Westside Mealtime · 26 stories

Westward Rice Hour

I write about restaurant meals in Incheon and Gyeonggi. · Writes about: Restaurants · Hair & beauty salons · Shopping

PlaceBupyeong, IncheonRestaurants

Bupyeong galbi lunch with Mom: naengmyeon-wrapped ribs, Nocheongol

Nocheongol Bupyeong Main Branch is a 30-year-old, second-generation galbi (marinated rib) restaurant near Exit 4 of Bupyeong Market Station in Incheon. On a lunch date with her mom, the writer ordered pork galbi for 2, a half portion of Hanwoo (Korean beef) yukhoe (beef tartare), doenjang stew, pot rice and Hamheung-style cold naengmyeon, and the staff grilled the meat at the table. Verdict: with galbi that isn't overly sweet and neat homemade side dishes, Nocheongol Bupyeong Main Branch is a great Bupyeong Korean BBQ spot to take your parents.

Written Apr 25, 2026Sponsored
PlaceNamdong, IncheonRestaurants

Incheon City Hall sashimi dinner with parents: amberjack & raw shrimp

Mansahyeongtong Sanojingeo Incheon City Hall branch is a sashimi and seafood restaurant near Incheon City Hall in Guwol-dong, Namdong-gu, Incheon. The writer took their parents and ordered a medium Ttungttung Dwaeji (Fat Pig) amberjack (₩55,000), 12 raw shrimp (₩25,000) and seodeori maeuntang, a spicy fish-bone stew (₩10,000), and also enjoyed the sukidashi side dishes, complimentary steamed oysters and ramen noodles added to the stew. Mansahyeongtong Sanojingeo Incheon City Hall branch is a good pick for a family dinner or group meal when you want amberjack and raw shrimp together.

Written Nov 10, 2026Sponsored
PlaceNamdong, IncheonRestaurants

Guwol-dong BBQ with same-day scallops and chewy dwit-gogi: Euljiro

Euljiro Charcoal Grill Guwol Branch (을지로 연탄구이 구월점) is a briquette-fired Korean BBQ restaurant near Rodeo Street in Guwol-dong, Namdong-gu, Incheon. The blogger booked on Naver, arrived in the early evening for the dwaeji hangeun pork set (36,000 won) and a plate of scallops said to be sourced that day (12,900 won), then had the grill plate changed to add dwit-gogi (chewy pork trimmings) and pork makchang (grilled intestine). Verdict: Euljiro Charcoal Grill Guwol Branch lets you grill meat and seafood together, and the chewy dwit-gogi was the blogger's top pick.

Written May 4, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulHair & beauty salons

Hongdae makeup salon: summer cool pink look & lesson, Moi Hair Makeup

Moi Hair Makeup is a hair and makeup salon right outside Exit 3 of Hongik Univ. Station in Mapo, Seoul. After being re-diagnosed as a summer cool tone (she had assumed she was autumn warm), the writer got a pink, dewy profile-shoot look and chunky waves at Moi Hair Makeup, liked it enough to book a 1 hour 30 minute makeup lesson. Her eye makeup didn't smudge all the way home, so the verdict is a 200% yes to coming back.

Written May 5, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulRestaurants

Gangnam Station dim sum: sip xiaolongbao soup from a spoon, Namsogwan

Namsogwan U Yuk Dosakmyeon (남소관 우육도삭면) is a two-floor dim sum and knife-cut noodle Chinese restaurant at the start of Teheran-ro 1-gil, near Gangnam Station in Seoul. Two people had lunch at Namsogwan U Yuk Dosakmyeon: Sichuan-style beef knife-cut noodles (11,000 won), xiaolongbao and crystal shrimp dumplings, and the spicy bone-broth noodles paired well with the juicy handmade dim sum. Namsogwan U Yuk Dosakmyeon is worth a stop for local-style beef noodles and handmade dim sum at fair prices in Gangnam.

Written May 14, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulRestaurants

Yeoksam eel restaurant: hot-day energy lunch with Mom, Yangsando

Yangsando Yeoksam (양산도 역삼점) is a Nagoya-style freshwater eel rice bowl (hitsumabushi) restaurant with a 65-year tradition, near Exit 3 of Yeoksam Station in Gangnam, Seoul. The writer and her mom ordered two hitsumabushi at 27,000 won each and tried all three ways of eating them: plain, with seaweed flakes, scallions and wasabi, and as ochazuke (rice in tea broth). They enjoyed eel with no fishy taste, generous sides like chawanmushi and soba, and plum tea to finish. For an energy-boosting lunch on a hot day, the hitsumabushi at Yangsando Yeoksam is a great choice.

Written May 16, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYeonsu, IncheonRestaurants

Songdo teppanyaki spot: okonomiyaki and strawberry ade lunch at Jojo

Jojo Triple Street Branch is a Japanese teppanyaki restaurant on the 1st floor of Building C at Triple Street in Songdo, Incheon. For lunch I ordered the Jojo signature okonomiyaki (17,000 won), karai yakisoba, a spicy stir-fried noodle dish (14,000 won), and a strawberry ade (5,000 won). The mains took about 15 minutes and came straight off the griddle. The okonomiyaki, loaded with seafood and meat, balanced well with the spicy yakisoba topped with a runny fried egg, making Jojo a satisfying lunch spot.

Written May 20, 2026Sponsored
PlaceBucheon, GyeonggiHair & beauty salons

Bucheon salon root volume magic to the jawline, perm kept: Levia Hair

Levia Hair Bucheon Branch is a newly opened hair salon on the 3rd floor of the City Office building near Bucheon City Hall Station in Bucheon, Gyeonggi. Bothered by frizzy roots in humid weather, the writer consulted with manager Ian and had a root volume magic on the top section down to the jawline, leaving the permed lower hair untouched, in about 2.5 hours. The frizzy top hair at Levia Hair came out smooth, with natural volume and a soft shine, a satisfying result.

Written May 22, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeohae, IncheonRestaurants

Cheongna eel buffet A Set for 39,000 won with chuck flap: Jangsodam

Jangsodam Eel and Beef Buffet Cheongna Main Branch is an all-you-can-eat meat buffet in Cheongna, Incheon, serving eel, beef and pork. On a chilly day the writer ordered the 39,000 won per person A Set for a restorative meal, with 6 beef cuts, freshwater eel and the self-bar, and found the eel tasted best wrapped with scallion kimchi. For the price, Jangsodam Cheongna offers a generous spread worth recommending for both dates and family gatherings.

Written Nov 1, 2026Sponsored
PlaceNamdong, IncheonRestaurants

Incheon City Hall abalone set and Mom's birthday table: Jeonbokchon

Jeonbokchon (전복촌) is an abalone Korean set-menu restaurant between Incheon City Hall Station and Yesulhoegwan Station in Namdong, Incheon, serving courses of raw, grilled and soy-marinated abalone made with Wando abalone. For Mom's birthday, the writer booked ahead, was given a private room and ordered the abalone set (39,000 won per person) for 4, and Jeonbokchon set out a separate birthday table with soy-marinated abalone. Jeonbokchon is a quiet, thoughtful choice for a parents' birthday family dinner.

Written Nov 1, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeo-gu, IncheonRestaurants

Eel buffet in Cheongna, Incheon with side-crisped eel wraps: Jangsodam

Jangsodam Eel and Beef Buffet Cheongna Main Branch is an all-you-can-eat eel, beef and pork buffet in Cheongna, Seo-gu, Incheon. The writer chose the 34,000 won per person B Set with eel, beef chuck rib, Yeonpyeongdo marinated crab and the self-bar, and the highlight was eel stood on its side to crisp the edges, then wrapped in scallion kimchi (pa-kimchi). Jangsodam Cheongna is a good-value eel buffet for a summer stamina meal, a family gathering or a date.

Written Jun 5, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYeonsu, IncheonRestaurants

Hot pot buffet lunch with Mom in Songdo, Incheon: Sangsangcheom

Sangsangcheom Songdo Triple Street Branch is an all-you-can-eat hot pot restaurant near Triple Street in Songdo, Yeonsu, Incheon. After shopping, the writer and her mom chose a half mala, half mushroom broth for lunch and ate thinly sliced beef brisket, beef shank, self-bar ingredients, guobaorou (sweet and sour fried pork) and fruit, finishing 5 servings of meat between the two of them. With prices in the 20,000-won range, good meat quality and a well-stocked self-bar, Sangsangcheom is a great-value hot pot spot.

Written Jun 20, 2026Sponsored