Weekday Mangwon Diner · 40 stories

Weekday Dining Stub

I write about restaurant meals encountered around Seoul on ordinary days. · Writes about: Restaurants · Cafés · Bars · Hair & beauty salons

PlaceGangnam, SeoulRestaurants

Cheongdam pufferfish soup with octopus cut tableside: Bogi-o Boguk

Bogi-o Boguk (복이오복국) is a pufferfish restaurant on Dosan-daero in Cheongdam, Gangnam, Seoul. After a wedding suit fitting, the writer returned to Bogi-o Boguk for the basic clear milbok pufferfish soup (₩21,000) and the clear live octopus pufferfish soup (₩30,000), where a whole octopus is cut in front of you, and confirmed free corkage and valet parking. With its light, refreshing broth and a setting suited to taking parents, Bogi-o Boguk is a reliable pufferfish soup spot in Cheongdam.

Written Apr 12, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulBars

Hapjeong skewer bar after Okdongsik: bacon rice cake rolls, Soottori

Soottori Hongdae Hapjeong is a charcoal-grilled skewer izakaya (Japanese-style pub) on Dongmak-ro 9-gil in Mapo, Seoul, near Sangsu Station and Hapjeong. After dinner at Okdongsik in Hapjeong, the writer went to Soottori for a second round. The writer ordered single skewers two at a time: bonjiri (chicken tail), heart, negima (chicken and leek), tsukune (chicken meatball), bacon rice cake roll, wing and shoulder, with Sapporo draft beer and a Suntory Kakubin highball. With Japanese music playing, a quiet, hip atmosphere and freshly grilled skewers, Soottori Hongdae Hapjeong is a great pick for a second stop on a date.

Written Apr 22, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeongdong, SeoulHair & beauty salons

Wangsimni bridal facial spa for double chin and LDM RF: DU Esthetic

DU Esthetic Wangsimni is a bridal care esthetic spa on the 5th floor of the Daedo Building, near Exit 8 of Wangsimni Station in Seongdong, Seoul. Troubled by a double chin, the writer had DU Esthetic Wangsimni's manual face contouring combined with an LDM radiofrequency device in a private one-person room, and afterward saw a visibly softer double chin and more defined features; a single trial session costs 99,000 won. DU Esthetic Wangsimni is a good fit for brides who want device and hands-on care together before their wedding.

Written Apr 26, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulRestaurants

Burger takeout at Gangnam Station: avocado & chicken fries, Downtowner

Downtowner Gangnam is a handmade burger shop at the start of the Gangnam Station food alley in Gangnam, Seoul. After a clinic appointment in Gangnam, the writer stopped by Downtowner Gangnam after 2 p.m. and took home the signature Avocado Burger set (spicy crispy chicken fries and Coke Zero) plus a cup salad and a jumbo mozza stick. The Downtowner Avocado Burger stood out for its creamy avocado and thick beef patty, and even the sides made it a satisfying meal.

Written Apr 26, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGeumcheon, SeoulHair & beauty salons

Gasan, Seoul body care spa for abdominal detox: Jinsim Skincare

Jinsim Skincare is a skin and body care esthetic salon in Building K of ASK Tower near Gasan Digital Complex Station in Geumcheon, Seoul. While researching pre-wedding care, the writer tried the Jinsim Skincare abdominal detox treatment, which combines an aroma oil massage, gua sha and warm wrapping, and a tape measure showed a smaller waist after the session than before. The Jinsim Skincare abdominal detox suits anyone who wants beauty care and circulation care in one treatment.

Written Apr 30, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulRestaurants

Mapo Korean pub for round two with Dad: Kirin and bossam, Hwakkeunne

Hwakkeunne Ojingyang (화끈네오징양) is a Korean pub at 277 Tojeong-ro in Yonggang-dong, Mapo, Seoul, specializing in stir-fried squid, spicy squid salad and bossam (boiled pork wraps). On a visit with Dad, the order was the bossam combo set with chungmu gimbap (small seaweed rice rolls), rice balls, Kirin draft beer and Chum Churum soju, and the spicy sauce and open-door, terrace-style street-pub feel kept the drinks flowing. Hwakkeunne Ojingyang is stronger on drinking food than full meals, which makes it an especially good second-round spot in Yonggang-dong.

Written Apr 30, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulHair & beauty salons

Gangnam hair salon inner keratin for curly hair with tie marks: Beorn

Beorn Hair Cheongdam is a hair salon in Gangnam, Seoul, on the 2nd floor near Exit 4 of Gangnam-gu Office Station on the Suin-Bundang Line. For thin, very curly hair that dents from simply being tied up, the blogger had the 250,000 won inner keratin clinic, which took about 1 hour 30 minutes. The treatment included moisture and oil protein, coatings and a head spa in a private room. Even without blow-drying, the hair came out silky and neat, almost like a straightening perm, making Beorn Hair Cheongdam's clinic a satisfying fix where home care fell short.

Written May 1, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJung-gu, SeoulRestaurants

Myeongdong Korean BBQ after picking wedding photos: Yuktongnyeong

Yuktongnyeong Myeongdong Main Branch (육통령 명동본점) is a charcoal Korean BBQ restaurant in Myeongdong, Seoul, featured on episode 74 of tvN's Wednesday Foodie Talk as one of Seoul's top three pork belly spots. On wedding photo selection day, the writer took the afternoon off and ordered the omija-aged black pork premium yukgyeopsal (six-layer pork belly, ₩20,000) and aged kimchi stew; the staff-grilled yukgyeopsal and the savory kimchi stew were both satisfying. Fresh, light side dishes keep the meal from getting heavy, making Yuktongnyeong a solid pick for a Myeongdong date or team dinner.

Written May 4, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJongno, SeoulRestaurants

Gwanghwamun gyukatsu date: tenderloin set + striploin add-on, Ichigyu

Ichigyu Gwanghwamun Branch is a gyukatsu (seared breaded beef cutlet) restaurant on the B1 level of Le Meilleur Jongno Town in Jongno, Seoul. On a Gwanghwamun date, a couple ordered the tenderloin gyukatsu set with an extra striploin portion, a basic-flavor tantanmen and a mini curry, then grilled the beef themselves on a tabletop brazier with plenty of melted butter, sharing the soft tenderloin and chewy striploin. With 2 hours of parking support and Cheonggyecheon Stream and Kyobo Book Centre nearby, Ichigyu Gwanghwamun Branch is a good-value way to enjoy beef on a Gwanghwamun date.

Written May 7, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGeumcheon, SeoulRestaurants

Gasan restaurant, siraegi pollock after a house hunt: Gim Myeongtae

Gim Myeongtae Spicy Braised Short Ribs Gasan Branch is a Korean restaurant on Gasan-ro in Geumcheon, Seoul, near Gasan Digital Complex Station, serving braised pollock and spicy braised short ribs. After a house-hunting visit to the area, the writer and her older brother ordered a small siraegi (dried radish greens) braised pollock and 2 pot rice bowls at ₩2,000 each for dinner; the moist, tender siraegi with the sticky pot rice was the highlight. With unlimited self-bar side dishes, high chairs and a semi-private group room, Gim Myeongtae Gasan Branch is a good pick for a family meal too.

Written May 16, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulRestaurants

Gongdeok brunch salad shop: 56g-protein mala tofu noodles, Why Starve

Why Starve Diet Gongdeok Main Branch is a protein-box salad shop on basement level 1 of Lotte Castle President, connected to Gongdeok Station Exit 2 in Mapo, Seoul. For brunch, the writer ate in and ordered a mala chicken tofu noodle protein box with 56g of protein and a smoked duck pasta protein box with 37g. The chicken breast was moist, and the fullness lasted longer than expected. Why Starve Gongdeok is a filling salad stop for when you're dieting but craving mala.

Written May 23, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulRestaurants

Korean BBQ in Sinnonhyeon with my mentor: 300g more LA ribs, Sojei

Sojei Seoul Flagship Store (소제이 서울본점) is an LA galbi (LA-style beef short ribs) and braised oxtail restaurant near Sinnonhyeon Station in Gangnam, Seoul, which started in an alley in Seomyeon, Busan. The writer came at the 5 PM opening for a first round with a former workplace mentor, ordered 500g of LA galbi and the chive braised oxtail sampler, then added another 300g of LA galbi because the egg soy sauce with green onion pesto tasted so good. With thick whole-cut LA galbi and plenty of sauces and side dishes, Sojei Seoul Flagship Store is a great Sinnonhyeon spot for drinks and beef enjoyed many different ways.

Written May 25, 2026Sponsored