Local places · 18803 stories
Restaurants in Korea, told firsthand by local bloggers — with photos and Google Maps.
Sumine Gukbap is a sundae gukbap (blood sausage soup) and pork gukbap restaurant on Baesan-ro in Mohyeon-dong, Iksan. Ordering both bowls and stirring in dadaegi (chili paste) from the self-bar made the broth pleasantly spicy, and the house-made kkakdugi (cubed radish kimchi) and unusually wide glass noodles stood out most at Sumine Gukbap. With roomy tables and baby chairs on hand, it is an easy pick for a family lunch.
Kkankkanhan Jokbal Yongbong Branch is a charcoal-grilled jokbal (pig's trotter) restaurant on Yongbong-taekji-ro in Buk-gu, Gwangju. Arriving for an early dinner with a child just after the dining hall opened at 16:00, the writer ordered charcoal-grilled jokbal and makguksu (cold buckwheat noodles), and steamed egg and fish cake soup came free with the meal. The chewy jokbal carries a gentle charcoal aroma, and with the tangy, spicy noodles alongside it made a filling dinner the child ate happily too.
Concasse Anguk is a Korean-Western fusion restaurant in an alley across from the Constitutional Court, near Anguk Station in Jongno, Seoul. Arriving alone just after the lunch rush, the writer ordered lajanya (rolled fresh-pasta lasagna, 23,000 won) and omija ade (Korean schisandra berry soda, 5,000 won); the fresh pasta was rolled into coils, with ragu, bechamel and cheese melting together. The heavy lajanya and the deep, tart omija ade made a refreshing pair.
Mukho Sotbokkeumtang is a pot-cooked dakbokkeumtang (spicy braised chicken stew) restaurant on the second floor of a building facing the sea near Kkamakbawi in Mukho, Donghae, Gangwon. A family of three, including a 4th-grade daughter, arrived late in the evening and ordered the small bone-in dakbokkeumtang at spice level 1, adding long rice cakes, fish cake and potatoes before finishing with fried rice. Since Mukho Sotbokkeumtang serves until 11pm, it works well for families whose dinner runs late on a trip.
Bomseol Songdo International City is a hanjeongsik (Korean set-menu) restaurant on Cheomdan-daero in Yeonsu-gu, Incheon. On a weekday evening the writer and his wife ordered the Bomseol Han-sang set, which brought seasonal side dishes, stone pot rice, doenjang stew, bossam and grilled mackerel, plus a salad bar that even includes tteokbokki. With wood-toned interiors and wide gaps between tables, Bomseol is a calm Songdo Korean restaurant for couples and family meals.
Sushi Ryeo is an omakase restaurant on the 2nd floor of the Yeongin MC Building by Exit 5 of Seoul National University Station in Gwanak, Seoul. The ₩100,000 dinner course ran from chawanmushi through five tsumami, eleven pieces of sushi, kaisendon, tempura and inaniwa udon, and rather than swapping out the horse mackerel sushi, the chef suggested trying it as it came. Between the course and the detailed parking guidance, Sushi Ryeo is worth booking for dinner at least once.
Thanon55 is a Thai curry and rice-noodle restaurant on Ttukseom-ro 9-gil near Seongsu Station in Seoul. The bestselling mu thod curry (S ₩16,000) arrives with fried pork jowl and white rice, and the pad thai came with plump, fresh shrimp. At Thanon55 the pork jowl is crisp outside and juicy inside, and paired with the creamy curry it hits a golden balance.
52 Degree Kalguksu Oido Main Branch is a seafood shabu-shabu style kalguksu (knife-cut noodle) restaurant on Oido-ro in Siheung, Gyeonggi. On a Saturday evening visit, the seafood hot pot kalguksu for two cost 42,000 won and came loaded with octopus, abalone, yellow crab, shrimp and clams, with noodles added at the end. The kimchi was good enough to refill twice, and the small lot behind 52 Degree Kalguksu was full in the evening, so a nearby public lot worked instead.
Bada Super Haemul Cheonha Jogaegui, Geobukseom Oido Branch is a clam grill and steamed clam restaurant on the 3rd floor of a building at 116 Geobukseom-ro in Siheung, Gyeonggi. On a return visit with my parents, we ordered the broth steamed clams for two plus seafood ramyeon, parked on basement levels 1–2 of the building's Ibita parking tower and rode the elevator straight up to the 3rd floor. Staff trimmed the octopus and squid at the table, which made Bada Super an easy choice for a meal with older family members.
Dough Rider Pizza is an aged-dough pizza restaurant and pizza-and-beer bar on Inda 8-gil in Jeju City, near Jeju Airport, open until 22:00. On the last night of the trip the writer ordered the Cowboy Shrimp Kick L (29,500 won), and the cilantro sauce the owner made on the spot balanced out the spicy chili flavor. It was the best meal of a three-day trip to Jeju, and Dough Rider Pizza is worth a return visit.
Cheongujeong Beef Sinwolseong Branch is a Korean BBQ restaurant in Wolseong-dong, Dalseo-gu, Daegu, specialising in fresh beef short rib and skirt steak. On a visit with two young children, the writer ordered 300g each of LA-cut garlic-heavy raw short rib, fresh skirt steak and LA-cut flower short rib, then finished with a spicy soybean paste stew, and found the baby chairs and the restaurant's own parking lot made eating out with kids easy. Even the 31-month-old daughter, who eats only tender cuts, cleared a full bowl of rice at Cheongujeong Beef.
Eopija is a late-night pizza bar in Yangcheon, Seoul, right by Yeomchang Station and the Wolchon public parking lot in Mok 2-dong, open until 2am. Arriving after 10pm, we ordered Set A (29,900 won) — half an arugula and cheese pizza with cheese tteokbokki (spicy rice cakes), salad and nachos on one tray — plus a non-alcoholic mojito, and the portion was plenty for two. If you want somewhere to keep talking into the small hours, Eopija is the answer.
