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Restaurants

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

Namyangju, GyeonggiRestaurants

Family dinner with mom at a Dasan lamb restaurant: Jin 1926 Dasan

Jin 1926 Dasan Branch is a lamb restaurant in Namyangju, Gyeonggi, 160m from Exit 1 of Dasan Station on Line 8, on the 2nd floor of Shinhae Central Tower 4. The writer brought her mother, worn out by the change of season, for lamb chops for two and a bowl of Jin Special Rice, with staff grilling everything tableside on a helmet-shaped grill down to the king oyster mushrooms and the lamb rib bones. Both her picky mother and her husband gave Jin 1926 Dasan a thumbs up.

Written Sep 19, 2026Sponsored
Jeonju, JeonbukRestaurants

Kid-friendly Korean BBQ in Seosin-dong, Jeonju: Ubookgeum Saenggalbi

Ubookgeum Saenggalbi Seosin Branch is a beef short rib (saeng galbi) restaurant on Ongo-eul-ro in Seosin-dong, Jeonju. The writer visited at 7pm on a Sunday with her husband and child, ordered 500g of raw beef short ribs and jjagechi, and a staff member grilled the meat at the table, so she could look after her child while eating. With a baby chair and parking support at the nearby K Parking Lot, Ubookgeum Saenggalbi Seosin Branch worked well for a family dinner out.

Written Sep 19, 2026Sponsored
Mapo, SeoulRestaurants

Weekday 6pm dinner for two at Padong, a Mangwon Japanese restaurant

Padong is a Japanese restaurant in a semi-basement space in the Mangwon Market alley in Mapo, Seoul, a three-minute walk from Mangwon Station Exit 2. On a weekday visit at 6pm, two diners ordered futomaki (thick sushi roll) for 16,000 won, a tuna rice bowl for 15,000 won, a steak rice bowl for 13,000 won and two pieces of fried shrimp for 4,000 won, and the standouts were the futomaki, too big to fit in one bite, and the tuna rice bowl piled with sashimi. For seafood lovers, the tuna rice bowl and futomaki combination at Padong is the order to get.

Written Sep 19, 2026Sponsored
Gangdong, SeoulRestaurants

Osori vs sundaeguk broth over evening soju in Gangdong: Boseung

Boseung Hoegwan Cheonho Station Branch is a gukbap (rice-and-soup) restaurant next to the Lotteria at Exit 3 of Cheonho Station in Gangdong, Seoul. Arriving after 8pm, we ordered osori gukbap at 11,500 won and sundaeguk (blood sausage soup) at 11,000 won with two bottles of Chamisul soju and compared the two broths side by side. The osori gukbap was light with no gamey smell while the sundaeguk turned thick and fiery once the chili paste was stirred in, so Boseung Hoegwan is a place worth splitting orders at.

Written Sep 19, 2026Sponsored
Yongin, GyeonggiRestaurants

Perilla oil makguksu and udon set at a Suji noodle spot: Chilseong

Chilseong Jemyeonso Suji Main Branch is a noodle restaurant on the first floor of a mixed-use building in Seongbok-dong, Suji, Yongin, right in front of Seongbokcheon stream. A family of four came for weekend lunch and ordered Chilseong bibim jjolmyeon (spicy chewy cold noodles), an udon set and deulgireum makguksu (buckwheat noodles with perilla oil), and both children finished the makguksu because it was seasoned just right and not greasy. With baby cups, baby cutlery and plenty of high chairs, Chilseong Jemyeonso pairs easily with a walk along Seongbokcheon afterwards.

Written Sep 19, 2026Sponsored
Buk-gu, DaeguRestaurants

Three-generation farewell dinner at a Daegu beef restaurant: Gogi 9dan

Gogi 9dan Chimsan Direct Branch is a charcoal-grilled beef restaurant on Chimsannam-ro in Buk-gu, Daegu. Four family members across three generations — the eldest son leaving for the US, the younger son home on military leave, and the writer's mother — shared half platters of skirt steak and fresh short rib plus the 9dan set, then added flower short rib and imperial short rib, and received a free gorgonzola pizza after showing the soldier's leave pass. Partitioned tables and plenty of parking made Gogi 9dan Chimsan Direct Branch a satisfying spot for a family dinner.

Written Sep 19, 2026Sponsored
Mapo, SeoulRestaurants

Hongdae chicken feet with somaek and roe rice balls: Cheongnyeon 1987

Cheongnyeon Dakbal 1987 Hongdae Branch is a chicken feet (dakbal) bar on Donggyo-ro near Hongik University Station in Mapo, Seoul. On a second visit the writer ordered the Youth Chicken Feet Set with flying fish roe rice balls and Chamisul soju, mixing somaek (soju and beer) along the way and cooling the heat with a favorite side, flying fish roe steamed egg. The verdict: don't order the chicken feet on their own — pair them with the rice balls and steamed egg.

Written Sep 19, 2026Sponsored
Ansan, GyeonggiRestaurants

Gardenia stone-pot rice kimchi jjigae in Ansan: Choburi Gojan

Choburi Kimchi Jjigae Gojan Main Branch is a Korean restaurant in Gojan-dong, Ansan, Gyeonggi, that serves kimchi jjigae (kimchi stew) with gardenia-yellow stone-pot rice. The meal ran from raw pork kimchi jjigae and a perilla oil chive pancake to a self-serve bar with unlimited rice and ramyeon noodles, and ended with nurungji sungnyung (scorched rice tea) poured into the stone pot. The clean, sharp broth matched the stone-pot rice well, making Choburi a satisfying dinner in Ansan.

Written Sep 19, 2026Sponsored
Jongno, SeoulRestaurants

Gwanghwamun Korean restaurant lunch, fire-grilled short ribs: Wongiok

Wongiok Gwanghwamun is a Korean restaurant with private rooms and group seating on the basement level of D-Palace, between Gwanghwamun and Seodaemun stations in Jongno, Seoul. For lunch the writer shared octopus stir-fry, fire-grilled beef short ribs, hongtang (spicy beef soup) and mul-makguksu (cold buckwheat noodles in dongchimi radish broth): the short ribs looked like LA galbi and came out tender with a smoky, slightly sweet marinade, while the mul-makguksu broth was bright and tangy. With corkage-free evenings, Wongiok Gwanghwamun is also worth noting as a spot for group dinners.

Written Sep 19, 2026Sponsored
Yongin, GyeonggiRestaurants

Dongcheon-dong shabu-kalguksu with free corkage and 4 rooms: Yun Ujae

Yun Ujae Shabu Kalguksu Gogidong Branch is a shabu-kalguksu restaurant that makes its own noodles, on Gogi-ro 173beon-gil in Dongcheon-dong, Suji-gu, Yongin. Arriving at 11:20am on a Thursday, the writer just managed to get one of the 12 spaces in the lot out front and ordered the 11,500-won set — meat, vegetables, mushrooms, kalguksu noodles and fried rice — with the white seafood broth. Free corkage and four private rooms make Yun Ujae an easy choice for family meals and group gatherings.

Written Sep 19, 2026Sponsored
Mapo, SeoulRestaurants

Garlic honey Patata pizza in Hongdae, Seoul: Hongdae Hwadeok Pizza

Hongdae Hwadeok Pizza is a traditional Neapolitan wood-fired pizzeria on a quiet alley at Dokmak-ro 7-gil, between Hapjeong and Hongik University stations in Mapo, Seoul. On a Friday 7pm reservation with a friend, the writer ordered a Manjo and Patata half-and-half pizza plus Gamberi e Rucola pasta, and the Patata half — whole potatoes and bacon over garlic honey sauce — was the favorite. Set away from the crowded main street, Hongdae Hwadeok Pizza suits a first date or a wedding-invitation get-together.

Written Sep 19, 2026Sponsored
Mapo, SeoulRestaurants

Hongdae restaurant, spicy yakisoba better than Osaka's: Jojo Yeonnam

Jojo Yeonnam Branch is a teppan-style Japanese restaurant in Yeonnam-dong near Hongik University Station in Seoul, where every table has its own griddle and staff cook the monjayaki in front of you. Arriving right at opening as the first customer, the writer ordered the monjayaki set for two at 39,500 won (mentaiko monjayaki, karai yakisoba, waterfall potato), and Jojo Yeonnam Branch was full by the time she left. The spicy karai yakisoba beat the yakisoba she once queued an hour for in Osaka, making Jojo Yeonnam Branch an easy Yeonnam-dong date spot.

Written Sep 19, 2026Sponsored