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Seoul

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

Gangnam, SeoulRestaurants

Yeoksam eel restaurant with spicy plum sauce hitsumabushi: Unagiwa

Unagiwa is a Nagoya-style hitsumabushi (grilled eel over rice) restaurant on the second floor at 71 Bongeunsa-ro 30-gil, near Yeoksam Station in Gangnam, Seoul. The 38,000 won hitsumabushi set brings a whole domestic antibiotic-free Japonica eel, chawanmushi (steamed egg custard), garnishes of seaweed, wasabi, scallion and perilla leaf, a spicy plum sauce, and a closing bowl of ochazuke. With valet parking and a wide, tidy dining room, Unagiwa works well for engagement party gatherings and dates alike.

Written Sep 16, 2026Sponsored
Seocho, SeoulRestaurants

Seocho Chinese restaurant with half Peking duck: Mirimyangjang Seocho

Mirimyangjang Seocho (미림양장 서초점) is a Hong Kong-style Chinese restaurant on basement level 1 at 151 Seocho-jungang-ro, near Gyodae Station in Seocho, Seoul. On a weekday lunch, the writer and a friend shared a half order of Peking duck with cabbage duck wraps and a side of Hong Kong-style stir-fried egg noodles, with crisp skin and juicy meat. For two people who want Peking duck without committing to a whole bird, the half-duck order at Mirimyangjang Seocho is the answer.

Written Sep 16, 2026Sponsored
Mapo, SeoulBars

Gyeongui Line Forest Trail terrace bar in Seoul: Yakitori Shomong

Yakitori Shomong is a yakitori bar with an outdoor terrace and bar seating right in front of the Gyeongui Line Forest Trail near Gongdeok, Mapo-gu, Seoul. The 3-skewer course brings one each of tenderloin, truffle chicken thigh and tsukune, served here with an Osaka-style tamago sando (egg sandwich), cucumber in plum sauce and Ebisu draft beer. With a walk along the forest trail to Sogang University Station afterwards, Yakitori Shomong makes an easy evening plan in Mapo.

Written Sep 16, 2026Sponsored
Jongno, SeoulBars

Speakeasy bar in Jongno, Seoul with off-menu cocktails: Gak Seoul

Gak Seoul is a speakeasy-style cocktail bar in a basement on Samil-daero 15-gil, about 462m from Exit 4 of Jonggak Station in Jongno, Seoul. Returning after three or four earlier visits, the writer ordered a Faust and a Long Island Iced Tea that are not on the menu, and the owner mixed both on the spot. Gak Seoul suits a quiet second round of drinks near Jonggak and Cheonggyecheon, open daily 19:00 to 02:00.

Written Sep 16, 2026Sponsored
Jongno, SeoulCafés

Jongno 3-ga bakery, squid ink and milk cream bread to go: Munhwa

Munhwa Bakery is a takeout-only bakery near Jongno 3-ga Station and Ikseon-dong in Jongno, Seoul. Instead of the usual garlic bread, this visit meant squid ink condensed milk bread, milk cream bread and coffee bread carried home to eat with coffee — every dough was chewy, and the milk cream bread now ranks alongside the garlic bread. For a first visit to Munhwa Bakery, the signature coffee bread and garlic bread are the safest picks.

Written Sep 16, 2026Sponsored
Seongdong, SeoulRestaurants

Korean beef for two in Seongsu: brisket with cold noodles, Marblejeong

Marblejeong is a 1++ Korean beef and wine-aged Korean pork grill restaurant in Seongsu-dong, Seoul, right in front of Ttukseom Station. Two friends booked a table and ordered the 1++ Korean beef mixed grill 400g (159,000 won) — sirloin, brisket and flank — which the server grilled at the table, along with brisket doenjang stew (12,000 won) and bibim naengmyeon (7,000 won) to finish. Wrapping a slice of brisket around the spicy cold noodles was the best bite of the night at Marblejeong.

Written Sep 16, 2026Sponsored
Mapo, SeoulBars

Izakaya by Gwangheungchang Station: truffle abalone pasta, Mulgogijip

Mulgogijip is an izakaya in Mapo, Seoul, sitting on the Gyeongui Line Forest Trail across from Sogang University. The order was the sashimi of the day (wild-caught raw mackerel) at 49,000 won, futomaki (thick sushi roll) at 20,000 won and truffle abalone innards pasta at 24,000 won, all with Ebisu draft beer, and the pasta sauce grew richer with every bite. Dinner at Mulgogijip leads straight into a walk along the forest trail, which makes it a complete date course.

Written Sep 16, 2026Sponsored
Seodaemun, SeoulRestaurants

Sinchon pork belly lunch for two: 600g spinning tray, Jjaengbanjip8292

Jjaengbanjip8292 Sinchon is a Korean BBQ restaurant on the Yonsei-ro university strip in Seodaemun, Seoul, where pork belly, pork neck, and pork jowl arrive on a patented spinning tray. A couple visited at 2pm and ordered the 600g pork platter at 49,000 won plus a side of doenjang rice at 8,000 won, finishing all 600g comfortably even at lunch. Clean-tasting meat with myeoljeot (fermented anchovy dipping sauce) and jaeraegi (young radish kimchi) makes Jjaengbanjip8292 Sinchon an easy pick for pork belly near Sinchon.

Written Sep 15, 2026Sponsored
Dongjak, SeoulRestaurants

Tonkatsu restaurant near Isu Station: cold udon lunch for two at Kosi

Kosi Isu Branch is a house-made bukkake udon and tonkatsu restaurant on the first floor of the Isu Xi mixed-use building by Exit 9 of Isu Station in Dongjak, Seoul. On a weekday at 1pm, after a hospital visit, the writer shared cold udon and mixed tonkatsu with her sister who lives nearby, and the chewy Sanuki-style noodles played nicely against the thick, crisp pork loin cutlet. At Kosi Isu Branch, order bukkake udon rather than the hot udon to taste the noodle texture, and choose a set that comes with tonkatsu.

Written Sep 16, 2026Sponsored
Yeongdeungpo, SeoulRestaurants

Yeouido clam hot pot lunch after hotel checkout: Gaetbeol-ui Jogae

Gaetbeol-ui Jogae Yeouido Main Branch is a clam hot pot and seafood restaurant on the 2nd floor of the Geukdong VIP Building near National Assembly Station in Yeongdeungpo, Seoul. After checking out of a Yeouido hotel just 30 seconds away on foot, two people ordered the giant clam hot pot (small) for 59,000 won with the clear broth and finished it along with unlimited barley rice and a kalguksu (knife-cut noodle) add-in. The clear clam broth with cheongyang chili tasted sharp and refreshing, so Gaetbeol-ui Jogae works well as a Yeouido lunch for anyone who loves a good broth.

Written Sep 16, 2026Sponsored
Gangnam, SeoulRestaurants

Poke restaurant in Gangnam with portions big enough to share: Ola Poke

Ola Poke Gangnam is a poke and salad restaurant on Teheran-ro 4-gil in Gangnam, Seoul, a 5-minute walk from Gangnam Station Exit 4 on basement level 1. Two people shared salmon poke at 13,500 won and smoked duck poke at 11,000 won, both with the recommended sauce, and the portions were clearly larger than at nearby poke shops — enough that a big-eater boyfriend agreed. For a filling, diet-friendly lunch near Gangnam Station, Ola Poke Gangnam is good value.

Written Sep 16, 2026Sponsored
Yeongdeungpo, SeoulRestaurants

Seonyudo Station burger taste test, two burgers at once: BAS Burger

BAS Burger Seonyudo is a handmade burger restaurant right in front of Exit 4 of Seonyudo Station in Yeongdeungpo, Seoul. Having only ever eaten franchise burgers, the writer ordered the BAS Burger at 7,800 won and the BAS Chicken Burger at 8,500 won and ate them side by side: the chicken was juicy and the fries were crisp outside and soft inside. Dine-in guests can keep helping themselves to potato chips, so BAS Burger Seonyudo is worth a return visit with a beer.

Written Sep 16, 2026Sponsored