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Cafés, restaurants and places in Gyeonggi, written by bloggers who went there.
Hado is a course-dining restaurant on Hyanggyo-ro in Haenggung-dong, Suwon. Hado's basic course costs 45,000 won and runs from pea and sweet shrimp apple tart appetizers to a squid ink pasta and a bisque pasta chosen separately and shared, then a chicken breast steak and Earl Grey ice cream. The lot right beside Hado gives one hour of free parking with a meal, so it works well as a date spot if you drive.
Ilmigop is a beef gopchang (grilled beef intestines) restaurant on the first floor of the neighborhood-facility building across from E-Mart Anyang in Bisan-dong, Anyang, Gyeonggi. Three generations — grandmother, mother and daughter — arrived at 6:30pm on a Friday with a Naver reservation and shared one serving of assorted grill (21,900 won), one of makchang grill (19,900 won), egg custard and draft beer, plus a free plate of grilled heart for coming in before 7pm. With a baby chair and a spoon-fork set on hand, Ilmigop works well for a family dinner, but a reservation is essential at peak hours.
Hamdon Jeongwang Main Branch is a Korean BBQ restaurant in the Jungsim shopping district of Jeongwang-dong, Siheung, serving oegyeopsal (five-layer pork belly) and teukmokssal sets. The ₩18,000-per-person oegyeopsal set brings thick-cut pork grilled by the staff, fresh minari (water celery) for wrapping, doenjang jeongol (soybean paste stew) and rice all on one table, which made an easy family lunch. Hamdon suits anyone who loves minari and would rather not order stew and rice as extras.
The European Haenggung Main Branch is an oak wood-fired pizza and Western restaurant on Haenggung-ro, right beside Hwaseong Haenggung Palace in Suwon, Gyeonggi. On the night the writer came to see the Dalbit Hwadam night opening, she and her daughter ordered the Steak Burrata Pizza (31,000 won) and the Seafood Tomato Fresh Pasta (32,000 won), and the burrata spilling over the dough plus the scallops and cuttlefish piled into the fresh pasta stood out. Prices are on the high side, but The European Haenggung works well for dinner before an evening walk around Hwaseong Haenggung.
2002 Witch's Arpeggio is a tomato-jang pork belly restaurant in Wabu-eup, Namyangju, Gyeonggi, with outdoor tables beside a creek. For a pre-birthday dinner with friends, the writer ordered the Witch's jar-aged tomato pork belly for two at 40,000 won, a crispy-outside-chewy-inside potato pancake, and pollock roe scorched-rice fried rice cooked in a cauldron, and watched a staff member's torch fire show. Aged in tomato jang instead of gochujang, the pork belly finished clean with no heavy aftertaste, so 2002 Witch's Arpeggio is worth a trip for a special meal with the sound of the creek.
Naengmyeon Gajun Dongtan Main Branch is a Korean naengmyeon restaurant on the 2nd floor of Luna Gallery, overlooking Dongtan Lake Park in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi. The writer took a window seat timed to the fountain show and ordered galbitang (short rib soup) and bibim naengmyeon (spicy cold noodles) with octopus mandu (dumplings) on the side, all delivered to the table by a serving robot. With basement parking, baby chairs and aprons, Naengmyeon Gajun made for an easy family lunch out.
Hongrad Suwon Station Branch is a dessert café on the second floor of a building at the end of the Suwon Station Rodeo Street, toward the Suwon Tax Office in Suwon, Gyeonggi. Visiting with her sister, the writer ordered a Summer Latte for 6,500 won, an Americano for 5,000 won and a Basque cheesecake for 7,000 won, and the dense, creamy cake paired well with the slightly acidic beans. Hongrad Suwon Station Branch is worth a stop on a day when you want atmosphere, coffee and dessert all at once.
Gangnam Gyoja Bundang Seohyeon Branch is a kalguksu (knife-cut noodle soup) restaurant near Seohyeon Station in Seongnam, Gyeonggi, on the 2nd floor of the building next to Daebbang Arcade in the Rodeo area. Dining with an elementary-school child, the writer ordered one kalguksu, a plate of 10 gyoza dumplings and 2 pieces of tteokgalbi (grilled short rib patties), and found the chicken broth rich and the kimchi mild enough for a kid. Gangnam Gyoja is an easy pick near Seohyeon Station for a warm bowl of soup with a child on a chilly day.
Chat Baker Brunch & Bakery Café is a 500-pyeong (about 1,650 m²) brunch and bakery café inside 512 Square on Seodong-daero in Gongdo-eup, Anseong, Gyeonggi. This visit covered both floors of Chat Baker and an iced Americano with olive ciabatta, salt bread, cheddar cheese rice salt bread, a thousand-layer croissant and a pizza ciabatta sandwich, in a room of floor-to-ceiling windows, plants and an LP record concept. Near Anseong Farm Land, Chat Baker is a good stop when you want bread and a long, unhurried rest at the same time.
TOKYO USED Flagship Store is a large secondhand and vintage fashion shop in Suji-gu, Yongin, Gyeonggi. TOKYO USED carries everything from everyday brands to luxury clothing, bags, sunglasses and scarves under one roof, and on this visit a Comme des Garçons x Converse collaboration sneaker was on sale for 99,000 won. The size was sold out, but the pieces at TOKYO USED were kept so well they barely felt secondhand.
Barirus is a large two-floor bakery café on Bongseosan-ro in Paju-eup, Paju, Gyeonggi. Pulled in by the building's grand exterior while out on a drive, the writer tried the cinnamon bread and croissants baked fresh every morning, the house-roasted americano and the seasonal signature pistachio strawberry drink, then looked around the teepee zone on the outdoor lawn terrace. The bread, the drinks and the mood at Barirus were all good enough to come back with parents.
Pyeonbaek Hoegwan Dongtan Branch is an all-you-can-eat hinoki-steam and shabu-shabu restaurant on the 2nd floor of Grand Vians Star by Dongtan Station in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi. The writer came with her sister, who had not eaten shabu-shabu in 10 years, and her niece, ordering the broth half mild and half spicy mushroom, then working through hinoki steam, self-serve side dishes, fresh spring rolls, knife-cut noodles, egg porridge and misutgaru (roasted grain drink). With a kids' playroom on site, Pyeonbaek Hoegwan Dongtan Branch was a no-fail choice for a family meal.
