Local places · 3346 stories
Restaurants, cafés and salons across Korea — every story by a blogger who actually went, linked to Google Maps.
Bas Burger Yonsei Cancer Hospital Branch is a burger restaurant in Seodaemun, Seoul. I ordered a Double Bacon Cheese Burger set with Mozza Chicken Bites and signature onion rings, plus all the crispy chips I wanted from the self-serve bar. Verdict: a satisfying choice when a seriously meaty, cheesy burger is calling.
Jongchagyeok is a Korean barbecue restaurant in Jochon-dong, Gunsan, with a train-station-themed interior. My family had the three-person marbled samgyeopsal set, and the staff finished grilling the pre-grilled meat so it was easy for us and tender for my child. Verdict: a place I would happily revisit for relaxed Korean barbecue in a fun setting.
Ryeok Freshwater Eel Grill is an eel restaurant in Mapo, Seoul, serving eel rice bowls for lunch and grilled eel in the evening. The ₩27,000 special eel rice bowl came with enough sides and dessert to enjoy it four ways, plus crisp ₩10,000 yuringi. Verdict: a generous, feel-good eel rice bowl meal worth returning for.
Eulji Pocha Guro Digital Complex Branch is a lively bar in Guro, Seoul. We paired spicy seafood jjoljjajang with French toast, then enjoyed table games, coin snacks, dalgona, and cotton-candy making. Verdict: a great pick for a friends’ night out or an energetic team dinner.
Gallilli Daegae Hoe Sikdang is a seafood restaurant in Jukdo Market, Pohang, Gyeongbuk. We ordered the two-person Bakdal snow crab set, with mulhoe, assorted sashimi, abalone sashimi, clam soup, spicy fish stew, and crab-shell innards fried rice. Verdict: the crab meat dipped in soy sauce from the marinated crab was the real winning bite.
Menya Seoul is a Japanese restaurant in Michuhol, Incheon, serving ramen, mazesoba, and rice bowls in Lotte Department Store. We shared mild Dongpo pork chashu ramen, sweet soy sauce chicken rice bowl, and pork belly mazesoba with our child. Verdict: a bright, easy department-store lunch stop for families.
Soso Byeolchae is a duplex hanok stay about a 5-minute walk from Hwangridan-gil in Gyeongju, Gyeongbuk. In room S101, our family enjoyed the window view, indoor and outdoor jacuzzis, and generous kitchen amenities. Verdict: A comfortable, photo-worthy family stay, as long as you plan on takeout or delivery meals.
The Jokbal Sindorim Main Branch is a jokbal restaurant in Guro, Seoul, about 10 minutes on foot from Sindorim and Guro stations. My sister and I had a ₩50,000-range set and makguksu for lunch, and the jokbal stayed tender and at a good eating temperature right to the last piece. Verdict: a satisfying choice for a hearty lunch or jokbal date.
Dongyang Baekban is a Korean restaurant in Hwangridan-gil, Gyeongju, Gyeongbuk. We had medium boneless dakbokkeumtang and gondre namulbap for a gentle, generously portioned meal. Verdict: a cozy choice for dates or family meals.
2002 Witch's Arpeggio is a pet-friendly Korean BBQ restaurant in Wabu-eup, Namyangju, Gyeonggi, with stream views. On the outdoor terrace, I tried 48-hour jar-aged tomato-marinated pork belly, a cheese topping finished with a torch, and pollack roe scorched-rice cauldron fried rice. Verdict: the stream sounds and clean, spicy tomato marinade made this a memorable meal.
Sedici is an Italian restaurant in Seongdong, Seoul, with parking and a six-minute walk from Seongsu Station Exit 2. We had beef tartare, Chodang corn fried gnocchi, shrimp crumble pasta, and wine; Sedici is a lovely choice for a gently seasoned Seongsu date lunch.
Wonz Coffee is a café near Seoul Children's Grand Park in Gwangjin, Seoul. At 6 p.m., we skipped coffee for mango bingsu, a chocolate financier, and a scone, then enjoyed the sticker camera and board games. Verdict: the soft milk-ice texture made Wonz Coffee a very welcome find.
