Ilsan Quiet Shelf Visitor · 12 stories

Quiet Shelf, Seoul/Gyeonggi/Gangwon Restaurants and Cafes

Writes about restaurants and cafes she visits around Seoul, Gyeonggi, and Gangwon. · Writes about: Cafés · Restaurants

Seochon brunch café: Shine Muscat salad and cream penne, Wine Stein

Wine Stein Seochon is a café and wine bar on the 3rd floor of a building on Pirun-daero in Seochon, Jongno, Seoul, and it runs as a café serving brunch sets until 5 PM. On a weekday off, the writer walked through Seochon's yellow ginkgo trees with a close younger friend, then shared Wine Stein's ₩16,500 brunch sets A and C with cider: a croissant sandwich, Shine Muscat salad, mushroom soup and cream penne pasta. The space, menu and mood were all good, so Wine Stein Seochon is a recommended stop for anyone visiting Seochon.

Written Nov 13, 2026Sponsored

PlaceJongno, SeoulRestaurants

Family sushi at Gwanghwamun Station, abalone noodles: Elephant Sushi

Elephant Sushi Gwanghwamun is a sushi restaurant on basement level 1 of the KT Gwanghwamun Building in Jongno, Seoul, near Exit 2 of Gwanghwamun Station. On a weekend visit with her husband and daughter, the writer ordered 10-piece Elephant Sushi A sets with one made without wasabi, tried the abalone innards noodles that came with the set that day, and added juicy karaage. Elephant Sushi Gwanghwamun is a good pick for a family sushi meal with kids in Gwanghwamun.

Written May 11, 2026Sponsored

PlaceMapo, SeoulRestaurants

Hongdae katsu restaurant: handmade loin katsu soba set, Myeon Sikdang

Myeon Sikdang Hongik University Branch is a ramen and katsu restaurant on the 2nd floor of a building on Wausan-ro, near Exit 9 of Hongik Univ. Station in Mapo, Seoul. On a hot day, the writer and a close friend shared a late lunch of the handmade pork loin katsu soba set and a mozzarella cheese katsu: the loin katsu was crispy outside and tender inside, the mozzarella was rich, and the soba broth was refreshing. With solo seats along the wall and window tables for 3-4 people, Myeon Sikdang is a good katsu spot in Hongdae whether you come alone or with a friend.

Written Jun 9, 2026Sponsored

PlaceEunpyeong, SeoulRestaurants

Korean BBQ with our daughter in Eungam: 600g gabeuri platter, Yukjjip

Yukjjip is a Korean BBQ restaurant serving Jirisan aged pork on Bulgwangcheon-gil, near Eungam Station in Eunpyeong, Seoul. On a weekend, a family of three ordered the 600g Yukjjip platter (whole pork belly, signature pork neck and gabeuri, a prized cut from near the pork neck), and staff grilled everything at the table. The bean sprout salad was good enough to refill several times. Yukjjip is a great Eungam pick for families with a pork-belly-loving kid or anyone who struggles to grill meat.

Written Oct 20, 2026Sponsored

PlaceSokcho, GangwonRestaurants

Sokcho tofu restaurant: tofu kimchi stew and kongbiji, Kongbatteul

Kongbatteul Sokcho Branch (콩밭뜰 속초점) is a tofu restaurant on Wonamhaksapyeong-gil in Sokcho, Gangwon, where one main dish comes as a tofu set with kongtang (soybean soup), tofu tteokgalbi (tofu patty), tofu kimchi and tofu salad for about ₩10,000 per person. A family of three ordered jjamppong sundubu (spicy soft tofu stew), kongbiji (soybean pulp stew) and tofu kimchi stew to share, and the receipt review event at Kongbatteul offered free soy milk or a drink. Verdict: Kongbatteul Sokcho Branch won full marks from a picky husband and daughter, and is worth a return visit in kongguksu season.

Written Jul 12, 2026Sponsored

PlaceSokcho, GangwonRestaurants

Sokcho makguksu restaurant near Sokcho Eye: free dumplings, Topgol

Sokcho Topgol Makguksu Main Branch is a Korean restaurant on Haeoreum-ro in Sokcho, Gangwon, specializing in deulmemak (perilla oil buckwheat noodles). After visiting Sokcho Eye, the writer's family came for an early dinner of deulmemak, large suyuk (boiled pork slices), potato pancake and pollack salad, received free dumplings through the Naver receipt event and were told about a paid-parking discount after the meal. Sokcho Topgol Makguksu is an easy Sokcho dinner stop for nutty perilla noodles, icy broth and handy perks.

Written Jul 14, 2026Sponsored

PlaceSokcho, GangwonRestaurants

Sokcho restaurant for octopus and nurungji fried rice: Deungdae Gotgan

Deungdae Gotgan is a Korean restaurant serving jjageul nakji (spicy braised octopus) in front of Deungdae Beach on Yeongnanghaean-gil, Sokcho. A family of three sat at a 2nd-floor window with a panoramic sea view. They ordered jjageul nakji for 2, a pork cutlet and 2 extra bowls of rice. They then fried rice in the leftover sauce and scraped up the crispy nurungji (scorched rice). The husband named Deungdae Gotgan the tastiest meal of their Sokcho trip, and the family promised to come back.

Written Jul 14, 2026Sponsored

PlaceSokcho, GangwonCafés

First-stop Sokcho café for a family: cinnamon Einspänner, Cafe Neorae

Cafe Neorae is a large café on Wonamhaksapyeong-gil in Sokcho, Gangwon, spread over floors 2 to 4: a counter and bakery on the 2nd floor, indoor seats with floor-to-ceiling windows on the 3rd and a rooftop on the 4th. A family of three made Cafe Neorae their first stop right after arriving in Sokcho, ordering the signature Sua Da Einspänner, an apple mango smoothie and an iced Americano while talking over their travel plans. With roomy 3rd-floor window seats, high chairs and plenty of photo spots, Cafe Neorae is a relaxed place to kick off a family trip to Sokcho.

Written Jul 11, 2026Sponsored

PlaceSokcho, GangwonCafés

Sokcho market bakery: warm samples, a loaf for three, Sokcho Sulppang

Sokcho Sulppang is a sulppang (steamed makgeolli bread) shop at the entrance of Dakjeon Alley (the fried chicken alley) in Sokcho Central Market (Sokcho Tourism & Fish Market), Gangwon, run together with a honeycomb ice cream counter. A family of three tasted warm samples heated in the steamer, took one big loaf back to their lodging to share, and walked the market with Sokcho Sulppang's honeycomb ice cream. Sokcho Sulppang's fluffy, soft makgeolli bread left all three fully satisfied, and it would be even better with a hot Americano.

Written Jul 12, 2026Sponsored

PlaceSokcho, GangwonCafés

Sokcho bakery café en route to Seoul: 6 jjondeugi bags gone, Bultan

Sokcho Bultan Gamja Bread Main Store is a graffiti-fronted bakery café on Haksapyeong-gil in Sokcho, Gangwon, with a large parking lot and a Moosetoy drawing activity. On a day when the rain was just starting, the writer stopped at Sokcho Bultan Gamja Bread Main Store on the drive back to Seoul and picked up a box of potato bread and squid-flavored jjondeugi (chewy Korean snack strips) to go. Her daughter ate 6 of the 12 jjondeugi bags on the way home. Warmed for 20 seconds at home and split in half, the Bultan potato bread was packed with potato and hard to stop thinking about.

Written Jul 14, 2026Sponsored

PlaceSokcho, GangwonRestaurants

Sokcho market fried food shop for late-night takeout: Masibuja Twigim

Masibuja Twigim (맛이부자튀김맛집) is a Korean snack bar in Sokcho Jungang Market, Sokcho, serving fried food, ojingeo sundae (stuffed squid) and red crab ramen. On day 3 of a family trip to Sokcho, the family took a king shrimp and snow crab fritter set and a small squid sundae back to their lodging as a late-night snack, and ate red crab ramen at Masibuja Twigim. The fritters and squid sundae were so good that the whole family wore that 'this is seriously good' frown, making Masibuja Twigim a perfect late-night takeout stop.

Written Jul 17, 2026Sponsored

PlaceJongno, SeoulRestaurants

Burger spot near Kyobo Gwanghwamun for a late lunch combo: Reel Burger

Reel Burger Gwanghwamun is a handmade burger restaurant on Sambong-ro in Jongno, Seoul, between Jonggak Station and Gwanghwamun Station. After browsing Kyobo Bookstore Gwanghwamun, the writer ordered a combo set for a late lunch: a Jalapeño Mayo Burger, an El Taco Burger, Cajun fries, maple sweet potato fries and a Coke Zero. With Catch Table remote queueing, table QR ordering and a self-serve bar, Reel Burger Gwanghwamun is an easy, convenient burger stop in Gwanghwamun.

Written Jul 20, 2026Sponsored

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