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Seoul

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

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
Yongsan, SeoulRestaurants

Yongsan combo set for two that feeds three: Hyeonseonine bunsik

Hyeonseonine Yongsan Main Branch is a bunsik (Korean street food) restaurant down an alley near Sinyongsan Station Exit 5 in Yongsan, Seoul. Two of us ordered the medium-spice combo set — tteokbokki, fritters, sundae, kkoma gimbap (mini seaweed rice rolls) and odeng (fish cake) broth on one tray — and it came out to roughly three servings, with the kkoma gimbap alone arriving as 4 rolls, 8 pieces. The fritters were crisp and the sundae came with liver and lung included, making this a genuinely filling bunsik spread for two.

Written Sep 16, 2026Sponsored
Mapo, SeoulRestaurants

Hapjeong pizza restaurant for rosé pasta and 48-hour dough: Pizzeria O

Pizzeria O Hapjeong Station is a wood-fired pizza and pasta restaurant in an alley off Yanghwa-ro 11-gil near Hapjeong Station in Mapo, Seoul. Two friends ordered wood-fired pizza, rosé pasta and an ade, and finished the 48-hour cold-fermented dough down to the crust ends, while the generous rosé sauce was creamy enough to make them want rice to mix in. If you want pizza and pasta in one meal in Hapjeong, Pizzeria O is worth another visit.

Written Sep 16, 2026Sponsored
Mapo, SeoulRestaurants

Quiet Hongdae restaurant in Seoul for a meal with parents: Anok

Anok is a newly opened Korean restaurant tucked into an alley off the main street in Hongdae, Seoul, with clear pork gomtang (pork bone soup), Pyongyang naengmyeon (cold buckwheat noodles) and pork tail jjim (braised pork tail) as its signature dishes. All three were ordered on this visit, and the mild, clean naengmyeon and gomtang paired best with the sweet-spicy pork tail jjim. Anok sits inside the alley shopping district so there is no parking, but the quiet room makes it an easy choice for a meal with parents or older relatives.

Written Sep 16, 2026Sponsored
Jung-gu, SeoulRestaurants

Seoul Station bakery takeout: choco baguette with figs, Dance Dance

Dance Dance Dance Seoul Station is a baguette sandwich shop on basement level 3 of Grand Central at Seoul Station. On a weekday lunch visit, the new pistachio chocolate baguette (14,400 won) and a plain scone (3,900 won) went out as takeout, and figs brought from home were laid on top at home. The mild baguette studded with chocolate chips and the thick pistachio tofu cream cheese make the combination worth ordering.

Written Sep 16, 2026Sponsored
Gwangjin, SeoulBars

Gunja Station bar with beer and mild spice bone grill: Saechamjip

Saechamjip is a Korean bar with private rooms on the 2nd floor of a building on Neungdong-ro 36-gil near Gunja Station in Gwangjin, Seoul. Late one night the writer and her husband ordered beer with the signature stone plate bone grill at spice level 1 and nakji-saeu-kimchi-jeon (octopus and shrimp kimchi pancake); the bone grill, simmered for 48 hours, was so tender the meat slid off under the tongs, and spice level 1 tasted about as mild as mild Jin Ramen. Saechamjip is a Gunja Station bar worth a second try even for anyone once put off by bone grill.

Written Sep 16, 2026Sponsored
Gangnam, SeoulHair & beauty salons

Apgujeong hair salon full-head brown dye for faded summer color: Biorn

Biorn Hair Apgujeong Rodeo is a hair salon in Gangnam, Seoul, 89m from exit 5 of Apgujeong Rodeo Station. After a summer lightening job faded into yellow and red tones, deputy director Baekha applied a full-head dye that settled the hair into a calm brown that never looks heavy. Biorn Hair Apgujeong Rodeo is worth noting when you want to tidy up faded color rather than change your whole look.

Written Sep 16, 2026Sponsored