Local places · 7872 stories
Restaurants, cafés and salons across Korea — every story by a blogger who actually went, linked to Google Maps.
Doran Honsul Bar Hongdae Branch is a bar in Mapo, Seoul, made for an easy drink on your own. I went on a bored day, shared drinks and all sorts of stories with friends, and loved how naturally conversations can happen even when you come alone. Verdict: remember Doran Honsul Bar Hongdae Branch for a solo night out that does not feel lonely.
Slow Village Brewery is a makgeolli bar in Guro, Seoul, serving house-brewed rice wine and Korean dishes. We tried seafood pajeon, bibim meat noodles, Winter Makgeolli, and Cherry Makgeolli, with roomy seating and a sports projector too. Verdict: the lightly sparkling, sweet Winter Makgeolli was the standout.
Like Like Ilsan Juyeop Branch is a dog-friendly brunch café in Goyang, Gyeonggi. After browsing the KINTEX Pet Fair, I had the ₩17,100 jalapeño sweet chicken panini set with homemade potato cream soup. Like Like Ilsan Juyeop Branch is a hearty stop where dogs can have brunch too.
Ubokgeum Saenggalbi Mokpo Namak Branch is a Korean barbecue restaurant in Namak New Town, Muan, Gwangju. Staff grilled the 500g fresh beef ribs from start to finish, with tasty sides and bibim naengmyeon for 7,000 won. Verdict: a moist, delicious fresh-rib spot I want to revisit.
Byway Bakers Cheongsa Main Branch is a takeout-friendly bakery in Uijeongbu, Gyeonggi. I chose a 5,600-won fig pistachio tart, 6,500-won chocolate baguette, and discounted 6,500-won Dubai salt bread, but the Wakkbu salt bread was sold out. A lovely stop for baked treats, but go early for popular items.
Glory Works is a modern Chinese restaurant near Sangdong Station in Bucheon, Gyeonggi. I arrived right at opening for a solo weekday lunch and loved the crispy yurin-gi, tangy spicy sauce, and 3 hours of free parking. For crisp fried chicken in a comfortable space, Glory Works is the one.
Restaurant Polia Gimpo Unyang Branch is an Italian restaurant in Unyang-dong, Gimpo, Gyeonggi, with a spacious, calm dining room. My husband and I had a chuck flap tail tagliata salad, aglio e olio, and blue crab pesché for lunch; the pesché with scorched rice was the highlight. A lovely pick for a relaxed meal with mild, comforting flavors.
Eomma-ui Ttuksim is a Korean restaurant in Paju, Gyeonggi, serving home-style set meals. My friend and I ordered the ₩19,900 Ttuksim Jjukkumi Set Meal for two, with cheonggukjang, pork bulgogi, jjukkumi, and generous side dishes. Verdict: a filling meal that feels like food made by Mom.
Juno Hair Cheonho Rodeo Branch is a hair salon on Cheonho Rodeo Street in Gangdong, Seoul. At 20 weeks pregnant, I got a root-off dark brown all-over color and layered cut to settle my patchy hair. Verdict: a truly satisfying mood-boosting hair change.
Susi Seon Bangi Branch is a Japanese restaurant in Songpa, Seoul, serving sushi, pork cutlet, and soba. We shared the Today’s Sushi A Set and the Cheese Pork Cutlet Soba Set, and the springy cold soba noodles were especially memorable. Verdict: a good choice when you want several dishes in one meal.
Gupo Jjambbong Gupo Main Branch is a Chinese restaurant in Buk-gu, Busan. Two people ordered octopus and abalone jjambbong, seafood tray jjajangmyeon, eggplant dumplings, and half-and-half tangsuyuk. Verdict: a generous feast worth returning to when Chinese food cravings hit.
Teolbo Samchon Jip Main Branch is a Korean barbecue restaurant in Buldang-dong, Cheonan, Chungnam. I had the Samchon Deodeok Set with 510g of pork, grilled deodeok, minari, shepherd’s purse soybean-paste stew, and fried rice by the window. Verdict: the grilled deodeok made this an especially memorable meal.
