Afternoon Rice Eater · 21 stories

Rice After Three

I write about restaurant meals I find around Seoul, often in the quieter hours of the afternoon. · Writes about: Restaurants · Hair & beauty salons · Cafés · Shopping

PlaceSeongdong, SeoulHair & beauty salons

Sangwangsimni pet-friendly salon: men's iron + down perm, Salon de L

Salon de L (살롱드엘) is a hair salon on the 2nd floor of Tenshill Mall on Majang-ro in Seongdong, Seoul, near Sangwangsimni Station, with parking, pets allowed and Naver booking. At Salon de L, the writer's fiancé got a men's iron perm to lift volume on top together with a down perm to flatten sides that stick out. Salon de L is a solid pick for men who want natural volume with tidy sides, and for dog owners who want a hair salon they can bring their pet to.

Written Nov 12, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJongno, SeoulRestaurants

Dog-friendly Jongno 5-ga chicken hot pot with kalguksu: Sunhuine

Sunhuine Bindaetteok Dak Hanmari Dongdaemun (순희네빈대떡 닭한마리 동대문본점) is a dak hanmari (whole-chicken hot pot) and mung bean pancake restaurant in Dongdaemun's Chicken Hot Pot Alley, near Jongno 5-ga Station in Jongno, Seoul. On a chilly day, the writer visited Sunhuine Bindaetteok with a fiancé and their dog Miru, adding kalguksu (knife-cut noodles) to the chicken hot pot and ordering a seafood mung bean pancake on the side. Sunhuine Bindaetteok is worth a look for anyone in Dongdaemun who wants a hot, hearty bowl of broth with their dog along.

Written Nov 12, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGwangjin, SeoulRestaurants

Jayang-dong Korean BBQ: cheese bomb egg & cold noodles, Ssamchae

Ssamchae Sotttukkeong Samgyeopsal (쌈채솥뚜껑삼겹살) is a Korean BBQ restaurant in Jayang-dong, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, near Guui Station, where pork belly is grilled on a cast-iron lid and wrap greens are unlimited at a self-serve bar. The writer ate the iron-lid pork belly with grilled kimchi and wrap greens, then moved on to cheese bomb steamed egg, mul naengmyeon (cold noodle soup) and fried rice. Ssamchae Sotttukkeong Samgyeopsal is a Jayang-dong pork belly spot where the sides turn one meat into a full-course meal.

Written Oct 25, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulHair & beauty salons

Gongdeok massage shop with foot bath and firm aroma massage: The Hanoi

The Hanoi Foot & Body Gongdeok Lotte Castle President branch is a massage shop on the second basement floor (B2) of the Lotte Castle President shopping arcade, across the road from Exit 3 of Gongdeok Station in Mapo, Seoul. The writer's fiancé started with a foot bath, picked an aroma scent and then had a 60-minute aroma massage (regular price 130,000 won), and the pressure was painful yet so relieving that he cried out; with care running from head to toe, he praised a massage for the first time ever. The Hanoi Foot & Body is a Gongdeok aroma massage worth booking for anyone who likes firm pressure.

Written Oct 24, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulRestaurants

Gangnam ramen shop, first visit: tori vs kara paitan, Oreno Ramen

Oreno Ramen Gangnam (오레노라멘 강남점) is a Japanese ramen restaurant specializing in chicken broth, on the 2nd floor of a building on Teheran-ro 1-gil near Gangnam Station in Seoul. On a first visit, the writer ordered both the signature tori paitan (creamy chicken broth ramen) and the spicy kara paitan to compare them, and found that extra noodles, broth and rice were all available as refills. Choose tori paitan at Oreno Ramen Gangnam if you like a mild, nutty bowl, and kara paitan if you want some heat too.

Written Oct 8, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulRestaurants

Burger and beer pairing in Hongdae: cheeseburger split at Deombeogeo

Deombeogeo Bonjeom (덤버거 본점) is a handmade burger restaurant on Donggyo-ro in Mapo, Seoul, between Hongik Univ. Station and Yeonnam-dong. At Deombeogeo Bonjeom, the writer split a cheeseburger and the signature Deombeogeo burger, then added french fries and beer for dinner. The classic cheeseburger and the Deombeogeo burger, where the ingredients come together, each had their own appeal, making Deombeogeo Bonjeom a place to come back to for a burger-and-beer night.

Written Oct 7, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeongdong, SeoulCafés

Dog-friendly Wangsimni café: chef-approved Basque cheesecake, Eojil In

Eojil In Wangsimni Station Branch is a bakery and dessert café a 1-minute walk from Exit 6 of Wangsimni Station in Seongdong, Seoul. The writer and her chef fiancé ordered lemonade, grapefruit ade, an egg tart and Basque cheesecake, and after one bite of the Basque cheesecake the fiancé declared, "This place is the real deal." Dogs are welcome too, so Eojil In Wangsimni Station Branch is a strong pick for anyone who wants good desserts with their dog along.

Written Jul 31, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulCafés

Gangnam dessert café, tiramisu and vitamin blueberry: Selected Nicks

Selected Nicks is a large dessert café on Teheran-ro 4-gil near Gangnam Station in Seoul, with a different mood on each floor. The writer chose a banana tiramisu and a cookie brownie, then added a tangy vitamin blueberry drink to switch between sweet and refreshing. With plenty of space and a rooftop, Selected Nicks is an easy pick for a date or a catch-up with friends near Gangnam Station.

Written Oct 7, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSongpa, SeoulRestaurants

Bangi-dong gopchang restaurant, kkakdugi fried rice top pick: Jinseong

Jinseong Hanwoo Gopchang Bangi Direct Branch is a beef gopchang (small intestine) restaurant in Bangi Food Alley, Songpa, Seoul. Staff grilled and cut the gopchang and daechang (large intestine) from start to finish and set up a screen at the table against oil splatter, and the included steamed egg, three house-made kimchi and dipping sauce were all satisfying. The kkakdugi yangbap (radish kimchi fried rice), finished even on a full stomach, was the writer's top pick at Jinseong Hanwoo Gopchang.

Written Jul 31, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSongpa, SeoulHair & beauty salons

Cloud perm to slim the face at a Jamsil hair salon: Alexandre de Paris

Alexandre de Paris Jamsil Avenuel is a hair salon with antique interiors on B1 of Lotte World Tower Avenuel in Songpa, Seoul. With damaged hair, the blogger made a single request, to look prettier with a smaller-looking face, and received a cloud perm from a director. She was happy with the face-framing curl line, the bouncy curls and the tips on drying her hair at home. Her verdict: if damaged hair makes you hesitate about a perm, Alexandre de Paris Jamsil Avenuel is worth a consultation first.

Written Sep 30, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSongpa, SeoulRestaurants

Munjeong mazesoba restaurant: spicy bowl finished with rice, Gome Mui

Gome Mui Songpa Munjeong is a Japanese restaurant serving pot rice (sotbap), tonkatsu and mazesoba in the basement of Tera Tower at Munjeong Station in Songpa, Seoul. The writer ordered the steak pot rice and tonkatsu set plus the spicy mazesoba, then finished the mazesoba by asking the staff for rice to mix into the leftover sauce, and the yuzu pickled radish was the most memorable part of the meal. With an open kitchen and a relaxed feel for solo diners, Gome Mui is worth a stop for a hearty meal near Munjeong Station.

Written Aug 10, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSongpa, SeoulRestaurants

24-hour pork cutlet and udon by Seokchon Lake: Haengbokhan Udon Gage

Haengbokhan Udon Gage Seokchon Lake Branch is a 24-hour udon and pork cutlet restaurant on Samhaksa-ro in Songpa, Seoul. We shared old-style pork cutlet, fish cake udon and boiled mandu (dumplings). The crispy Western-style cutlet and the warm fish cake udon broth balanced each other's richness. Haengbokhan Udon Gage Seokchon Lake Branch is a good place near Seokchon Lake for a filling, affordable meal at any hour.

Written Sep 28, 2026Sponsored