Spare Chair Visitor · 49 stories

At the Spare Chair

I write about restaurant visits around Seoul, one meal at a time. · Writes about: Restaurants · Bars · Things to do

PlaceJungnang, SeoulBars

Highball bar in Sagajeong: mango snow bingsu & Kirin draft at Bomsul

Bomsul Sagajeong Main Branch (봄술 사가정본점) is a bar near Sagajeong Station in Jungnang, Seoul, known for its nabe (Japanese-style hot pot) and sukiyaki. After dinner elsewhere, the writer stopped by Bomsul for a light second round of mango snow bingsu (shaved ice, 13,500 won), Kirin draft beer (6,000 won) and a Suntory highball (7,500 won), with complimentary shrimp chips. Bomsul is a Sagajeong Station bar worth returning to, whether for bingsu and highballs as a second round or for a full first round with nabe.

Written Apr 27, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJongno, SeoulRestaurants

Jonggak Korean BBQ, Hallasan soju & brisket stew: Gogikkun Kim Chunbae

Gogikkun Kim Chunbae Jongno (고기꾼 김춘배 종로점), listed in English as Jonggak-ap Nosang Gongyeong Juchajang, is a Korean BBQ restaurant on the 5th floor of a building near Jonggak Station in Jongno, Seoul. The writer ordered the 99,000 won recommended set, made up of 150g of the day's hanwoo (Korean beef), which was buchaesal (flap meat), 200g of pork neck and 150g of pork belly. The writer had it with Hallasan soju, and staff grilled the meat. The meal also included kkakdukbap (diced rice dish), half-and-half naengmyeon (cold noodles) and a beef brisket doenjang stew from a Naver receipt event. Verdict: Gogikkun Kim Chunbae Jongno is worth recommending for company dinners, dates and get-togethers near Jonggak Station when you want hanwoo and pork in one meal.

Written Apr 27, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYongsan, SeoulBars

Namyeong food alley wine bar: melon prosciutto and Kopke Ruby at B421

B421 is a wine, whisky and cocktail bar near Sookmyung Women's University Station and the Namyeong food alley in Yongsan, Seoul, and it also serves craft beer. The writer had Kopke Fine Ruby port (55,000 won) with melon prosciutto (19,000 won) and honey apple crackers (kkulsamagwa, 17,000 won) in a quiet room, and B421 added a complimentary Greek yogurt. For sweet port and sweet-salty snacks in a roomy, quiet space, B421 is a good fit.

Written Nov 11, 2026Sponsored
PlaceDongdaemun, SeoulRestaurants

Lamb skewers & free dried tofu salad in Sinseoldong: Yangchigi Sonyeo

Yangchigi Sonyeo Sinseoldong (양치기 소녀 신설동점) is a charcoal lamb skewer restaurant on the 1st floor of 13 Cheonho-daero, Dongdaemun, Seoul, near Sinseoldong Station. On a return visit, the meal at Yangchigi Sonyeo ran from 5 side dishes and a mixed skewer platter on auto-rotating charcoal grills to a complimentary dried tofu salad, Harbin beer, kaoliang liquor and onmyeon (warm noodle soup), with lamb that had no gamey smell and a kind owner couple. For lamb skewers and drinks around Dongdaemun and Sinseoldong, Yangchigi Sonyeo is worth going back to.

Written May 2, 2026Sponsored
PlaceNamyangju, GyeonggiRestaurants

Dasan beef BBQ patio: ₩8,900 skirt steak and gopchang stew, Chadolpung

Chadolpung Dasan Station Branch is a beef and gopchang (beef intestine) BBQ restaurant in Dasan, Namyangju, with outdoor patio seating for eating and drinking on nice days. Two friends ordered 2 servings of skirt steak (₩8,900 per 100g), beef gopchang stew with rice included for ₩11,900, and soju, and enjoyed generous portions, attentive staff and an on-the-spot drink event. Chadolpung Dasan Station Branch is a good-value beef BBQ spot for a relaxed patio meal with drinks in Dasan.

Written May 4, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangdong, SeoulRestaurants

Spicy sundae gukbap & Terra beer lunch in Gildong: Boseung Hoegwan

Boseung Hoegwan Gildong Station branch (보승회관 길동역점) is a 24-hour gukbap (rice soup) restaurant on the main commercial strip of Gildong in Gangdong, Seoul. Just before lunch, the writer ordered spicy sundae gukbap (Korean blood sausage soup with rice) for 12,000 won, a pork jowl suyuk set for 18,000 won and a Terra beer for 6,000 won; the broth was spicy yet clean, and the pork jowl suyuk was not overly greasy. Boseung Hoegwan Gildong is a good gukbap spot for a solo meal or a light lunchtime drink at any hour.

Written Feb 22, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSongpa, SeoulRestaurants

Gopchang BBQ on Garak Market food street with a soju prize: Midang

Midang Hanwoo Gopchang (미당한우곱창) is a Korean beef offal (gopchang) restaurant on the Garak Market food street in Songpa, Seoul, run by a wholesaler at the Nonghyup livestock market. The writer ordered 2 servings of beef gopchang at ₩25,000 each, two Hanmac draft beers at ₩5,000 each and ₩4,000 fried rice, then won 4th prize, a bottle of soju, in the restaurant's number-draw event. Gopchang packed with creamy filling, three signature sides and friendly staff made Midang Hanwoo Gopchang a genuinely happy meal.

Written Nov 5, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSongpa, SeoulBars

Bangi-dong 3rd-round pub for ₩100 beer, melon and makgeolli: Wareureu

Wareureu Mansion Bangi Branch (와르르맨숀 방이점) is a Korean pub on Ogeum-ro 11-gil in Bangi-dong, Songpa, Seoul. Already on a third round, the writer arrived around 6:40pm and used the before-7pm ₩100 Hanmaek draft beer deal. Two people paired it with melon (₩13,500) and Neurinmaeul Neulbom makgeolli (₩6,000) and worked up to 17 draft beers. Wareureu Mansion Bangi Branch is an easy Bangi-dong bar for a light drink when you're already full.

Written Nov 6, 2026Sponsored
PlaceHanam, GyeonggiRestaurants

Pork BBQ near Misa Station: neck-to-belly grilling order at Gogitri

Gogitri 88beonji Hanam Misa Direct Branch is a Korean BBQ restaurant near Misa Station in Hanam, Gyeonggi, that serves 2-week aged pork pre-seared over charcoal briquettes. Arriving at 5:30pm, the writer ordered the Modeum A mixed platter (45,000 won), used the unlimited-soju-before-6pm deal, and grilled pork neck, then gabrisal (pork shoulder cap), then pork belly in the order the owner recommended, with gabrisal the standout. With cheap drinks and a free kimchi stew, Gogitri 88beonji Hanam Misa Direct Branch suits anyone looking for good-value pork belly near Misa Station.

Written Nov 6, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangdong, SeoulRestaurants

Dunchondong hagfish pub: 39,000-won spicy set at Ppalgan Kkomjangeo

Ppalgan Kkomjangeo Dunchondong Station Main Branch is an old-school hagfish (kkomjangeo) pub in an alley of Seongnae-dong, Gangdong, Seoul. Ppalgan Kkomjangeo is known for its giant hagfish, but this time the writer ordered the Ppalgan Kkomjangeo Set (39,000 won): 2 portions of pre-grilled, sweet-and-spicy hagfish plus chewy pork skin. Side dishes like tofu kimchi and fish cake soup also come with it. Even without the giant hagfish, the Ppalgan Kkomjangeo Set alone makes this Dunchondong hagfish pub worth a return visit.

Written May 17, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangdong, SeoulRestaurants

24-hour gamjatang spot in Gildong for solo drinking: Boseung Hoegwan

Boseung Hoegwan Gildong Station branch is a 24-hour gukbap (Korean rice soup) restaurant near Exit 1 of Gildong Station in Gangdong, Seoul. The writer ordered a medium pork bone gamjatang (spicy pork bone stew) for 32,000 won as drinking food and finished with fried rice for 4,000 won, praising the tender meat that falls off the bone, the rich broth and the broth refills. For a late-night solo meal or a casual drink near Gildong Station, the gamjatang at Boseung Hoegwan is a good choice.

Written May 1, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulBars

Yeonnam-dong whisky bar with neat pours by the glass: Midnight Lounge

Midnight Lounge is a whisky bar on Seongmisan-ro in Yeonnam-dong, Mapo, Seoul, with black interiors, purple lighting and a rooftop. The writer drank Balvenie 12 Doublewood, Ardbeg Ten, Arran 10 and 1792 Small Batch neat by the glass at around 20,000 won each, and the owner's friendly explanations made the whiskies easy to enjoy properly. Midnight Lounge is a good bar in Yeonnam-dong for a quiet whisky and conversation.

Written May 18, 2026Sponsored