Half Mirror Walker · 21 stories
Writes about restaurants, beauty spots, bars, and things to do around Seoul, Gyeonggi, Incheon, and Gangwon. · Writes about: Restaurants · Hair & beauty salons · Bars · Things to do
Izawa Sangam is a gyukatsu (breaded beef cutlet) restaurant near Digital Media City Station in Sangam-dong, Mapo, Seoul. The writer dined alone at a 1st-floor bar table, ordered the gyukatsu set (₩17,000) and grilled the beef medium-well on a personal grill. Verdict: the beef at Izawa Sangam was tender, the grill kept it warm to the last piece, and the writer would gladly return for a solo meal in Sangam.
Yongchon Gogi-jip (용촌고기집) is a charcoal-grilled pork galbi restaurant in Toseong-myeon, Goseong, Gangwon, near the border with Sokcho. The blogger gave up on Saturday at 7 pm because of a 10-party wait, then returned for Sunday lunch on the last day of the Sokcho trip, walked straight in and ordered 2 servings of marinated pork galbi (18,000 won per serving, reportedly 250g of meat alone) plus kimchi stew with fresh pork. Thanks to the honest portions and subtle charcoal aroma, Yongchon Gogi-jip served the most filling meal of the whole Sokcho trip.
Gagas Pizza (가가스피자) is a pizzeria on Saemaeul-gil near Sokcho Beach in Sokcho, Gangwon, selling 18-inch pizzas by the slice (₩4,000–₩6,500) or as a whole pie. For a late-morning brunch on day two of a Sokcho trip, two people shared pepperoni, Margherita and two Super Combo slices plus a bolognese pasta, and especially liked the Saemaeul-gil neighborhood view through the second-floor windows and the balance of cheese and toppings. Gagas Pizza is a solid pick for Sokcho travelers who want pizza that isn't greasy and sits easy on the stomach.
Songnim Bok Jangeo Ansan City Hall Direct Store is an all-you-can-eat freshwater eel restaurant on the 2nd floor of an officetel building on Danggok-ro in Danwon-gu, Ansan. The writer came back to Songnim Bok Jangeo because the taste at another branch kept coming to mind, ordered the 29,900 won per person all-you-can-eat for two (eel, pork belly and duck neck), and found the eel thick and mild, with no fishy smell or bones. Songnim Bok Jangeo Ansan City Hall Direct Store is a solid all-you-can-eat eel spot for a Boknal summer stamina meal or a dinner out with parents.
Ichiba Ramen (이찌바라멘) is a Japanese-style ramen shop on Jungangno in Sokcho, Gangwon, near Yeongnang Lake and Lighthouse Beach. On a visit after 8pm, the blogger ordered the tonkotsu ramen (9,000 won) and the special tonkotsu ramen (15,000 won). The pork-bone broth was rich but not greasy, the chashu was tender, and both the open kitchen and the restroom were spotless. Ichiba Ramen is a good pick in Sokcho when you want a hot bowl of soup instead of seafood.
Hanmaeum Jeonguk Sikdang Yeongjong Sky City Branch (한마음정육식당) is a butcher-shop Korean BBQ restaurant in the Yeongjong Sky City central shopping area in Yeongjong, Incheon, with a large kids' zone and 4 private rooms. The writer took her picky parents there, and the three of them shared a half-pig set (500g, 42,000 won) and Mom's-style fried rice; her parents raved about the clean, mild pork belly with no gamey smell. For a family of three light eaters, one Hanmaeum half-pig set plus one fried rice is enough to leave full.
2002 Witch's Arpeggio is a Korean BBQ restaurant specializing in tomato-jang (tomato-based sauce) pork belly, right in front of Myojeoksa Valley in Namyangju, Gyeonggi. On a Sunday lunch visit, the writer's remote CatchTable waitlist spot was cancelled after missing the 20-minute arrival check. After another 20–30 minutes in the second-floor waiting area with board games, the group ate 4 servings of tomato-jang pork belly, a potato pancake and blueberry makgeolli at an outdoor table beside the stream. Dog-friendly and set right on the valley, 2002 Witch's Arpeggio made a satisfying summer outing meal near Seoul.
Ragu Hapjeong is a pasta and steak restaurant in an alley seven minutes on foot from Hapjeong Station Exit 7 in Mapo, Seoul, and the Hapjeong branch of Ragu, the steak spot known in Haebangchon. The menu was renewed for the launch of the premium sauce brand Richero, and this visit covers the Mushroom Ragu Pasta at 19,000 won and the striploin Ragu Steak at 29,000 won, ordered medium. Quiet and cozy, Ragu Hapjeong suits a date or a first meet-up in Hapjeong.
Mentsuru Euljiro Branch is a Japanese ramen restaurant in a backstreet between Euljiro3(sam)-ga and Chungmuro stations in Jung-gu, Seoul. Arriving at the awkward hour of 4pm on a weekend, the writer ordered tori paitan (12,000 won) with an extra serving of noodles (1,500 won) plus hormone-don, an offal (daechang) rice bowl (15,000 won), and shared both between two people. The rich simmered chicken-bone broth and the generous daechang both delivered, and with no break time and free rice, Mentsuru is an easy call for solo diners too.
