Local places · 22007 stories
Restaurants in Korea, told firsthand by local bloggers — with photos and Google Maps.
Gankeun Galbi Seongseo Branch is an all-you-can-eat Korean BBQ restaurant in Igok-dong, Dalseo, Daegu. The ₩28,900 set brings out all four meats — imperial beef short rib, makchang (grilled pork intestine), Korean pork belly and pork ribs — and the writer ate it in a private room at 6:30pm on a weekday after the main hall filled up. Of the four, the juicy Korean pork belly suited her taste best.
Ichigyu Wonju is a gyukatsu (Japanese-style breaded beef cutlet) restaurant on the first floor of the Lotte Cinema building in Musil-dong, Wonju. On a late-evening visit after the dinner rush, the order was a sirloin gyukatsu double, the new yakisoba napolitan, karaage and fried shrimp sides, all seared on a cast-iron plate brushed with Isigny butter. One double plus another dish worked out better value at Ichigyu Wonju than ordering two single gyukatsu.
Suksseong Susan Jongno Main Branch is an aged sashimi restaurant on the 3rd floor of a building near Jongak Station in Jongno, Seoul. Over a lunch meeting, three lunch dishes were ordered: the special kaisendon (seafood rice bowl) at 34,000 won, Korean beef yukhoe (raw beef) bibimbap at 18,000 won and the chicken nanban set at 17,000 won, and the yukhoe bibimbap stood out because it comes without gochujang so the raw beef's own flavor leads. Suksseong Susan Jongno Main Branch is worth a visit for anyone who wants proper aged sashimi and yukhoe at lunchtime.
Kkuudeok Seolleung Main Branch is a Western-style restaurant near Seolleung Station in Gangnam, Seoul, serving handmade sauce pastas together with steak grilled on a mini brazier at the table. Two people shared the Kkuudeok table set — two pastas, one steak and two drinks — for truffle risotto, shrimp oil pasta and self-grilled skirt steak. With steak included for under 50,000 won, the set at Kkuudeok delivered on both value and atmosphere.
Sannaemaeul Yang Kkochi & Qingdao is a lamb skewer and Chinese restaurant on Chaekhyanggi-ro in Unjeong, Paju. One table order covered lamb skewers, onmyeon (warm noodle soup), spicy stir-fried clams and mini yangjangpi (cold jellyfish and vegetable platter), plus a complimentary bean sprout stir-fry from the owner and soju instead of Qingdao beer. Authentic Chinese flavor meets Korean-friendly seasoning here, making Sannaemaeul Yang Kkochi & Qingdao an easy place to order several dishes at once.
Jeju Eunhuine Haejangguk Suwon Ingye Branch is a Korean restaurant specialising in haejangguk (hangover soup) and tripe soup in Ingye-dong, Paldal-gu, Suwon, near Suwon City Hall Station. A couple visited late on a weekday evening and ordered haejangguk, tripe soup and a small plate of dombe pork (Jeju-style boiled pork), using the two self-serve bars and free rice refills, with parking right in front of the restaurant. Both the broth and the fillings were generous, making Jeju Eunhuine an easy, filling dinner for two.
Pyeonbaek Hoegwan Dongtan Branch is a hinoki-steam and shabu-shabu restaurant on the 2nd floor of Grandvia Star by Dongtan Station in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi. The writer wrapped the hinoki-steamed pork in rice paper like a Vietnamese roll, felt full, then still moved on to the simmering shabu-shabu broth and closed with misugaru (roasted grain drink). With hinoki steam first and shabu-shabu second, the 100 minutes at Pyeonbaek Hoegwan pass at an easy pace.
Dotdot Milyang Main Branch is a Korean BBQ restaurant in the center of Samun-dong, Milyang, Gyeongnam, opening daily at 4pm. After a weekend evening wait, the table ordered three servings of fresh pork belly, one order of tteukkeopdegi (thick grilled pork skin), cheese pollack roe egg custard and tiger bean doenjang stew, and Dotdot served a free Jeju-style myeoljorim (braised anchovies). At 9,000 won for pork belly and 7,000 won for tteukkeopdegi, with sides this good, Dotdot is a safe bet in Milyang.
Nopo Dwaeji Aewol is a black pork geun-gogi (thick-cut pork) restaurant near Gwakji Beach in Aewol, Jeju. On the first evening of a Jeju trip with two children, the writer ordered black pork geun-gogi, 24-hour aged kimchi jjigae, rice and cider, and found a baby chair and kids' tableware ready at the table. Staff grilled the thick, pre-seared pork at the table, so dinner stayed relaxed even while minding the kids.
Ilpum Magok is a kaisendon (seafood rice bowl) specialist on the first floor of Magok Reader's Tower in Gangseo, Seoul. On this return visit, two diners ordered the kaisendon, the salmon sakedon and a crab croquette, with chawanmushi (steamed egg custard) and soup to start and pannacotta to finish. With counter seats and regular tables, Ilpum Magok suits solo lunches, dates and family meals alike.
Tongkeun Shabu is an all-you-can-eat beef shabu-shabu restaurant with a salad bar on the 3rd floor of the Subway building in Hakdong, near Yeosu City Hall. Visiting with a friend, the writer ordered the basic broth and worked through pork neck and beef belly, smoked duck, mala kkanpunggi (crispy fried chicken), mango salad and rice paper wraps, then made an affogato with the coffee and ice cream at the end. A good-value meal in Hakdong, Yeosu where you can keep going back for refills without feeling self-conscious.
Cheonghwaweon is a Chinese restaurant on Myeongmul-gil near Sinchon Station Exit 3 in Seodaemun, Seoul, specializing in Taiwanese beef noodles and Hong Kong-style dim sum. Arriving at 7pm meant a short wait, and the order covered Sichuan-style beef knife-cut noodles at 10,500 won, siu mai, shrimp fried rice and a yuxiang eggplant rice bowl, with the noodles served in a mala-style spicy broth alongside wide, chewy hand-cut noodles. With Chinese chefs in the kitchen, Cheonghwaweon works equally well for solo diners, dates and family dinners.
