Neon Lane Roamer · 11 stories

A Neon Counter in Suwon

Writes about bars and late evenings spent around Gyeonggi province. · Writes about: Bars · Restaurants · Shopping · Cafés

PlaceGangnam, SeoulRestaurants

Gangnam Station Korean BBQ parking tip, scallion kimchi wraps: Giun

Giun Gangnam Station Main Branch is a pork belly and Korean BBQ restaurant on Dogok-ro 7-gil in Gangnam, Seoul. The writer and a friend had the Don-Giun Set grilled by staff, wrapped the pork in scallion kimchi topped with wasabi, finished with cheese fried rice, and recommends the public parking lot at Yeoksam-dong Community Center for anyone driving. Giun Gangnam Station Main Branch is worth recommending for a Gangnam Station get-together if you want thick aged pork belly, good service and a good atmosphere.

Written Apr 23, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulRestaurants

Quiet Yeoksam burger spot: lunch with a foreign friend at Bass Burger

Bass Burger Yeoksam is a handmade burger restaurant on basement level 1 of Seongbo Building, in the alley behind Gangnam Finance Center (GFC) off Exit 3 of Yeoksam Station in Gangnam, Seoul. On a lunch break from an English study session, the writer and a foreign friend ate the basic Bass Burger and a chicken burger, and the wide table spacing, soft lighting and free potato chip self-bar made for a calm, unhurried break. Bass Burger Yeoksam suits office workers and solo diners who want a quiet handmade burger lunch near Yeoksam Station.

Written Apr 22, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGwangju, GyeonggiCafés

Gwangju bakery café on a Golf GTI drive: salt bread, cheesecake at Sum

Sum (숨) is a large bakery café at the top of an uphill road on Ojeon-gil in Namhansanseong-myeon, Gwangju, Gyeonggi. The writer drove about 40 minutes in a 5th-generation Golf GTI to Sum, had a café latte, salt bread and cheesecake, then returned to Seoul along the Namhansanseong road toward Wirye and Haenggung. With easy parking and green views through floor-to-ceiling windows, Sum is a fitting midway stop on a weekend drive near Seoul.

Written Apr 24, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeongnam, GyeonggiHair & beauty salons

Seongnam garage Golf GTI oil change, loose CV joint: Able Motorworks

Able Motorworks is a one-man garage on Yeosuul-ro in Jungwon-gu, Seongnam, that specializes in engine oil changes. During an oil change on a used Volkswagen Golf Mk5 GTI with British Silverhook 5W40 oil, a new oil filter and O-ring, the Able Motorworks owner found a CV joint bolt that a previous shop had left untightened and refitted it with Loctite. This routine oil change at Able Motorworks turned into a check that may have prevented a serious accident.

Written Apr 27, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulRestaurants

Gangnam Chinese restaurant: cream shrimp a US friend loved, Namsogwan

Namsogwan U Yuk Dosakmyeon is a Chinese restaurant near Gangnam Station Exit 11 in Seoul that serves knife-cut noodles and dim sum with the feel of an old-school Hong Kong or Taiwan eatery. Over beef knife-cut noodles, xiaolongbao and cream shrimp with a Korean-American friend from an English study group, the standouts at Namsogwan were the rich broth with beef shank and the slightly tangy cream sauce. Verdict: Namsogwan pleased a friend who missed authentic Chinese food so much that she said it broke her prejudice about Chinese food in Korea.

Written Apr 28, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeocho, SeoulRestaurants

Sadang Station Korean restaurant: squid minari pancake, Okdoenjang

Okdoenjang Sadang Station Branch is a Korean restaurant specializing in doenjang (fermented soybean paste) dishes near Exit 14 of Sadang Station in Seocho, Seoul. The writer drove to Okdoenjang Sadang Station Branch, ordered the squid and minari (water dropwort) pancake and the doenjang hot pot, and was pleased with how the crispy pancake paired with the rich doenjang broth. For a filling, crowd-pleasing Korean lunch near Sadang Station, the pancake and hot pot combination at Okdoenjang is worth remembering.

Written Apr 30, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulRestaurants

Sinnonhyeon Korean BBQ after English study: ₩5,000 valet, Deo Bareun

Deo Bareun Jeongyuk Sikdang Gangnam Sinnonhyeon Station Main Branch (더바른정육식당 강남신논현역본점) is a butcher-style Korean BBQ restaurant serving 1++ hanwoo (Korean beef) and Jeju black pork, right outside Sinnonhyeon Station Exit 3 in Gangnam, Seoul. The writer recommends Deo Bareun as a good stop after an English conversation study meetup in Gangnam, covering ₩5,000 valet parking for diners, 1++ hanwoo sirloin at ₩45,000 and tenderloin at ₩48,000 per 150g, Jeju black pork belly at ₩19,800 per 170g, private rooms and staff who grill the meat for you. Verdict: Deo Bareun is a Sinnonhyeon Korean BBQ spot that delivers on meat quality, easy parking and tableside grilling.

Written May 3, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYongin, GyeonggiRestaurants

Yongin shabu kalguksu: red beef-bone or white seafood broth, Yun Ujae

Yun Ujae Shabu Kalguksu Gogidong Branch is a shabu kalguksu (shabu-shabu followed by knife-cut noodle soup) restaurant in Gogi-ri, Suji-gu, Yongin. For 11,500 won per person, diners choose red shabu kalguksu with beef-bone broth or white shabu kalguksu with seafood broth, then eat shabu-shabu, in-house foot-kneaded noodles aged 48 hours and fried rice, in that order. Yun Ujae Shabu Kalguksu suits a Gogi-ri drive or family meal when you want a familiar, filling meal rather than a flashy menu.

Written Nov 9, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulRestaurants

Gangnam Station Korean BBQ: aged sirloin with Maldon salt at Yuklab

Yuklab Gangnam is a charcoal-grilled beef restaurant on the 2nd floor on Teheran-ro 1-gil near Gangnam Station, Seoul. The writer first grilled aged sirloin (120g, 25,000 won) over binchotan charcoal and tasted it with Maldon salt and fresh wasabi, then finished with garlic beef short rib meat and cheese kimchi fried rice. With downdraft ducts that keep smoke and smell low and a stylish atmosphere, Yuklab Gangnam is a good pick for dates and company dinners.

Written Jun 1, 2026Sponsored
PlaceDonghae, GangwonRestaurants

Mukho Port seafood restaurant: Donghae day-trip lunch at Onda

Onda Donghae Mukho Main Branch is an octopus and seafood hotplate restaurant in front of Kkamak Rock at Mukho Port in Donghae, Gangwon. On a Donghae day trip, the blogger had the signature Donghae octopus seafood hotplate (₩58,000 for 2, ₩78,000 for 3) for lunch. Octopus, abalone, hard clams, shrimp and thin-sliced beef brisket came piled on the hotplate, with full-glass ocean views on the 2nd floor and attentive service. For both the view and the food at Onda, arrive before 2 pm, ahead of the 3 pm break time.

Written Jun 5, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYongin, GyeonggiBars

Seongbok-dong makgeolli pub in Yongin: Gorae Byeoljang Suji Branch

Gorae Byeoljang Suji Branch is a neighborhood pub on Seongbok 1-ro in Suji-gu, Yongin, Gyeonggi. After an English conversation study group in Gangnam, the writer stopped by for makgeolli (Korean rice wine) with chicken, yukjeon (pan-fried beef in egg batter) and ramyeon, talking slowly over the drinks. Parking is easy and no one rushes you out, so Gorae Byeoljang Suji Branch is worth remembering for a casual drink in Seongbok-dong.

Written Sep 14, 2026Sponsored
You've reached the end · 11 stories