Noon Chime Walker · 38 stories

The Lunch Bell

I write about visits to restaurants in Gyeonggi and the meals I had there. · Writes about: Restaurants · Cafés · Fashion · Bars

PlaceMapo, SeoulRestaurants

Salad shop by Gongdeok Station: beef & chicken boxes to go, Why Starve

Why Starve Diet Gongdeok Main Branch is a salad and protein box shop in the Lotte Castle President shopping arcade, connected underground to Gongdeok Station in Mapo, Seoul. The writer took home a Beef Light protein box (12,900 won) and a Chicken Light protein box (8,900 won) and alternated between the chewy beef and the moist chicken with the sauce the Why Starve staff recommended. Why Starve Diet Gongdeok Main Branch suits Gongdeok Station office workers who want a healthy lunch that still includes filling meat.

Written Oct 30, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulCafés

Gongdeok bakery: lemon & heart raspberry madeleines, Fluffy Bake Shop

Fluffy Bake Shop is a baked-goods dessert shop near Gongdeok Station in Mapo, Seoul. Seven takeout financiers, madeleines and canelés cost ₩24,600 in total and were all pleasantly good, with the zesty lemon madeleine and the heart-shaped raspberry madeleine standing out. Fluffy Bake Shop is less about one extraordinary flavor and more a handy stop for picking a variety of individually wrapped bakes to take away.

Written Oct 30, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangseo, SeoulRestaurants

Magok salmon rice bowl restaurant, thick salmon sake don: Ilpum Magok

Ilpum Magok is a Japanese rice bowl and sushi restaurant on Gonghang-daero near Magok Station in Gangseo, Seoul. On a weekend visit with her husband, the writer ordered the salmon sake don, topped with big, thick slices of salmon, and the special sashimi don with chewy sashimi, and found Ilpum Magok quieter than expected. Salmon lovers should order the salmon sake don, while anyone who wants a mix of sashimi should go for the special sashimi don.

Written Oct 29, 2026Sponsored
PlaceCheonan, ChungnamRestaurants

Cheonan Shinsegae burger lunch by the bus terminal: Downtown Burger

Downtown Burger Shinsegae Department Store Cheonan-Asan is a handmade burger restaurant at the entrance to the Food Street on the 4th floor of Building B at Shinsegae Department Store in Cheonan, Chungnam. The writer and her husband ate a Downtown Single set, an Egg Bulgogi Smash Single burger and Hot Honey Chicken Bites there, then headed straight to the Cheonan Express Bus Terminal next door. When you're unsure what to eat for lunch in an unfamiliar Cheonan, Downtown Burger is a choice you can't go wrong with.

Written May 29, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeocho, SeoulRestaurants

Gyodae Station gimbap shop for meeting orders: labeled boxes, Halls

Halls Gimbap Main Branch (홀스김밥본점) is a gimbap and dakgangjeong (sweet crispy fried chicken) snack bar near Exit 1 of Gyodae Station in Seocho, Seoul. The writer took home a basic Halls gimbap, a double cheese egg gimbap and a small Halls dakgangjeong, and found that the type sticker on every gimbap box makes group orders easy. Halls Gimbap Main Branch opens at 8 a.m., making it a good pick for Gyodae Station office workers ordering for breakfast or lunch meetings.

Written Jun 2, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeocho, SeoulRestaurants

Poke takeout near Gyodae Station: yuja oil duck & mala mayo, Salering

Salering Gyodae Direct Store is a bibim-style poke shop near Exit 1 of Gyodae Station in Seocho, Seoul. Around 4 p.m., the writer ordered a smoked duck bibim poke with yuja oil and a beef belly bibim poke with mala mayo at the kiosk and took both home, finding the meat portions, fullness and sauce pairings all satisfying. Salering Gyodae Direct Store suits anyone near Gyodae Station looking for a solo meal or a light poke lunch or dinner.

Written Jun 4, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJung-gu, SeoulRestaurants

Euljiro 3-ga gimbap shop: is rice-free keto tuna filling? 29 Tamago

29 Tamago Euljiro Branch is a gimbap (seaweed rice roll) shop on the 2nd floor on Mareunnae-ro in Euljiro 3-ga, Jung-gu, Seoul, serving regular gimbap, keto gimbap and rice paper wrap-style gimbap. A takeout order of veggie whole-egg gimbap, keto tuna gimbap and the signature rice paper roll came to 31,000 won, and each had its own appeal: a fluffy egg, a tuna roll filling even without rice, and a fresh rice paper flavor. For Euljiro office workers tired of the same old gimbap, 29 Tamago is worth a visit to compare the menu.

Written Oct 26, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGuro, SeoulRestaurants

Unlimited sashimi in Guro with tablet refills and salmon: Mulgogijari

Mulgogijari Guro Digital branch is an all-you-can-eat aged sashimi restaurant near Kkalkkal Street by Guro Digital Complex Station in Guro, Seoul. Two diners ordered the all-you-can-eat course for 2 with beer. The course ran through porridge, seasoned raw fish salad, sea squirt, grilled mero head, abalone and tempura, and the sashimi was refilled twice by tablet, with salmon appearing on the second plate. The thick, chewy cuts put to rest worries about all-you-can-eat sashimi quality, making Mulgogijari a solid pick for a Gudi dinner or work get-together.

Written Oct 23, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeocho, SeoulRestaurants

Poke shop at Gyodae Station: black sesame & sriracha to go, Olla Poke

Olla Poke Seocho Gyodae Branch is a poke and salad shop on basement level 1 between Gyodae Station and Seocho Station in Seocho, Seoul. The writer took home an avocado poke with black sesame sauce and a chicken breast poke with sriracha sauce from Olla Poke Seocho Gyodae Branch, and found the sturdy containers and the utensils packed with the order made takeout easy. Olla Poke Seocho Gyodae Branch is worth a look for office lunches near Gyodae Station and Seocho Station, or as a packed meal for an outing to the Seoul Arts Center or the Han River.

Written Oct 20, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulRestaurants

Eel bowl near Seolleung Station: weekday lunch & Ebisu draft, Manmok

Manmok is a Japanese restaurant serving Kanto-style eel rice bowls in the office district near Seolleung Station in Gangnam, Seoul. On a weekday lunch visit with her husband, the writer and her husband each ordered a whole-eel bowl, plus an Ebisu draft beer at the lunchtime discount. With bar seats and separated seating areas, Manmok is a good spot for a quiet solo eel bowl lunch in Gangnam.

Written Jun 10, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulRestaurants

Seolleung Station burger restaurant: shrimp deluxe at Downtown Burger

Downtown Burger Seolleung is a handmade burger restaurant on Teheran-ro in Gangnam, Seoul, near Exit 5 of Seolleung Station (Line 2). The writer ordered a Classic Cheeseburger set and a Shrimp Deluxe Burger set and ate lunch at a second-floor bar seat looking out at the trees, and especially liked the drink refills and the spacious second floor. Downtown Burger Seolleung costs more than ordinary burger chains, but the price is fair for a meal, making it a good pick for office-worker lunches and solo dining near Seolleung Station.

Written Jun 13, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulRestaurants

Seolleung salad shop: chicken teriyaki bowl office lunch at Prepers

Prepers Diet Food Seolleung Station branch is a salad and healthy-food restaurant on Teheran-ro in Gangnam, Seoul, near Exit 10 of Seolleung Station. On a lunch break with a coworker, the writer ordered a beef salad pasta (13,900 won) and a chicken teriyaki rice bowl (9,900 won) at the kiosk and took them back to the office, and both felt more like a filling meal than diet food. For office workers looking for a hearty salad lunch near Seolleung Station, Prepers is a solid recommendation.

Written Jun 12, 2026Sponsored