Local places · 6454 stories
Restaurants, cafés and salons across Korea — every story by a blogger who actually went, linked to Google Maps.
Morakmorak Jeongyuk Sikdang Namyang Hwaseong City Hall Main Branch is a butcher restaurant in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi, where diners choose their own meat. We celebrated my dad’s birthday with T-bone steak, pork jowl, pork belly, a generous self-service bar, and beef-bone-broth ramen. A great pick for a family meal with lots of cuts to try.
Jangsodam is an unlimited eel and beef barbecue restaurant in Seohae, Incheon. We refilled eel once and sirloin twice with the B set, then ate spicy marinated crab, Hangang ramen, and ice cream over 2 hours. Jangsodam is a great-value pick for family or group meals.
Menya Seoul Lotte Department Store Incheon Branch is a ramen restaurant in the basement food court of Lotte Department Store in Michuhol, Incheon. Before shopping, we ordered the Dongpo pork mild-broth set and double set for 3,900 won extra, with firm noodles, light broth, moist pork, chashu, and karaage. A filling, satisfying meal with double the meat.
Ochan Hoedong is a Korean restaurant in Gangsang-myeon, Yangpyeong, Gyeonggi, serving a course built around fermented vinegar and aged jang. From rosemary vinegar drink to seed soy sauce Korean beef tteokgalbi and 10-year-aged doenjang-jjigae, the 59,000 won course unfolds with quiet private rooms. Verdict: a refined, deeply flavored choice for a parents’ meal or family introduction gathering.
Gyodong Nakwon is a Japanese-style bar in Jung-gu, Daegu. My husband and I wrapped up a cool Sunday evening with Asahi draft beer, potato salad, motsunabe, and crab tomalley pasta. Verdict: a lovely pick for warm dishes and drinks on the patio.
Padong is a Japanese restaurant near Mangwon Market in Mapo, Seoul. After a 5-minute weekend lunch wait, we had futomaki, mazesoba, and karaage served in another 5 minutes. Verdict: a satisfying choice for a Mangwon-dong date or meal with friends.
Hwieol Migeum Branch is a Korean bar in Gumi-dong, Seongnam, Gyeonggi. We had brisket jjamppong hot pot, pollock roe cheese potato pancake, and yurin-gi with Wolmae makgeolli and soju. Verdict: a cozy pick for a date, drinks, or a group meal near Migeum Station.
Munkkocchi Mungangjeong Jeonju Hanok Village Branch is a street-food restaurant in Jeonju Hanok Village, Jeonju. We had teriyaki chicken skewers, a katsuobushi octopus skewer, and slushy beer at the outdoor tables for 18,000 won. Verdict: the katsuobushi octopus skewer is the one I want to eat again in Jeonju.
Kkotdwaeji Restaurant Gumi Main Branch (꽃돼지식당 구미본점) is a Korean barbecue restaurant in Indong, Gumi, Gyeongbuk. We had its 600g Gourmet Set, self-bar side dishes, ₩9,000 Hanwoo tripe ramen, and ₩3,500 salted-seafood fried rice with the kids. Kkotdwaeji Restaurant makes a family meal easy from grilled pork through dessert.
Gwacheon Haesintang Gwacheon Main Branch is a haesintang restaurant in Gwacheon, Gyeonggi, serving native chicken and live octopus together. We shared its 3–4 person native chicken live octopus haesintang with my mother-in-law, along with house-made side dishes and attentive service. Verdict: a generous, memorable meal for parents or a special family gathering.
Mil Tteok Factory Main Branch is a café-style instant tteokbokki restaurant in Gangnam, Seoul. I had the large Red sweet-and-spicy instant tteokbokki, handmade crispy fritters, and flying-fish-roe fried rice; the thin wheat rice cakes and nicely sweet, spicy broth were the standouts. Verdict: a place I’d happily revisit when I’m craving instant tteokbokki.
Yuktongnyeong Myeongdong Main Branch is a Korean barbecue restaurant in Jung-gu, Seoul, near Myeongdong Station. At the spacious third-floor tables, staff grilled omija-aged pork belly for 16,000 won per 150 g, with Suntai jeot and pickled perilla leaves for variety. A great choice for Myeongdong group gatherings and work dinners.
