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Seoul

Cafés, restaurants and places in Seoul, written by bloggers who went there.

Gangdong, SeoulRestaurants

8-year regular's octopus and pork belly pick in Cheonho, Seoul

Jjuksami Cheonho Main Branch is a spicy octopus and pork belly restaurant at the entrance of the Seongnae-dong octopus alley, a 5-minute walk from Exit 6 of Cheonho Station in Gangdong, Seoul. A regular of 8 years ordered the octopus + pork belly for two, paired with the restaurant's signature Rich Gold cheese and bean sprouts, plus the standard corn cheese, nurungji (crispy rice), steamed egg sides and a complimentary spaghetti finish. It's the first place that comes to mind whenever octopus cravings hit, thanks to a familiar taste that never gets old.

Written Sep 8, 2026Sponsored
Jung-gu, SeoulRestaurants

Italian restaurant for a Myeongdong date: shrimp crab pasta, squid-ink

Mano di Chef Myeongdong Branch is an Italian restaurant on the 11th floor of the Unesco Building in Myeongdong, Jung-gu, Seoul, certified by the Blue Ribbon Survey. Two of us shared the shrimp and crab cream pasta and the squid-ink dough steak pizza, and the thick cream sauce and generous steak topping stood out. With private, room-like seating and a table for six, it works equally well for a Myeongdong date or a group gathering.

Written Sep 8, 2026Sponsored
Gwangjin, SeoulBars

Aged sashimi platter (9 kinds) at Irow, a Gwangjin-gu izakaya

Irow is an izakaya in Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, near Gunja Station, focused on aged sashimi. Visiting on a Sunday evening for two, the writer ordered a sashimi platter (₩39,000) and beef brisket bean sprout stir-fry (₩23,000), plus Hanmac draft beer and Saero soju, with complimentary fried tofu and potato salad crackers on top. The chewy texture of the aged flounder sashimi and the friendly staff made it a spot worth returning to for a date.

Written Sep 8, 2026Sponsored
Gangnam, SeoulHair & beauty salons

Brazilian waxing before a trip using Lycon wax: Super Waxing Gangnam

Super Waxing Gangnam is a Brazilian waxing studio on the 3rd floor of a building on Teheran-ro 1-gil near Gangnam Station in Seoul. Ahead of a trip the following week, the writer got a Brazilian wax here for the first time in a while, and the studio uses the Australian wax brand Lycon, disinfects before and after treatment, and finished the whole process including an after-care mask in under 30 minutes. Even with 5 years of Brazilian waxing experience as a baseline, the pain was almost nonexistent, which made for a satisfying visit.

Written Sep 8, 2026Sponsored
Seongdong, SeoulRestaurants

Seongdong Italian restaurant French rack for 3 at a bridal shower

Sedici is an Italian restaurant on the ground floor of Arc Valley in Seongsu-dong, Seoul, known for its gnocchi and fresh pasta. Forty days before her wedding, the writer met two friends for a weekday-evening invitation party and ordered beef tartare, shrimp crumble pasta, fried potato gnocchi with sweet corn, and a French rack. The fried gnocchi, crisp outside and soft inside, was the standout, and the French rack came in nearly a double portion, perfect for sharing among three.

Written Sep 8, 2026Sponsored
Gangdong, SeoulRestaurants

Team lunch tonkatsu near Olympic Park in Gangdong: Riae Premium

Riae Premium Olympic Park Branch is a premium tonkatsu (breaded pork cutlet) restaurant near Olympic Park in Seongnae-dong, Gangdong, Seoul. Visiting for a company lunch, the writer ordered the Riae Signature Trio, premium special sirloin katsu, hire katsu (pork tenderloin cutlet), and a soba set, and came away most impressed by the juicy menchi katsu, the orange-scented soba broth, and a meat-packed tonjiru (pork miso soup). If you want a group lunch spot in Seongnae-dong that feels a cut above, Riae Premium Olympic Park Branch is the answer.

Written Sep 8, 2026Sponsored
Mapo, SeoulHair & beauty salons

Men's long hair leaf cut & gray coverage dye, Sangam-dong hair salon

Muse Hair Salon is a hair salon in Sangam-dong, Seoul, located in the basement of Nuridream Square near Digital Media City Station. The writer got a men's long hair leaf cut that kept the length while lightening the ends, plus a gray coverage dye that avoided that flat inky-black tone, with no scalp irritation. Worth a look for guys pushing past the awkward 'grow-out zone' of long hair.

Written Sep 8, 2026Sponsored
Gangseo, SeoulRestaurants

Two-friend lunch with halibut carpaccio near Magok Naru: Romaok Magok

Romaok Magok is an Italian restaurant on the 3rd floor of LG Arts Center Seoul in Gangseo, Seoul. Catching up with an old senior over lunch, the writer ordered abalone gyeu pasta, eclipse squid ink risotto, and kelp-aged halibut carpaccio, starting off strong with the pre-meal bread. With a Colosseum-inspired interior and rooftop views, it's a relaxed spot for a two-friend lunch, a blind date, or an anniversary dinner.

Written Sep 8, 2026Sponsored
Seocho, SeoulRestaurants

Solo lunch near Yangjae Citizen's Forest Station: Pasta Gram

Pasta Gram Yangjae Main Branch is a budget-friendly Western restaurant one minute on foot from Exit 2 of Yangjae Citizen's Forest Station in Seocho, Seoul. On a rainy weekday lunch, three dishes — a ₩11,000 pork neck steak, ₩11,000 broth tteokbokki (rice cake stew), and ₩11,000 cream pasta — came to ₩33,000 total, and food came out fast even with every table full. A solid pick for solo diners and office workers wanting a quick, cheap lunch.

Written Sep 8, 2026Sponsored
Eunpyeong, SeoulRestaurants

Weekday evening no-wait ramen with free refills: Oreno Ramen Eunpyeong

Oreno Ramen Eunpyeong is a ramen restaurant in Eunpyeong, Seoul, a 10-minute walk from Saejeol Station with Bulgwangcheon stream right outside. Visiting just after 5pm on a weekday, there was no wait, and the writer ordered tori paitan and kara paitan (13,000 won each) with added tsukune char siu and soft-boiled egg, with free refills on noodles, broth, rice and kimchi. Between the view, the service and the rich chicken broth, there's no reason not to go.

Written Sep 8, 2026Sponsored
Mapo, SeoulRestaurants

Sangsu Indian restaurant with kids: mild mutton korma, Deli India

Deli India is an Indian restaurant on Dokmak-ro 9-gil, between Sangsu and Hapjeong stations in Mapo, Seoul. Visiting on a weekday evening with two kids, the writer ordered mild butter chicken (chicken makhani) and mutton korma, along with basmati rice, butter naan, mango lassi and Kingfisher beer. The mutton had little of the gamey smell that puts kids off, and both children ate so well they ordered extra rice — a solid pick for an Indian curry dinner with children in tow.

Written Sep 8, 2026Sponsored
Gangnam, SeoulCafés

Yeoksam café lunch set with club sandwich & Deep Red coffee: Roastery

Roastery Stan Yeoksam Main is a roastery café in Gangnam, Seoul, right on Nonhyeon-ro 85-gil. The writer picked the nutty Deep Red bean out of four house roast types for an iced Americano, then had the club sandwich + Americano set for 10,500 won and a fig sando for 8,800 won for lunch. A solid spot in Yeoksam for grabbing coffee and a sandwich in one stop.

Written Sep 8, 2026Sponsored