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

Gwanak, SeoulHair & beauty salons

Gwanak Pilates studio with fixed-teacher classes: Vines Pilates

Vines Pilates Seoul National University Entrance Station branch is a Pilates studio in Bongcheon-dong, Gwanak, Seoul, a one-minute walk from Seoul National University Entrance Station. The writer, left with forward head posture after desk work and exam prep, toured the group rooms, private rooms and showers at Vines Pilates, took a 5:1 group class in the group room with the Cadillac, and compared the fixed-teacher program with app-based booking. For anyone whose goal is posture correction, the fixed-teacher program at Vines Pilates is the one to choose.

Written Sep 14, 2026Sponsored
Jongno, SeoulRestaurants

Gyeongbokgung Station Korean restaurant for chicken gomtang: SABAL

SABAL is a Korean dining restaurant in Jongno, Seoul, a 5-minute walk from Exit 7 of Gyeongbokgung Station on the first floor of the Gyeonghuigung-ui Achim 3-danji complex, where it has stood for nearly 20 years. Booking a 1:30pm table to skip the lunch wait, the writer ordered neungi mushroom chicken gomtang (₩17,000) and oyster mushroom black sesame perilla noodle soup (₩17,000), and the pre-meal pumpkin porridge plus refills of garlic pickles and geotjeori kimchi felt like genuine hospitality. Gentle and non-spicy from start to finish, SABAL became the writer's first pick for a meal out with parents.

Written Sep 14, 2026Sponsored
Haeundae, BusanRestaurants

Haeundae clam steamer with udon and grilled hagfish: Hyejane San

Hyejane San Gomjangeo Main Branch is a live hagfish and steamed clam restaurant tucked into an alley off Gunam-ro in Haeundae, Busan. The steamed clam pot at Hyejane San Gomjangeo comes piled with scallops, hard clams and pen shells in a broth that is clear but bracingly spicy, and adding udon noodles makes it even better. The seasoned hagfish grilled on the iron plate has no fishy smell and turns nutty the longer you chew, making this one of the best restaurants in Busan for eating both dishes in one sitting.

Written Sep 15, 2026Sponsored
Siheung, GyeonggiRestaurants

Kid-friendly kalguksu restaurant at Siheung Premium Outlets: Pyeongi

Pyeongi Dambaek Bone Kalguksu is a Korean restaurant inside Siheung Premium Outlets in Siheung, Gyeonggi, serving bone kalguksu (hand-cut noodle soup) and bibim kalguksu (spicy mixed noodles). On a weekday lunch with his son, the writer ordered the bone kalguksu suyuk (boiled pork) set for 19,000 won and the bibim kalguksu meat dumpling set for 15,000 won, and the owner left out the cheongyang chili peppers and ground pepper in advance once he saw the child. Pyeongi Dambaek Bone Kalguksu makes a filling meal after a day of shopping with kids, and the writer would go back.

Written Sep 14, 2026Sponsored
Seongdong, SeoulRestaurants

Seongsu Station kalguksu with kids: egg broth at Ran Kalguksu

Ran Kalguksu (란칼국수) is a kalguksu (hand-cut noodle soup) restaurant in Seongsu-dong, Seoul, a 2-minute walk from Seongsu Station Exit 1 inside the handmade shoe district. The writer went with a child and ordered kalguksu in an egg-enriched vegetable broth, kongguksu (chilled soybean noodle soup), mini suyuk (sliced boiled pork) and kimchijeon (kimchi pancake); the broth was mild enough that the child finished the noodles too. Ran Kalguksu works equally well for a family dinner out and a weekday office lunch near Seongsu Station.

Written Sep 14, 2026Sponsored
Jung-gu, SeoulRestaurants

Chungmuro beef noodle spot after Namsangol Hanok Village: Bao Seoul

Bao Seoul Chungmuro is a Taiwanese restaurant in an alley 3 minutes on foot from Chungmuro Station in Jung-gu, Seoul. After a walk through Namsangol Hanok Village, three people ordered Taiwanese beef noodles at 17,000 won, a braised pork belly rice bowl at 15,000 won and a classic bao at 12,000 won on the table tablet, sharing one noodle bowl and one rice bowl and splitting the bao in half. With its open kitchen and neon-lit room, Bao Seoul Chungmuro is an easy, different meal to work into an Euljiro or Myeongdong outing.

Written Sep 14, 2026Sponsored
Nowon, SeoulRestaurants

Nowon Korean set-course dinner, candle-warmed ribs: Sutgarak Masil

Sutgarak Bansang Masil is a hanjeongsik (Korean set-course) restaurant in Nowon, Seoul, a 10-minute walk from Nowon Station Exit 1 on the second floor of the building. The course at Sutgarak Bansang Masil ran from adlay and cherry blossom porridge to spring forsythia fritters, chilled whelk salad, medicinal-herb bossam, mushroom braised short ribs and Masil tteokgalbi, with the ribs kept hot by a candle under the pottery pot and the tteokgalbi on a table hot plate. With private rooms of several sizes and baby chairs, Sutgarak Bansang Masil handles a Nowon family gathering or a meet-the-in-laws lunch without trouble.

Written Sep 14, 2026Sponsored
SejongRestaurants

Sejong jokbal restaurant seating 80: Cheongmigwan salt trotter takeout

Cheongmigwan Sejong Naseong Main Branch is a jokbal (pig trotter) and bossam restaurant on the Naseong-dong food street in Sejong. The signature dungulle (Solomon's seal) salt front trotter was ordered for takeout and eaten at home, and the insulated packaging kept it hot, with moist lean meat and chewy skin. Cheongmigwan takes groups from 7 up to 80 people, so it works for family gatherings as easily as for a takeout order.

Written Sep 14, 2026Sponsored
Mapo, SeoulRestaurants

Spicy bibim guksu and perilla oil noodle lunch sets at Sangam Hoegwan

Sangam Hoegwan is a noodle restaurant in Sangam-dong, Mapo, Seoul, now inside the food court on basement level 1 of Sangam IT Tower. The order was a bibim guksu (spicy mixed noodles) dumpling set, a deulgireum milmyeon (perilla oil wheat noodles) dumpling set, kimchi pancake and a plate of four dumplings — a sweet-spicy sauce on one side and nutty perilla oil on the other — and the bigger space meant a seat with no long wait at lunchtime. Sangam Hoegwan makes an easy, easy-on-the-stomach lunch for Sangam office workers.

Written Sep 14, 2026Sponsored
Yongsan, SeoulRestaurants

Haebangchon Western restaurant with cheese shell pasta: Sugar Hill

Sugar Hill is a Western restaurant and wine bar on Sinheung-ro in Haebangchon, Yongsan, Seoul. Sugar Hill's BTS meal set brings sous vide steak, cheese-stuffed shell pasta and a cheese platter, paired here with a Suntory highball, an Obok cocktail, Ebisu beer and white wine, and the cheese-packed shell pasta was easily the best tomato sauce pasta of the lot. With outdoor tables and a private third-floor room, Sugar Hill is a solid pick for a Haebangchon date.

Written Sep 14, 2026Sponsored
Hwaseong, GyeonggiRestaurants

Eel buffet in Saesol-dong, Hwaseong for ₩29,900: Songrim Bok Jangeo

Songrim Bok Jangeo Freshwater Eel All-You-Can-Eat Saesol Direct Branch is an eel barbecue restaurant in Saesol-dong, Hwaseong, Gyeonggi, where domestic Japonica freshwater eel is all-you-can-eat for 29,900 won per adult. Alongside the eel, duck neck meat and pork belly can be taken freely from the self-service corner and grilled, and a full bottle of bokbunja (Korean black raspberry wine) arrived as a free service. With a 2-hour time limit and 3 hours of free parking in front of the restaurant, Songrim Bok Jangeo is an easy place to drive to for a restorative meal.

Written Sep 14, 2026Sponsored
Sokcho, GangwonRestaurants

Sokcho fish market sashimi platter, ₩60,000: Jinmi Hwareo Center

Jinmi Hwareo Center is a sashimi restaurant in the basement seafood hall of Sokcho Tourist and Fishery Market in Sokcho, Gangwon. The assorted sashimi platter for two costs 60,000 won and came with flounder, cobia, brill and sea squirt, packed in an insulated bag with an ice pack plus vegetables, chili sauce and ssamjang, so it travelled easily back to the accommodation. The fish was sweet and springy, making Jinmi Hwareo Center a solid pick for sashimi takeout in Sokcho.

Written Sep 14, 2026Sponsored