Queue Lunch Taker · 42 stories

Waiting for Lunch

I write about restaurants I visit in Seoul and the meals I have there. · Writes about: Restaurants · Bars · Shopping · Cafés · Hair & beauty salons

PlaceJongno, SeoulRestaurants

Ikseon-dong hanok Korean BBQ: weekday beef rib lunch, Meongseokjip

Meongseokjip (멍석집) is a hanok-style Korean BBQ restaurant with outdoor alley seating in Ikseon-dong, Jongno, Seoul, a 2-minute walk from Jongno 3-ga Station Exit 7. On a late weekday lunch revisit, the writer ordered beef short rib meat (24,000 won), beef brisket doenjang stew, steamed egg and rice at Meongseokjip, while customers kept arriving and a work group of nearly 20 came in. Verdict: the hanok interior, outdoor-seating vibe, friendly staff and clean restroom make Meongseokjip a Jongno 3-ga Korean BBQ spot worth returning to.

Written Apr 23, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGwangjin, SeoulRestaurants

Gopchang BBQ in Konkuk Univ., Seoul, with generous sides: Eunseong

Eunseong Hanu Gopchang Geondae Station branch (은성한우곱창 건대역점) is a Korean beef intestine (hanu gopchang) BBQ restaurant a 2-minute walk from Exit 5 of Konkuk Univ. Station in Gwangjin, Seoul. On a booked weekday dinner at a big-window seat, the blogger ordered 2 portions of the signature Eunseong mixed platter (₩26,000 per person). Staff grilled and cut the gopchang and daechang at the table, and generous side dishes such as soft tofu stew and dongchimi came with the meal. With no gamy smell and intestines packed with rich marrow, Eunseong Hanu Gopchang is a Konkuk Univ. gopchang spot worth revisiting.

Written Apr 24, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJongno, SeoulRestaurants

Daehangno Taiwanese spot, late dinner & zha cai self-bar: Cheonghwawon

Cheonghwawon Daehangno Branch is a Taiwanese-style Chinese restaurant in Jongno, Seoul, a 5-minute walk from Hyehwa Station Exit 4. On a late weekend evening, the writer and a friend sat on the second floor overlooking Daehangno and ate beef knife-cut noodles, guobaorou (crispy sweet-and-sour pork), shrimp fried rice and iced black tea, refilling the zha cai and peanuts at the self-serve bar several times. With its Taiwan-style interior and good value, Cheonghwawon Daehangno Branch is worth recommending for a solo meal or a dinner with friends in Daehangno.

Written Apr 23, 2026Sponsored
PlaceNowon, SeoulRestaurants

Nowon sushi buffet revisit: 2026 spicy fish cake skewer soup, Kuu Kuu

Kuu Kuu Nowon Branch (쿠우쿠우 노원점) is a sushi and seafood buffet of over 300 pyeong on the 6th floor of 247 Nowon-ro in Nowon, Seoul. On a second visit with a friend at the 27,900 won weekday lunch, the writer tried raw salmon sushi, ganjang gejang (soy-marinated crab), en croûte soup, the new 2026 spicy fish cake skewer soup and a wide range of desserts. Kuu Kuu Nowon Branch is a good-value Nowon buffet for Japanese, Korean and Chinese food in a single visit.

Written Apr 23, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJung-gu, SeoulRestaurants

Euljiro ramen shop, late weeknight: first chicken skin gyoza, Mentsuru

Mentsuru Euljiro Branch (멘츠루 을지로점) is a Japanese-style ramen shop near Euljiro 3-ga Station Exit 9 in Jung-gu, Seoul. On a late weekday evening, the writer ordered tori paitan (creamy chicken broth ramen, ₩12,000) with extra menma and egg, plus handmade karaage, a first try of chicken skin gyoza, and Japanese cider and watermelon cider. The smooth, rich tori paitan broth and crispy chicken skin gyoza make Mentsuru Euljiro Branch a good-value Euljiro ramen shop worth revisiting.

Written Apr 30, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulRestaurants

Hapjeong bossam spot, fresh kimchi and garlic wraps: Pyeongidambaek

Pyeongidambaek Ppyeo Kalguksu Main Branch (평이담백 뼈칼국수 본점) is a Korean restaurant serving kalguksu (knife-cut noodle soup) and suyuk (boiled pork) on Yanghwa-ro 7-gil in Mapo, Seoul, a 6-minute walk from Hapjeong Station Exit 2. The writer came for an early dinner and ordered a medium bossam suyuk for 42,000 won: melt-in-the-mouth skin-on pork belly, kimchi that tasted freshly made and thinly sliced radish salad, eaten in wraps with ssamjang (soybean dipping paste) and garlic. With solid side dishes and a spacious dining room, Pyeongidambaek Ppyeo Kalguksu Main Branch is a Hapjeong bossam restaurant that suits group dinners and family gatherings.

Written Apr 30, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulRestaurants

Yeonnam-dong steak restaurant, ₩31,000 house steak is plenty: Hey Joji

Hey Joji is an American home-style restaurant in a Yeonnam-dong alley in Mapo, Seoul, a 6-minute walk from Exit 3 of Hongik Univ. Station. On a revisit, the writer avoided the wait by coming for a late lunch on a weekday and ordered just one ₩31,000 house steak, which was generously portioned and cooked tender and slightly pink, served with sweet potato fries and star- and smiley-shaped fries. The Hey Joji house steak alone delivers both portion and flavor, making it a solid Yeonnam-dong date meal.

Written May 2, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulShopping

Windy-day one-touch tent rental in Mangwon, ₩10,000 set: Picnic List

Picnic List Mangwon is a picnic gear rental shop right in front of the entrance to Mangwon Hangang Park in Mapo, Seoul. On a windy public holiday, the writer booked a tent, camping chairs and a box table for ₩10,000 through Naver, added a blanket and a picnic mat, and ate sundae (Korean blood sausage), tteokbokki (spicy rice cakes) and gimbap (seaweed rice rolls) from Mangwon Market by the Han River. The one-touch tent from Picnic List Mangwon held firm against strong gusts, so the picnic lasted for hours, making the rental great value for money.

Written May 2, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulCafés

Mangwon Hangang Park café for a holiday picnic decaf latte: Puru Papa

Puru Papa Hangang Mapoint branch is a café on the first floor of MAPOINT Naru, right next to Mangwon Hangang Park in Mapo, Seoul, and it also sells coffee, lattes and sushi. On a public-holiday picnic at Mangwon Hangang Park with a friend, the writer ordered an iced decaf vanilla latte, an iced condensed milk latte, dujjonku (a chewy Dubai-style cookie) and butter tteok (chewy butter rice cake), and was happy with the rich lattes and chewy desserts. With Americanos from 2,900 won and Hangang river-view seats, Puru Papa is a good-value picnic café.

Written May 4, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulBars

Yeonnam-dong chicken feet pub with rice cake and quail egg add-ons

Cheongnyeon Dakbal 1987 Hongdae Branch is a chicken feet (dakbal) bar with an open-air street-stall feel on Donggyo-ro, between Hongik Univ. Station and Yeonnam-dong in Seoul. On a weekend visit around 8 p.m., the 39,000 won Cheongnyeon chicken feet set was switched to boneless at Shin Ramyun spice level, with rice cake and quail egg add-ons, alongside pineapple soju and jjagyechi (instant black bean noodles with cheese and egg). The kalguksu (knife-cut noodles) and soupy chicken feet stood out, which explains why Cheongnyeon Dakbal 1987 has a wait.

Written May 6, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangseo, SeoulRestaurants

Oil pasta lunch in Magongnaru: extra shrimp & green salads, Pasta Go

Pasta Go Magok Branch is a budget pasta and risotto restaurant in Gangseo, Seoul, a 1-minute walk from Magongnaru Station Exit 1. At lunch, the writer ordered a Special Black oil pasta with extra shrimp, garlic and oil, two green salads, thin fries and a Pepsi Zero, all through the kiosk and a QR code. Verdict: Pasta Go Magok Branch is an affordable lunch spot near Seoul Botanic Park, with parking, where ordering several dishes like a set won't strain your budget.

Written May 13, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulRestaurants

Tripe hotpot restaurant in Hongdae, a third visit: Dururmi Haejangjip

Dururmi Haejangjip (두루미해장집) is a haejangguk (hangover soup) and beef tripe hotpot restaurant in Seogyo-dong, Mapo, Seoul, a 7-minute walk from Exit 1 of Hongik Univ. Station. On a third visit, the writer ordered the medium gopchang jeongol (beef tripe hotpot) for ₩39,000 with free rice and udon noodles, and found the medium pot generous with tripe and the broth deep and rich. For a proper Hongdae tripe hotpot that is more than just salty and spicy, Dururmi Haejangjip is worth recommending.

Written May 17, 2026Sponsored