Crisp and Soft · 46 stories

Taste and Texture

I write about meals I’ve had at restaurants in Seoul. · Writes about: Restaurants · Cafés

PlaceSongpa, SeoulRestaurants

Gukbap dinner with parents near Jamsil Station: 15-min wait, Boseung

Boseung Hoegwan Bangi Branch (보승회관 방이점) is a 24-hour gukbap (pork and rice soup) restaurant open every day of the year, on Ogeum-ro in Bangi-dong, Songpa, Seoul, close to Jamsil Station. On a weekday at 6pm the writer and their parents waited about 15 minutes, then ordered the sundae (Korean blood sausage) and pork jowl suyuk (boiled pork) set at 16,000 won per person, minimum 2 people, choosing suyuk gukbap as the soup. With pork jowl suyuk, well-stuffed sundae and a meaty bowl of suyuk gukbap on one table, Boseung Hoegwan Bangi Branch is a filling, good-value dinner.

Written Oct 21, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSongpa, SeoulRestaurants

Jamsil izakaya-style pub, live octopus bossam samhap: Muneo Cheonha

Muneo Cheonha (문어천하) is a live octopus pub in the Bangi-dong food alley near Jamsil Station and Songpa-gu Office in Seoul, serving octopus samhap, skate samhap and bossam samhap (three-way platters). The writer can't eat skate, so they ordered the live octopus bossam samhap of octopus, boiled pork and aged kimchi (55,000 won), dipped the chewy, tender octopus in sesame oil sauce as the owner suggested, and loved the octopus egg custard and octopus corn cheese side dishes. With its roomy, izakaya-style interior, Muneo Cheonha is worth remembering for an evening company dinner or group gathering near Jamsil Station.

Written Oct 20, 2026Sponsored
PlaceNamdong, IncheonRestaurants

Guwol-dong meat and seafood BBQ: Yeonan Pier pen shell clams, Euljiro

Euljiro Charcoal Grill Guwol Branch is a retro pocha-style (Korean street pub) BBQ restaurant in Guwol-dong, Namdong-gu, Incheon, that grills pork and beef over coal briquettes and also serves seafood such as scallops, abalone and sea squirt. The writer ordered the dwaeji hangeun pork platter (38,900 won) and cheese-grilled pen shell clams (9,900 won), dipped the pork skin in soybean powder from the self-serve bar and ate the meat with frozen radish salad. For a first round of drinks or a group dinner with both meat and seafood, Euljiro Charcoal Grill Guwol Branch is a solid recommendation.

Written Jun 13, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYongsan, SeoulRestaurants

Hangover ramen at Yongsan I'Park Mall: jambon chashu + egg, Menya

Menya Seoul Yongsan I'Park Mall Branch is a Japanese ramen restaurant on the 7th floor of Yongsan I'Park Mall in Yongsan, Seoul. On a day that called for hot broth, the writer ordered the spicy jambon chashu ramen and the jambon chashu ramen with an added egg (₩10,900 each) and was delighted by the light yet deep broth, the soft-boiled egg and the well-cooked noodles. Menya Seoul is a good spot for an easy solo meal or a casual date while shopping at Yongsan I'Park Mall.

Written Jun 21, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeo-gu, IncheonRestaurants

Briquette black pork BBQ in Seo-gu, Incheon: kkodeul-sal, Heukdwaeji

Heukdwaeji Hyeongjedeul Gajeong Ruwon City Main Branch is a Korean BBQ restaurant in Ruwon City, Gajeong-dong, Seo-gu, Incheon, that specializes in Jirisan black pork grilled over yeontan (charcoal briquettes). The writer ordered the 600g Jirisan black pork set for 3 (62,000 won) of pork neck, pork belly and kkodeul-sal, which the owner grilled at the table; steamed egg and muk-sabal (acorn jelly in cold broth) came free, and a gochujang stew was added. Verdict: the shiitake wasabi from the homemade banchan self-bar and the chewy kkodeul-sal cut made Heukdwaeji Hyeongjedeul memorable.

Written Jun 28, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGyeyang, IncheonRestaurants

Bakchon Station duck BBQ with parents, half seasoned duck: Ganaandeok

Ganaandeok Gyeyang Branch is a charcoal-grilled duck restaurant on Jangje-ro near Bakchon Station in Gyeyang, Incheon. After booking ahead, the writer took their parents for a whole raw duck grilled over charcoal (700g, ₩56,000) and then added a half portion of seasoned duck jumulleok (350g, ₩30,000), which the parents said was even tastier; the meal ended with Busan milmyeon (cold wheat noodles) in broth and spicy mixed versions plus sweet potatoes roasted in the charcoal. Ganaandeok Gyeyang Branch is a solid choice for a nourishing meal with your parents or a family gathering.

Written Jul 3, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangseo, SeoulRestaurants

Magok pasta spot for bushman bread and 1kg tomato pasta: Oneul Pasta

Oneul Pasta Magok Branch is a pasta restaurant on Magokjungang-ro in Gangseo, Seoul, with an unlimited fresh vegetable salad bar. At Oneul Pasta Magok Branch we had bushman bread, spicy aglio olio (9,900 won), shrimp carbonara (14,900 won) and a 1kg tomato pasta (19,900 won), and got a free honey pizza through the receipt review event. For generous portions at easy prices in Magok, Oneul Pasta Magok Branch is a good fit.

Written Jul 7, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYeonsu, IncheonRestaurants

Open-kitchen Italian in Songdo: Amalfi lemonade & caponata, Salerno

Salerno Songdo Onesta is an Italian restaurant on the 3rd floor of 157 Songdogukje-daero in Songdo, Yeonsu, Incheon, near Songdo Hyundai Outlet. In front of the open-kitchen wood-fired oven, the writer had Amalfi lemonade, Salerno ragu pasta, caponata and salsiccia burrata pizza; the rich ragu sauce, a first taste of caponata and the chewy wood-fired pizza dough stood out most. With a Mediterranean-style interior and roomy seating, Salerno Songdo Onesta suits everything from a date to a family get-together in Songdo.

Written Jul 9, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangseo, SeoulRestaurants

Shabu kalguksu restaurant in Magok, Seoul with floss and hair ties

Yangcheon Shabu Son Kalguksu, Magok Main Branch is a shabu kalguksu (hot pot with knife-cut noodles) restaurant serving Korean beef-bone and herbal broth on the first floor of Magok Botanic Park Plaza, near Yangcheonhyanggyo Station in Seoul. The writer ordered the Special Restorative Black Garlic Shabu Kalguksu with spicy broth, added handmade black garlic dumplings, and ate through shabu-shabu, noodles, fried rice and plum slush, and was impressed by guest extras like dental floss, blankets, hair ties and mouthwash. Yangcheon Shabu Son Kalguksu suits a Magok lunch or dinner when you want clean, deep broth and attentive service.

Written Jul 11, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangseo, SeoulRestaurants

Tonkatsu date in Magok-Balsan with Kirin draft beer: Katsuryun

Katsuryun (카츠륜) is a Japanese-style tonkatsu restaurant near Magok Station in Gangseo, Seoul, that makes its katsu from Korean pork aged for 164 hours. On a date, the writer and her boyfriend ordered one sirloin katsu (₩12,000) and one tenderloin katsu (₩14,000). Both were happy with the crisp-outside, juicy-inside cutlets, the refreshing side dishes and the refillable rice, soup and sides. Verdict: Katsuryun is a Magok tonkatsu spot that suits dates, blind dates and solo meals alike.

Written Jul 15, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeohae, IncheonRestaurants

Sow pork belly and egg fried rice in Cheongna, Incheon: Sammi-jip

Sammi-jip (삼미집) is a Korean BBQ restaurant near Cheongna Lake Park in Incheon that grills domestic sow pork belly on a cast-iron pot lid. Two people ordered 3 servings of kimchi thick-cut pork belly, kimchi bibim noodles (spicy mixed noodles) and fried rice topped with an egg and left full; staff grilled the pre-seared meat for them, and the dongchimi (radish water kimchi) broth and self-serve side dish bar stood out. For a company dinner, family meal or group gathering in Cheongna, Sammi-jip's pot-lid pork belly is an easy recommendation.

Written Oct 9, 2026Sponsored
PlaceHanam, GyeonggiRestaurants

Hanam Italian restaurant, cloudy-day date with corn soup: Bokkeriu

Bokkeriu (보께리우) is a Han River-view Italian restaurant on Misadong-ro in Hanam, Gyeonggi, with seating on the 2nd floor, the 3rd floor and a rooftop. On a cloudy day, the writer and her boyfriend shared Bokkeriu's 2-person steak set (118,000 won) and a diavolo pizza (24,000 won). The Han River view through the floor-to-ceiling windows, the Hanwoo striploin steak and the shrimp bisque pasta stood out most. Verdict: even on a gray day, Bokkeriu's view and steak course make it a date spot worth recommending.

Written Oct 8, 2026Sponsored