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Restaurants

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

Dongdaemun, SeoulRestaurants

Korean restaurant with stroller space near Hoegi Station: Hoegi Wang

Hoegi Wang Galbitang is a galbitang (beef short rib soup) restaurant near Exit 1 of Hoegi Station in Dongdaemun, Seoul, in the university area around Kyung Hee University and Hankuk University of Foreign Studies. Even with a stroller there was plenty of room to sit, and the wongi-hoebok (energy-boosting) galbitang at 16,000 won and the meat-heavy aronsatae galbitang at 19,000 won came with a clean broth full of bean sprouts and house-made seokbakji (radish kimchi). The 17-grain misugaru (roasted grain drink) at the self-serve bar alone is reason enough to come back to Hoegi Wang Galbitang.

Written Sep 18, 2026Sponsored
Gangnam, SeoulRestaurants

Gangnam poke restaurant comparing steak and seafood bowls: Ola Poke

Ola Poke Gangnam is a poke and salad restaurant on the basement level, 287m from Gangnam Station Exit 4 in Seoul. On a weekday lunch visit, two bowls were ordered to go and eaten at home: the steak poke at 14,500 won and the seafood poke at 13,500 won, with the steak trimmed of connective tissue so it never turned dry and the seafood bowl tasting cool and light on calories. For meat lovers, the steak poke at Ola Poke Gangnam wins hands down.

Written Sep 18, 2026Sponsored
Bucheon, GyeonggiRestaurants

Simgok-dong monkfish stew restaurant in Bucheon: ₩55,000 set, Haemul

Haemul Teukbyeolsi Bucheon Station branch is a hot-stone monkfish stew (agujjim) and seafood restaurant on Buil-ro in Simgok-dong, Bucheon, Gyeonggi. After work the writer came with both parents, ordered the ₩55,000 hot-stone seafood monkfish stew set at spice level 2 of 5, and finished with ₩4,500 hot-stone cheese fried rice. Six generous side dishes came with the set, so three people ate a full family dinner without ordering anything extra.

Written Sep 18, 2026Sponsored
Gimpo, GyeonggiRestaurants

Family Korean BBQ in Pungmu-dong, Gimpo: king pork ribs, Galbigumteo

Galbigumteo Pungmu Station Branch is a Korean BBQ restaurant on Pungmu-ro in Gimpo, Gyeonggi, specialising in hand-cut king pork ribs made with domestic pork. Four adults and two children came with a Saturday evening reservation and ordered four servings of king pork ribs, then added pork ribs and beef short rib meat before finishing with water naengmyeon (cold noodles in broth) and bibim naengmyeon (spicy mixed cold noodles). The king pork ribs at Galbigumteo were tender enough that the 6-year-old ate more of them than the beef, which makes it an easy choice for a family meal with young children.

Written Sep 18, 2026Sponsored
Gwangjin, SeoulRestaurants

Konkuk Univ. Japanese restaurant for mozzarella croquette: Kosi

Kosi Konkuk University Branch is a house-made udon and pork katsu restaurant on Achasan-ro near Konkuk Univ. Station in Gwangjin, Seoul. On a weekday lunch visit by car, the order was shrimp tempura udon (11,000 won), half-and-half katsu with pork katsu and cheese katsu (13,000 won) and a mozzarella croquette, dipped in honey and good enough to order a second one. With one hour of free parking at the building, Kosi is an easy Japanese restaurant to reach by car near Konkuk Univ.

Written Sep 18, 2026Sponsored
Mapo, SeoulRestaurants

Yeonnam-dong pasta restaurant, three plates for two: Hey Joji

Hey Joji is a Western-style restaurant in a Yeonnam-dong alley in Mapo, Seoul, with a vintage interior that feels like an American family home. A couple shared three dishes in one sitting — cajun shrimp rosé pasta, duck steak cream risotto, and bocconcini meat chili tomato pasta — and cleaned all three plates. Hey Joji is an easy pick for a Yeonnam-dong date meal.

Written Sep 18, 2026Sponsored
Seodaemun, SeoulRestaurants

Burger sets with pollock roe mayo near Yonsei University: Bas Burger

Bas Burger Yonsei Cancer Hospital Branch is a handmade burger restaurant on basement level 1 of Severance Yonsei Cancer Hospital, right beside the main gate of Yonsei University in Seodaemun, Seoul. The Bas Burger set and the chicken burger set came with free chips and free myeongnan mayo (pollock roe mayo) and Bas Burger house sauce, and the sauces with the freshly fried potatoes were the highlight. Picking up the free sauces when you order a set at Bas Burger is the key move.

Written Sep 18, 2026Sponsored
Ansan, GyeonggiRestaurants

Gejeoguji and raw shrimp at Susanjang Seonbu, an Ansan izakaya

Susanjang Seonbu is a seafood izakaya near Seonbu Plaza in Seonbu-dong, Ansan, Gyeonggi. After falling for the chicken nanban at the Gojan branch, the writer came to Susanjang Seonbu for grilled flatfish, the seasonal gejeoguji (blue crab and kimchi stew), and raw shrimp with butter-grilled heads for 3,000 won extra. Orders came out slowly on a weekday, but the warm lighting and the quality of the seafood make Susanjang Seonbu an easy pick for a date night.

Written Sep 18, 2026Sponsored
Songpa, SeoulRestaurants

Garak Market fish shop with a 40-minute weekend wait: Yeongjae Susan

Yeongjae Susan is a sashimi shop on the first floor of the Garak Mall sales building at Garak Market in Songpa, Seoul. On a weekend evening the wait ran about 40 minutes, and the takeout order was a small nongwangchamhoe (sea bass, flounder and sea bream sashimi combo) for 65,000 won plus 500g of live shrimp for 15,000 won; the sashimi was springy and firm, and the shrimp were still so lively at home that they had to be stunned in the freezer before prepping. For a wide choice of sashimi and fresh seasonal fish, Yeongjae Susan is well worth the trip.

Written Sep 18, 2026Sponsored
Gumi, GyeongbukRestaurants

Gumi loach soup restaurant with boneless turmeric rice: Irojeong

Irojeong Gumi Geumosan Direct Branch is a Namwon-style sanghwang mushroom loach soup and hanjeongsik (Korean set-meal) restaurant at 32 Park Chung-hee-ro in Gumi, Gyeongbuk. Before visiting her mother in hospital after knee surgery, the writer treated her father to two 20,000 won sets of loach soup, mackerel and warm boiled pork plus a seafood pancake with a whole octopus, and her father, who never ate loach soup, emptied his bowl because there was no smell or bones. With a large parking lot, an unlimited self-serve bar, a play room and a free dessert café, Irojeong works well for a three-generation family meal.

Written Sep 18, 2026Sponsored
Cheonan, ChungnamRestaurants

Cheonan budae-jjigae with cheongyang chili broth for two: Cheongwon

Cheongwon Restaurant: Cooking Budae-jjigae, Cheonan Dujeong Main Branch is a budae-jjigae (army stew) specialist in the Dujeong-dong food alley of Cheonan, Chungnam. The menu splits into Songtan style and Cheongwon style, and a two-person order of the spicier Cheongwon-style stew costs 24,000 won, arriving packed with beef brisket and cheongyang chili, with rice and ramyeon noodles free to refill at the self-serve bar. The broth is gently fiery and deep, and the unlimited refills make Cheongwon Restaurant a good-value choice for a group meal.

Written Sep 18, 2026Sponsored
Suwon, GyeonggiRestaurants

Suwon kalguksu restaurant family dinner: double portions, Daseon

Daseon Kalguksu Main Branch is a kalguksu (knife-cut noodle soup) restaurant on Hyanggyo-ro in Suwon, Gyeonggi, open since 1990 and an 8-minute walk from Suwon Station Exit 8. On a chilly evening, the family ordered the Daseon Kalguksu set (noodles plus boiled pork), two double-portion kalguksu and a seafood pancake, and the barley rice served before the meal came in separate adult and children's bowls. The double portions were surprisingly generous and the boiled pork was tender with no gamy smell, making it a dinner the whole family was happy with.

Written Sep 18, 2026Sponsored