Second Plate Fan · 15 stories

Second Plate, Daejeon and Chungcheong Diners

Writes about neighborhood restaurants across Gyeonggi, Daejeon/Chungcheong, and Seoul, one meal at a time. · Writes about: Restaurants · Cafés · Stays · Things to do

PlaceEunpyeong, SeoulRestaurants

Cutlet house in Eungam-dong: green tea-brined pollock fish cutlet

Bulgwangcheon Wang Donkatsu (불광천왕돈까스) is a Western-style donkatsu (breaded pork cutlet) restaurant in Eungam-dong, Eunpyeong, Seoul, next to the Rainbow Bridge on Bulgwangcheon stream. The writer ordered the combo cutlet and the king pork cutlet at 13,000 won each; the pollock fish cutlet, brined in green tea to remove any fishy smell, and its creamy, tangy tartar sauce stood out, and tuna kimchi stew came included. If you can't decide, the Bulgwangcheon Wang Donkatsu combo cutlet, with both fish cutlet and king pork cutlet, is the right call.

Written Oct 19, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYesan, ChungnamRestaurants

Yesan Market soy shishito chicken stir-fry after Taean camping: Sijang

Sijang Dakbokkeum is a single-menu shishito pepper chicken stir-fry (dakbokkeum) shop inside Yesan Market in Yesan, Chungnam. On a Chungnam tour after camping in Taean, the writer ordered the shishito pepper chicken stir-fry (25,000 won) as takeout at the kiosk, drank an apple slush (5,000 won) while waiting, then reheated the dish in the microwave at home and wrapped it in leafy greens. With a sweet soy-based sauce and crunchy, spicy shishito peppers, Sijang Dakbokkeum is a satisfying choice if you can't decide what to eat at Yesan Market.

Written Jun 12, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeongnam, GyeonggiRestaurants

Seohyeon noodle shop: late-lunch kalguksu and sujebi, Gangnam Gyoja

Gangnam Gyoja Bundang Seohyeon Branch (강남교자 분당서현점) is a Korean restaurant specializing in kalguksu (knife-cut noodle soup) and dumplings, on the 2nd floor of Dadu Plaza in Seohyeon-dong, Bundang-gu, Seongnam. After 1 p.m., the writer had kalguksu (₩10,000), spicy sujebi (hand-torn dough soup, ₩10,000) and gyoja mandu (dumplings, ₩11,000), and enjoyed the rich chicken broth with its ground beef topping, the peppery sujebi broth and the juicy mini dumplings. With free rice at the self-serve bar and roomy four-person tables, Gangnam Gyoja Bundang Seohyeon Branch is a Seohyeon-dong spot where both the portions and the prices satisfy.

Written Oct 18, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSongpa, SeoulRestaurants

Jamsil Station burger spot: no-wait Philly cheesesteak, Daily Fix

Daily Fix Jangmi Sangga is an American-style handmade burger restaurant on basement level 1 of Building B in Jangmi Sangga, Jamsil, near Jamsil Station in Songpa, Seoul. On a weekday lunch there was no wait, and a bacon cheeseburger set and a Philly cheesesteak sandwich set ordered by table QR code both satisfied, with a Hanwoo (Korean beef) patty, house-smoked bacon and chewy bread on the Philly cheesesteak. Daily Fix is a good pick near Jamsil Station when you want a different kind of handmade burger for lunch.

Written Oct 16, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulRestaurants

Yeonnam-dong Chinese restaurant with jar ganjjajang: Gawon Yeonnam

Gawon Yeonnam (가원 연남점) is a two-floor Chinese restaurant right beside Yeontral Park in Yeonnam-dong, Mapo, Seoul, that says it has carried on ethnic Chinese (hwagyo) home-style cooking for 30 years. A couple stopped by after work for ganjjajang (dry black bean noodles) served in a jar-style bowl, spicy seafood jjamppong and Cantonese-style tangsuyuk with a chili-shrimp-like sauce, and everything came out fast and tasted great. Gawon Yeonnam is a solid Chinese restaurant for a Yeonnam-dong date, with a Yeontral Park stroll right after the meal.

Written Oct 16, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJongno, SeoulThings to do

Daehak-ro play parking discounts and photo time: NEW Oh! My Ghost

NEW Oh! My Ghost (NEW 오! 나의 귀신님) is a four-actor horror romance comedy play at Aruto Small Theater, near Exit 1 of Hyehwa Station in Daehak-ro, Seoul. The writer sorted out the parking discounts, picked up a wristband ticket, watched the show and joined the actor photo time afterwards. Despite its title, NEW Oh! My Ghost isn't scary and keeps you laughing throughout, making it a good pick for a Daehak-ro date or a weekend outing with friends.

Written Oct 14, 2026Sponsored
PlaceEunpyeong, SeoulRestaurants

Eunpyeong sundaeguk restaurant where spicy costs the same: Samo

Samo Sundaeguk Nokbeon is a sundaeguk (Korean blood sausage soup) restaurant right in front of the Eunpyeong District Office main gate, near Nokbeon Station in Eunpyeong, Seoul. A couple fighting off colds came for dinner and ordered a spicy sundaeguk and a spicy lean-meat sundaeguk (12,000 won each) plus a small suyuk (boiled pork slices, 17,000 won), and they enjoyed the mild doenjang-based spicy broth, the generous fillings and suyuk with no gamey smell. Because spicy and regular cost the same, Samo Sundaeguk Nokbeon is an easy pick for a gukbap (rice soup) dinner near Nokbeon Station.

Written Oct 13, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJung-gu, SeoulRestaurants

Gyukatsu restaurant in Chungmuro for a fast team lunch: Hurato Sikdang

Hurato Sikdang Euljiro (후라토식당 을지로점) is a Japanese restaurant serving gyukatsu (breaded beef cutlet), rice bowls and curry in the basement food court of the Tower 107 Building in Jung-gu, Seoul. The writer ordered the gyukatsu (₩19,500) and the steak set meal (₩19,500) and grilled both on the brazier set at each seat; the food came out quickly after ordering, and group seating is available. Even for a first-time gyukatsu eater, the crisp-outside, juicy-inside gyukatsu and tender steak at Hurato Sikdang Euljiro made it a satisfying pick for an office lunch or team meal in Chungmuro.

Written Oct 11, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGapyeong, GyeonggiRestaurants

Gapyeong IC dakgalbi restaurant: kiosk half-and-half, Dami Seorak

Dami Seorak Charcoal-grilled Dakgalbi is a charcoal-grilled dakgalbi (marinated chicken) restaurant on Hanseo-ro in Seorak-myeon, Gapyeong, Gyeonggi, close to Gapyeong IC. On a camping trip to Chuncheon, the writer ordered half-and-half dakgalbi for two (15,000 won per person), available only at the kiosk, plus mul-makguksu (cold buckwheat noodles in broth, 10,000 won). The owner's recommended wrap of perilla leaf pickle, chive salad and seasoned deodeok (mountain root) and the pine nut broth noodles stood out. For smoky charcoal dakgalbi with great side-dish pairings, Dami Seorak Charcoal-grilled Dakgalbi is a satisfying choice.

Written Oct 8, 2026Sponsored
PlaceChuncheon, GangwonStays

Chuncheon campsite in the rain: free tent-drying at Urban Slow City P3

Urban Slow City is a campsite on Gaonggae-gil in Nam-myeon, Chuncheon, Gangwon, facing the Bukhan River, offering auto-camping, caravans, full-option glamping and water sports. The writer spent one autumn night on the wide, quiet Pentagon P3 site in a living-shell tent with makgeolli (rice wine), jeon (Korean pancakes) and pork belly. When overnight rain soaked the tent, Urban Slow City extended the stay for free so it could dry. Verdict: clean shared facilities and a kind owner make Urban Slow City an easy, relaxing Bukhan River-view campsite in Chuncheon.

Written Oct 7, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulRestaurants

Yeonnam-dong pasta spot, mortadella & grain risotto: Hôtel de Couture

Hôtel de Couture (오뗄드꾸뜨) is a cozy Western restaurant on the 1.5th floor of an alley building in Yeonnam-dong, Mapo, Seoul. At Hôtel de Couture, the mortadella lemon butter pasta and the jambon truffle cream risotto cost 17,000 won each; the pasta comes with a mild lemon butter sauce topped with roasted lemon, and the risotto is made with mixed grains and never feels heavy. Hôtel de Couture is a good Yeonnam-dong date spot for unusual menu pairings in a warm, charming interior.

Written Oct 5, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeodaemun, SeoulRestaurants

DMC Station Korean BBQ: makchang and anchovy kalguksu, Mapo Gui Madang

Mapo Gui Madang Bukgajwa Direct Branch is a Korean BBQ restaurant serving charcoal-seared pork belly in Bukgajwa-dong, Seodaemun, Seoul, about 600m from Digital Media City Station Exit 1. We ordered 2 servings of whole pork belly (₩13,900 each), whole makchang (grilled pork intestine, ₩13,900), fried rice (₩5,000) and ₩5,000 anchovy kalguksu (knife-cut noodle soup). Staff grilled the pre-seared meat with kimchi, cut it and even made the fried rice. Mapo Gui Madang is a good Bukgajwa-dong pick for pork belly, makchang and a noodle finish in one meal.

Written Oct 3, 2026Sponsored