Gwangjin Low Bench · 7 stories

Low Bench, Daejeon/Chungcheong, Gyeonggi and Seoul Cafes, Bars and Restaurants

Writes about neighborhood restaurants, cafes, and bars across Daejeon/Chungcheong, Gyeonggi, and Seoul. · Writes about: Cafés · Restaurants · Bars

PlacePyeongtaek, GyeonggiRestaurants

Pyeongtaek cockle house, free dongdongju as Mom drove: Kkomak Manse

Kkomak Manse (꼬막만세) is a Korean restaurant specializing in Beolgyo cockles on Manse-ro in Jukbaek-dong, Pyeongtaek. The writer and her mom ordered the Manse seasoned cockles for two (42,000 won) and cockle dumplings (6,000 won), a first for the writer. Because Mom was driving, the writer got a free bowl of dongdongju (Korean rice wine) from the owner's grandfather's brewery as part of an event. The cockles at Kkomak Manse were plump and not at all fishy, and the leftovers went home in a takeout container, making it a definite place to return to.

Written Jun 8, 2026Sponsored
PlaceAnseong, GyeonggiCafés

Gongdo, Anseong bakery café: coconut mango bingsu ₩29,000, Chat Baker

Chat Baker Brunch & Bakery Café is a large bakery café in Gongdo-eup, Anseong, Gyeonggi. On a second weekend visit to Chat Baker, the writer had the coconut fresh mango bingsu (shaved ice, 29,000 won), custard cream butter toast and corn cream loaf, and the mango-packed bingsu and moist breads were all satisfying. The Chat Baker bingsu is pricey, but the amount of mango justifies it, making this a Gongdo bakery worth revisiting.

Written Jul 31, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJung-gu, DaejeonRestaurants

Jungang-ro Station pub in Daejeon: potato pancake & fried chili, Usul

Usul (우슬) is a fusion Korean pub on the ground floor of the Centum City building near Jungang-ro Station in Jung-gu, Daejeon. With the yukhoe (Korean beef tartare) sold out during the day, the order at Usul became Chodang soft tofu gomtang (beef bone soup) for 12,900 won, Chodang corn and shrimp potato pancake for 18,900 won and crispy fried chili peppers for 9,900 won, paired with Saero Omija soju and omija ade. Usul is a good-value Korean pub where drinking snacks and a full meal fit on one table.

Written Aug 3, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYuseong, DaejeonRestaurants

Kid-friendly Korean BBQ in Yuseong, Daejeon: Sangdaedon's ₩49,000 set

Sangdaedon (Marco branch) is a Korean BBQ restaurant in Sangdae-dong, Yuseong, Daejeon, that serves naengsam (thin-sliced frozen pork belly), makchang (pork intestines) and sundae (Korean blood sausage) together at one table. The writer booked ahead, ordered the A set of makchang, naengsam and assorted sundae for 49,000 won, grilled it over charcoal, and finished with naejangtang (offal soup), naengmyeon (cold noodles) and jjondeugi (a chewy grilled snack). With a kids' playroom, Sangdaedon is a good-value BBQ spot for families and groups.

Written Aug 5, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGwangjin, SeoulRestaurants

Soju-friendly Korean restaurant near Gunja Station: Sosa Myeonok

Sosa Myeonok (소사면옥) is a Korean restaurant and naengmyeon (cold noodle) specialist on Neungdong-ro near Gunja Station in Gwangjin-gu, Seoul. Over soju with a friend, the writer ordered the Master's perilla-oil Hamheung noodles (12,000 won), a small Master's bossam (boiled pork wraps, 36,000 won) and Chamisul soju, enjoying the whole perilla seed texture, the noodles with warm broth added and the chewy squid-ink noodles. Sosa Myeonok's noodles stayed firm through a long, slow meal, earning a promise to come back.

Written Aug 10, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGwangjin, SeoulBars

Second-round bar near Gunja Station: tuna yukhoe and soju at Irow

Irow is an izakaya on Myeonmok-ro near Gunja Station in Gwangjin, Seoul. Over a second round with a friend, Irow served tuna yukhoe (raw tuna tartare) with sweet shrimp and gamtae (seaweed) for 34,000 won and black chicken karaage for 18,000 won, alongside three bottles of soju, plus free fried tofu and mochi tofu. Even after a full first dinner, the plates at Irow were cleared to the last bite.

Written Aug 11, 2026Sponsored
PlacePyeongtaek, GyeonggiRestaurants

Pyeongtaek soup restaurant lunch with mom: three Wando abalone

Hwanggeum Seafood Nurungji-tang is a newly opened abalone and seafood scorched-rice soup restaurant on Bijeon 4-ro in Bijeon-dong, Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi. Over lunch with her mother, the writer ordered the Abalone Emperor Nurungji-tang (26,000 won) and received a third extra-large Wando abalone on top of the usual two as an opening-week bonus, along with ladle-sized shrimp and nutty scorched rice that cleaned out the pot. Hwanggeum Seafood Nurungji-tang is a good restorative meal out for parents tired of samgyetang (ginseng chicken soup) on the hottest days of summer.

Written Aug 12, 2026Sponsored
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