Pour Diary · 161 stories

Everyday Pour

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

PlaceGoyang, GyeonggiRestaurants

Goyang pork galbi lunch special with my dad, ₩16,000: Sujeong Galbi

Sujeong Galbi (수정갈비) is a pork galbi and marinated rib restaurant in the Seongsa-gol food alley in Deogyang-gu, Goyang. The writer and their dad had the weekday lunch special of marinated grilled pork for 16,000 won, with doenjang stew and rice, water and spicy mixed naengmyeon (cold noodles) and sikhye (sweet rice drink), and loved the sweet, tender galbi and generous side dishes. The Sujeong Galbi lunch special is an easy, affordable way to enjoy a galbi lunch with your parents.

Written Nov 2, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJongno, SeoulRestaurants

Basement pork bone stew in Jonggak food alley: small pot, Jangheon

Jangheon Gamjatang Jonggak is a gamjatang (pork bone stew) restaurant on basement level 1 of a building in the Jonggak food alley in Jongno, Seoul. Torn between braised pork bones and gamjatang, the blogger and a friend ordered the small Jangheon Gamjatang (₩33,000), with kimchi and seokbakji (cubed radish kimchi) that Jangheon Gamjatang says it makes in-house, plus soju and Coke. With no break time and a small pot that fills two people up, Jangheon Gamjatang Jonggak is a dependable pork bone stew spot in Jonggak.

Written Nov 1, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJung-gu, SeoulCafés

After-lunch Gwanghwamun café: pear lemonade & cake | Center Coffee

Center Coffee Gwanghwamun is a coffee and dessert café on the first basement level (B1) of SFC Mall in Gwanghwamun, Seoul. The writer stopped by Center Coffee Gwanghwamun with a friend after lunch and ordered a pear lemonade, an iced americano and a Matilda cake. The Matilda cake, slightly firm outside and moist inside, went especially well with the iced americano. Center Coffee Gwanghwamun is a solid pick for chatting with a friend after a meal in Gwanghwamun.

Written Nov 1, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJongno, SeoulRestaurants

Jonggak sashimi pub, aged platter & wedge fries: Parang Haenyeojip

Parang Haenyeojip Jongno Branch (파랑해녀집 종로본점) is an ocean-themed aged sashimi pub near Exit 4 of Jonggak Station in Jongno, Seoul. On an evening out with a friend, the blogger ordered the small aged sashimi platter (52,000 won), wedge-style fries (8,000 won) and a bottle of soju, and enjoyed comparing the platter's four fish (sea bream, sea bass, salmon and flounder) in a dark room with waves projected on the walls. Parang Haenyeojip Jongno Branch is more memorable for its atmosphere than its food, and suits anyone looking for a themed pub near Jonggak Station.

Written Nov 1, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJongno, SeoulRestaurants

Jonggak jokbal restaurant at opening time with soju: Yeonnam Jokbal

Yeonnam Jokbal 1987 Jonggak Branch (연남족발1987 종각점) is a jokbal (braised pork trotter) restaurant in an alley near Jonggak Station Exit 4 in Jongno, Seoul, best known for fried jokbal coated in batter. Visiting with a friend right at opening time, the writer ordered the Fried Jokbal Signature Set (49,000 won) and Yeosu Cockles & Bibim Somyeon (22,000 won) with soju, and the crispy-outside, tender-inside fried jokbal paired well with the sweet-and-spicy cockle noodles. For anyone after a different take on jokbal, Yeonnam Jokbal 1987 Jonggak Branch is a solid pick for a spread of drinking food.

Written May 26, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJongno, SeoulRestaurants

Jongno 3-ga clear dumpling hot pot with a friend: Jongga Mandu

Jongga Mandu (종가만두) is a dumpling hot pot restaurant on Supyo-ro in Jongno, Seoul, near Jongno 3-ga Station, in the spot that used to be Seonggyeong Mandu. A longtime Seonggyeong Mandu fan went to Jongga Mandu with a friend, waited in line, and shared the clear dumpling hot pot for two (₩13,000 per person) with self-serve soju at ₩3,000, finishing with kalguksu (knife-cut noodles). Jongga Mandu is a good-value dumpling hot pot spot that satisfies old Seonggyeong Mandu fans and first-timers alike.

Written May 26, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangseo, SeoulRestaurants

Mom's first hot pot in Magongnaru, Seoul: mala broth at J's Pot

J's Pot Magok Branch is a fusion hot pot restaurant on basement level 2 of COEX Magok Tower A, near Magongnaru Station in Gangseo, Seoul. The writer brought parents who had never eaten hot pot, ordering the lunch hot pot set (₩17,500 per person) and a mala set with different broths, one pot per person, with thin-sliced beef brisket, glass noodles and fish balls. Mom, trying hot pot for the first time, fell in love with the mala broth, making J's Pot Magok Branch a very satisfying family meal out.

Written Nov 1, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJung-gu, SeoulRestaurants

Ramen shop by City Hall Station: motsu, hormone-don & soju, Mentsuru

Mentsuru City Hall Branch is a Japanese ramen shop right in front of Exit 10 of City Hall Station in Jung-gu, Seoul. Before Deoksugung's night opening, the writer and a friend shared motsu ramen with beef small intestine and thin-sliced beef (₩15,000) and hormone-don, a beef large intestine and thin-sliced beef rice bowl (₩15,000), with soju and a highball. Both the spicy hangover-style motsu ramen and the tender hormone-don were satisfying, making Mentsuru City Hall Branch a good fit for solo meals, office-worker lunches and drinks with a friend.

Written May 25, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJung-gu, SeoulCafés

Gwanghwamun bakery café after a family meal: vanilla latte, Lemangdoré

Lemangdoré Gwanghwamun is a three-floor bakery café on Mugyo-ro in Jung-gu, Seoul, between City Hall Station and Cheonggyecheon. After a meal, the blogger, their dad and their younger sibling ordered a vanilla latte, an iced americano and a Valrhona chocolate latte at the 1st-floor kiosk, then enjoyed after-meal coffee at a 2nd-floor window seat. Lemangdoré Gwanghwamun is a good Gwanghwamun café for a family whose drink tastes all differ to stop by after eating.

Written Nov 1, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJongno, SeoulRestaurants

Gwanghwamun Chinese: meat jjamppong and Harbin beer at Bobo Sikdang

Bobo Sikdang Gwanghwamun is a Chinese restaurant on basement level 1 of the KT Gwanghwamun building near Exit 2 of Gwanghwamun Station in Jongno, Seoul, reportedly led by Chef Jang Bo-won of Culinary Class Wars Season 2. Over lunch with Dad and a younger sibling, the writer shared peanut sprout pork stir-fry, butter tangsuyuk (sweet and sour pork) with pork tenderloin, meat jjamppong (spicy noodle soup) and Harbin beer, and was struck by the clean dining room, open kitchen and private rooms. Bobo Sikdang Gwanghwamun is worth considering for a family meal or for unusual Chinese dishes in Gwanghwamun.

Written Nov 1, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYeonsu, IncheonRestaurants

Songdo takeout tteokbokki with thick sauce: Daewangpan Tteokbokki

Daewangpan Tteokbokki is a Korean snack bar (bunsikjip) on Senteureol-ro in Songdo, Yeonsu-gu, Incheon, often seen on social media for its tteokbokki served in a giant pan. The writer ordered tteokbokki, sundae innards (Korean blood sausage with offal) and 2 fried items, a vegetable fritter and gimmari (fried seaweed noodle rolls), à la carte at the kiosk for takeout. The writer especially loved the thick sauce, with a gochujang-and-corn-syrup feel, and the chewy wheat rice cakes. Daewangpan Tteokbokki suits anyone who wants old-school snack bar tteokbokki to eat at home, and a set menu is cheaper if you plan to order several items.

Written May 28, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYeonsu, IncheonCafés

Panini brunch café in Songdo, Incheon: roast beef panini at Paninaro

Paninaro is a white-toned, European-style panini brunch café in Building A of Jiwell Prugio City in Songdo, Yeonsu, Incheon. Two friends ordered two iced Americanos, a roast beef panini and an arugula & ham panini at Paninaro; each panini came with a salad and fusilli pasta, and the rich coffee with no sourness was just as satisfying. Paninaro is a small, calm Songdo brunch café that works well for a relaxed brunch date.

Written May 28, 2026Sponsored