Steam and Stool · 20 stories

Steam and Stools

I write about cafes and restaurants I visit around Seoul. · Writes about: Cafés · Restaurants · Bars · Shopping

PlaceSongpa, SeoulRestaurants

Gopchang grill near Police Hospital Station: minari sauce, Jinseong

Jinseong Hanwoo Gopchang Garak Flagship (진성한우곱창 가락본점) is a Korean beef gopchang (grilled beef small intestine) restaurant in Songpa, Seoul, between Garak Market Station and Police Hospital Station. On a weekday evening around 7 p.m., the writer waited 10 minutes via the chalkboard list, then two people shared 3 portions of hanwoo gopchang, kkakdugi yangbap (fried rice with radish kimchi) and beer. The writer was delighted by the homemade kimchi sides, the minari (water parsley) garlic sauce and the timer-guided grilling. Despite having a regular gopchang spot, the writer will now head to Jinseong Hanwoo Gopchang Garak Flagship whenever gopchang cravings strike in Songpa.

Written Jun 5, 2026Sponsored
PlaceHwaseong, GyeonggiRestaurants

Shabu-shabu buffet in Dongtan, 7 p.m. walk-in & oven bread: Pyeonbaek

Pyeonbaek Hoegwan Dongtan Branch is a large all-you-can-eat cypress-steam (pyeonbaek-jjim) and shabu-shabu restaurant on the 2nd floor of Granvia Star at Dongtan Station in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi. On a weekday at 7 p.m. the writer walked in with no wait and paid ₩19,900 for dinner, enjoying cypress-steamed meat, shabu-shabu in katsuo and spicy broths, rice-paper wraps and the salad bar, then finished with bread baked in the oven instead of porridge. With fresh meat and vegetables and even a kids' play room, Pyeonbaek Hoegwan Dongtan Branch is worth a return visit for a family meal out with children.

Written Jun 6, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulBars

Nonhyeon Station lounge bar for pear and peach highballs: Mixed Table

Mixed Table is a basement lounge bar in the food alley between Nonhyeon Station and Sinnonhyeon Station in Gangnam, Seoul. After dinner, the writer stopped by Mixed Table for a second round and ordered the pear highball Sparkling Pear (13,000 won), the peach-orange highball Sweety Peach (14,000 won) and Kaymak & Melon (19,000 won). Both highballs were sweet and the fruit plate suited a full stomach. With hip lighting and music, Mixed Table is a good second stop for a date or blind date.

Written Jun 9, 2026Sponsored
PlaceHwaseong, GyeonggiBars

Dongtan round-two pub: spicier boneless chicken feet, Jusangnakwon

Jusangnakwon (주상낙원) Dongtan North Plaza is a Korean pub on the first floor inside Dongtan North Plaza in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi, with bar food ranging from stews, bossam (boiled pork wraps), beef tartare, chicken feet and tteokbokki (spicy rice cakes) to pasta and risotto. After a first round left the writer feeling queasy from greasy food, the writer came to Jusangnakwon for a second round and ordered the flame-grilled boneless chicken feet (21,900 won) a little spicier than the default, and eating them with cheese, perilla leaves and mayonnaise made the heat just right. For spicy Korean bar food on a second round in Dongtan, Jusangnakwon's boneless chicken feet are a solid pick.

Written Jun 9, 2026Partially sponsored
PlaceHwaseong, GyeonggiRestaurants

Dongtan Station blind date restaurant, soupy hangover pasta set: Paol

Paol Dongtan Yeoul Park Branch is a Western restaurant on the ground floor of the Dongtan Yeoul Park shopping strip in Hwaseong, a 13-minute walk from Dongtan Station. One afternoon the writer swapped Set A (the pasta set) to the hangover pasta and the steak risotto, and with drinks the bill came to ₩48,000. Thanks to a spicy hangover pasta with plenty of broth and a nicely cooked steak risotto, both plates were scraped clean, making Paol a Dongtan Station Western restaurant worth recommending for a blind date or a date.

Written Jun 12, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeongnam, GyeonggiBars

Jeongja Station patio pub for five: mala jjamppong & gin tonic, Bacha

Bacha Jeongja is a Korean gastropub (yorijujeom) with outdoor patio tables near Exit 3 of Jeongja Station in Bundang, Seongnam, Gyeonggi. The writer arrived at 5:30pm on a weekday with a group of five, pulled extra chairs up to a four-person patio table, and shared six dishes, including mala brisket jjamppong soup, sous-vide pork jowl and mozzarella chili shrimp, with highballs and gin tonics. Every dish at Bacha Jeongja was satisfying, and the blankets, cushions, free hutgae tea and checkout-counter amenities make it an easy pick for a group night out at Jeongja Station.

Written Jun 16, 2026Partially sponsored
PlaceSeongnam, GyeonggiCafés

Jeongja Station café for a group of 5: butter sands, Butter & Shelter

Butter & Shelter Bundang Jeongja is a café and bakery with a wide range of desserts near Exit 5 of Jeongja Station (Shinbundang Line) in Seongnam, Gyeonggi. A group of 5 friends sat at the 6-person table in the middle of Butter & Shelter and shared iced americanos, low-sugar yogurt, crème brûlée and choco butter sands (butter cream sandwich cookies, ₩3,500-₩3,800) and a ₩7,800 banana choco cream cake, which was plenty for all 5. Verdict: Butter & Shelter is a Jeongja dessert café worth recommending for group chats or outdoor seating on a sunny day.

Written Jun 15, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJung-gu, SeoulBars

Euljiro bar for a second round with DIY gin tonics: Another Level

Another Level (어나더레벨) is a bar and restaurant in Euljiro, Jung-gu, Seoul, a 2-minute walk from Euljiro 3-ga Station, with an indoor hall on the 3rd floor and the entire 4th-floor rooftop set up as open-air seating. After a first round at Dalmaji Plaza, a group of 6 ordered jamón melon and fresh fruit with Greek yogurt, then mixed their own gin tonics from Saero soju, tonic water and lemon slices for a light second round. If you're already full and want a clean, fruity snack with your drinks, Another Level is a spot-on Euljiro bar.

Written Jun 19, 2026Partially sponsored
PlaceJeju, JejuCafés

Jeju Dongmun Market sweets shop: oil-free puffed gwajul, Cheongchuni

Cheongchuni Oranda Dongmun Market Main Branch is a traditional Korean sweets shop inside Dongmun Market in Jeju that makes oranda (puffed grain clusters) and gwajul (rice crackers) by hand on site. After sampling, the writer bought 4 square oranda flavors (yuzu, Udo peanut, mixed nut and garlic) and a 12-piece bag of oil-free puffed gwajul for ₩23,500 in total, and liked the soft oranda and the puffed gwajul that stayed crisp for days. For snacks or souvenirs in Jeju's Dongmun Market, Cheongchuni Oranda is worth a taste test before buying.

Written Jun 30, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGwangjin, SeoulBars

Konkuk Univ. bar for 4: yukhoe platter, cheese fries, Yukhoe Gongjakso

Yukhoe Gongjakso Sejong University branch (육회공작소 세종대본점) is a yukhoe (Korean beef tartare), yakiniku and salmon bar between Konkuk Univ. Station and Children's Grand Park Station in Gwangjin, Seoul, open every day until 6 a.m. Four friends ordered the yukhoe platter, Bburinkle-seasoned cheese fries, mukbaetae (dried pollack), beef ramyeon, chicken skewers and giant fried shrimp; the free-refill beef egg soup and the yukhoe with fresh wasabi were the highlights. With solo window seats and group tables, Yukhoe Gongjakso is a Konkuk Univ. bar that suits small get-togethers and company dinners alike.

Written Jul 11, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSongpa, SeoulShopping

Songpa florist purple bouquet for leaving a job: Helio Flower by Su

Helio Flower by Su is a flower shop in the Helio City shopping arcade, right by Exit 3 of Songpa Station in Songpa, Seoul. The writer booked an S bouquet (60,000 won) in purple tones on Naver to celebrate her older sister leaving her job, and it came out as big as the 168cm writer's torso, so big that her sister called it the largest bouquet she had ever received. For a big celebration, the Helio Flower by Su S bouquet is a perfect fit.

Written Jul 17, 2026Partially sponsored
PlaceDong-gu, BusanRestaurants

Weekday pork cutlet lunch revisit, Busan Station: Dal and Sixpence

Gyeongyangsik Dal and Sixpence Main Branch (경양식 달과6펜스 본점) is a retro-style pork cutlet restaurant in Dong-gu, Busan, a 4-minute walk from Busan Station, and the original branch of a chain that also has a location in Seoul. The writer returned with a friend around 1:30 PM on a weekday for the classic cutlet (10,000 won) and the sweet potato cheese cutlet (12,500 won), enjoying the old-school set of soup, rice and kkakdugi (cubed radish kimchi), the sweet sauce and the long-stretching mozzarella. For a filling pork cutlet lunch near Busan Station before a train, Dal and Sixpence Main Branch is a dependable choice.

Written Jul 16, 2026Sponsored