Order Diarist · 24 stories

What I Ordered

I write about restaurants I visit in Seoul and the food I try there. · Writes about: Restaurants · Cafés · Shopping

PlaceNamyangju, GyeonggiRestaurants

Namyangju tonkatsu restaurant: tender aged loin katsu at Yeonkatsu

Yeonkatsu (욘카츠) is a small Japanese-style aged tonkatsu restaurant on Gyeongchun-ro 1306beon-gil in Pyeongnae-dong, Namyangju, reportedly featured in the tonkatsu guidebook Daedonyeojido. The writer went to Yeonkatsu for dinner with her husband and ordered a mixed katsu set (₩17,000) and a hire (fillet) katsu set (₩14,000) with soba and udon. The pinkish loin katsu was so tender it melted in the mouth, and she asked the owner why. If you want soft loin katsu near Pyeongnaehopyeong Station, Yeonkatsu is the answer.

Written Nov 15, 2026Sponsored
PlaceNamyangju, GyeonggiRestaurants

Byeollae Korean restaurant: cuttlefish bulgogi bibimbap, Gojip

Gojip Tongmuneo Kalguksu Byeollae Byeolgaram Station Branch is a Korean restaurant in Byeollae, Namyangju, that specializes in whole-octopus kalguksu (knife-cut noodle soup) and cuttlefish dishes. On a day out in Byeollae, the writer had cuttlefish bulgogi (small, for 2, ₩37,000), fried cuttlefish (₩16,000) and surf clam kalguksu (₩9,000), then mixed a bowl of rice with cuttlefish bulgogi, bean sprouts, yeolmu kimchi (young radish kimchi) and seaweed to make bibimbap. Tender cuttlefish in a special sauce and a refreshing broth made with live clams made Gojip a memorable lunch.

Written Nov 14, 2026Sponsored
PlaceNamyangju, GyeonggiRestaurants

Pasta restaurant opposite Hopyeong Library: carbonara at Mac9Table

Mac9Table is a casual Italian restaurant in Hopyeong-dong, Namyangju, across from Hopyeong Library, with Blue Ribbon listings from 2021 to 2026 and Red Ribbon listings in 2025 and 2026. On a booked evening visit at a table beside the Christmas tree, the writer had tomato arrabbiata (17,900 won), carbonara (17,900 won) and pepperoni pie (11,000 won); the rich, thick carbonara cream sauce and the seafood-broth arrabbiata stood out most. Mac9Table is a good fit for pasta and pastry-crust pizza in a cozy setting.

Written Nov 3, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYangju, GyeonggiRestaurants

Spice-shy couple's tonkatsu in Yangju Okjeong: redfish katsu, Himawari

Himawari is a Japanese tonkatsu restaurant in Okjeong-dong, Yangju, Gyeonggi, across from the Okjeong 2-dong Community Service Center. On an evening visit to Yangju, the husband ordered the spicy seafood udon set with fish katsu (16,000 won) and the writer had the loin katsu set (14,000 won); the husband praised the spicy broth as tasting just like what he ate in Japan. The spicy seafood udon is a lot for anyone who can't handle heat, but Himawari's crispy loin katsu and flaky redfish (hongmegi) fish katsu are easy to recommend to anyone.

Written Oct 29, 2026Sponsored
PlaceHanam, GyeonggiRestaurants

Hanam Misa pizzeria at sunset, tangerine NA beer: The Pizzeria Market

The Pizzeria Market Hanam Misa is a casual Italian restaurant in Misa, Hanam, where a Michelin-trained chef serves sourdough wood-fired pizza and pasta. The writer and her husband visited around 5 p.m. and ordered the autumn-only fig prosciutto pizza (₩29,000), the bisque shrimp oil pasta (₩21,000) and Jeju Nouveau, a non-alcoholic beer made with Jeju tangerines (₩5,500). Thanks to the sweet-and-salty fig prosciutto pizza, The Pizzeria Market is a date spot worth returning to for its other wood-fired pizzas.

Written Oct 28, 2026Sponsored
PlaceHanam, GyeonggiRestaurants

Hanam soup restaurant for black sesame ongsimi takeout: Baekheukdam

Baekheukdam (백흑담) is a premium perilla and black sesame health-food restaurant on Misadong-ro in Hanam, Gyeonggi, tucked inside Misa Island. The writer, who doesn't eat baeksuk (whole boiled chicken), took home heukongsimi (black sesame potato dumpling soup, 12,000 won), a dish she had never seen before, plus perilla samgyetang (ginseng chicken soup, 21,000 won) for her husband, who loves baeksuk. The sous-vide chicken slid cleanly off the bone and the heukongsimi broth was as thick and nutty as black sesame soup. Baekheukdam is a Hanam samgyetang restaurant where even takeout arrives without a drop spilled and still makes a proper restorative meal.

Written Oct 26, 2026Sponsored
PlaceHanam, GyeonggiRestaurants

Hanam cuttlefish braised pollock, chilly-day lunch for two: Appa Jjim

Appa Jjim Hanam Main Branch is a braised pollock and seafood restaurant on Wolho-ro in Hanam, Gyeonggi. On a chilly day, the writer booked ahead and had lunch there with her husband: a small cuttlefish braised pollock (₩38,000), a crispy seafood pancake (₩16,000) and Hyangmi pot rice for two. Staff deboned the pollock and cut up the cuttlefish, which made it easy to eat. On this revisit to Appa Jjim, both the sauce and the siraegi (dried radish greens) were even better than last time.

Written Oct 25, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangneung, GangwonCafés

Gangneung Central Market gelato café: chewy mugwort gelato, Hi Gelato

Hi Gelato is a gelato café on Toseong-ro near Gangneung Central Market in Gangneung, Gangwon, which says it makes small batches of gelato from natural ingredients in the shop every day. At Hi Gelato the writer picked mugwort and soybean flour, soft tofu gelato and Corn Supernova, and with three taster scoops on top tried six flavors in all. The mugwort aroma, the nutty soft tofu and the chewy, slow-melting texture stood out, and anyone after a healthy dessert in Gangneung should try Hi Gelato's soft tofu and corn.

Written Oct 21, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangneung, GangwonRestaurants

Gangneung noodle house's best bowl: beef bone dumpling soup, Samgyori

Samgyori Dongchimi Makguksu Namhangjin branch is a dongchimi makguksu (buckwheat noodles in chilled radish water kimchi broth) restaurant in front of Namhangjin Beach in Gangneung, Gangwon. Over a Sunday lunch with a younger sibling and their spouse, the writer shared two bowls of brisket gukbap (beef rice soup), a beef bone broth rice cake and dumpling soup and a dongchimi makguksu, eating with sea views through the big windows before walking along Namhangjin Beach. The beef bone broth rice cake and dumpling soup was the best dish of the day, and true to a long-running restaurant, the seokbakji (chunky radish kimchi) and kimchi were especially good.

Written Oct 20, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangneung, GangwonRestaurants

Gangneung dog-friendly BBQ, split pet and regular halls: Chodang Uga

Gangneung Hanwoo Chodang Uga (강릉한우 초당우가) is a dog-friendly Korean BBQ restaurant near Gangmun Beach in Gangneung, Gangwon, right next to St. John's Hotel. On a Gangneung trip, the writer ordered 2 servings of fruit-fed pork galbi and a brisket doenjang stew (soybean paste stew) at Chodang Uga, and was impressed by the clean dining room with spacious, separate seating for dog owners and other diners. Thanks to tender, well-seasoned pork galbi, Chodang Uga is a BBQ spot worth revisiting on any Gangneung trip.

Written Oct 14, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSokcho, GangwonRestaurants

Sokcho market tempura, Set 6 and seed shrimp gangjeong: Hwangbuja

Hwangbuja Twigim is a fried food and squid sundae (stuffed squid) shop inside Sokcho Central Market (Sokcho Tourism and Fish Market) in Sokcho, Gangwon, started by a soft tofu restaurant owner who switched to frying after making snacks for athletes at training camps. The writer took out Set 6 (king shrimp, squid and red crab meat) and a small seed shrimp gangjeong (sweet glazed fried shrimp with seeds), couldn't resist the nutty smell and ate in the car on the way to the lodging, and the leftover Hwangbuja Twigim fried food was still crispy back home. With clean frying oil, generously filled pieces and a seed shrimp gangjeong the writer had never tasted before, Hwangbuja Twigim is a stop on every trip to Sokcho.

Written Oct 14, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSokcho, GangwonCafés

Sokcho market gangjeong shop by Gate 6, nurungji aroma: Ibuja Mayak

Ibuja Mayak Gotgan is a grain gangjeong (crunchy puffed-grain snack) shop in a first-floor alley of Sokcho Jungang Market (Sokcho Tourism & Fishery Market) in Sokcho, Gangwon, selling gangjeong made from five grains: brown rice, black rice, white rice, buckwheat and yellow rice. The blogger parked at the Gate 1 public lot, walked in through Gate 6, tried samples and took home two packs of 8 pieces (₩10,000 for 8, ₩15,000 for 12), finding them crispy, nutty and full of each grain's own aroma. Ibuja Mayak Gotgan gangjeong is a Sokcho trip snack that can be revived in a microwave or a low-heat frying pan when it goes soft, bringing out a nurungji (toasted rice) aroma.

Written Oct 14, 2026Sponsored