Tap Corner Visitor · 31 stories

Taproom Corners

I write about bars I visit around Seoul. · Writes about: Bars · Restaurants · Hair & beauty salons · Cafés

PlaceMapo, SeoulBars

Seogyo-dong pub for boneless chicken with sauce to dip: Kkoko Land

Kkoko Land (꼬꼬랜드) is a large two-floor chicken pub on Wausan-ro 19-gil in Seogyo-dong, Mapo, Seoul. Looking for a place for a get-together with friends, the writer ordered Kkoko Land's combo of Seogyo-dong kalbaengi, boneless fried chicken and Kirin draft beer. The writer also received a welcome drink and saw the indoor carousel photo spot. Asking for yangnyeom (sweet and spicy) sauce on the side to dip the fried chicken made it a thoroughly satisfying visit.

Written Nov 14, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulRestaurants

Yeonnam-dong rice bowls: extra-rice gyudon & katsudon, Jongno Donburi

Jongno Donburi Yeonnam (종로돈부리 연남) is a Japanese rice bowl restaurant in a basement on Donggyo-ro 46-gil, between Hongik Univ. Station and Yeonnam-dong in Seoul. On a weekend lunch date, two diners ordered katsudon (pork cutlet rice bowl, 12,000 won), gyudon (beef rice bowl, 13,500 won) and ebi tempura udon (12,500 won), all with extra rice, and finished all three bowls. For a filling Japanese lunch date in Yeonnam-dong, Jongno Donburi Yeonnam is a solid pick.

Written Nov 13, 2026Partially sponsored
PlaceJongno, SeoulRestaurants

Jongno private-room sashimi spot: amberjack & white kimchi, Suksseong

Suksseong Susan Jongno Main Branch (숙썽수산 종로본점) is a corkage-free private-room sashimi restaurant near Exit 4 of Jonggak Station in Jongno, Seoul. The writer reserved ahead for a weekday visit and had small-size amberjack, Guryongpo gwamegi (half-dried fish) and a red snow crab tomalley cream croquette (19,000 won) with soju, while Jongno office workers filled every room. Suksseong Susan suits Jongno office workers who want aged sashimi and drinks in a quiet private room, but a reservation is a must.

Written Nov 10, 2026Partially sponsored
PlaceDongdaemun, SeoulRestaurants

Hoegi Station burger shop revisit: chipotle cheese bar, 1986 Shibuya

1986 Shibuya Burger is a Shibuya, Japan-inspired handmade burger shop near Hoegi Station and Kyung Hee University in Dongdaemun, Seoul. On a return visit, the writer started with the free, unlimited Shibuya Otoshi potato chips, then tried three burgers (the Shibuya Classic Burger, the Shibuya Chipotle Jambon Burger and the Golden Jambon Wagyu Burger set) with wedge potatoes and a chipotle cheese bar. The verdict: 1986 Shibuya Burger fully deserves its reputation as the tastiest handmade burger at Hoegi Station.

Written Nov 6, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGuro, SeoulRestaurants

Jokbal restaurant by Guro Station: ₩50,000 A Set & 2 soju, The Jokbal

The Jokbal Sindorim Main Branch (더족발 신도림본점) is a jokbal (braised pig's trotters) and bossam (boiled pork slices) restaurant on the ground floor of the Sindorim 3-cha Prugio apartment shopping arcade, between Sindorim Station and Guro Station in Seoul. On a weekday visit around 6 pm, the blogger ordered the A Set of fire-grilled spicy jokbal and bossam for 50,000 won and, with the complimentary cold jokbal and soup, finished two bottles of soju. For smoky spicy jokbal and tender bossam in one order, the A Set at The Jokbal Sindorim Main Branch is a perfect fit.

Written Nov 5, 2026Partially sponsored
PlaceJongno, SeoulCafés

Jongno bakery crawl: mugwort cream pies parents loved, Ssuk's Seoul

Ssuk's Choco Pie Seoul (쑥스초코파이 서울) is a mugwort dessert bakery on Jongno 32-gil in Jongno, Seoul, near Gwangjang Market, and its original shop is in Gwangju. On a visit to Gwangjang Market, the writer bought a 6-pie set of mugwort choco pies filled with fresh cream instead of marshmallow, wrapped it with the free stickers and shared it at home with their parents, who loved it. Ssuk's Choco Pie Seoul is a good bakery-crawl stop for a gift dessert after exploring the food at Gwangjang Market.

Written Nov 4, 2026Sponsored
PlaceDongdaemun, SeoulHair & beauty salons

Oedaeap Station hair salon: vegan gray dye for mom, Park Seung Chul

Park Seung Chul Hair Studio Dongdaemun-oedae is a hair salon in the Imun I'Park Xi building near Oedaeap Station in Dongdaemun, Seoul. The writer brought their mom, who was dealing with gray hair and damaged hair. On the designer's recommendation, she had a low-irritation vegan dye and a cut, with no eye stinging or harsh smell, and her gray hair was covered evenly with no patchy spots. Park Seung Chul Hair Studio Dongdaemun-oedae was a satisfying choice for gray coverage for parents whose damaged hair makes regular dye a worry.

Written Nov 3, 2026Sponsored
PlaceDongdaemun, SeoulRestaurants

Jegidong sashimi: yellowtail seaweed wraps & roe rice, Simdo Hoetjip

Simdo Hoetjip (심도횟집) is a recently renovated sashimi restaurant in Jegidong, Dongdaemun, Seoul, near Gyeongdong Market and Cheongnyangni. On a booked dinner visit, the writer had neat sukkidashi side dishes and the medium large yellowtail (daebangeo) sashimi platter for 80,000 won, added stone-pot albap (fish roe rice) and got a complimentary flying fish roe roll. Dipping fatty, in-season yellowtail in sesame oil sauce and wrapping it in seaweed made for a deeply satisfying dinner at Simdo Hoetjip.

Written Nov 2, 2026Partially sponsored
PlaceDongjak, SeoulBars

Sadang izakaya on a cold day: champon soup and tomato salad, Cheonjan

Cheonjan is an izakaya (Japanese-style pub) a 5-minute walk from Exit 10 of Sadang Station in Seoul. On a cold day, Cheonjan's Nagasaki champon soup (₩26,900) came with a deep, rich broth, and the tomato salad with peanut dressing left the palate clean. Cheonjan is a Sadang bar made for lingering over one hot soup, soju and long conversation.

Written Nov 1, 2026Partially sponsored
PlaceDongjak, SeoulBars

Chilly-night Sadang izakaya, roomy basement: flounder-salmon at Susan

Susan Sadang Main Branch (수산 사당본점) is an aged-sashimi izakaya in the food alley near Sadang Station in Dongjak, Seoul. On a weekday evening the first floor of Susan Sadang Main Branch was full, so the writer was seated in the basement, which turned out to be spacious and comfortable, and paired a welcome glass of sake and the Gwangban-yeonban half-flounder, half-salmon platter (48,000 won) with soju. When the weather turns chilly and you crave sashimi, Susan Sadang Main Branch is a good Sadang bar for thick, aged sashimi with no fishy taste.

Written Oct 31, 2026Partially sponsored
PlaceJongno, SeoulRestaurants

Jongno 3-ga Korean BBQ: 21 teams ahead, seated in 20 min, Meongseokjip

Meongseokjip Jongno 3-ga Branch (멍석집 종로3가점) is a Korean BBQ restaurant with outdoor street tables on Donhwamun-ro 11da-gil in Jongno, Seoul, right next to the Ikseon-dong alleys. On a Friday around 7–8pm, the writer joined the Now Waiting queue for an outdoor table with 21 teams ahead, was seated in about 20 minutes, and spent the Friday night over 2 servings of thick pork belly and grilled kimchi from the self-serve bar. For a Friday-night outdoor table plus a stroll through Ikseon-dong on a date, Meongseokjip Jongno 3-ga Branch is a great fit.

Written Oct 29, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJongno, SeoulBars

Jonggak pub: refillable chicken hot pot and mango bingsu, Ari Gyegok

Ari Gyegok Jonggak is a two-floor Korean pub near Exit 4 of Jonggak Station in Jongno, Seoul. On a meetup with friends, the writer ordered the Wongi chicken hot pot (22,000 won), chicken neck yurinki (13,900 won, fried chicken in a tangy soy sauce) and a kkakdugi bingsu (cubed shaved ice), and found the hot pot broth rich enough to keep topping up with water and simmering, while the yurinki came in a generous portion. Ari Gyegok Jonggak is a good-value Jonggak Station pub for group meetups over soupy, budget-friendly drinking food.

Written Oct 28, 2026Partially sponsored