Final Round Noter · 4 stories

Last Pour, Seoul-Gyeonggi Bars and Restaurants

Writes about restaurants and bars across Seoul and Gyeonggi, usually visited after dark. · Writes about: Restaurants · Bars

PlacePyeongtaek, GyeonggiRestaurants

Summer octopus shabu-shabu and kongguksu, Pyeongtaek: Songdam

Songdam Kalguksu is a shabu-shabu and kalguksu (hand-cut noodle soup) restaurant on Gangbyeon-ro in Anjung-eup, Pyeongtaek, designated a Good Price Business by the Ministry of the Interior and Safety. On a hot summer day, two of us ordered octopus shabu-shabu kalguksu for two and a seasonal black soybean kongguksu (cold soy milk noodles), with barley rice, corn sulbbang (steamed bread), meatball dumplings and rice balls served before the meal for a generous spread. Songdam Kalguksu delivered on ingredient quality, portions and price, making it a satisfying summer pick-me-up meal.

Written Jul 18, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSuwon, GyeonggiRestaurants

West Suwon grilled fish, weekday lunch date at wait no. 10: Godeungeo

Godeungeo Myeongpumi Doeda Suwon Branch is a wood-fired grilled fish set-meal restaurant on Seobu-ro in Tap-dong, Gwonseon-gu, Suwon. A protein-conscious couple came for a weekday lunch date, took waiting number 10, and ordered a grilled cutlassfish set and a grilled mackerel set with an extra grilled Atka mackerel. Both were very happy with the crispy-outside, tender-inside fish with no fishy smell and the self-serve side dish bar. For a light, protein-rich date or family meal, Godeungeo Myeongpumi Doeda Suwon Branch is a good choice.

Written Jul 23, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSuwon, GyeonggiRestaurants

Day-off BBQ date in Suwon: pork belly & Taebaek kimchi, Jipbul Taebaek

Jipbul Taebaek Suwon Ingye Branch is a newly opened straw-fire smoked Korean BBQ restaurant on Nahyeseok Street (나혜석거리) in Ingye-dong, Suwon. On a day off, the writer and their partner ordered 2 servings of straw-fire pork belly and 1 serving of straw-fire pork neck at Jipbul Taebaek, and loved the juicy meat seared over a 1,000°C fire, the straw-smoke aroma, the staff grilling service and the pairing with Taebaek highland kimchi. Jipbul Taebaek Suwon Ingye Branch is a great pick when you want a proper pork belly meal on a special day.

Written Jul 22, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSuwon, GyeonggiRestaurants

Suwon Peking duck restaurant for a boyfriend's pick-me-up: Gang's Duck

Gang's Duck (갱스덕) is a Peking duck restaurant near Ingye-dong in Suwon, Gyeonggi, about a 5-minute walk from Suwon City Hall Station Exit 6. To build up a run-down boyfriend's strength, the writer booked half a Peking duck (39,000 won) for a weekday lunch at Gang's Duck and also tried the lunch-only dongpo-yuk (braised pork belly) rice bowl and mala-seasoned fried duck bones. Her boyfriend called Gang's Duck the best restaurant she had ever taken him to, making it a nourishing meal with both great flavor and atmosphere.

Written Jul 26, 2026Sponsored
You've reached the end · 4 stories