Night Tray Bearer · 6 stories

Late Tray, Seoul and Gyeonggi Bars, Cafes and Restaurants

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

PlacePyeongtaek, GyeonggiRestaurants

Pyeongtaek Korean restaurant: 15-dish spread & seaweed soup, Mikkodam

Mikkodam Sosabeol (미꼬담 소사벌점) is a Korean set-meal restaurant on Manse-ro in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi, known for seaweed soup and cockle bibimbap. The ₩62,000 set for 3, with flounder seaweed soup, half soy-seasoned and half tangy cockle bibimbap, and Jeju yellow crab, arrived as 15 dishes on one table, including grilled mackerel, tteokgalbi (grilled short rib patties) and basic side dishes. The cockles and crab were the reason for the visit, but Mikkodam's clean, deep flounder and clam seaweed soup was the standout of the day.

Written Oct 21, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYongsan, SeoulBars

Izakaya for non-drinkers in Samgakji: shiso mackerel sushi, Hatpiendo

Hatpiendo is an izakaya on the 2nd floor in Yongridan-gil, near Samgakji Station in Yongsan, Seoul. A non-drinker visited Hatpiendo with a friend at opening time and ordered non-alcoholic Earl Grey and grapefruit highballs (₩8,000 each), mackerel bar sushi limited to 5 a day (₩26,000) and Japanese-style dongpo pork (₩24,000). The top pick was the mackerel bar sushi, where the shiso leaf cuts the fishiness, and the verdict is that Hatpiendo is a good izakaya for drinkers and non-drinkers to visit together.

Written Jun 11, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYongin, GyeonggiBars

Seongbok-dong chicken pub with non-alcoholic beer: Gorae Byeoljang

Gorae Byeoljang Suji Branch is a Korean pub in Seongbok-dong, Suji-gu, Yongin, serving the Gorae Byeoljang Set of fried chicken, Gorae tteokbokki (spicy rice cakes) and Jeonju-style pork jeon (pan-fried pork patties) for 38,000 won. The writer switched to boneless chicken (+1,000 won) and added a Cass non-alcoholic beer (4,000 won), and was happy with the crispy-outside, juicy-inside chicken, the tender pork jeon and the curry-scented tteokbokki topped with fried sundae (Korean blood sausage). Gorae Byeoljang is a good-value Seongbok-dong chicken pub where even non-drinkers can enjoy the atmosphere.

Written Jul 2, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGoyang, GyeonggiRestaurants

Ilsan soy crab all-you-can-eat date for spice wimps: Deodeo

Deodeo Ganjanggejang Muhalliripil (더더간장게장무한리필) is an all-you-can-eat restaurant on Wondang-ro in Deogyang-gu, Goyang, serving soy-marinated crab (ganjang gejang), spicy marinated crab and blue crab stew. On a weekday around 2pm, the writer and her boyfriend ordered the 49,800 won all-you-can-eat set for two and refilled the soy crab twice more; the refills still had plump meat, and the soy marinade was not too salty. The spicy crab was manageable for a spice wimp once the extra sauce was scraped off, and the free coffee machine by the exit made Deodeo a satisfying date spot to the end.

Written Jun 30, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGoyang, GyeonggiCafés

Bakery café near Ilsan: hazelnut ang-butter & tea blossom, Baedagol

Baedagol Bakery House (배다골베이커리하우스) is a large garden bakery café in Wondang, Deogyang-gu, Goyang, Gyeonggi, near Ilsan. On a weekday afternoon visit, the writer tried a hazelnut ang-butter (red bean paste and butter bread, 7,000 won), salt bread (3,000 won), a fresh mango yogurt smoothie (11,000 won) and an Iced Tea Blossom (8,000 won), then explored the well-kept garden, the 2nd-floor floor-to-ceiling windows and the terrace. The hazelnut ang-butter was the top pick among the breads, but the garden was what made Baedagol Bakery House most memorable.

Written Jul 1, 2026Sponsored
PlacePyeongtaek, GyeonggiRestaurants

Pyeongtaek Korean BBQ, 100% pork neck seasoned grill: Ihwajeong

Ihwajeong Charcoal-Grilled Pork Galbi is a two-story charcoal BBQ restaurant on Manse-ro in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi. Two servings of the seasoned pork grill made with 100% neck meat (34,000 won) came with rice, doenjang stew (soybean paste stew) and mul-naengmyeon (cold noodles in broth), and the most memorable part was staff scattering rice husks over the glowing charcoal for a gentle smoky aroma. With a large private parking lot, seasoned crab as a standard banchan and a self-serve pear smoothie for dessert, Ihwajeong suits family meals and group dinners.

Written Aug 12, 2026Sponsored
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