Hungry Afternoon · 36 stories

When Hunger Calls

I write about restaurants I visit and meals I eat in Seoul. · Writes about: Restaurants · Cafés · Shopping · Hair & beauty salons

PlaceDongjak, SeoulRestaurants

Gyukatsu restaurant in Isu: sirloin grilled crisp with ginger, Hurato

Hurato Sikdang Isu Branch is a gyukatsu (breaded beef cutlet) restaurant on the 2nd floor near Isu Station in Dongjak, Seoul. The writer ordered one serving of sirloin gyukatsu (19,000 won) and an onsen egg (1,500 won). The beef arrived medium-rare, and the writer grilled it lightly, then well-done, on a mini grill shared by two, eating it with salt, wasabi and ginger. Hurato Sikdang Isu Branch is a solid Isu Station lunch spot for anyone who wants tender gyukatsu that stays juicy even well-done, grilled exactly how they like it.

Written Oct 28, 2026Sponsored
PlaceDongjak, SeoulRestaurants

Day-off date gopchang BBQ at Isu Station: Baekho Yangdaechang

Baekho Yangdaechang (백호양대창) is a charcoal-grill gopchang restaurant near Isu Station in Dongjak, Seoul, where staff grill pre-seared yang (beef tripe), daechang (large intestine) and gopchang (small intestine) at your table. On a day-off evening, two of us booked ahead and shared 2 portions of the mixed grill (₩39,800), 1 portion of gopchang (₩18,900), spicy soft tofu stew and rice, and the charcoal-grilled gopchang, packed with rich filling, was the standout. Baekho Yangdaechang suits anyone who wants charcoal-grilled gopchang as a filling meal without doing the grilling themselves.

Written Oct 21, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGwangjin, SeoulRestaurants

Weekend Korean BBQ date in Guui: minari half set for two at Sanggu's

Sanggu's Sotttukkeong Samgyeopsal Guui Branch (상구네솥뚜껑삼겹살 구의점) is a cauldron-lid pork belly restaurant on Achasan-ro in Gwangjin, Seoul. On a weekend date, two diners ordered the raw-meat half set with minari (Korean water parsley), 500g for 43,000 won, plus one extra portion of fried rice. They loved the staff grilling, free wrap greens and generous minari, but the extra fried rice was too much and went unfinished. The verdict: the half set at Sanggu's Guui Branch is already plenty for two.

Written Jun 16, 2026Sponsored
PlaceDongjak, SeoulRestaurants

Pho spot near Isu Station: cha gio, wings and Saigon beer, Bangbaedong

Bangbaedong Ssalguksu Isu Branch (방배동쌀국수 이수점) is a Vietnamese pho restaurant near Isu Station (Chongshin Univ. Entrance Station) in Dongjak, Seoul. Timed to a partner's after-work hours, the dinner was combo pho and spicy beef-belly pho (12,000 won each) with cha gio (fried spring rolls), chicken wings and drumettes, and Saigon bottled beer, and both the deep broth and the Vietnam-like interior were satisfying. Bangbaedong Ssalguksu Isu Branch is a good Isu Station pho restaurant for a dinner with generous portions, rich broth and a feel of being on a trip.

Written Oct 14, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJongno, SeoulRestaurants

Jongno jokbal spot for fried jokbal over chicken: Yeonnam Jokbal

Yeonnam Jokbal 1987 Jonggak Branch is a jokbal (braised pork trotter) restaurant on Samil-daero 15-gil in Jongno, Seoul, known for its signature fried jokbal. On a weekday evening around 6 PM, the writer and a partner ordered the fried jokbal (₩49,000) and Yeosu cockles with somyeon (thin wheat noodles, ₩22,000) while the restaurant was already full, and the fried jokbal came out crispy outside and juicy inside. Verdict: when you can't choose between chicken and jokbal, the fried jokbal at Yeonnam Jokbal 1987 Jonggak Branch satisfies both cravings.

Written Jun 26, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulRestaurants

Weekend date katsu in Garosu-gil, curry cheese roll: Ikki Roll Katsu

Ikki Roll Katsu Garosu-gil Main Branch is a Japanese-style roll katsu and tonkatsu restaurant on basement level 1 of 64 Gangnam-daero 152-gil in Garosu-gil, near Sinsa Station in Gangnam, Seoul. On a weekend date in Garosu-gil, two of us ordered the signature sweet potato cheese katsu and the curry cheese roll katsu at 15,500 won each; the crispy-outside, tender-inside cutlets, stretchy cheese and generous sweet potato mousse stayed satisfying to the last bite. For a filling katsu meal near Sinsa Station, Ikki Roll Katsu Garosu-gil Main Branch is a good choice.

Written Jun 28, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSuwon, GyeonggiRestaurants

Suwon Western restaurant for a wedding invitation dinner: Nonchalant

Nonchalant Lounge (논샬랑라운지) is a dimly lit, cozy Western restaurant on Jeongjo-ro in Haenggung-dong, Suwon, by Hwaseong Fortress. The writer ordered bisque rosé pasta (₩19,000), crispy thin-crust pizza (₩18,000), shrimp salad (₩12,000) and a baguette (₩3,000) with drinks, and found the food and the atmosphere good enough to host a wedding invitation dinner. Nonchalant Lounge also suits dates, anniversaries and blind dates, and its high chairs make it an easy pick for family meals.

Written Oct 13, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulShopping

Gangnam wedding suit tailor by Sinsa Station: Tag Suit custom shirt

Tag Suit (텍수트) is a 100% reservation-only custom suit and wedding suit tailor near Sinsa Station in Gangnam, Seoul. A bride-to-be planning a second-half-of-the-year wedding was torn between renting and tailoring the groom's wedding suit, so she booked a Tag Suit consultation, compared fabrics, tried on sample suits, ordered a custom shirt first and picked it up about 2 weeks later. With fixed prices and no extra charges, plus friendly consultations without pressure, Tag Suit is worth recommending to couples worried about wedding suit costs.

Written Jul 4, 2026Sponsored
PlaceNamdong, IncheonRestaurants

Guwol-dong abalone restaurant: weekend dinner with Dad, Jeonbokchon

Jeonbokchon (전복촌) is an abalone Korean set-meal restaurant in Guwol-dong, Namdong-gu, Incheon, near Yesulhoegwan Station. On a weekend evening the writer and Dad shared the abalone set for 2 (₩78,000) in a private room: 13 courses from abalone porridge through raw abalone, soy-marinated abalone and clay-pot bulgogi to plum tea. The raw abalone at Jeonbokchon was the freshest highlight, and the private rooms and free parking make it a solid pick for family gatherings or a first meeting between families.

Written Jun 30, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSuwon, GyeonggiCafés

Large Suwon bakery café for a date: ₩29,400 for two at Orange Bagel

Orange Bagel is a large bakery café with free parking on Omokcheon-ro in Gwonseon-gu, Suwon. On a weekend date, the writer ordered an orange Americano, a decaf vanilla latte, a scallion cream bacon bagel and a Laugen butter bagel for 29,400 won, then explored Orange Bagel's spacious 2nd floor and 3rd-floor terrace. With a wide bagel selection, reasonable prices and plenty of room, Orange Bagel is a Suwon date spot worth recommending.

Written Oct 13, 2026Sponsored
PlaceNamdong, IncheonRestaurants

Summer mulhoe & sushi takeout at Moraenae Market, Incheon: Minyeong

Minyeong Hwareo Gongjang Moraenae Market Branch is a takeout-only sushi and sashimi shop inside Moraenae Market in Guwol-dong, Namdong, Incheon. On a weekday morning the writer took home mulhoe (cold raw fish soup), jumbo flatfish sushi and a 10-piece special sushi set for ₩41,000 in total, and the chewy flatfish, the special sushi lineup and the refreshing mulhoe were all satisfying. Minyeong Hwareo Gongjang is a good market sushi shop for picking up mulhoe and sushi together when the summer heat kills your appetite.

Written Jul 2, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSuwon, GyeonggiRestaurants

Gosaek, Suwon sundaeguk spot with 30 free parking spots: Gohyangok

Gohyangok Spicy Sundaeguk Suwon Omokcheon Branch is a sundaeguk (Korean blood sausage soup) restaurant on Seosuwon-ro in Gosaek-dong, Suwon, with free parking for up to 30 cars in front. The writer ordered the spicy sundaeguk cypress set (₩19,000) and a plain sundaeguk (₩11,000), eating chal sundae (sticky rice blood sausage), suyuk (boiled pork), galbi mandu (rib dumplings), memil jeonbyeong (buckwheat crepe rolls) and a soup bowl with 4 sundae, then had after-meal coffee. Gohyangok is a good Gosaek-dong sundaeguk restaurant for a hearty meal when you come by car.

Written Oct 12, 2026Sponsored