Local places · 2568 stories
Restaurants, cafés and salons across Korea — every story by a blogger who actually went, linked to Google Maps.
Jinmi Hwareo Center is a seafood takeout shop inside Sokcho Tourist & Fishery Market in Sokcho, Gangwon. We packed ₩30,000 flounder sashimi and two small Korean squid sashimi for ₩15,000 to enjoy at our accommodation. Verdict: a friendly, good-value stop to add to a Sokcho market food run.
Dangke Donkatsu is a Japanese-style tonkatsu restaurant in Nowon, Seoul, where diners pour onion sauce over thick-cut pork cutlets on a hot plate. I paired cheese katsu with cold memil noodles and fruit highballs while exploring the restaurant’s tiny decorative details. Verdict: save Dangke Donkatsu for a slightly more special tonkatsu meal.
Cheongwon Restaurant: Cooking Budae-jjigae, Cheonan Dujeong Main Branch is a budae-jjigae restaurant in Dujeong-dong, Cheonan, Chungnam. For a cold weekend brunch, I had Songtan budae-jjigae with generous ham, rich yet clean broth, and unlimited rice and ramen noodles. Verdict: a filling, dependable weekend meal.
Mini Male Roastery & Coffee Bar Seocho Gyodae Branch is a coffee shop in Seocho, Seoul, near Gyodae Station. Helsinki Latte, matcha cookies, egg tarts, and orange pound cake made for a satisfying coffee-and-dessert break in a neat setting. Mini Male is a lovely choice for good coffee in Seoul.
Sunhui Dining (순희다이닝) is a Korean restaurant in Seodaemun, Seoul, near Ewha Womans University. Despite a weekday lunch queue, the line and food moved quickly, and the extra-meat spicy butadon made for a filling end-of-semester meal. Verdict: a clean, satisfying spot for a hearty meal with classmates.
Unagiwa is a Nagoya-style eel rice bowl restaurant near Yeoksam Station in Gangnam, Seoul. We cleared plates of Unadon and whole-eel Ichi Unadon, plus the review-event matcha pudding. Verdict: a satisfying pick for a proper eel meal with plenty of accompaniments.
Ssuk's Choco Pie Seoul is a dessert café near Gwangjang Market in Jongno, Seoul. After a Cheonggyecheon walk, I tried a six-piece set, with Geomundo sea-breeze mugwort and Gwangju real chocolate as my favorites. Verdict: a memorable gift-worthy dessert stop.
Hyangtaek Jeonpo Branch is a Korean restaurant in Busanjin, Busan, serving individual Korean meals. My eldest and I had hanpan galbi and yukhoe bibimbap, with extra side dishes and soup thoughtfully provided for my child. Verdict: Hyangtaek Jeonpo Branch is a lovely choice for a family Korean meal.
Cham Dwaejitgan Jongno Main Branch is a Korean BBQ restaurant near Jongno 3-ga Station in Jongno, Seoul. I had Boseong green pork belly with minari, steamed egg, and butter bibimbap after a 40-minute Friday-evening wait. Verdict: an easy choice for a group that wants grilled pork without taking turns at the tongs.
Fluffy Bake Shop is a dessert café near Gongdeok Station in Mapo, Seoul. I took home a gamtae financier, egg tart, and Earl Grey canelé; the crisp egg tart was the standout. Verdict: a sweet little pick-me-up for a gloomy day.
Pip Espresso Bar is an espresso bar with indoor seating and a terrace in Mapo, Seoul. I ordered an iced Americano, tiramisu, and affogato, and even as someone who does not know coffee well, I loved the aroma and clean finish. Verdict: a lovely stop for dessert and coffee on a sunny Yeonnam-dong date.
Maeranbang Gyodae Branch is a Chinese restaurant near Gyodae Station in Seocho, Seoul. I tried hand-pulled black bean noodles, spicy Chinese-style bibimbap, and three dim sum dishes in its glamorous Hong Kong-style dining room. Verdict: go for the generously filled shrimp har gow and a polished group meal.
