Sokcho Teatime Sitter · 81 stories

A Saucer at Four

I write about restaurants and cafés I visit around Seoul, Incheon, and Gyeonggi. · Writes about: Cafés · Restaurants · Hair & beauty salons · Bars · Things to do · Stays · Shopping

PlaceYuseong, DaejeonRestaurants

Daejeon octopus restaurant, Sunday nakji lettuce bowl: Boksakkot

Boksakkot Pineun Jip Daejeon Branch is a fire-grilled jjukkumi (baby octopus) and nakji (small octopus) stir-fry restaurant near Sutonggol in Yuseong, Daejeon. Two people visited around 11:30 a.m. on a Sunday and ordered the nakji stir-fry set for two at the mildest spice level. They mixed the nakji in a bowl of lettuce and seaweed flakes and also had gorgonzola pizza, muksabal (chilled acorn jelly soup), salad, and after-meal coffee and snacks. Parking and seats at Boksakkot Pineun Jip fill up fast at holiday lunchtime, so arrive early or book ahead.

Written May 28, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYongsan, SeoulRestaurants

Samgakji Hong Kong-style Chinese pub for fried eggplant: Imsabu Monkok

Imsabu Jungwha Yori Monkok (임사부중화요리몽콕) is a Hong Kong-style Chinese restaurant and pub on Yongridan-gil in Yongsan, Seoul, right in front of Samgakji Station. The writer arrived at the 17:30 Sunday opening and tried xiaolongbao, mapo tofu rice, fried eggplant in yuxiang (fish-fragrant) sauce, and black pepper beef brisket with bean sprouts. Imsabu Jungwha Yori Monkok serves moderate portions at easygoing prices, so it is good for sharing several dishes; on holidays, it pays to arrive early.

Written May 30, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJongno, SeoulRestaurants

Jonggak seafood spot: chicken nanban & kaisendon lunch sets, Suksseong

Suksseong Susan Jongno Main Branch (숙썽수산 종로본점) is an aged sashimi and seafood restaurant on the 3rd floor of a building near Jonggak Station in Jongno, Seoul, serving lunch sets at midday. On a weekday visit after 1:30 pm, the chicken nanban set and the special kaisendon (seafood rice bowl) set were both satisfying: crispy chicken thigh nanban and thick, non-fishy aged sashimi. Suksseong Susan Jongno Main Branch is a good pick for a hearty set lunch in private seats with pull-down curtains.

Written May 31, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYuseong, DaejeonCafés

Mountain-view café, Daejeon: decaf and cinnamon chimney bread, Luonto

Luonto Sutonggol Branch is a large outdoor café on Sutonggol-ro 71beon-gil in Yuseong, Daejeon, known for its chimney bread (a spiral pastry baked on a spit). Two people visited around 12:30 on a weekend, sat indoors on the 2nd floor with an iced decaf Americano and cinnamon chimney bread served with whipped cream, and looked around the seating on floors 1 to 3 and the outdoor area with a fountain. If you are torn between chimney bread flavors at Luonto Sutonggol Branch, cinnamon is the one to order.

Written May 29, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMichuhol, IncheonBars

Juan Station pub with 2-hour makgeolli and tofu hotpot: Neurin Maeul

Neurin Maeul Yangjojang Juan Station branch is a makgeolli pub on the 2nd floor in the Juan Station food alley in Michuhol, Incheon, and it ferments its own makgeolli (Korean rice wine) on site. On a rainy weekday evening after work, the writer and family shared the Neurin Maeul platter, a clear tofu hotpot and the summer and spring draft makgeolli, and Neurin Maeul Yangjojang also offers 2 hours of unlimited makgeolli for 12,000 won per person. Neurin Maeul Yangjojang is a good Juan Station bar for a rainy day, with jeon (savory pancakes), makgeolli and a clear, hangover-soothing hotpot all in one stop.

Written Jun 2, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJeonju, JeonbukThings to do

Jeonju foot bath café, dozing off in a peppermint soak: Jeonmang

Anma Jogyok Cafe Jeonmang is a foot bath and massage café on the 2nd floor on Eunhaeng-ro in Jeonju Hanok Village, Jeonju. The 15,000 won basic course includes a 30-minute aroma foot bath, a shoulder massage and one drink, and the writer dozed off during a peppermint soak in the Hanok Village-view seat a celebrity used while filming a TV variety show, then left carrying a persimmon leaf mint tea. The 30 minutes flew by and felt so refreshing that Anma Jogyok Cafe Jeonmang makes a great rest stop while sightseeing in Jeonju Hanok Village.

Written Oct 26, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJung-gu, SeoulCafés

City Hall family café: vanilla lemonade & pain au chocolat, Lemangdoré

Lemangdoré Gwanghwamun (레망도레 광화문점) is a three-floor bakery and dessert café about a 5-minute walk from City Hall Station in Jung-gu, Seoul. On a visit with her mom and younger brother, the blogger tried an iced Americano made with the no-acidity Noir beans, a decaf Americano, vanilla lemonade and pain au chocolat, then explored the seating on each floor. With a choice of beans, a wide range of desserts and a different mood on every floor, Lemangdoré Gwanghwamun suits everything from solo café time to family outings.

Written Jun 3, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJeonju, JeonbukRestaurants

Jeonju Sinsigaji Korean BBQ: 270g aged belly & 180g neck, Mongyudo

Mongyudo Sinsigaji Branch is a Korean BBQ restaurant on Hongsanjungang-ro in Wansan-gu, Jeonju, that specializes in pre-grilled pork. On a weekday evening, the writer ordered the 2-person set of 270g aged pork belly and 180g pork neck, which staff grilled all the way through. The meal also included the set's free doenjang sulbap (soybean paste soup with rice) and a 3,000 won steamed egg. With a clean interior and generous side dishes, Mongyudo Sinsigaji Branch is a solid pick for a date or a group dinner.

Written Oct 25, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeo-gu, IncheonRestaurants

Incheon Western restaurant for groups: pizza & beer at Eopu Kitchen

Eopu Kitchen (어푸키친) is a Western restaurant in Seo-gu, Incheon, a 7-minute walk from Seo-gu Office Station on the 2nd floor of the CU convenience store building. The writer had panne Cheongyang cream pasta (cream pasta in a bread bowl with Cheongyang chili), pepperoni pizza and bacon kimchi pilaf with draft beer and cider, and a long table in the middle of Eopu Kitchen suits group get-togethers. If you want a Western restaurant where you can pair pizza with draft beer, Eopu Kitchen is a good fit.

Written Jun 7, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJeonju, JeonbukRestaurants

Jeonju mulgalbi restaurant, mild sauce & own parking lot: Hanok Maeul

Hanok Maeul Mulgalbi is a Korean restaurant specializing in mulgalbi (galbi simmered in broth) and yukjeon (pan-fried beef), located on Dongmun-gil in Jeonju Hanok Village. Arriving at the 11 a.m. Saturday opening, the writer parked easily in the restaurant's private lot out front and ordered the galbi jeongol (galbi hot pot) set. The mulgalbi sauce was mild enough for people who can't handle spice, and the thick yukjeon was the best the writer had eaten in a while. If you want a Korean restaurant in Jeonju Hanok Village that is easy to reach by car despite the weekend car-free street closures, Hanok Maeul Mulgalbi is the answer.

Written Oct 23, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJeonju, JeonbukRestaurants

Jeonju Hanok Village crab restaurant for company dinners: Hanjamae

Hanjamae Ganjang Gejang Jeonju Hanok Village Main Branch is a Korean restaurant specializing in soy-marinated crab (ganjang gejang) and marinated seafood at 23 Gyeonggijeon-gil, Wansan-gu, Jeonju. On a weekday visit around 6:30pm, the writer ordered one soy crab set and one spicy crab set, and was impressed by the meaty crab, the marinated salmon, abalone and shrimp, and the clean dining room with group seating. For a company dinner or group gathering in Jeonju Hanok Village, Hanjamae is a strong choice.

Written Oct 22, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYeonsu, IncheonRestaurants

Songdo, Incheon chicken noodle spot: Friday-night large bowl, Eonyang

Eonyang Dak Kalguksu Incheon Songdo Branch (언양닭칼국수 인천송도점) is a chicken kalguksu (knife-cut noodle soup) restaurant on Haedoji-ro in Yeonsu, Incheon. The writer and her husband arrived around 8 p.m. on a Friday and prepaid on the table tablet. They ordered a regular and a large chicken kalguksu plus 8 chewy dumplings, and loved the thick broth, the half chicken and the crunchy kimchi. Eonyang Dak Kalguksu Incheon Songdo Branch is a generous, good-value pick for lunch or dinner in Songdo.

Written Jun 9, 2026Sponsored