Station Table Notes · 9 stories

Tables Near the Station

I write about restaurants I visit around Seoul. · Writes about: Restaurants · Cafés

Gyukatsu in Isigny butter with icy soba, Balsan Station: Ichigyu

Ichigyu Balsan Station Branch (이치규 발산역점) is a Japanese restaurant specializing in gyukatsu (breaded beef cutlet) on the 2nd floor of Hillstate Eco Magok at Balsan Station in Gangseo, Seoul. On a weekday after work, the writer ordered the sirloin gyukatsu set (19,500 won), seared each piece for 7–8 seconds in Isigny butter melted on a mini grill, and paired it with cold soba topped with slushy ice to cut the richness. Ichigyu Balsan Station Branch's gyukatsu and cold soba combo suits any day you want meat without worrying about the smell on your clothes.

Written Oct 15, 2026Sponsored

PlaceMapo, SeoulRestaurants

Weekend lunch duck BBQ on outdoor platforms in Mapo: Gongjung Dodeok

Gongjung Dodeok (공중도덕) is a duck BBQ restaurant in Mapo, Seoul, a 4–5 minute walk from Daeheung Station Exit 3, right beside Gyeongui Line Forest Park. The writer had weekend lunch on an outdoor platform seat, ordering the Gongjung half-and-half set (69,000 won for 2) and a side kimchi pancake; staff grilled the duck at the table, and the set came with a rich gonggamtang stew, making the meal easy and filling. Gongjung Dodeok is a good pick for duck BBQ with a creek-side platform feel in the middle of the city, followed by a stroll along the forest park.

Written Oct 15, 2026Sponsored

PlaceGangseo, SeoulRestaurants

Balsan Station sushi restaurant, pop-up monkfish liver roll: Ilpum

Ilpum Magok is a Japanese restaurant serving kaisendon (seafood rice bowl) and sushi in Gangseo, Seoul, between Balsan and Magok stations. On a weekend evening after 7pm, the writer ordered a kaisendon, the Today's Sushi set (₩28,000) and the pop-up ankimo hosomaki (monkfish liver thin roll, ₩15,000), and the meal arrived like a full set with egg custard, karaage, mini cold udon and dessert. For a neat Japanese meal, the Today's Sushi set and ankimo hosomaki combination at Ilpum Magok is good value, filling and worth recommending.

Written Oct 3, 2026Sponsored

PlacePaju, GyeonggiRestaurants

Paju Garam-maeul Korean BBQ for two: 3 pork cuts ranked, Tannae

Tannae Paju Main Branch (탄내 파주본점) is a Korean BBQ restaurant in Garam-maeul, Unjeong, Paju, that pre-grills pork over coal briquettes. Two people ate 2 servings of pork neck, then 1 of pork belly and 1 of pork jowl, and finished full with the free doenjang stew (soybean paste stew) plus an extra bowl of rice. The writer ranked pork neck first, pork jowl second and pork belly third, and plans to order 2 servings of pork neck plus pork jowl next time.

Written Oct 2, 2026Sponsored

PlaceGangseo, SeoulRestaurants

Balsan Korean restaurant, beef seaweed soup and soy cockles: Mikodam

Mikodam Magok-Balsan Branch is a hanjeongsik (Korean set-menu) restaurant a 3-minute walk from Exit 4 of Balsan Station in Gangseo, Seoul. The table-full set for two, 46,000 won, was ordered with beef seaweed soup and soy-marinated cockles, and arrived with free refills of stir-fried pork, yukjeon (pan-fried beef) and grilled mackerel. Mild rather than heavily seasoned and generous in variety, Mikodam is a place worth returning to with parents.

Written Sep 25, 2026Sponsored

PlaceGangseo, SeoulRestaurants

Magok lamb BBQ in Seoul: shoulder rack and spicy noodles, Hwarodam

Hwarodam Yang Kkochi Magok is a lamb specialty restaurant in Magok, Gangseo, Seoul, about 300m from Balsan Station, where regular lamb skewers, shoulder rack and lamb sirloin skewers are all on one menu. Staff grill the 270g shoulder rack (28,000 won) at the table, and it comes with shredded radish salad, baek-kimchi (white kimchi) and a spicy warm noodle soup to finish for 8,000 won. Hwarodam Yang Kkochi Magok suits an evening group that wants to taste several cuts of lamb side by side.

Written Sep 13, 2026Sponsored

PlaceSongpa, SeoulRestaurants

Songpa weekend lunch restaurant with peppercorn pork steak: Allegro

Allegro is a newly opened Western restaurant on the third floor of a building 238m from Songpa Naru Station Exit 2 in Songpa, Seoul. A couple booked a weekend lunch through Catchtable and ordered the seafood salad at 20,000 won, puttanesca pasta at 19,000 won and the sous-vide pork neck steak at 33,000 won, and the creamy peppercorn sauce was the standout. With a downtown Jamsil view by day and live music in the evening, Allegro is an easy recommendation for a date.

Written Sep 6, 2026Sponsored

PlaceGangseo, SeoulRestaurants

Magok eel rice bowl date: hitsumabushi for two, ₩76,000 at Kikukawa

Unagi Yondaime Kikukawa One Grove Branch is a Nagoya-style eel rice bowl restaurant on the first floor of Building A at One Grove, by Magok Station in Gangseo, Seoul. Two of us sat in the main hall and ordered two basic hitsumabushi (Nagoya-style eel rice bowl) sets at 38,000 won each, 76,000 won total, eating the eel plain first, then with wasabi, seaweed and scallion, and finishing by pouring dashi over the rice as ochazuke. The seasoning at Kikukawa stayed light enough not to get tiresome, extra rice, soup and side dishes came on request, and the meal suited a date or anniversary dinner.

Written Sep 6, 2026Sponsored

PlaceSeodaemun, SeoulRestaurants

Sinchon Station solo lunch: special sundae-guk set, Pyeongando Sikdang

Pyeongando Sikdang Sinchon Branch is a 24-hour sundae-guk (blood sausage soup) restaurant a 3–5 minute walk from Exit 3 of Sinchon Station in Seodaemun, Seoul. On a weekday lunch visit alone, the writer ordered the special sundae-guk set for ₩17,000 and four king mandu (dumplings) for ₩5,000, and was startled by the sheer size of the stone bowl, which came loaded with sundae and pyeonyuk (boiled sliced meat). For a solo diner, the special set alone is plenty for a satisfying meal.

Written Sep 9, 2026Sponsored

You've reached the end · 9 stories