Tiled Bar Regular · 20 stories

At the Tiled Counter

First-hand notes from restaurant visits around Seoul. · Writes about: Restaurants · Bars · Cafés · Shopping · Things to do · Hair & beauty salons

PlaceSeongdong, SeoulThings to do

Seongsu ring workshop: Axis rings with a Japanese friend, Robenta

Robenta Seongsu is a ring-making workshop on the 3rd floor of a building on Yeonmujang 13-gil in Seongdong, Seoul, about a 3-minute walk from Seongsu Station. The writer and a Japanese friend of 9 years chose the Axis design for glossy-finish friendship rings, got engraving free by joining the Naver review event, and picked up the rings the same day. With clear, friendly guidance that makes ring making easy for beginners, Robenta Seongsu is a solid pick for friendship rings or an indoor couple's date.

Written Apr 8, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeo-gu, BusanCafés

Songdo seaside gelato café, Busan: strawberry lemon cone at Gelatosong

Gelatosong Busan Songdo is a gelato café right in front of Songdo Beach in Seo-gu, Busan. The writer ordered a strawberry cream & lemon cone cup, a paper cup of gianduja milk chocolate and Italian pistachio, and a butter tteok (buttery rice cake) for 14,500 won in total, and also looked around the spacious shop, its cute props and merchandise, and the open gelato-making area. Verdict: Gelatosong Busan Songdo is a great place to grab a gelato on a seaside walk along Songdo Beach.

Written Apr 20, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSuwon, GyeonggiRestaurants

Gwanggyojungang Station Exit 3 burgers: Double Base set at Base Burger

Base Burger Gwanggyo Avenue France Branch is a newly opened handmade burger restaurant on the 2nd floor of Gwanggyo Avenue France in Suwon, near Gwanggyojungang Station. After the lunch rush, the writer ordered a Double Base Burger set, a chili mozzarella cheese bar and coleslaw at the kiosk for 21,900 won in total. The juicy patty and brioche bun stood out, and the fries were almost too much for one person. For atmosphere, taste and easy access in Gwanggyo, Base Burger Gwanggyo Avenue France Branch is worth a return visit.

Written Apr 24, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSuwon, GyeonggiRestaurants

Suwon malatang restaurant, first meal after recovering: Rahongbang

Rahongbang Malatang Suwon Cheoncheon Branch is a malatang restaurant on the first floor of Sehwa Plaza in Cheoncheon-dong, Jangan-gu, Suwon. After holding off on spicy food while unwell, two diners ordered two bowls of malatang at level 1, plus lemon cream shrimp and yutou (fried dough sticks), for ₩50,100 in total. Rahongbang's level 1 is barely spicy and easy for mala beginners, and the portions are generous enough that one bowl of malatang could have fed two.

Written Apr 26, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeongnam, GyeonggiRestaurants

Bundang Chinese restaurant date: lotus-leaf dongpo pork, Palbok Ori

Palbok Ori Branch is a spacious, upscale Chinese restaurant on the first floor of Bundang M Tower, near Exit 3 of Ori Station in Bundang, Seongnam. On a booked date dinner, the writer paid 96,000 won for Suzhou lotus-leaf dongpo pork (braised pork belly), tianmianjiang (sweet bean sauce noodles) and handmade pan-fried dumplings. The writer loved the melt-in-your-mouth pork, the clean-tasting tianmianjiang, the generous table spacing and the 2 hours of free parking. Verdict: Palbok Ori Branch is a can't-miss Chinese restaurant in Gumi-dong for dates, get-togethers and company dinners.

Written Apr 26, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulRestaurants

Izakaya with corkage near Yeoksam Station: fatty tuna sashimi at Ikoi

Ikoi is a private-room omakase izakaya on Nonhyeon-ro 64-gil near Yeoksam Station in Gangnam, Seoul. In one of Ikoi's 4 private rooms, the writer had the 9-dish special course at 77,000 won per person with a bottle of Ilpum Jinro soju, and the bill for two came to 199,000 won. The fatty tuna sashimi and shrimp beef sous vide stood out, and with corkage allowed, Ikoi is a quiet pick for an anniversary date.

Written Apr 23, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJongno, SeoulThings to do

Anguk Station perfume class with a visiting foreign friend: Muhwawon

Muhwawon Bukchon Perfume Workshop (무화원) is a reservation-only perfume workshop on the 3rd floor of a building on Yulgok-ro 6-gil, near Anguk Station in Jongno, Seoul. The writer brought a foreign friend visiting Korea to create a special memory. Together they went through a tablet survey, scent testing, blending on a scale and a name sticker to finish a premium 50ml perfume for 49,000 won. The space, the hands-on process and the finished perfume were all satisfying, which makes Muhwawon an easy recommendation for an indoor date in Seoul or a memorable outing with a foreign friend.

Written Apr 3, 2026Sponsored
PlaceOsan, GyeonggiRestaurants

Osan Chinese restaurant revisit: stone jjajang & dongpo pork, Dami Sik

Dami Sik (다미식) is a Chinese restaurant known for stone-pot jjajang (black bean noodles) in the Segyo 2 district of Osan, on Sumogwon-ro 49beon-gil. Unable to forget the first visit, the writer returned around 11am on a weekend; despite a line, fast table turnover meant a short wait before the stone jjajang and dongpo pork set for 2–3 people (48,000 won). On the second visit, Dami Sik's stone jjajang was just as satisfying and tasted even better than the first time.

Written Jun 6, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYeonsu, IncheonBars

Songdo jazz bar second visit, couple seat facing the stage: Jazz 257

Jazz 257 Songdo Central Park Branch is a jazz bar in Artfore, opposite Songdo Central Park in Yeonsu, Incheon, where steak comes with live jazz. On a second visit, the writer booked a Sunday 7:30 pm table for her boyfriend's birthday and enjoyed a couple seat facing the stage, a stone steak fire performance and a 2-hour keyboard-and-vocal show. Jazz 257 Songdo Central Park Branch was satisfying enough to return to for birthday and anniversary dates.

Written Jun 15, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulRestaurants

Moist chicken breast samgyetang in Dogok-dong, Gangnam: Masamgyetang

Masamgyetang Bangbaeng Sageori Branch (마삼계탕 뱅뱅사거리점) is a samgyetang (ginseng chicken soup) restaurant on Dogok-ro 3-gil near Bangbaeng Sageori in Gangnam, Seoul, that grinds raw yam into its broth. On a hot, draining day the writer ordered the signature yam samgyetang (18,000 won). The soft, rich broth and moist chicken breast meant the writer finished every drop of broth, which they usually leave behind. Masamgyetang Bangbaeng Sageori Branch is a good pick for a gentle, restorative bowl at an office lunch or a meal with parents.

Written Jun 23, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulRestaurants

Seolleung Station eel bowl with my dad: ₩78,000 for two, Manmok

Manmok is a Japanese eel bowl restaurant in an alley near Exit 2 of Seolleung Station in Gangnam, Seoul. The writer and their father ordered the whole-eel bowl as two servings for ₩78,000, and the Gochang freshwater eel, grilled and steamed Kanto style and then grilled again over charcoal, tasted clean and light rather than greasy. With chawanmushi, pine mushroom soup, side dishes and green tea and black tea ice cream included, Manmok left the writer's father happy and earned a 100% return-visit verdict.

Written Jun 28, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSuwon, GyeonggiCafés

Suwon café near Manseok Park for passion fruit ade: Café Meomureum

Café Meomureum (카페 머무름) is a bakery café on the 2nd floor of the Dongsin Shopping Complex in Jeongja-dong, Suwon, a good stop near Manseok Park. After lunch, the writer ordered a strawberry latte, a passion fruit ade and a salt bread for 15,500 won in total, then looked around the individual study booths and the gallery-like walls hung with artwork. Café Meomureum is a Jeongja-dong café worth returning to, whether for reading alone, catching up with friends or a date.

Written Jul 25, 2026Sponsored