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Restaurants

Restaurants in Korea, told firsthand by local bloggers — with photos and Google Maps.

Yesan, ChungnamRestaurants

No-wait weekday lunch at Yesan Market chicken stir-fry spot: Sijang

Sijang Dakbokkeum is a shishito pepper chicken stir-fry (dakbokkeum) restaurant inside Yesan Permanent Market in Yesan, Chungnam. On a weekday afternoon there was no wait at all, and one order of boneless shishito pepper dakbokkeum came to 25,000 won plus 3,000 won for cheese, served with market noodles instead of rice at the market plaza tables. Because Sijang Dakbokkeum uses a soy sauce base with almost no heat, it suits spice-shy adults and children alike.

Written Sep 15, 2026Sponsored
Mapo, SeoulRestaurants

Shrimp noodle restaurant near Hongdae with patio seats: Ttasijia

Ttasijia Yeonnam is a Singaporean shrimp noodle restaurant in a Yeonnam-dong alley near Exit 3 of Hongik Univ. Station in Mapo, Seoul, and the first official Korean location of Singapore's shrimp house Da Shi Jia (대식가). Two of us shared the signature shrimp noodles with thin noodles, the shrimp broth fried noodles and a small black vinegar guobaorou, then finished with 100% fresh-pressed apple juice. With its patio tables outside, Ttasijia Yeonnam works well as a Yeonnam-dong evening date stop.

Written Sep 15, 2026Sponsored
Nam-gu, BusanRestaurants

Busan udon and tonkatsu spot with free 1-hour parking: Misikga-ui Udon

Misikga-ui Udon Daeyeon Direct Branch is an udon and tonkatsu restaurant right in front of Exit 6 of Daeyeon Station in Nam-gu, Busan. On this second visit, the combo set (udon), cold soba with tonkatsu and a fried egg (fully cooked) covered the table with warm broth, cold soba noodles and crisp tonkatsu at once. With a parking lot behind the building that opens straight into the restaurant and 1 hour of parking covered, Misikga-ui Udon is an easy stop by car and with a child.

Written Sep 15, 2026Sponsored
Dalseo, DaeguRestaurants

Haejangguk restaurant near Daedong Market, Daegu: Samsol Gamjatang

Samsol Gamjatang Main Branch is a newly opened gamjatang (pork bone soup) and haejangguk (hangover soup) restaurant on Sanghwa-ro in Dalseo-gu, Daegu, near Daedong Market. On a chilly evening after work, the writer and her husband ordered ugeoji haejangguk for 10,000 won and yangji seolleongtang for 10,000 won, tasting the spicy pork bone broth and the milky beef broth side by side. Samsol Gamjatang Main Branch makes a filling meal for two people with different tastes, since each can pick their own bowl.

Written Sep 15, 2026Sponsored
Haeundae, BusanRestaurants

Sashimi restaurant near Haeundae Station, Busan: mackerel set for 2

Haneobuui Godeungeosarang Haeundae is a mackerel sashimi and wood-fired grilled fish restaurant a 4-minute walk from Exit 7 of Haeundae Station in Busan. The mackerel sashimi and horse mackerel sashimi for two arrived as a full spread with kimchi pancake, mackerel roll sushi, shrimp sushi, chive salad and fried shrimp, and the mackerel had no fishy taste at all. Portions at Haneobuui Godeungeosarang were generous for the price, and the cold raw fish soup and wood-fired grilled fish are worth a second visit.

Written Sep 15, 2026Sponsored
Paju, GyeonggiRestaurants

Aged pork belly vs pork neck at Girin Samgyeopsal, a Paju BBQ spot

Girin Samgyeopsal is a Korean BBQ restaurant near Yadang Station in Paju, Gyeonggi, specializing in aged domestic pork. Fresh pork belly (160g, ₩15,000) and pork neck (160g, ₩15,000) went on the cast-iron grill alongside thick-cut diced hangjeongsal, or pork jowl (160g, ₩13,000), for a cut-by-cut texture comparison, with doenjang sulbap (soybean paste rice stew, ₩6,000) to cut the richness. Girin Samgyeopsal is most satisfying when you order several cuts plus a rice or noodle dish rather than sticking to one.

Written Sep 15, 2026Sponsored
Mapo, SeoulRestaurants

Chinese tonkotsu noodles and Peking duck at Panda Dim Sum in Hongdae

Panda Dim Sum is a Chinese restaurant on the second floor at 22 Donggyo-ro 38an-gil in Yeonnam-dong, Hongdae, Seoul. The order was half a Peking duck for 39,000 won, Chinese tonkotsu noodles for 13,500 won and xiaolongbao (soup dumplings) for 8,000 won, with the duck wrapped in thin wheat pancakes with scallion and cucumber and the thick-noodle tonkotsu bowl finished to the last drop. Half Peking duck with the Chinese tonkotsu was the most satisfying pairing at Panda Dim Sum.

Written Sep 15, 2026Sponsored
Mokpo, GwangjuRestaurants

Oxtail soup restaurant at Mokpo Peace Square: Mujinjang Kkori Gomtang

Mujinjang Sik-yuk Kkori Gomtang is a hanwoo beef oxtail soup restaurant at Peace Square in Mokpo, run by the third generation of the same family since 1976. The visit covered the hanwoo oxtail soup (27,000 won) and the hanwoo boiled beef soup (13,000 won), comparing a bone broth with oxtail meat, knee cartilage and thin noodles against the boneless boiled-beef bowl. Both arrive already seasoned and clean-tasting, and with the chive salad and diced radish kimchi they make a restorative meal worth the price.

Written Sep 15, 2026Sponsored
Mapo, SeoulRestaurants

Mangwon Italian wine bar with a 38,000-won season lunch: Noju

Noju is a second-floor Italian wine bar and fine dining restaurant in Mangwon, Mapo, Seoul, 145 meters from Mangwon Station Exit 2. A visitor from Daegu arrived on a Monday at 2pm and ordered two season lunch courses at 38,000 won each, working through focaccia, bottarga pasta, truffle gnocchi, pork tenderloin steak and walnut ice cream. With a wine list long enough to get its own menu, Noju is an easy choice for a first fine dining meal or a date course in Seoul.

Written Sep 15, 2026Sponsored
Hongseong, ChungnamRestaurants

Naepo restaurant for octopus rice-mixing lunch, Hongseong: Sonui Son

Sonui Son Hongseong Naepo New Town Branch is a griddled webfoot octopus restaurant in the center of Naepo New Town in Hongseong, Chungnam. Jjukkumi bokkeum (spicy stir-fried webfoot octopus) costs 13,000 won and a 3-piece potato pancake 5,000 won, and the octopus mixed into a bowl with the free bean sprouts, radish salad and seaweed flakes came out springy rather than chewy, with a smoky flavor that never turned heavy. A Naepo lunch worth returning to on a day when spicy, smoky food is calling.

Written Sep 15, 2026Sponsored
Namdong, IncheonRestaurants

Guwol-dong Korean restaurant for solo diners: Chagane Ssam Bap

Chagane Ssam Bap is a pork ssam bap (lettuce-wrap) Korean restaurant on Injudae-ro 653beon-gil in Namdong-gu, Incheon, near Yesulhoegwan Station. Visiting alone at dinner, the writer ordered the jeyuk ssam ssambbak jeongsik (spicy pork ssam set), the one set available as a single serving, and it came with a full spread of side dishes, ureong doenjang ssamjang (river snail soybean paste dip) and unlimited wrap vegetables. Chagane Ssam Bap is a generous, good-value Guwol-dong spot that works for solo dinners and group meals alike.

Written Sep 15, 2026Sponsored
Jung-gu, DaejeonRestaurants

Galbitang restaurant in Daejeon near Seodaejeon Station: Idobonga

Idobonga (이도본가) is a Korean restaurant in Oryu-dong, Jung-gu, Daejeon, serving galbitang (beef short rib soup) and braised short ribs between Seodaejeon Station and Costco. Two diners ordered one special galbitang at 20,000 won and one yukhoe bibimbap (raw beef with rice) at 14,000 won, alternating between the rich broth and the mixed rice bowl, and used the building's private basement (B1) lot free for up to 3 hours. Idobonga is worth remembering for a meal before or after a KTX trip, or for dining out with parents.

Written Sep 15, 2026Sponsored