Tiled Entry Visitor · 31 stories

Past the Tiled Entry

I write about meals and moments I encounter at restaurants in Seoul. · Writes about: Restaurants · Hair & beauty salons · Cafés · Bars

PlaceJung-gu, SeoulRestaurants

Korean restaurant for an Euljiro date: udon gukbap & rib soup, Paldal

Paldal Neoguri Haejang Euljiro 3-ga Station branch is a Korean gukbap (rice soup) and suyuk (boiled beef) restaurant right in front of Euljiro 3-ga Station in Jung-gu, Seoul. On an Euljiro date, the writer stopped by after the usual dinner hour and ordered Ppyeogalbi Jinguk (bone-in beef rib soup), spicy Neoguri udon gukbap and Naengkeum Arong suyuk (boiled beef shank); the 3 big ribs, heaped bowl of Sindongjin rice and the udon-and-gukbap broth combination stood out. Paldal Neoguri Haejang is a generous, filling Korean restaurant in Euljiro that works as a lunch gukbap spot or an evening place for drinks and side dishes.

Written Apr 21, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJongno, SeoulBars

Jonggak Sunday-night bar: amber ale and 500g pork ribs at Sudowonui

Sudowonui Bimil Jeojanggo (수도원의 비밀 저장고) is a medieval monastery-themed bar and kitchen in a basement on Jonggak Station's Youth Street in Jongno, Seoul. On a late Sunday evening the writer ordered two Hand and Malt craft beers, Saint's Garden Ale (a pale ale) and Sacred Fire Amber (an amber ale), plus Ribs Allowed After Confession, about 500g of Korean Handon pork ribs, and especially enjoyed the cold beer, the tender ribs and the garlic sauce. Sudowonui Bimil Jeojanggo suits anyone looking for an unusual date bar near Jonggak Station.

Written Apr 25, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangseo, SeoulRestaurants

Magok Japanese restaurant, November aburi don with yellowtail: Ilpum

Ilpum Magok is a Japanese restaurant specializing in kaisendon (seafood rice bowl), located between Magok and Balsan Station in Gangseo, Seoul. A blogger who has worked in Magok for over 6 years and eaten at Ilpum Magok more than 10 times, including work lunches, had the November aburi don (grill-torched salmon, Spanish mackerel, mitre squid, yellowtail and scallop) and a kaisendon as a course with chawanmushi, fish cake udon and mango panna cotta. Thanks to aged seafood, unlimited seaweed refills and friendly service, Ilpum Magok is the first place that comes to mind for sushi in Magok.

Written Nov 11, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGoyang, GyeonggiRestaurants

Samsong tripe soup after a holiday Starfield date: Jeju Eunhui-ne

Jeju Eunhui-ne Haejangguk Goyang Samsong Branch is a Jeju-style haejangguk (hangover soup) restaurant on the ground floor of e-Pyeonhan Sesang City Samsong, across from Starfield Goyang. After a holiday date at Starfield, the writer ordered the tripe soup + dombe pork set (20,000 won) and the hangover soup (12,000 won), finished two bowls of rice with the nutty, tripe-filled broth and was surprised by the size of the dombe pork portion in the set. For a filling, good-value meal with parents or friends after Starfield shopping, Jeju Eunhui-ne Haejangguk Goyang Samsong Branch is a good fit.

Written May 2, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYeongdeungpo, SeoulRestaurants

Japanese spot near Yeouido Park: salmon sake-don & free corkage, Ilpum

Ilpum Yeouido Branch is a Japanese restaurant specializing in kaisendon (seafood rice bowls) and sushi, in the basement of the Anwon Building near National Assembly Station in Yeongdeungpo, Seoul. After a holiday outing to Yeouido Park, the writer had the salmon sake-don (salmon rice bowl) and the premium kaisendon for dinner, served course-style with miso soup, chawanmushi (steamed egg), udon and dessert. Ilpum Yeouido Branch suits salmon lovers and groups looking for a dinner spot with free corkage.

Written May 3, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulCafés

Yeonnam-dong night dessert café in a 2-story house: Butter & Shelter

Butter & Shelter Yeonnam is a dessert café in a two-story detached house on Seongmisan-ro in Yeonnam-dong, Mapo, Seoul. On a late weekday evening the writer looked around the front-yard outdoor seats and cozy interior, took 5 butter sands to go, and tried the plain, crème brûlée and chocolate butter sands at home. Butter & Shelter is pretty at night, and its rich, not-too-sweet butter sands make it a satisfying Yeonnam-dong café for both a date and gift desserts.

Written Nov 9, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulBars

Hongdae beer pub for Monday after-work pizza and beer: Art Monster

Art Monster Hongdae (아트몬스터 홍대역점) is a craft beer pub on the 2nd floor of 131 Eoulmadang-ro near Hongik Univ. Station in Mapo, Seoul, serving wood-fired pizza and chicken with its beers. After work on a Monday, the writer sat by the window with the sour beer Changsegi (창세기) and the American pale ale Suda Sponsor (수다스폰서), a half-and-half truffle gorgonzola and Pizza Among pizza, and boneless chicken tteokbokki. Art Monster Hongdae is a satisfying Hongdae craft beer pub when you want pizza with beer and chicken with beer in one sitting.

Written Nov 6, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangseo, SeoulRestaurants

Tonkatsu en route to Seoul Botanic Park: tori & tenderloin, Katsuryun

Katsuryun (카츠륜) is a tonkatsu restaurant on the way from Magok Station to Seoul Botanic Park in Gangseo, Seoul. At Katsuryun the writer ordered sirloin katsu, the ₩15,000 Ryun Special (Ryunbyeolseon) with tori katsu and tenderloin, and a ₩3,000 side of Sapporo soup curry. The portions, meat quality and light, crispy batter impressed, and so did thoughtful side dishes like pickled radish topped with katsuobushi (bonito flakes). Katsuryun is a great-value tonkatsu pick for a Magok office lunch or a meal on a Seoul Botanic Park outing.

Written May 14, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulRestaurants

Yeonnam-dong Chinese food easy on the stomach: mapo tofu rice at Gawon

Gawon Yeonnam (가원 연남점) is a Chinese restaurant at the entrance to Gyeongui Line Forest Park in Yeonnam-dong, Mapo, Seoul, and the second branch of a restaurant known for its original in Mangwon. For dinner, the writer ordered ganjjajang (dry-stir-fried black bean noodles), mapo tofu rice, chili fried eggplant and 4 pan-fried dumplings, and nothing was too salty or greasy, so the meal felt as easy as home cooking even on a day of poor digestion. For relaxed, home-style Chinese food, Gawon Yeonnam is a good fit.

Written Nov 4, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulRestaurants

Retro Korean BBQ in Sinnonhyeon: grilled white kimchi LA ribs, Sojei

Sojei Seoul Flagship Store is a beef galbi and braised oxtail pub in the Sinnonhyeon Station food alley in Gangnam, Seoul, and the brand first became famous in Busan. On a Monday evening the writer ordered 500g of LA flower ribs and a braised oxtail sampler. The standouts were the staff-grilled fresh LA ribs paired with grilled white kimchi and garlic scapes, plus a wide spread of sauces and side dishes. With its old-school yet hip vibe, Sojei Seoul Flagship Store is a solid pick for a beef team dinner or drinks in Gangnam.

Written May 22, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYangcheon, SeoulRestaurants

Yeomchang snack bar: prawn tteokbokki, japchae gimmari, Deokbokhui-jip

Deokbokhui-jip (덕복희집) is an instant tteokbokki (rice cakes cooked at the table) and handmade fried food snack bar in the Yeomchang Station food alley in Yangcheon, Seoul. The writer ordered the seafood instant tteokbokki with a whole squid, two prawns and mussels, plus the handmade fried platter. The writer loved the broth, which is refreshing rather than sweet, and the high-quality fried food, as good as tendon tempura. Verdict: Deokbokhui-jip is a top tteokbokki spot and a great fried food place for a light drink near Yeomchang Station.

Written Oct 29, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJung-gu, SeoulRestaurants

Weekend date burger spot by City Hall: 15-a-day pastrami, Daily Fix

Daily Fix Euljiro is a handmade burger restaurant serving Hanwoo (Korean beef) patties in Mugyo-dong, between City Hall Station and Euljiro 1-ga Station in Seoul. Over a weekend lunch we had the bacon cheeseburger set, the pastrami sandwich limited to 15 a day and coleslaw with a spiced dressing, and the pastrami sandwich, piled with smoked beef brisket, was the most distinctive. Daily Fix Euljiro is a satisfying burger spot for a weekend date or a weekday office lunch.

Written May 28, 2026Sponsored