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Restaurants, cafés and salons across Korea — every story by a blogger who actually went, linked to Google Maps.

SejongRestaurants

Sejong hanjeongsik served all at once: ₩25,000 set at Bapkkot Hansang

Bapkkot Hansang is a hanjeongsik (Korean set-course) restaurant on the 3rd floor of Sejong Machi, near Sejong Lake Park. On a weekday lunch visit, the writer and her husband asked staff to serve the ₩25,000 Bapkkot Special all on one table instead of splitting it into two rounds, tasting tteokgalbi (grilled short rib patties), suyuk (boiled pork), gangdoenjang (thick soybean paste stew), buckwheat noodles and banchan side by side. The Bapkkot Special is mild and ingredient-forward rather than heavily seasoned, which makes Bapkkot Hansang a safe choice for meals with parents or larger groups.

Written Sep 14, 2026Sponsored
Seocho, SeoulRestaurants

Seocho chicken restaurant for fried chicken and icy beer: Kkanbu

Kkanbu Chicken Nambu Terminal Branch is a chicken restaurant with outdoor tables on the ground floor of Blue Fin Tower at 42 Seocho-jungang-ro, Seocho-gu, Seoul. On a weekend evening the writer and her husband ordered fried chicken and draft beer: the batter was thin, light and stayed crisp, and the icy draft beer washed the grease away cleanly. Kkanbu Chicken Nambu Terminal Branch is a good pick for chimaek (chicken and beer) at an outdoor table before or after a show at the Seoul Arts Center, right by Nambu Terminal Station.

Written Sep 14, 2026Sponsored
Gwangjin, SeoulRestaurants

Gwangjin short rib soup with 17-grain misugaru: Achasan Tong Galbitang

Achasan Tong Galbitang is a galbitang (beef short rib soup) restaurant on Jayang-ro in Gwangjin, Seoul, 397 meters from Achasan Station Exit 2. On a Saturday around noon the writer and her partner ordered the special galbitang and the aronsatae (beef shank) galbitang, and helped themselves to napa kimchi from the self-bar, barley candy for dessert, and the 17-grain misugaru drink that keeps churning all day. Achasan Tong Galbitang has no parking of its own and fills up at peak hours, so an early visit is the safer bet.

Written Sep 14, 2026Sponsored
Gwacheon, GyeonggiHair & beauty salons

Gwacheon hair salon: root volume perm for thin hair, One & Only Hair

One & Only Hair Gwacheon Government Complex Station is a hair salon on basement level 1 of the Hanyang Sujain officetel, a five-minute walk from Exit 1 of Gwacheon Government Complex Station in Gwacheon, Gyeonggi. For long hair falling below the chest that had gone flat at the roots and dry because the strands are fine, the writer had the protein one-care clinic for 110,000 won and a root volume perm for 90,000 won, done with Ojua moisture care products after a scalp diagnosis. Even with a rough blow-dry at home the root volume came back, so morning styling took less time.

Written Sep 14, 2026Sponsored
Gangnam, SeoulBars

Nonhyeon Station late-night bar: eel, crab stew at Yeongdong Pocha

Yeongdong Pocha is a retro pojangmacha-style bar on the second floor of a building a short walk from exit 3 of Nonhyeon Station in Gangnam, Seoul. For a late-night meal with a friend, the writer ordered kkomjangeo (spicy stir-fried hagfish) and kkotgetang (blue crab stew), adding ramyeon noodles to the stew from the very start and soaking them in the fiery broth. The kkomjangeo, kkotgetang and ramyeon were all seasoned just right, making the writer's chance of returning to Yeongdong Pocha 100%.

Written Sep 14, 2026Sponsored
Gangnam, SeoulRestaurants

Garosu-gil pork cutlet set for two in Seoul: Ikki Roll Katsu

Ikki Roll Katsu Garosu-gil Main Branch is a roll katsu (rolled pork cutlet) restaurant on basement floor 1 of Gangnam-daero 152-gil, near Sinsa Station's Garosu-gil in Seoul. A friend and I shared Couple Set A (34,900 won) with sweet potato cheese pork cutlet, chicken cheese roll katsu and apple mango ade, then added the Ikki ricotta salad and butter garlic fries for a total of 48,900 won. Between the cheese-filled cutlets, the house-made soup and sauces and the self-serve bar, Ikki Roll Katsu is an easy place for two people to split a full meal.

Written Sep 14, 2026Sponsored
Suwon, GyeonggiRestaurants

Cheoncheon-dong Suwon malatang charged only by weight: Rahongbang

Rahongbang Malatang Suwon Cheoncheon Branch is a malatang (Sichuan-style spicy hot pot) restaurant in Cheoncheon-dong, Suwon, near Starfield Suwon, where skewers and meat carry no extra fee and everything is priced by weight. The level 1.5 spicy malatang came piled with fenzi (sweet potato glass noodles), corn cheese rice cake and skewers, alongside mini guabaorou and lemon cream shrimp, and the broth tasted clean rather than greasy. Rahongbang Malatang fills up fast even at weekday lunch, so arriving early is the way to go.

Written Sep 14, 2026Sponsored
Cheongju, ChungbukRestaurants

Cheongju grilled eel ending with a ramyeon pot: Samhwa Susan

Samhwa Susan is a grilled eel restaurant on Daerim-ro in Nam-i-myeon, Seowon-gu, Cheongju, Chungbuk. Pungcheon freshwater eel is grilled golden on the griddle and eaten with side dishes, and the meal ends with a pot of ramyeon (instant noodles) boiled at the table. Samhwa Susan is a place worth remembering for a hearty, restorative meal in Cheongju.

Written Sep 14, 2026Sponsored
Yongsan, SeoulRestaurants

Charcoal-grilled dried corvina set at Modam Itaewon, Itaewon dining

Modam Itaewon is a Korean set-menu (hanjeongsik) restaurant on the 1st floor of the Mondrian Hotel in Yongsan, Seoul. The meal covered the Beopseongpo bori gulbi (charcoal-grilled dried yellow corvina) set and the tteokgalbi (grilled beef patty) and deodeok (bellflower root) set, with an appetizer course of grilled tofu salad, perilla oil buckwheat noodles, cold soybean porridge and jaetbangeo (amberjack) ceviche, finishing with perilla leaf lime sorbet. With a private room for meeting the in-laws, a wide hall and 2 hours of free parking, Modam Itaewon is the answer for a formal meal in Itaewon.

Written Sep 14, 2026Sponsored
Mapo, SeoulRestaurants

Hongdae chicken feet, flying fish roe egg custard: Cheongnyeon 1987

Cheongnyeon Dakbal 1987 Hongdae Branch is a chicken feet bar with outdoor seating on Donggyo-ro, near Hongik University Station in Mapo, Seoul. Two people shared the chicken feet combo ordered with tulip chicken feet at spice level 1, adding quail eggs and flying fish roe egg custard, and the spread also came with fried chicken skin, muk sabu (chilled acorn jelly soup), kalguksu noodles and a tuna mayo rice ball. The heat at Cheongnyeon Dakbal 1987 comes from red pepper flakes and cheongyang chili rather than capsaicin, so it never burned the stomach — an easy date course for couples who can't take much spice.

Written Sep 14, 2026Sponsored
Jongno, SeoulThings to do

Daehak-ro adult play, 20% couple discount: Suspicious PT Shop

Suspicious PT Shop is an 80-minute adults-only (19+) play staged in the basement of Nine Theater on Daehak-ro in Jongno, Seoul, a short walk from Hyehwa Station. Seats C10 and C11 came to 55,200 won with the 20% C-row couple discount on a Naver assigned-seat booking, which made Suspicious PT Shop good value. Actors Lee Su and Lee Chae-dam play the 19+ scenes for laughs rather than shock, and my partner enjoyed the show even more than I did.

Written Sep 14, 2026Sponsored
Gwangjin, SeoulHair & beauty salons

Gunja Station hair salon layered perm for round faces: HairOnDeu

HairOnDeu Gunja Station Branch is a hair salon in Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, about a 5-minute walk from Exit 5 of Gunja Station. After a summer of tying up long, neglected hair, the writer consulted Director Doi and got a layered cut and perm that keeps the length while softening a round face shape. No interns were involved — the director handled the whole process and finished by teaching the styling method, which made the visit a satisfying one.

Written Sep 14, 2026Sponsored