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

Gangnam, SeoulBars

Seolleung Station bar with a self-serve snack fridge: 88 Nogari, Seoul

88 Nogari Seolleung Main Branch is a beer pub and pocha (Korean street-food bar) on the second floor of a building five minutes' walk from Exit 1 of Seolleung Station in Gangnam, Seoul. The meoktae (dried pollock snack) and boneless monkfish jerky set costs 24,000 won, and drinks and packaged snacks are self-serve from the fridge, so ordering one main dish covers the table rule and makes 88 Nogari an easy second-round stop. With plenty of tables it suits both big work dinners and a quieter window seat.

Written Sep 15, 2026Sponsored
Gangseo, SeoulThings to do

Gangseo-gu car inspection in 20 minutes: Gangseo Gongeopsa, Seoul

Gangseo Gongeopsa (강서공업사) is a government-designated private car inspection station on Yangcheon-ro 60-gil in Gangseo-gu, Seoul, near Jeungmi Station, handling regular inspections, comprehensive inspections, NOx tests and EV inspections in one place. Walking in without a reservation, the car was checked in and the comprehensive inspection was finished after a 15–20 minute wait in the seating area, with staff explaining each test item and result. Gangseo Gongeopsa also inspects through the 12:00–13:00 lunch hour, making it easy for office workers to squeeze in a visit.

Written Sep 15, 2026Sponsored
Gangneung, GangwonRestaurants

Jumunjin Fish Market sashimi platter, 60,000 won: Haesong Hoetjip

Haesong Hoetjip is a sashimi and seafood restaurant inside Jumunjin Fish Market in Gangneung, Gangwon, and it takes takeout orders by text message for pickup. Two of us ordered the medium plain sashimi platter at 60,000 won and added the limited special cuts for 8,000 won to eat at our accommodation, and the best touch was the plastic wrap labeled by hand with each fish and cut. For a relaxed sashimi spread back at your room, text Haesong Hoetjip in advance and pick it up.

Written Sep 15, 2026Sponsored
Dobong, SeoulCafés

Chimney bread café in Dobong, Seoul baked to order: Uisagye

Uisagye is a chimney bread café at 178 Uicheon-ro in Dobong, Seoul, right beside Uicheon Stream. Original chimney bread cost 5,500 won, an iced americano 4,500 won and a café latte 4,800 won, and each chimney bread is baked only after you order, so it arrives warm. The just-baked bread and the cozy second-floor window seat looking over Uicheon Stream were the best part of the visit to Uisagye.

Written Sep 15, 2026Sponsored
Yeongdeungpo, SeoulRestaurants

Yeoido outdoor BBQ patio with free kimchi stew: Smile Samgyeop

Smile Samgyeop Main Branch is a minari (water celery) pork belly restaurant in Yeoido, Seoul, tucked into the alley behind Lotte Castle, with outdoor patio seating that suits autumn evenings. Three servings of kimchi minari pork belly and a bottle of soju came with free kimchi stew and free refills of minari and wrap vegetables, and the staff grilled everything from start to finish. Smile Samgyeop Main Branch is an easy Korean BBQ pick in Yeoido when you plan to move on to a second round.

Written Sep 15, 2026Sponsored
Yeosu, GwangjuBars

Hakdong izakaya in Yeosu for beef miso nabe and sashimi: Tsukiya

Tsukiya is an izakaya that recently opened in the Hakdong area of Yeosu, near the city hall. The order was a beef miso nabe plus a half-and-half plate of Korean beef sashimi and salmon sashimi, pairing a savoury broth with chewy raw beef, and fried potatoes arrived as the complimentary starter. Tsukiya stays open until 3am (4am on Fridays and Saturdays) and takes group reservations and private bookings, so it works as an office dinner spot in Yeosu.

Written Sep 15, 2026Sponsored
Hwaseong, GyeonggiHair & beauty salons

Dongtan hair salon brown dye over black-dyed hair: Juno Hair

Juno Hair Dongtan Solbitnaru Branch is a hair salon on the second floor of Jeongnim Plaza near Dongtan Naru Village in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi, taking up the whole floor. Hair that had been covered in black dye a year earlier — and turned away by other salons — was colored by designer Sia into an even brown with no patchiness and no red tint. With a kids' room and private rooms, Juno Hair Dongtan Solbitnaru Branch is an easy Dongtan coloring salon for families too.

Written Sep 15, 2026Sponsored
Goyang, GyeonggiRestaurants

Goyang sundae soup restaurant, breakfast before Hanyang CC: Gohyangok

Gohyangok Eolkeun Sundaeguk Wondang Branch is a sundae soup (Korean blood sausage soup) restaurant in Deogyang-gu, Goyang, Gyeonggi, near Seooreung and on the road to Seoul Hanyang CC and Hanyang Pine CC. The writer ordered the mild sundae soup set and the spicy sundae soup set, each with sundae and bossam (boiled pork) steamed in a hinoki basket, and used the self-bar with free-refill somyeon noodles. Gohyangok is worth remembering for a filling breakfast before an early round of golf.

Written Sep 15, 2026Sponsored
Nam-gu, DaeguRestaurants

Korean set meal for two in Daemyeong-dong, Daegu: Cafe Dongi

Cafe Dongi Daemyeong Station Branch is a Korean set-meal (hanjeongsik) restaurant in Daemyeong-dong, Nam-gu, Daegu, a short walk from Daemyeong Station. A couple shared the grandma-style jjukkumi (stir-fried baby octopus) set for 16,900 won, the fire-grilled pork set for 12,900 won and a mini tangsuyuk (sweet and sour pork) for 9,900 won, and the self-serve fried eggs, rice, seaweed, hutgae tea and barley candy were all free. The neat, generous spread at Cafe Dongi left the couple feeling looked after and ready to return.

Written Sep 15, 2026Sponsored
Busanjin, BusanCafés

Jeonpo-dong café with Basque cheesecake and lychee ade: Ibaba Coffee

Ibaba Coffee is a pet-friendly, modern-style café in Jeonpo-dong, Busan, near Gyeongnam Technical High School. Open Tuesday to Sunday from 11:00 to 20:00 with last order at 19:40, Ibaba Coffee served an iced americano, a lychee grapefruit ade and a Basque cheesecake whose smoky top and moist centre matched the coffee well. A comfortable Jeonpo café for both long chats and laptop work.

Written Sep 15, 2026Sponsored
Seongnam, GyeonggiRestaurants

Jeongja lamb restaurant with free corkage for group dinners: Nokji

Nokji Bundang Jeongja Branch is a lamb restaurant in Seongnam, Gyeonggi, newly opened in front of the Doosan building by Jeongja Station. Two servings of French rack were grilled and rested tableside by the staff, then eaten with Maldon salt, an egg-yolk truffle soy sauce, minari (water dropwort), and mashed potato. The lamb had almost none of the usual gamey smell, and with one bottle of corkage free, Nokji is worth a return trip for a group dinner or a date in Jeongja.

Written Sep 15, 2026Sponsored
Seongnam, GyeonggiBars

Pangyo Station bar with sous vide pork jowl and rosé shrimp: Bacha

Bacha Pangyo Branch is a Korean bar-restaurant in Seongnam, Gyeonggi, a 5-minute walk from Pangyo Station. The order covered sous vide pork jowl with seasoned chive salad, rochi-saeu (rosé sauce tteokbokki with shrimp, bacon and boneless chicken), cream draft beer and whiskey ice cream. With floor-to-ceiling windows and blue lighting, Bacha Pangyo Branch stays calm enough for a long conversation.

Written Sep 15, 2026Sponsored