon sashimi pub: late-night set with clear fish stew, Sanhocho

Sanhocho Nonhyeon is an aged sashimi and seafood pub in the Nonhyeon-dong food alley between Nonhyeon Station and Sinnonhyeon Station in Gangnam, Seoul, open every day of the year from 5 p.m. to 5 a.m. Around 10:30 p.m., the writer and friends stopped in for a second round and ordered the Sanhocho 3-dish set (₩83,000), which brings aged sashimi, crab innards pasta and a stew on one board, choosing jiritang (clear fish stew) as the stew. Even on a full stomach the group kept saying how good it was, making Sanhocho Nonhyeon a pub near Nonhyeon Station worth returning to.

Written Jun 9, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSokcho, GangwonRestaurants

Sokcho crab takeout: crab-shell fried rice with butter at Yes Susan

Yes Susan is a sashimi and seafood shop at Stall 124 on the 1st floor of Sokcho Jungang Market (Tourist Seafood Market) in Sokcho, Gangwon, that trims red crab so it is easy to eat and sells it as a takeout box. The writer took a Yes Susan red crab box and crab-shell fried rice back to their accommodation and found that adding crab innards, butter and red crab meat to the fried rice made an especially delicious combination. For Sokcho travelers who want to enjoy red crab comfortably at their accommodation without cracking shells, the Yes Susan red crab box is a good fit.

Written Oct 23, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulRestaurants

Apgujeong date izakaya: abalone miso and truffle croquette, Gatpojun

Gatpojun is a Japanese izakaya on basement level 1 near Exit 4 of Apgujeong Station in Gangnam, Seoul, with the cocktail bar Esteban hidden inside. The writer had the welcome dish of amberjack sashimi, an asparagus salad (28,000 won), grilled abalone with miso (38,000 won) and a truffle shrimp cream croquette (29,000 won), and was happy with both the aged fish and the grilled and fried dishes. Gatpojun feels upscale without being over the top, which makes it an izakaya worth recommending for a date in Apgujeong.

Written Jun 6, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJongno, SeoulRestaurants

Jongno brunch bistro for a mimosa and eggs Benedict date: Debbie's

Debbie's (데비스) is a homemade brunch bistro at 45 Changdeokgung-gil in Jongno, Seoul, on the west side of Changdeokgung Palace, known as a restaurant created by a designer from the fashion brand ANDY&DEBB. Over a weekend brunch with a view of Changdeokgung Palace, the writer had a rose-ice mimosa (15,000 won), Debbie's Benedict (25,000 won), flounder meunière and champignon tagliatelle (26,000 won), and was pleased with both the stylish interior and how well the food was made. For a date brunch with atmosphere near Anguk Station, Debbie's is a strong choice.

Written Jun 13, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulBars

Sinsa robatayaki izakaya: pomfret fire show, Jeju turban shell, Tatsu

Tatsu Robatasho is a robatayaki izakaya (Japanese hearth-grill pub) near Exit 8 of Sinsa Station in Gangnam, Seoul, part of the Hannam Tatsu group. On a weekday Thursday evening the writer sat with a friend at the bar-table grill and had grilled Jeju turban shell (₩15,000), grilled eggplant and shiitake mushrooms, grilled pomfret served with a fire show and miso-grilled pork jowl, alongside a Tatsu Earl Grey highball (₩9,000). Verdict: Tatsu Robatasho was the best izakaya the writer had visited recently, and a return visit is already planned.

Written Jun 11, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeocho, SeoulRestaurants

Gangnam Korean fine dining lunch with melon pickle ice cream: MUSEO

MUSEO (무제오) is a Korean course restaurant and wine bar built around seasonal ingredients, on Gangnam-daero 47-gil in Seocho, Seoul, near Yangjae Station. The writer had MUSEO's Lunch Premium Baekban for 49,000 won: hanu ox foot and Goheung sea bream starters, a hanu kkurit-sal (beef shoulder) tartare namul bibimbap spread, and makgeolli ice cream for dessert, all generous and carefully made. MUSEO is a good pick for anyone who wants fine dining in Gangnam but finds Western-style courses a bit much.

Written Jun 12, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulRestaurants

Seoul Korean BBQ in Sinnonhyeon: grilled white kimchi and ribs, Sojei

Sojei Seoul Flagship Store (소제이 서울본점) is a beef pub on Gangnam-daero 114-gil near Sinnonhyeon Station in Gangnam, Seoul, giving old-school Korean eatery charm a modern twist. Two friends ordered 500g of LA flower ribs and a tasting oxtail stew (33,000 won), and the Sojei staff grilled the meat and white kimchi from start to finish while explaining which sauces to pair. With generous side dishes that include beef tartare and a tasting oxtail stew bigger than its name suggests, Sojei Seoul Flagship Store is a great Korean BBQ spot for drinks with friends in Sinnonhyeon.

Written Jun 13, 2026Sponsored