Sugar Stick Regular · 27 stories

The Sugar Packet

I write about cafes I visit in Seoul and the details that stay with me. · Writes about: Cafés · Restaurants · Bars

PlaceSeongdong, SeoulCafés

Seongsu Station solo lunch café: latte & cheesecake pairing, T Coffee

T Coffee is a quiet café in the basement (B1) of the thisisneverthat headquarters building, near Exit 2 of Seongsu Station in Seongdong, Seoul. On a solo visit at an early lunchtime, the writer ordered an iced vanilla bean latte and a vanilla bean cheesecake, and found the nutty, not-too-sweet latte paired well with the dense cheesecake. With big windows and soft lighting, T Coffee is an easy Seongsu café for resting or working alone.

Written Nov 11, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJung-gu, DaeguRestaurants

Samdeok-dong, Daegu raw beef pub for a second round: Yuquae Mungtigi

Yuquae Mungtigi Daegu Jung-gu is a mungtigi (fresh raw beef) pub on Gongpyeong-ro in Jung-gu, Daegu, near Dongseongno. The writer came for a second round after a night out in Dongseongno, sat at the counter and ordered a medium mungtigi with 2 beers, and liked the side dishes (japchae, tofu kimchi and beondegi), the sticky raw beef that clings to the plate and the nutty house sauce. Verdict: Yuquae Mungtigi is a good place for raw beef and a drink on a second round near Dongseongno.

Written May 2, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJung-gu, SeoulRestaurants

Pork neck BBQ near Sindang Station, Seoul for a family dinner: Beolpan

Gogijip Beolpan Sindang branch (고기집 벌판 신당점) is a Korean BBQ pork restaurant on a residential street in Sindang-dong, Jung-gu, Seoul, where the kitchen grills the whole platter before it reaches the table. The writer had the medium pork neck platter and doenjang sulbap (soybean-paste rice) on a Friday evening, and the aged, marinated pork skin, the tangy pickled mustard leaf and the grilled whole garlic stood out. With no grilling to do yourself, Gogijip Beolpan near Sindang Station is an easy pick for a family dinner with kids.

Written May 12, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJung-gu, SeoulRestaurants

After-work beef gopchang in Sindang, grilled kimchi: Jinseong

Jinseong Hanwoo Gopchang Sindang Direct Branch is a grilled Korean beef gopchang (small intestine) restaurant right outside Exit 7 of Sindang Station in Jung-gu, Seoul. After work, around 7pm on a weekday, the writer added a name to the whiteboard out front, waited about 30 minutes, ordered 1 portion each of hanwoo gopchang, daechang (large intestine) and makchang (abomasum), and finished with kkakdugi yangbap (fried rice with cubed radish kimchi). Jinseong Hanwoo Gopchang means a peak-time wait, but the meal was worth every minute.

Written May 18, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJung-gu, SeoulRestaurants

Weeknight ramen shop in Euljiro: motsu, horumon-don, karaage, Mentsuru

Mentsuru Euljiro Branch is a kiosk-order Japanese ramen shop in an alley between Euljiro 3-ga Station and Chungmuro Station in Jung-gu, Seoul. After work on a weekday, the writer and their partner shared motsu ramen (beef small intestine ramen), horumon-don (a rice bowl topped with beef large intestine and thin-sliced beef brisket) and homemade karaage (Japanese fried chicken). The spicy, clean-tasting intestine broth and the sweet-savory horumon-don stood out. For offal lovers, Mentsuru Euljiro Branch's motsu ramen and horumon-don combo is well worth ordering.

Written Jun 1, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulCafés

Sinnonhyeon dessert café for a holiday date: Something About Coffee

Something About Coffee (썸띵어바웃커피) is a three-floor dessert café in Gangnam, Seoul, a 5-minute walk from Exit 6 of Sinnonhyeon Station. On a holiday visit with a partner, the writer tried the mango cream cake (₩9,800), choco pudding cookie (₩6,200), matcha cream cold brew and green grape mojito (₩7,500 each); the cake and cream were not overly sweet, and the choco pudding cookie was rich yet soft. Something About Coffee is worth recommending for anyone looking for a dessert spot near Sinnonhyeon Station or a date café in Gangnam.

Written Jun 9, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulRestaurants

Gangnam steak date, sous vide flat iron & red wine sauce: Brivit

Brivit Gangnam Station is a pasta and steak restaurant between Sinnonhyeon Station and Gangnam Station in Seoul. On a holiday date during the lull between lunch and dinner, the writer ordered the best-selling Brivit Steak and the signature green onion cream corn gnocchi, and the sous vide flat iron steak under aligot cheese with red wine sauce stood out most. Every bit of the sauce was wiped clean, and Brivit Gangnam Station is a place worth a return trip just for the steak.

Written Jun 8, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYongsan, SeoulRestaurants

Hannam sandwich shop, moist chicken ciabatta to go: Dance Dance Dance

Dance Dance Dance Hannam is a takeout wellness sandwich shop on the main road at the Hannam five-way intersection in Yongsan, Seoul. The writer ordered the chicken breast sandwich with the bread swapped to ciabatta, plus a honey butter baguette for dessert. The chicken was moist enough to surprise someone who dislikes dry chicken breast, and the honey butter baguette suited the writer better than a red bean butter baguette. Verdict: Dance Dance Dance Hannam makes simple, unfussy takeout sandwiches that sit easy on the stomach.

Written Jun 13, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulCafés

Yangjae Station pie shop's Premium Mix Pie to go: Hodu Kkakki Brothers

Hodu Kkakki Brothers (호두까끼형제) is a handmade pie shop in Dogok-dong, Gangnam, near Exit 4 of Yangjae Station in Seoul. The writer took home the Premium Mix Pie (8 pieces), a whole-pie set, and tasted the Signature Walnut Pie, Original Pecan Pie, Hazelnut Cacao Pie and Macadamia Cheese Pie in turn, praising the thin crusts piled high with nuts. Hodu Kkakki Brothers' Premium Mix Pie works as a gift for anyone, from parents to friends who like trendy desserts.

Written Jun 16, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeongdong, SeoulBars

Wangsimni Station pub: perilla hot pot and highball bottle, Ari Gyegok

Ari Gyegok Wangsimni Hanyang University Branch is a Korean pub with a traditional drinking-house concept in Seongdong, Seoul, between Wangsimni Station and the Hanyang University main gate. The writer customised the 2-person Wongi Set with perilla chicken hot pot and bubbling cheese potato pancake (+₩8,000) and added a bottle of omija infused-liquor highball with ginseng and jujube. The thick perilla broth, boneless chicken and distinctly Korean highball stood out. With valley-water sounds, infused-liquor decor and reasonable prices, Ari Gyegok is a good pick for distinctive Korean bar food.

Written Jun 18, 2026Sponsored
PlacePaju, GyeonggiCafés

Paju bakery café with limited lasagna and squid ink bread: Four & More

Four & More (Fore&More) is a large five-floor bakery and brunch café on Soraji-ro in Songchon-dong, Paju, Gyeonggi. At Four & More around lunchtime, the writer and a partner had the signature lasagna (limited to 20 a day), squid ink salad bread, egg bacon bread, a Sunset Ruby lemon tea and an iced vanilla latte by a 4th-floor window overlooking green rice paddies and a river. With roomy floors, open views and food with nothing to fault, Four & More is a strong pick for a date café in Paju.

Written Jun 19, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGwangjin, SeoulRestaurants

Sejong Univ. Korean BBQ: hanwoo platter, pork belly add-on, Hwayangri

Hwayangri Jeongyuk Sikdang Main Branch is a butcher-shop Korean BBQ restaurant on Gunja-ro in Gwangjin, Seoul, between Children's Grand Park Station and the Sejong University back gate. Two diners had the charcoal wire-grill (bongseokswe) hanwoo platter grilled by staff for dinner, then added 1 serving of Korean pork belly (ogyeopsal) and mul naengmyeon (cold noodles). Thick-cut hanwoo and chewy pork belly, seared fast over real charcoal, made a juicy, satisfying meal.

Written Jun 23, 2026Sponsored