Side Street Packer · 26 stories

Lunches on Side Streets

I write about restaurant meals found around Seoul. · Writes about: Restaurants · Cafés · Stays · Shopping

PlaceSeohae, IncheonRestaurants

Cheongna shabu-shabu buffet with soy shrimp rice wraps: Shabuway

Shabuway Ruwon City Cheongna Branch is an all-you-can-eat shabu-shabu and rice wrap restaurant in Ruwon City, Cheongna, Seohae, Incheon. Soy-marinated shrimp from the self-bar goes straight into the rice wraps, a self-mixed sesame sauce dresses the shabu meat, and the meal ends with two-color kalguksu noodles and soft-serve ice cream with toppings. At Shabuway the self-bar is varied enough to steal attention from the shabu-shabu itself.

Written Sep 22, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulRestaurants

Seolleung taco bar with a beef and shrimp taco plate: Chilango, Seoul

Chilango Seolleung Main Branch is a Mexican restaurant on Yeoksam-ro 67-gil near Seolleung Station in Gangnam, Seoul. After a day of fieldwork, the writer had the two-person taco plate with one beef and one shrimp option, adding guacamole, salsa, cheese sauce and sour cream to taste, and dipped the nachos in cheese sauce as a beer snack. Chilango suits a night of picking at small plates over a beer more than one heavy sit-down meal.

Written Sep 22, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMichuhol, IncheonRestaurants

Hagik-dong bulgogi restaurant with a gat pickle burger: Dongchuwon

Dongchuwon Bulgogi is a Korean beef bulgogi hot pot restaurant near Singi Market in Hagik-dong, Michuhol, Incheon. Tired after a fitting for formal wear, the writer ordered the Korean beef bulgogi hot pot for two plus two bowls of rice, then packed the complimentary morning bread with bulgogi, cheese and gat (mustard leaf) pickles for a homemade burger, and melted the leftover cheese over the last of the bulgogi. With wide tables and private rooms, Dongchuwon Bulgogi suits family gatherings or a meal out with parents.

Written Sep 19, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJeju, JejuRestaurants

Jeju restaurant near Snoopy Garden: sous-vide set, Pyeongdae Alhi

Pyeongdae Alhi (평대앓이) is a one-chef Western restaurant in Pyeongdae-ri, Gujwa-eup, Jeju, a short drive from Snoopy Garden and Bijarim Forest. Booked ahead for lunch on the last day of a Jeju trip, the sous-vide set for 2 costs 59,000 won and brings sous-vide steak, Hallasan pasta, Alhi salad and two Jeju ades made with green tangerine and hallabong. With its wood furniture and antique pieces, Pyeongdae Alhi is a place to eat slowly and talk for a while.

Written Sep 18, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJeju, JejuCafés

Rooftop sunset and pet-friendly café in Jocheon, Jeju: Robain Coffee

Robain Coffee Jeju Jocheon Sinchon Branch is a large dessert café standing right in front of Keunmul Port in Sinchon-ri, Jocheon-eup, Jeju City. The café is split across the main building's first and second floors, a rooftop, an annex and a private room, and matcha latte, mugwort tea, persimmon leaf tea and cheesecake come with sea-facing window seats, while the rooftop looks out over the whole little harbor village. Robain Coffee is an easy sunset stop on a quiet trip around eastern Jeju.

Written Sep 17, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJeju, JejuRestaurants

Dog-friendly sea-view Hamdeok restaurant: Jeju Seom Godeungeo Ssambap

Jeju Seom Godeungeo Ssambap is a mackerel ssambap (rice and fish eaten in leaf wraps) and Korean restaurant on Jochamhaean-ro near Hamdeok Beach in Jeju, with the sea right in front of the door and pets welcome. The order was the mackerel ssambap set for two, which arrived as a full table of braised mackerel topped with aged kimchi, wrap vegetables and side dishes from the self-serve bar. For a filling Korean meal while travelling eastern Jeju with a dog, Jeju Seom Godeungeo Ssambap was a solid choice.

Written Sep 17, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJeju, JejuRestaurants

Dog-friendly black pork restaurant in Hamdeok, Jeju: Jeju Samchun

Jeju Samchun is a low-temperature aged black pork restaurant near Hamdeok Beach in Jeju, and pets are allowed inside as long as they stay in a cage, stroller or bag. The writer and a friend ordered the Jocha Set 500g for 60,000 won, which brings pork neck and five-layer pork belly under a dry-ice dome and is grilled at the table by staff, with pollack roe and galchi-jeot (salted cutlassfish sauce) among the free side dishes for switching up each bite. For anyone traveling Jeju with a dog who still wants black pork in Hamdeok, Jeju Samchun is the answer.

Written Sep 17, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGwangjin, SeoulRestaurants

Protein box restaurant near Konkuk Station in Seoul: Y-Stave Diet

Y-Stave Diet Konkuk is a protein box restaurant near Konkuk University Station in Gwangjin, Seoul, where you choose your own protein, base and sauce. The chicken box with oat rice and spicy teriyaki costs 9,900 won and the beef box with pasta and teriyaki costs 12,900 won; the chicken came out tender and the beef was thick with a satisfying chew. Y-Stave Diet Konkuk is a filling option when the same diet meal every day gets boring and you want to swap the combination.

Written Sep 14, 2026Sponsored
PlaceOngjin, IncheonStays

Dog pool and night swim at Luna Beach Seonjae, Incheon dog pension

Luna Beach Seonjae Hotel & Pension is an ocean-view, dog-friendly pension on Seonjae-do, Incheon, connected by road from Daebu-do. The writer stayed in a spa room with kitchen and smart TV facilities, swam in the pool late at night after a day of travel, and let the dog run in the dog exercise yard and dedicated dog pool. With waste pads, poop bags and a dry room all provided, it was a great stay for both pets and kids.

Written Sep 6, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYeonsu, IncheonCafés

Wunder Gato + Einspänner at Songdo outlet food hall: Wunder Coffee

Wunder Coffee Bar Hyundai Premium Outlet Songdo Branch is a coffee and soft-serve café inside the basement food court of Hyundai Premium Outlet Songdo in Yeonsu, Incheon. After eating at the food court, the writer ordered the signature Wunder Gato + Wunder Coffee set with vanilla ice cream and mixed the two together, finding the cinnamon-dusted sweetness perfect for dessert. A great pick for anyone who can't handle bitter coffee.

Written Sep 7, 2026Sponsored