Folded Map Wanderer · 6 stories

Map Fold, Gyeonggi-Gangwon-Seoul

Writes about restaurants, cafes, and day-trip spots across Gyeonggi, Gangwon, and Seoul. · Writes about: Restaurants · Things to do · Cafés

PlaceGwangju, GyeonggiRestaurants

Gwangju briquette BBQ after Namhansanseong: Sangnok Hoegwan

Sangnok Hoegwan Yeontan-gui Taejeon Branch is a good-value Korean BBQ restaurant in Taejeon-dong, Gwangju, Gyeonggi, where meat is grilled over yeontan (coal briquettes) and can be ordered in 100g portions. After an outing to Namhansanseong, the writer and a friend stopped by around 3–4 pm on a Saturday for pork belly, thick-cut pork jowl, ₩2,000 doenjang jjigae (soybean paste stew) and odol galbi (pork ribs with cartilage); the jowl was especially chewy, while the odol galbi disappointed. At Sangnok Hoegwan, stick mainly to pork belly, pork jowl and dwitgogi (pork trimmings).

Written Jul 2, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGwangju, GyeonggiCafés

Quiet weekend Namhansanseong café with purple sweet potato latte: Sum

Sum (SOOM) is a large two-building bakery café with a main building and an annex on Ojeon-gil in Namhansanseong-myeon, Gwangju, Gyeonggi. To escape the crowded valley cafés one weekend, the writer found Sum by chance, explored its floor-to-ceiling forest-view windows, outdoor terrace and rooftops, and drank a purple sweet potato latte and a Bora Bora lemonade. For a Namhansanseong café that stays calm even on weekends, with big forest-view windows and easy free parking, Sum is a good fit.

Written Jul 1, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJung-gu, SeoulRestaurants

Myeongdong Italian dinner: red shrimp aglio e olio at Mano di Chef

Mano di Chef Myeongdong Branch is an Italian restaurant on the 11th floor of the UNESCO Building in Myeongdong, Seoul, known for its Namsan Tower view and two consecutive years of Blue Ribbon certification. The writer and two friends visited on a Saturday at 7:30 pm, ordered the red shrimp aglio e olio pasta, the seaweed pesto & seafood barley risotto and the steak pizza, and finished all three. Prices at Mano di Chef run a little above typical Italian restaurants, but the generous ingredients and varied menu make it a Myeongdong spot for group dinners and dates that the writer would return to.

Written Jul 8, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSiheung, GyeonggiRestaurants

Friday-night clam pot and beer in Geobukseom, Siheung: Bada Super

Bada Super Haemul Cheonha Jogaegui, Geobukseom Oido Branch is a sea-view steamed and grilled clam restaurant on the 3rd floor of the Marina Sunset 101 building in Geobukseom, Siheung. At 7pm on a Friday, the writer and a friend got a window seat with no wait and shared the small broth clam pot for two (54,000 won) with beer. They were won over by the generous pen shell clams, abalone and octopus and the spotless dining room. The kalguksu (knife-cut noodles) turned salty because they were added late and the broth had reduced, but Bada Super delivered on mood, ease and flavor as a Geobukseom spot for a date or get-together.

Written Jul 13, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGuro, SeoulRestaurants

Daerim Station gopchang grill: Sunday dinner for two at Gimga-ne

Gimga-ne Gopchang Gui Daerim Station Main Branch is a grilled beef gopchang (small intestine) restaurant near Exit 1 of Daerim Station in Guro, Seoul. On a Sunday at 7 pm, the writer and a friend ordered 2 servings of sungopchang (beef small intestine), which came grilled, plump with fat and free of any gamey smell, and the final kimchi fried rice arrived with a crispy nurungji (scorched rice) crust already formed. Gimga-ne Gopchang Gui is an easy-to-reach Daerim Station spot by public transport when you want generous beef gopchang with soju.

Written Jul 28, 2026Sponsored
PlaceCheolwon, GangwonThings to do

Hantan River rafting in Cheolwon after monsoon rains: Rafting Leisure

Rafting Leisure is a Hantan River rafting operator near Gojeokjeong in Cheolwon, Gangwon. The writer went with family and friends right after the monsoon season and rode one course for 36,000 won per person, taking on rapids swollen by the high water, diving at the midway rest stop and body rafting through the final stretch. Verdict: Hantan River rafting when the water is high is so thrilling the writer was sorry to see it end.

Written Jul 31, 2026Sponsored
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