Paper Bag Counter · 22 stories

Paper Bag Tally, Gyeonggi/Seoul/Daegu-Gyeongbuk/Incheon Restaurants, Cafes and Shops

Writes about restaurants, cafes, and shopping stops across Gyeonggi, Seoul, Daegu/Gyeongbuk, and Incheon. · Writes about: Restaurants · Cafés · Shopping

PlaceMapo, SeoulCafés

Takeaway roastery café by Mangwon Market: coffee in the park, PICT

PICT Roastery Mangwon Branch is a roastery café in a half-basement right by Mangwon Market in Mapo, Seoul, and its main branch is in Magok. An iced Americano made with acidic beans, an iced latte made with nutty beans and a Kyoto matcha Basque cheesecake went to a nearby park as takeaway, and the friend along for the visit called it the best coffee they'd had recently. For anyone who puts coffee taste first, PICT Roastery Mangwon Branch is a 100% would-revisit café.

Written Oct 18, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeodaemun, SeoulCafés

After-work Yeonnam-dong bakery: sell-outs & garlic baguette, Mandong

Mandong Jegwa Yeonnam Branch is a bakery on Yeonhui-ro in Yeonnam-dong, Seodaemun, Seoul, known for its garlic baguette. The writer visited Mandong Jegwa in the evening after work, when most of the popular breads were sold out, but still got a garlic baguette, whose garlic flavor paired well with the bread (100% would buy again), and an ang cream bun (cream cheese and red bean paste), which was reliably tasty. Mandong Jegwa's garlic baguette lived up to expectations, but go earlier for a wider choice of breads.

Written Oct 18, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGoyang, GyeonggiRestaurants

Late-night Ilsan Korean BBQ: pork belly & grilled kimchi at Auseong

Auseong Gaeseong Sonmandu (아우성 개성손만두) is a 24-hour Korean restaurant in Janghang-dong, Ilsan (Goyang) that specializes in handmade dumplings. A longtime dumpling regular ordered 2 servings of fresh pork belly this time and grilled the sour kimchi that comes with it, finding the pork belly homey, like grilling at home, rather than like an aged-meat specialist. Auseong Gaeseong Sonmandu is a dumpling favorite that is also worth a stop in Ilsan when you crave pork belly late at night.

Written Oct 17, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGoyang, GyeonggiRestaurants

Siksa-dong Korean restaurant in Ilsan: mackerel set, banchan refills

Hwadegeuro Gan Godeungeo Siksa Branch is a Korean restaurant in Siksa-dong (Wi City), Ilsandong-gu, Goyang, specializing in grilled mackerel and pot rice (sotbap) sets. The writer went for mackerel, which smells too strong to grill at home, and ordered the 17,000 won per person mackerel set: tender grilled mackerel, pot rice eaten down to the nurungji (scorched rice), and refillable banchan (side dishes) such as kimchi, lotus root and seasoned bellflower root. Verdict: Hwadegeuro Gan Godeungeo Siksa Branch is worth a return visit for a family meal with parents or a healthy Korean meal.

Written Oct 16, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGoyang, GyeonggiRestaurants

Samsong hangover soup and takeout cutlassfish stew: Jeju Eunhui-ne

Jeju Eunhui-ne Haejangguk Goyang Samsong Branch (제주은희네해장국 고양삼송점) is a haejangguk (hangover soup) restaurant in the E-Pyeonhan Sesang City Samsong shopping arcade in Samsong, Deogyang-gu, Goyang, Gyeonggi. The haejangguk and dombe pork (sliced boiled pork) set and the Jeju silver cutlassfish stew all beat expectations, with a refreshing, clean broth, tender pork and fully deboned fish that is easy to eat. Expecting standard franchise food, the hidden star at Jeju Eunhui-ne Haejangguk Goyang Samsong Branch turned out to be the cutlassfish stew, which many customers order for takeout.

Written Oct 16, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGoyang, GyeonggiRestaurants

Aged pork BBQ for two in Samsong, Goyang with spicy ramen: Neopttakjip

Neopttakjip Samsong Branch (넙딱집 삼송점) is an aged pork BBQ restaurant in Samsong-dong, Deogyang-gu, Goyang, Gyeonggi. Two people ordered the 600g mixed grill with grilled vegetables (57,000 won) and added spicy ramen as a side. They enjoyed the tender aged pork belly, moksim (pork neck), kkodeulsal and hayansal, the clean self-serve side-dish bar and the private rooms for group dinners. Verdict: Neopttakjip Samsong Branch is a Samsong pork belly spot worth revisiting for the kkodeulsal alone.

Written Oct 14, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGimpo, GyeonggiRestaurants

Pork belly BBQ in Janggi, Gimpo with unlimited doenjang stew: Hanmaeum

Hanmaeum Butcher Restaurant Gimpo Janggi branch is a butcher-style Korean BBQ restaurant near Janggi Station in Gimpo, Gyeonggi. On a weekend evening, two people shared a half pig of pork belly, pork neck and pork jowl. The moist pork belly with no gamey smell and the savory, unlimited doenjang stew (soybean paste stew) were the highlights. For good-value pork BBQ in Janggi, Hanmaeum Butcher Restaurant is worth a return visit.

Written Jul 4, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGoyang, GyeonggiRestaurants

Ilsan Korean restaurant, family meal with cockle and zucchini: Haenon

Haenon Miyeok Ilsan Direct Branch is a seaweed soup (miyeokguk) restaurant newly opened in Aenigol, Ilsan, in Goyang. The beef seaweed soup set came with about 6 side dishes, including seasoned cockles and seasoned zucchini, plus grilled flounder, and the self-serve bar let diners help themselves to extra sides such as braised tofu. Haenon Miyeok Ilsan Direct Branch is a seaweed soup spot that sets a full table like a Korean set-course restaurant, making it a good fit for family gatherings with parents.

Written Oct 10, 2026Sponsored
PlacePaju, GyeonggiRestaurants

Paju Korean restaurant, half squid, half pork, DIY nurungji: Simhaksan

Simhaksan Deulkkot Ssambap is a ssambap (rice with leafy wraps) and pot rice Korean set-meal restaurant near Simhaksan mountain in Paju, Gyeonggi. The writer ordered the Deul set (20,000 won per person) for 2, wrapped half spicy stir-fried squid and half spicy stir-fried pork in refillable greens, then poured water into the pot rice to finish with nurungji (scorched rice). Simhaksan Deulkkot Ssambap suits anyone who loves ssambap and pot rice, or anyone looking for a Korean restaurant in Paju to take their parents to.

Written Oct 10, 2026Sponsored
PlacePaju, GyeonggiRestaurants

Korean BBQ in Paju with aged pork and a kids' playroom: Hanmaeum

Hanmaeum Jeongyuk Sikdang (한마음정육식당) Paju Yadang Station branch is an aged-pork Korean BBQ restaurant on the 2nd floor near Yadang Station in Paju, Gyeonggi. The half-pig set (about 400g) covers pork belly and pork neck and comes with free, refillable doenjang jjigae (soybean paste stew) and jjolmyeon (chewy spicy noodles). With an in-store kids' playroom, Hanmaeum Jeongyuk Sikdang is an especially good pick for a family meal out in Paju.

Written Aug 6, 2026Sponsored
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