Warm Cup Diarist · 32 stories

Warm Cup Diary

Writes about small cafes tucked into Seoul's quieter neighbourhoods. · Writes about: Restaurants · Cafés · Hair & beauty salons · Bars

PlaceGangnam, SeoulRestaurants

Gangnam Station pasta for three friends, 6-piece fried eggplant

Brivit Gangnam Station (브리비트) is a fresh-pasta, gnocchi and steak restaurant on Gangnam-daero 102-gil near Gangnam Station in Seoul, and the second branch after the original in Seongsu. After work, three friends ordered 3 mains à la carte (50cm fresh pasta, corn gnocchi and spicy jambon risotto) plus 1 spicy fried eggplant side, and each got a free ade through Brivit's review event. Thanks to its good-looking food and atmosphere, Brivit Gangnam Station is a pasta spot worth recommending for blind dates, wedding invitation meetups and dates.

Written Apr 24, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeongnam, GyeonggiBars

Date pub near Jeongja Station: sweet highballs & tteok jjim, Bacha

Bacha Jeongja is a Korean gastropub near Jeongja Station in Seongnam, Gyeonggi, newly opened by Bacha in Pangyo. After a good meal at the Pangyo branch, the writer and her husband ordered the instant brisket and seafood tteok jjim (braised rice cakes), onion boneless chicken, draft beer and a sweet highball. Bacha Jeongja is easy going for light drinkers and generous for two, making it a solid pick for a couple's date or a group night.

Written Apr 22, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeongnam, GyeonggiRestaurants

Seohyeon intestine restaurant: crispy daechang at Madangsoe Gopchang

Madangsoe Gopchang Bundang Seohyeon Main Branch is a fire-grilled gopchang (beef and pork intestine) restaurant near Exit 3 of Seohyeon Station in Bundang, Seongnam, open for 18 years. The writer and her husband ordered the mixed beef gopchang platter (24,000 won per serving), pork gopchang soft tofu stew and fried rice, and loved the gopchang packed with rich filling and the daechang (large intestine), crispy outside and tender inside. With a spacious, clean dining room and free parking in the building, Madangsoe Gopchang is a solid pick for a work dinner or family meal in Seohyeon.

Written Apr 26, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeongnam, GyeonggiRestaurants

Jeongja-dong Korean restaurant for minari shrimp jeon: Jinnaedjang

Jinnaedjang Bundang Jeongja is a Korean restaurant in Jeongja-dong, Bundang-gu, Seongnam, serving doenjang jjigae (soybean paste stew) and handmade jeon (Korean savory pancakes). A couple ordered the meaty doenjang jjigae with extra tofu and mushrooms, minari (water parsley) shrimp jeon and non-alcoholic beer, and found everything delicious, down to the seasonal side dishes. Jinnaedjang Bundang Jeongja is a solid pick near Jeongja Station for couples who want a filling meal of rice, stew and jeon.

Written Nov 13, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulCafés

Sinnonhyeon café after work: choco banana pie at Upper and Under

Upper and Under (어퍼앤언더) is a multi-floor bakery café between Sinnonhyeon Station Exit 6 and Gangnam Station Exit 11 in Gangnam, Seoul. After dinner with friends, the writer stopped by Upper and Under late in the evening for an ube latte, a salted caramel Einspänner, a decaf iced Americano and a choco banana pie (8,000 won). The bakery case was almost sold out, but the drinks and pie were very satisfying. For a stylish café near Gangnam Station to sit and chat, Upper and Under is worth a visit at least once.

Written Apr 24, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeongnam, GyeonggiRestaurants

Seohyeon kalguksu shop: solo lunch & dumplings to go, Gangnam Gyoja

Gangnam Gyoja Bundang Seohyeon Branch is a Korean restaurant specializing in kalguksu (knife-cut noodle soup) and gyoja dumplings, on the 2nd floor of Dadu Plaza near Exit 5 of Seohyeon Station in Seongnam, Gyeonggi. On a first solo visit, the writer, a longtime Myeongdong Gyoja fan, had the basic kalguksu and 10 gyoja dumplings; the chicken-broth kalguksu, garlic kimchi and juicy dumplings were good enough to take an extra pack of dumplings home. Gangnam Gyoja Bundang Seohyeon Branch is a solid choice for a solo kalguksu lunch near Seohyeon Station.

Written Apr 30, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeongnam, GyeonggiRestaurants

Jeongja Mexican dinner with my husband: candle-warmed fajitas, Elato

Elato Bundang is a Mexican restaurant on Naejeong-ro 129beon-gil in Jeongja-dong, Bundang, Seongnam, known for salsa and chili sauce made in-house. After work, the writer and her husband shared a fajita platter with beef, pork, chicken and shrimp; a candle-heated pan kept the fajitas warm to the last bite, and the 6 large tortillas were just right for two. Elato Bundang is an all-round Mexican pick in Jeongja-dong for dates, family meals and group dinners.

Written Nov 10, 2026Sponsored
PlaceBusanjin, BusanCafés

Jeonpo, Busan pastry café date: best-ever egg tart, Upper East Bakery

Upper East Bakery is a pastry-focused bakery café in Busanjin, Busan, between Jeonpo Station and Seomyeon Station near Jeonpo Café Street. On a date with her husband, the writer tried croissants, a square egg tart, grapefruit sangria and blueberry hibiscus, and called the egg tart, crisp outside and moist inside, the best egg tart of her life. For proper pastries around Seomyeon and Jeonpo, Upper East Bakery is well worth recommending.

Written May 4, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGijang, BusanRestaurants

Snow crab restaurant in Gijang, Busan: 2kg missing-leg crab, ₩80,000s

Gijang Myeongpum Daegae (기장명품대게) is a snow crab and king crab restaurant near Gijang Market in Gijang-eup, Gijang-gun, Busan. On a Busan trip, the writer and her husband picked 2kg of missing-leg snow crab for around ₩80,000 to have steamed, and were pleased with the weigh-in zeroed to exclude the basket, the free red crab, the hot plate that kept the crab warm, and the crab-innards fried rice with doenjang (soybean paste) stew. If snow crab prices feel steep, the missing-leg crab at Gijang Myeongpum Daegae is a good choice.

Written May 5, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeongnam, GyeonggiCafés

Jeongja butter tteok café: a couple's 6 picks at Butter & Shelter

Butter & Shelter Bundang Jeongja (버터앤쉘터 분당정자점) is a dessert café specializing in butter sands and butter tteok (buttery rice cake) on Jeongjail-ro in Jeongja-dong, Bundang-gu, Seongnam. After first spotting Butter & Shelter in the Pangyo Hyundai Department Store food hall, the writer and her husband visited the Jeongja branch, browsed the butter sand gift sets and menu, and took home 6 desserts, including butter tteok. With butter tteok that is crisp outside and chewy inside, a spacious store and a receipt review event, Butter & Shelter is an easy pick for a date café in Jeongja.

Written May 6, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeongnam, GyeonggiRestaurants

Korean restaurant near Jeongja Station: tofu hot pot at Okdoenjang

Okdoenjang Jeongja (옥된장 정자점) is a Korean restaurant on Jeongjail-ro in Bundang-gu, Seongnam, specializing in doenjang (soybean paste) hot pot and soft tofu hot pot. The writer and her husband ordered the beef belly soft tofu hot pot and the river snail and minari (water dropwort) jeon, and enjoyed frying their own eggs at the table, the crispy jeon and the spicy broth. With roomy seating, free parking and a ₩1,000 lunch discount, Okdoenjang Jeongja is a solid pick for family meals or group dinners.

Written May 7, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYongin, GyeonggiRestaurants

Shabu kalguksu near Suwon CC: spicy mushroom and kimchi, Deungchon

Deungchon Shabu Kalguksu Giheung Station Branch (등촌샤브칼국수 기흥역점) is a shabu-shabu kalguksu (knife-cut noodle soup) restaurant on basement level 2 of ICT Valley Building B in Giheung-gu, Yongin, close enough to Suwon CC for a meal after golf. A couple who visit Deungchon Shabu Kalguksu regularly ordered the spicy mushroom kalguksu again, with minari (water dropwort), mushrooms and beef, then noodles and dumplings, and fried rice cooked over high heat. If you like a spicy broth and chewy fried rice, the Giheung Station branch is worth visiting again and again.

Written May 12, 2026Sponsored