Local places · 5211 stories
Restaurants, cafés and salons across Korea — every story by a blogger who actually went, linked to Google Maps.
Mirim Yangjang Apgujeong is a Chinese restaurant in Gangnam, Seoul, serving Peking duck and Chinese dishes in a quiet setting. We had half Peking duck, Hong Kong-style egg noodles, and duck fried rice, all nicely balanced without being overly salty. Verdict: a great pick for trying several dishes without feeling weighed down.
Dream Samgyetang is a Korean restaurant in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi, serving rich samgyetang. I enjoyed its tender chicken, herbal aroma, and house-made kimchi, kkakdugi, and radish pickles. A great stop when you want a hearty, restorative meal.
Wunder Coffee Bar Hyundai Premium Outlet Songdo Branch is a café in Yeonsu, Incheon. We ordered Uji tea Wunder Gato and a decaf cream latte, then lingered over them in the food-court seating during a shopping break. A sweet, easy stop on a shopping day.
Seo Jubang is a seafood bar in Yeongnang-dong, Sokcho, Gangwon. I ordered the ₩53,000 Sokcho drinking set with Abai baeksundae, boiled squid, whelks, and tomato flounder mulhoe. Verdict: a great quiet spot to share drinks and fresh seafood.
Gwaireui Sup Yeosu Branch is a fruit dessert café at the entrance to Dolsan in Yeosu, Gwangju. I tried peach bingsu and drinks in its picnic-like, pet-friendly space with a large parking lot, and was happy with both the fruit quality and the generous bingsu. Gwaireui Sup Yeosu Branch is a great choice for fresh fruit bingsu in Yeosu.
Moshi Moshi Sushi is a Japanese restaurant on the 8th-floor dining level of Lotte Department Store in Dongnae, Busan. We had Sushi Hansang, a flounder and salmon sushi set, chashu, and highballs with the baby after shopping. A comfortable family meal with fresh sushi and crisp tempura.
Deungchon Shabu Kalguksu Giheung Station Branch is a mushroom kalguksu restaurant in Yongin, Gyeonggi. I enjoyed spicy mushroom kalguksu with shabu beef, minari, mushrooms, DIY sujebi, and egg fried rice. Verdict: a filling, fiery meal before or after a movie.
Sokcho Topgol Makguksu Main Branch is a Korean restaurant near Sokcho Beach in Sokcho, Gangwon. I ordered deulmemak, spicy-sour buckwheat makguksu, and a generous potato pancake, with two hours of public-parking support available. Verdict: a satisfyingly light yet filling meal for a Sokcho trip.
Salmon Brothers is a salmon, beef tartare, and pasta restaurant near Gwangalli Beach in Suyeong, Busan. Even a writer who rarely eats seafood enjoyed the thick, clean-tasting salmon, black sesame sauce beef tartare, and aglio e olio with Busan soju. Verdict: I’m 10,000% willing to return for drinks and snacks in Gwangalli.
Pasta Han Kki is an Italian restaurant near Nowon Station in Seoul serving pasta and steak. I paired its brothy, spicy seafood tomato pasta with tender BBQ chopped steak, plus crisp-outside, moist-inside garlic bread. Verdict: a satisfying pairing when you want pasta and meat together.
Nuts Hold'em is a poker bar in Gangseo, Seoul, that is easy to visit after dinner or coffee around Magok and Balsan. A first-time Hold'em player received free instruction and friendly guidance, then found the game’s rhythm after a few rounds. Verdict: a refreshingly different date-night option.
Central Site Hapjeong is a specialty coffee café in Mapo, Seoul, where guests can smell different beans before choosing a cup. I alternated between Ethiopia Tamiru 74158 and Colombia Geisha Peach-Punch with tiramisu cake. Verdict: a lovely choice for a day when you want to savor coffee slowly.
