Noon Chime Walker · 38 stories
I write about visits to restaurants in Gyeonggi and the meals I had there. · Writes about: Restaurants · Cafés · Fashion · Bars
Prepers Diet Food Boramae is a salad and healthy-food shop on Boramae-ro 5ga-gil in Gwanak, Seoul, near Boramae Hospital Station. The writer ordered the Beef Plate Salad and the Beef Cobb Plate (12,900 won each) at the kiosk, took them home, and found the beef good quality and the vegetables fresh. For a filling meal of meat and vegetables, the beef plates at Prepers Diet Food Boramae are worth considering.
Hurato Sikdang Isu Branch (후라토식당 이수직영점) is a Japanese restaurant serving gyukatsu (breaded beef cutlet) and omurice (omelet rice), on the second floor at 6 Sadang-ro 28-gil near Isu Station Exit 9 in Dongjak, Seoul. The writer and her husband visited Hurato Sikdang around 5 p.m. on a Sunday and ordered thick gyukatsu, omurice with cheese added for 2,000 won, and ramune, a Japanese soda. The gyukatsu was good, but the bacon-rice omurice with nutty melted cheese was the most satisfying dish at Hurato Sikdang.
The Pizzeria Market Hanam Misa is a wood-fired pizza restaurant on Misagangbyeonbuk-ro in Hanam, Gyeonggi, with dog-friendly seating and an outdoor terrace. With her mom, who doesn't care much for meat, the writer ordered two of The Pizzeria Market's signature pizza boats (Italian arugula and shrimp egg mayo), a romaine salad and a bisque shrimp pasta. The pizza boats are only a little bigger than a hand, but the heavy toppings make them far more filling than a regular wood-fired pizza. If you want a satisfying pizza, the pizza boats at The Pizzeria Market Hanam Misa are well worth ordering.
Prepers Diet Food Sillim Main Branch is a diet food restaurant near Sillim Station in Gwanak, Seoul, serving salads, pasta and rice dishes. After a look around the renovated 1st and 2nd floors, the writer placed a first order of Beef Cheongyang Perilla Oil Pasta (with Cheongyang chili) and Chicken Curry for takeout and ate both at home. Prepers Diet Food Sillim Main Branch is a place worth returning to for a light but filling solo meal.
Sadang Heonsang (사당헌상) is a Korean bar-restaurant on the second floor near Sadang Station in Seocho, Seoul, known for its signature Today's Heonsang set for two, served as a full Korean table spread. On an afternoon visit before sunset, peach makgeolli went with seasonal sashimi, bossam (boiled pork wraps), kimchi jjim (braised kimchi), the soup of the day and a thick pajeon (savory scallion pancake), and the meal was good enough to order an extra bowl of rice for 3,000 won. Sadang Heonsang is an easy pick in Sadang for lunch, daytime drinks or an evening round.
Sushi Ryeo is a sushi omakase restaurant on the 2nd floor of a building near Exit 5 of Seoul National University Station in Gwanak, Seoul, serving dinner omakase at 100,000 won per person. A couple sat at the bar for a 21-item Sushi Ryeo dinner running from steamed egg through pike conger, young East Sea tuna, grilled golden tilefish and cold soba to ice cream, and the chef gave the husband, who has a crustacean allergy, a generous heap of uni (sea urchin) instead of sweet shrimp. The portions were big enough to leave them full, so the 100,000-won omakase felt worth every won.
Bunko Dining Sadang is a softly lit Japanese restaurant on Bangbaecheon-ro near Sadang Station in Seocho, Seoul. On a date with her husband, the writer ordered hitsumabushi (grilled eel over rice) and the special kaisendon (seafood rice bowl), and she most remembers the broth poured over the kaisendon to finish it and the sweet-and-salty eel glaze. Verdict: Bunko Dining Sadang suits blind dates, lunch dates and wedding invitation meetups, and it is a Sadang Japanese restaurant she wants to revisit.
Bangbaedong Ssalguksu Isu Branch (방배동쌀국수 이수점) is a Vietnamese pho restaurant near Exit 10 of Isu Station (Line 7) in Dongjak, Seoul. On a summer lunch, a couple shared rare beef tenderloin pho, bun cha (grilled pork with rice noodles), pineapple fried rice, chicken wings, shrimp spring rolls and a Saigon beer, and the bun cha was the best dish of the day in the heat. Bangbaedong Ssalguksu Isu Branch is an affordable Isu Station lunch spot that suits solo diners, friends and families alike.
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Izawa Sharosugil Branch is a gyukatsu (beef cutlet) and steki-don (steak rice bowl) restaurant on Sharosu-gil near Seoul National University Station in Gwanak, Seoul. Returning to Izawa Sharosugil Branch after a long break, the writer ordered steki-don for the first time while her husband had the signature gyukatsu set, and they swapped a few pieces to compare. Steki-don suits anyone watching their diet, and the gyukatsu set is the pick for a different take on a cutlet.
Roi Sikdang is a long-standing, homestyle Japanese restaurant near Misa Lake Park in Hanam, Gyeonggi. After a long while away, the writer returned with Mom for the onggi salmon jang (soy-marinated salmon) set, which costs ₩2,000 more than the single dish, and the perilla oil Roi soba. The salmon jang was rich in savory flavor without being salty, and Mom, a picky eater, finished every bit of the perilla oil soba. Roi Sikdang is a good fit for a relaxed meal in Hanam Misa followed by a walk around Misa Lake Park.
Easy White Bread Hanam Misa is a milk bread bakery café near Misa Lake Park in Hanam, Gyeonggi. On a hot summer day the writer stopped in with her mom for a half-size soboro chestnut rice cake milk bread loaf and 2 iced coffees, and the bread was sliced and lightly toasted in store, crisp outside and moist inside. With a spacious room facing green trees, baby chairs and separate men's and women's restrooms, Easy White Bread Hanam Misa is a good place to rest after a walk around Misa Lake Park.
