Walnut Table Wanderer · 4 stories

Third Stool from the Door

Writes about restaurants, cafes and bars in Seoul and Gyeonggi, drawn from their own visits. · Writes about: Cafés · Restaurants · Bars

PlaceGangseo, SeoulRestaurants

Octopus grill with BBQ-grade pork belly in Magok, Seoul: Jju Baksa

Jju Baksa Magok Branch is a griddle baby octopus (jjukkumi) restaurant on the first floor of Daebang DM City 2, near Yangcheonhyanggyo Station Exit 8 in Gangseo, Seoul. Two people ordered the jjusamgyeop (baby octopus and pork belly) fried rice set with cheese steamed egg and flying fish roe cheese fried rice, then added udon noodles and a beer, for ₩41,000 total. The octopus was large, the pork belly was as good as a dedicated pork belly BBQ restaurant's, and staff stir-fried the fried rice at the table. Jju Baksa Magok Branch is a good-value baby octopus spot where adding pork belly sacrifices neither portion size nor meat quality.

Written Apr 21, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGoyang, GyeonggiCafés

Goyang bakery after 5pm: raspberry matcha cornet pie, Boulangerie Tan

Boulangerie Tan, Hyundai Department Store KINTEX is a natural levain bakery on the B1 floor of Hyundai Department Store KINTEX in Ilsan, Goyang. The writer went for the chocolate baguette after 5pm on a weekday, found most shelves sold out, and took home a raspberry matcha cornet pie, a Gongju chestnut red bean campagne and a chocolate baguette. Verdict: if you like matcha, Boulangerie Tan's raspberry matcha cornet pie is a must-try.

Written Apr 23, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangseo, SeoulRestaurants

Korean BBQ at Gayang Station: 3 single servings, somaek show, Gamgol

Gamgol Yeontanjip Gayang Station Branch (감골연탄집 가양역점) is a retro Korean BBQ restaurant right outside Exit 9 of Gayang Station in Gangseo, Seoul, grilling pork aged in jars for over 1,440 minutes directly over briquette fire. One serving each of salted briquette pork belly, thick pork neck and gochujang briquette bulgogi, plus flat bibim noodles, shrimp steamed egg, draft beer and somaek (soju mixed with beer), came to 68,300 won in total. Everything from the meat to the sides at Gamgol Yeontanjip was good, making it an easy recommendation for Korean BBQ at Gayang Station.

Written Apr 25, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGimpo, GyeonggiRestaurants

Janggi Station BBQ lunch for two with icy naengmyeon: Donpu The Grill

Donpu The Grill is a Korean BBQ restaurant where the staff grill the meat for you, located in the Janggi-dong food alley in Gimpo, a 4-minute walk from Janggi Station Exit 5. A couple visiting at midday ordered the Handon (Korean pork) couple set (500g) and an icy mul naengmyeon (cold buckwheat noodles) for ₩54,800 in total, with cold suyuk (boiled pork slices) and steamed egg as standard sides plus a complimentary stone-pot kimchi stew. Verdict: Donpu The Grill had the best meat and side dishes of any Korean BBQ restaurant the writer has tried in Gimpo.

Written Jun 17, 2026Sponsored
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