Nari Kwon · 4 stories

A Side Ledger in Suwon

Writes about restaurants found on ordinary walks through Seoul and Gyeonggi neighborhoods. · Writes about: Restaurants

Sea squirt & live octopus at Jongno sashimi bar Parang Haenyeojip

Parang Haenyeojip Jongno Branch is a pojangmacha-style seafood and aged-sashimi bar near Jongak Station Exit 4 in Jongno, Seoul. On a weeknight visit the order was sea squirt (4 pieces) for 12,000 won, sea cucumber (2 pieces) for 15,000 won and live octopus for 25,000 won, and the sea squirt stood out with a soft ocean scent and no fishy taste. With wave footage playing across the wall, Parang Haenyeojip is an easy pick for a seaside-feeling drink in the middle of the city.

Written Sep 15, 2026Sponsored

PlaceUijeongbu, GyeonggiRestaurants

Live raw shrimp sashimi in Uijeongbu, ₩38,000: Suksung Robada-gil

Suksung Robada-gil is a raw seafood restaurant with a live tank on Hoguk-ro 1298beon-gil in Uijeongbu, Gyeonggi. An order of raw shrimp sashimi came to 12-15 shrimp for 38,000 won, with buttered shrimp heads added for 2,000 won and a plate of sea squirt (meongge) for 15,000 won; the shrimp was springy, turned sweeter the longer you chewed, and had no fishy taste. If you have been curious about the raw shrimp sashimi you keep seeing on Instagram, Suksung Robada-gil is worth the trip.

Written Sep 16, 2026Sponsored

PlaceUijeongbu, GyeonggiRestaurants

400g pork belly and snow mak-guksu in Uijeongbu: Cheonpo Hoegwan

Cheonpo Hoegwan Uijeongbu Main Branch is a pork belly restaurant on Beomgol-ro near Uijeongbu Station in Gyeonggi, known for grilling the meat with minari (water dropwort) and kimchi. The meal here was 400g of pork belly for ₩32,000 and snow mak-guksu (chilled buckwheat noodles) for ₩7,000, plus the complimentary beef tartare, self-serve grilled pancake and thick soybean paste. The thick-cut pork belly with crisp minari worked well and the cold noodles finished the meal cleanly, making Cheonpo Hoegwan a good choice for two.

Written Sep 15, 2026Sponsored

PlaceJung-gu, SeoulRestaurants

Euljiro restaurant with 1-hour free parking near Cheonggyecheon: Pyu

Pyu Euljiro is a beige-and-wood Western restaurant near Exit 9 of Euljiro 3-ga Station in Jung-gu, Seoul. The meal was charcoal-grilled octopus with romesco (34,000 won) and mackerel pasta (30,000 won), paired with a non-alcoholic Gyulrurala and a Cuna de Sol Cabernet Sauvignon, followed by 1 hour of free parking in the building's basement and a walk to Cheonggyecheon Stream. Pyu Euljiro suits an Euljiro date or first meeting where you want unusual dishes and a slow conversation.

Written Sep 15, 2026Sponsored

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