Late Bench Stroll · 9 stories

Late Bench, Seoul-Gyeonggi Bars and Outings

Writes about bars, restaurants, cafes, and casual outings around Seoul and Gyeonggi. · Writes about: Restaurants · Bars · Things to do · Cafés

PlaceMapo, SeoulRestaurants

Yeonnam-dong teppanyaki: a regular tries the new monjayaki set, Jojo

Jojo Yeonnam Branch is a Japanese teppanyaki (iron-griddle) restaurant on Donggyo-ro in Yeonnam-dong, Mapo, Seoul, best known for okonomiyaki and yakisoba. A longtime regular arrived early, skipped the wait and tried the new monjayaki set for 2 (mentaiko monjayaki, waterfall potato and karai yakisoba), enjoying the staff cooking it on the table griddle and the rich mentaiko and cheese flavor. If okonomiyaki already feels familiar, the monjayaki at Jojo Yeonnam Branch is the next dish to try.

Written Apr 23, 2026Sponsored

PlaceMapo, SeoulRestaurants

Daeheung burgers with friends: brick cheese sticks at Bored & Hungry

Bored & Hungry Mapo is an American-style craft burger restaurant on Gwangseong-ro 6-gil near Daeheung Station in Seoul. A group of friends shared the Bacon Deluxe Single burger, The Mega Bun Single burger, Chili's cheese sticks, french fries and a Salt & Pepper Virgin Shake at Bored & Hungry Mapo; the burgers were hefty and not a single side missed. If you love heavy American burgers, Bored & Hungry Mapo is very likely to satisfy.

Written May 13, 2026Sponsored

PlaceMapo, SeoulRestaurants

Hongik Univ. Station Exit 8 pizza pub: friends' Monde Set at Raymond's

Raymond's Hongdae is an American-style pizza pub near Exit 8 of Hongik Univ. Station in Mapo, Seoul. A group of friends ordered the Monde Set and shared several pizzas, including mac & cheese and pepperoni, with boneless fried chicken and thin fries, drinking soft drinks instead of beer. Raymond's Hongdae suits a group of friends who want to try many kinds of pizza in one go.

Written Jun 1, 2026Sponsored

PlaceMapo, SeoulRestaurants

Free-corkage Gongdeok omakase, crispy tilefish: Jeulgeoun Maeumeuro

Jeulgeoun Maeumeuro (즐거운 마음으로) is a newly opened omakase Japanese restaurant near Gongdeok and Daeheung Station in Mapo, Seoul. The writer's dinner course at Jeulgeoun Maeumeuro included a kongguksu-style starter, flounder sashimi with ankimo (monkfish liver), grilled tilefish, abalone with gaeu (abalone liver) sauce and tuna belly sushi, and every dish was consistently good from start to finish. With free corkage and 3 hours of free apartment parking, Jeulgeoun Maeumeuro is worth a visit if you are looking for omakase in Gongdeok.

Written Jun 1, 2026Sponsored

PlaceMapo, SeoulRestaurants

After-work Yeonnam-dong pasta dinner: anchovy cream brisket at Rangteu

Rangteu Yeonnam is a fusion Western restaurant on the 1.5th floor, tucked down an alley in Yeonnam-dong, Seoul, close to Hongik Univ. Station. After work, the writer returned to Rangteu Yeonnam, a regular haunt last year, for the brisket melchobi pasta, red crab bisque shrimp risotto and passion fruit hallabong ade. The pasta, with anchovies and salted anchovy sauce worked into cream, stood out most. Verdict: Rangteu Yeonnam is a calm Yeonnam-dong pasta restaurant, easy for conversation, with well-made food to match.

Written Jul 19, 2026Sponsored

PlaceMapo, SeoulRestaurants

Yeonnam-dong donburi: 3-jumbo-shrimp ebi-don & torched butadon, Jongno

Jongno Donburi Yeonnam is a Japanese rice bowl (donburi) restaurant in a basement on Donggyo-ro 46-gil in Yeonnam-dong, Mapo, Seoul. On a first visit prompted by a rice bowl craving, the writer ordered ebi-don (shrimp rice bowl) topped with three whole jumbo shrimp and a torch-finished pork belly butadon (pork rice bowl) with an added onsen egg, and staff explained how to eat the bowls. Spacious seating, friendly service and better-than-expected flavor make Jongno Donburi Yeonnam worth revisiting for a solo meal or a date.

Written Jul 26, 2026Sponsored

PlaceMapo, SeoulRestaurants

Gongdeok, Seoul Korean beef course revisit with scallop verrine: Usu

Usu Gongdeok is a hanwoo (Korean beef) course restaurant with private rooms only, on the second basement floor of the Lotte Castle President arcade at Gongdeok Station Exit 2 in Mapo, Seoul. After a great first visit, the writer returned to Usu with a friend for the Dinner B course, from ox-and-chicken porridge, a scallop verrine bite and hanwoo tartare on gamtae seaweed to grilled tilefish, hanwoo grilled at a personal grill and melon sorbet, with service just as attentive the second time. For a quiet hanwoo course in a private room, a parent's birthday or a meeting between families before a wedding, Usu Gongdeok is worth going back to.

Written Jul 18, 2026Sponsored

PlaceMapo, SeoulRestaurants

Hapjeong bossam with cabbage wraps for makgeolli: Pyeongidambaek

Pyeongidambaek Ppyeo Kalguksu Main Branch (평이담백 뼈칼국수 본점) is a neighborhood restaurant for bone kalguksu (knife-cut noodle soup) and bossam (boiled pork) on Yanghwa-ro 7-gil in Mapo, Seoul, within walking distance of Hapjeong Station. A regular ordered the medium bossam (₩42,000) with the ₩5,000 anchovy kalguksu add-on and ate it with baby napa cabbage wraps and bossam kimchi; the moist, odor-free pork paired well with the clear anchovy broth. The verdict: Pyeongidambaek served the best bossam the writer has had in years, and it is a great Hapjeong spot for a bowl of makgeolli (rice wine).

Written Aug 1, 2026Sponsored

PlaceMapo, SeoulThings to do

Hongdae escape room math hint tip: Hansel and Gretel at Cube Escape

Cube Escape Hongdae Branch is an escape room café in Hongdae, Mapo, Seoul, about 400m from Exit 9 of Hongik Univ. Station. The writer and a friend who had just graduated from beginner status chose Hansel and Gretel, a fairy-tale theme with almost no horror, and escaped within 60 minutes using only 3 of the 4 hints allowed. Hansel and Gretel at Cube Escape Hongdae Branch sits between beginner and intermediate difficulty, making it a good step up for newcomers, though anyone weak at arithmetic is better off using a hint on the math section.

Written Jul 16, 2026Sponsored

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