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Restaurants

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

Goyang, GyeonggiRestaurants

Hwajeong Station Japanese lunch with E-Mart parking: Min Cook Misoyaki

Min Cook Misoyaki is a Japanese rice-bowl and grilled-fish restaurant a 3-minute walk from Hwajeong Station in Goyang, Gyeonggi, on the first floor of Min Cook Dashima, a sushi restaurant of 25 years. Two of us shared a flounder sashimi bowl at 17,000 won and an assorted grilled fish set, starting with the porridge served before the meal, and since Min Cook Misoyaki has no lot of its own we parked at the E-Mart across the street. It suits a Hwajeong Station lunch when you want a tidy Japanese spread instead of the usual weekday routine.

Written Sep 17, 2026Sponsored
Jung-gu, SeoulRestaurants

Sashimi restaurant near Yaksu Station, Seoul: raw shrimp, Ido Hoetjip

Ido Hoetjip is a sashimi restaurant with outdoor tent seating (yajang) one minute on foot from Exit 1 of Yaksu Station in Jung-gu, Seoul. A daytime drinking round of in-season raw shrimp and butter-grilled shrimp heads at Ido Hoetjip showed why the shrimp are worth ordering in season — plump and sweet, apart from having to peel them yourself. One bottle of wine or sake is free for corkage, so the next visit to Ido Hoetjip is planned around the 55,000 won course for two with a white wine in hand.

Written Sep 17, 2026Sponsored
Gangdong, SeoulRestaurants

Amsa Station tonkatsu that sells out: 20-minute weekday wait at Tonka

Tonka is a Japanese-style tonkatsu (breaded pork cutlet) restaurant in Gangdong, Seoul, about 5 minutes on foot from Exit 4 of Amsa Station. Arriving at 7:10pm on a weekday meant a 15–20 minute wait for the basic tonkatsu at 15,000 won, served with both loin and tenderloin, and Tonka ran out of meat for the two parties that came in right after. The batter at Tonka stayed cracker-crisp and never turned greasy, making it worth keeping as a neighborhood tonkatsu option.

Written Sep 17, 2026Sponsored
Gangseo, SeoulRestaurants

Balsan Station Korean BBQ with a gallery-like interior: Ihwajeong

Ihwajeong Galbi Myeongga is an upscale pork rib (galbi) restaurant near Balsan Station and Magok in Gangseo, Seoul, where staff grill the meat for you at the table. On a repeat weekend afternoon visit, Ihwajeong served marinated pork shoulder ribs, bibim naengmyeon (spicy cold noodles) and doenjang jjigae (soybean paste stew), with thick ribs grilled golden outside and tender inside. Easy parking and the grilling service make Ihwajeong Galbi Myeongga a safe choice for family gatherings with kids or parents.

Written Sep 17, 2026Sponsored
Bucheon, GyeonggiRestaurants

Hourglass-timed kalguksu for 3 in Bucheon: Jakdong Hongdukkkae

Jakdong Hongdukkkae Kalguksu Bucheon Main Branch is a hand-cut noodle restaurant in Jakdong, Bucheon, about a 900m walk from Exit 2 of Kkachiul Station on Line 7. For dinner we ordered 3 servings of kalguksu (hand-cut noodle soup) plus a half kimchi, half meat mandu (dumpling) side, waited for the pot of broth to boil, flipped the hourglass twice, then added the noodles; the seafood broth with clams, sea squirts and shrimp tasted clean and refreshing. Lunch brings long waits at Jakdong Hongdukkkae, so arrive at opening or come in the evening, and the half-and-half mandu is worth adding.

Written Sep 17, 2026Sponsored
Paju, GyeonggiRestaurants

Kid-friendly Paju Chinese restaurant, Simhaksan: Dolpanseok Jjamppong

Dolpanseok Jjamppong Paju Simhaksan Branch is a stone-plate jajang and jjamppong Chinese restaurant on Dolgotgil near Simhaksan in Paju, Gyeonggi. After their daughter's academy class ended, two families had dinner here, ordering the large stone-plate jajang and tungbosha (fried shrimp toast, 4 pcs) for 51,000 won and scraping the nurungji (crispy scorched rice) off the bottom of the stone plate to eat with green onion kimchi. With baby chairs, kids' tableware and a self-serve corner with unlimited side dishes and rice, Dolpanseok Jjamppong is an easy choice for family dinners with children.

Written Sep 17, 2026Sponsored
Icheon, GyeonggiRestaurants

Icheon Korean BBQ dinner ending with cold noodles and soju: Jowatso

Jowatso Janghowon Gamgok Main Branch is a special-cuts beef barbecue restaurant in Janghowon-eup, Icheon, Gyeonggi. A couple who had just finished their wedding photoshoot arrived at 4:30 pm and shared the signature special cuts, 850g for 89,000 won, with sushi rice for beef sushi, chive salad, pickled chili and a spicy soup, then drank three bottles of soju and finished with mul naengmyeon (cold noodle soup) with extra sauce. The beef was tender and the portion generous, so the couple left Jowatso planning to come back.

Written Sep 17, 2026Sponsored
Gangnam, SeoulRestaurants

Eel and salmon rice bowls for two near Yeoksam Station: Chisot

Chisot Yeoksam Main Branch is a Nagoya-style hitsumabushi restaurant on Bongeunsa-ro 30-gil near Yeoksam Station in Gangnam, Seoul. On a weekday evening at 6:30 pm, two diners ordered the Hitsumabushi Mini (25,000 won) and the Superior Sake-don together: the charcoal-grilled eel was mild with a gentle smoky aroma, and the salmon was thick and clean with no fishy taste. Because Chisot lets you try both eel and salmon on one table, it is best visited with two or more people.

Written Sep 17, 2026Sponsored
Dalseo, DaeguRestaurants

₩23,900 three-meat set at a Dalseo, Daegu meat buffet: Gankeun Galbi

Gankeun Galbi Seongseo Branch is an all-you-can-eat Korean BBQ restaurant with a playroom on Igok-dong-ro in Dalseo, Daegu. Visiting with a 30-month-old, the writer ordered the ₩23,900 unlimited set of pork ribs, domestic pork belly and makchang (grilled intestine), and the child ate free under the under-36-months policy. With dad in the playroom, the meat on the grill and patbingsu (shaved ice) for dessert, Gankeun Galbi handles a full Korean BBQ meal with a toddler in one sitting.

Written Sep 17, 2026Sponsored
Mapo, SeoulRestaurants

Hapjeong solo shabu-shabu with extra meat instead of rice: Nahonsha

Nahonsha is a solo shabu-shabu restaurant in Mapo, Seoul, midway between Hapjeong Station Exit 7 and Sangsu Station Exit 4. At a single seat facing the floor-to-ceiling window, the writer ordered the clear broth shabu-shabu, skipped the rice to add extra meat, and was happy with the peanut sauce, the strong burner heat and the kalguksu (knife-cut noodles) at the end. Nahonsha is a 100% revisit for a healthy solo dinner in a pretty room.

Written Sep 17, 2026Sponsored
Seongnam, GyeonggiRestaurants

Baekhyeon-dong Italian dinner: cream potato gnocchi at Raon Sik Tak

Raon Sik Tak Pangyo Branch is a wood-fired pizza and pasta restaurant one block inside Baekhyeon-dong café street in Seongnam, Gyeonggi. At dinner the order was rucola anchovy pasta at 19,000 won, cream potato gnocchi at 18,000 won and cotto e ricotta pizza at 27,000 won, and the balance of the oil pasta and the rich cream gnocchi stood out most. With its open wood-fired oven and wide spacing between tables, Raon Sik Tak Pangyo Branch suits a family dinner or a quiet meal out.

Written Sep 17, 2026Sponsored
Jung-gu, SeoulRestaurants

Seoul Station Japanese restaurant, two 19,500-won dishes split

Ichigyu Seoul Station Branch is a brazier-grill Japanese restaurant on the first basement floor of the LG Seoul Station Building on Huam-ro, Jung-gu, Seoul. Two friends ordered one steaki jeongsik (sirloin steak set, 19,500 won) and one Ichigyu gyukatsu (breaded beef cutlet, 19,500 won), melted French Isigny butter on their own individual braziers, grilled each piece to taste and swapped bites. Alternating between the two very different textures made Ichigyu Seoul Station Branch an easy pick for a date or a lunch meetup near Seoul Station.

Written Sep 17, 2026Sponsored