Midnight Noodle Noter · 26 stories

A Late Noodle Near Tapgol

Writes about restaurants she visits around Seoul. · Writes about: Restaurants · Hair & beauty salons · Bars · Cafés

PlaceSeongdong, SeoulCafés

Ttukseom cake café with an old friend: Noix & 3 madeleines, Notldun

Notldun (노틀던) is a cake and dessert café on Seoulsup 2-gil in Seongdong, Seoul, 600m from Exit 8 of Ttukseom Station. Catching up with an old friend at Notldun meant an Americano (₩5,500), a café latte (₩6,000), the signature Noix cake (₩13,000) and lime, Earl Grey and vanilla madeleines (₩3,300–3,500). With desserts that aren't too sweet and smooth coffee with no sourness, Notldun is a great stop with a friend after a Seoulsup outing or Seongsu shopping.

Written Apr 22, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSongpa, SeoulHair & beauty salons

Spring white gel nails at a Munjeong nail salon: Beauty Studio The One

Beauty Studio The One (뷰티스튜디오 더원) is a nail salon on the 3rd floor of Prugio City near Munjeong Station in Songpa, Seoul, with separate spaces for nails, pedicures and lashes. At Beauty Studio The One, the writer had old gel removed, got cuticle care and then a spring-ready white one-color gel manicure, and was happy with the clean finish that never looks thick, even when layered. For a tidy everyday nail look you won't tire of, the white gel nails at Beauty Studio The One are a great fit.

Written Apr 25, 2026Sponsored
PlaceDongdaemun, SeoulRestaurants

Low-spice Mexican restaurant by Oedaeap Station: Couple Set, Eaters

Eaters Mexican HUFS Branch is a Mexican restaurant on the 3rd floor of a building near Exit 1 of Oedaeap Station in Dongdaemun, Seoul. The writer ordered the Couple Set combo platter with 2 ades and tried chipotle cream pasta, a chicken taco, a grilled beef taco, nachos, wings and fries. Eaters Mexican HUFS Branch has almost no spice smell, so it is an easy pick even for people who struggle with strong spices.

Written Apr 29, 2026Sponsored
PlaceNamyangju, GyeonggiRestaurants

Charcoal-grilled eel weekday lunch in Namyangju: Hangangeuro Onjangeo

Hangangeuro Onjangeo (한강으로온장어) is an eel restaurant on Gosan-ro in Namyangju, Gyeonggi, where diners pick their eel on the 1st floor and then grill the pre-seared pieces over charcoal on the 2nd floor. On a weekday lunch, a family of three waited 45 minutes and shared 678g of eel for ₩48,600 with a river view; the eel was plump, clean-tasting and free of any fishy smell, and the self-serve corner was generous. For a family meal or a date on a Namyangju outing, Hangangeuro Onjangeo is a solid recommendation.

Written May 7, 2026Sponsored
PlaceNowon, SeoulHair & beauty salons

Nowon hair salon men's cut + volume perm for limp long hair: Yeum Hair

Yeum Hair Nowon District Office branch is a hair salon on the 2nd floor of a building opposite Nowon District Office, near Exit 7 of Nowon Station in Seoul. The writer's younger brother, whose long straight hair kept falling flat, consulted designer Taeri and got a cut and volume perm together; the perm gave him natural, not overdone curls and volume and cut his morning styling time. For men with flat straight hair weighing up a perm, Yeum Hair Nowon District Office branch proved a satisfying choice.

Written May 17, 2026Sponsored
PlaceDongdaemun, SeoulRestaurants

Korean BBQ near Sinimun Station: pork belly & yukhoe set, Yukgyeopjip

Yukgyeopjip (육겹집 육회주는삼겹살집) is a Korean BBQ restaurant near Sinimun Station in Imun-dong, Dongdaemun, Seoul, serving Korean Handon pork belly and pork neck. The writer and her daughter came for dinner and ordered Set 1 (pork belly, pork neck and Korean beef yukhoe, or beef tartare) for ₩39,000 with ₩2,500 soju and beer, and Yukgyeopjip added kimchi stew, green onion kimchi, tteokgalbi (grilled beef patty) and ice cream on the house. The richly sesame-scented scallion salad and fresh yukhoe stood out, making Yukgyeopjip a good family dinner spot in Imun-dong.

Written Nov 2, 2026Sponsored
PlaceDongdaemun, SeoulRestaurants

Solo shabu-shabu with a 7 p.m. wait in Jang-an-dong: Shabu Torang

Shabu Torang Jang-an Direct Branch is a solo shabu-shabu restaurant on Janghan-ro in Jang-an-dong, Dongdaemun, Seoul, with an individual induction burner and an ordering kiosk at every table. The writer ordered the basic shabu (₩7,900) and the mala shabu-shabu (₩8,900) with wheat rice cake, fish balls, bunmoja and mixed toppings, then cooked cream pasta and cream risotto as after dishes. Verdict: the cream risotto made with one ladle of leftover mala broth was spicy yet smooth, a perfect combination.

Written May 26, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJongno, SeoulBars

Sunday Jonggak Station pub: chicken tenderloin shabu-shabu, Ari Gyegok

Ari Gyegok Jonggak is a chicken-focused Korean gastropub (yorijujeom) within a 3-minute walk of Jonggak Station in Jongno, Seoul. On an early Sunday evening with no wait, the writer had the original chicken hot pot (Wonjo Dak Jeongol, ₩22,900) with chicken tenderloin cooked shabu-shabu style, plus the bubbling cheese potato jeon (₩18,900) dipped in cheddar cheese and corn, rice cake and nurungji (scorched rice) add-ons, and basic makgeolli. Verdict: Ari Gyegok Jonggak is better as a first stop for a proper meal than a second round, and feels more like a restaurant than a bar.

Written Oct 30, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJungnang, SeoulRestaurants

Baby octopus spot in Sangbong, two cheeses & radish wraps: Joajukne

Joajukne Jjukkumi (조아죽네쭈꾸미) is a baby octopus (jjukkumi) restaurant in the Sangbong food alley in Jungnang, Seoul, that serves only premium first-grade baby octopus. The writer ordered the Nunchi baby octopus set with sungnyung (scorched-rice tea) and assorted add-ons (19,900 won per person) for 2, topped with a mountain of two kinds of cheese and wrapped in perilla leaves and pickled radish sheets. With plump octopus and a clean spicy sauce that doesn't taste artificial, Joajukne Jjukkumi is a good pick near Sangbong Station for lunch or an evening of drinks when you crave spicy baby octopus.

Written May 31, 2026Sponsored
PlaceNowon, SeoulRestaurants

Nowon sushi buffet dinner: DIY affogato & sweet potato donuts, Kuu Kuu

Kuu Kuu Nowon Branch is an all-you-can-eat sushi buffet on the 6th floor of 247 Nowon-ro in Nowon, Seoul. The writer went to Kuu Kuu Nowon Branch for dinner and ate salmon sushi, sashimi, made-to-order jjajangmyeon (black bean noodles) and salads. Dessert was sweet potato glutinous rice donuts, waffles and chocolate fondue, plus a self-made patbingsu (red bean shaved ice) and affogato. The verdict: Kuu Kuu Nowon Branch is a well-rounded spot for family gatherings in Nowon, with hot dishes and desserts as good as the sushi.

Written May 29, 2026Sponsored
PlaceDongdaemun, SeoulRestaurants

Family lamb skewer dinner by Sinseoldong Station: Yangchigi Sonyeo

Yangchigi Sonyeo Sinseoldong (양치기 소녀 신설동점) is a lamb skewer and Chinese restaurant right in front of Sinseoldong Station in Dongdaemun, Seoul. The blogger's family grilled the 60,000 won lamb skewer set (2 servings of lamb skewers, kkanpung eggplant with shrimp and tomato egg soup) over charcoal, and the lamb skewers with no gamey smell and the eggplant stuffed with shrimp balls were the highlights. Yangchigi Sonyeo Sinseoldong's generous set makes it a good-value spot for lamb skewers in Sinseoldong.

Written Jun 3, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJung-gu, SeoulRestaurants

Sindang Station chicken restaurant: weekend 5 pm wait, Gyeryugwan

Gyeryugwan (계류관) is a restaurant specialising in oak-fired chicken with neungi mushroom, near Exit 2 of Sindang Station in Jung-gu, Seoul. After a short wait at 5 pm on a weekend, the writer ordered the oak neungi wood-fired chicken (22,000 won), the mixed chicken jeon (25,000 won), the sliced chicken (10,000 won) and the meat doenjang makguksu (12,000 won). The crispy, smoky wood-fired chicken and the chicken jeon with no gamey taste stood out. Gyeryugwan is worth the wait for a date or a night of drinks near Sindang Station.

Written Jun 7, 2026Sponsored