Local places · 7163 stories
Restaurants in Korea, told firsthand by local bloggers — with photos and Google Maps.
Shabu in Seoul Yongsan Main Branch is a shabu-shabu restaurant in Yongsan, Seoul, serving individual set meals. We had two Prime Angus chuck roll shabu sets for 25,000 won each, finishing with egg juk. A satisfying meal that feels filling without being too heavy.
Sunny's Pizza Market is a pizza restaurant on the second floor beside Gyeongui Line Forest Park in Mapo, Seoul. On a weekday evening, I had an R half-and-half pizza without waiting, and the endless cheese pull and spicy pepperoni really stood out. Verdict: a great pick for a cheese-loaded pizza in a stylish setting.
Daidokoro Lotte Department Store Gwangbok Branch is a Japanese home-style restaurant in Jung-gu, Busan. My mom and I shared a tonkatsu curry set, a karaage set, and wonderfully rich milk pudding after shopping. Verdict: a filling, family-friendly lunch stop after shopping.
Eulji Darak Gangnam Station is an Italian-style restaurant near Gangnam and Sinnonhyeon Stations in Seoul. Four former coworkers shared pasta, omelet rice, pork neck steak, and butter highballs at a reserved table. A generous, easygoing pick for a Gangnam get-together.
Pickles is a Western restaurant in Busanjin, Busan, near Jeonpo Café Street. My friend and I shared a 39,000-won pasta, two sides, and two drinks set before a movie. Pickles was just as satisfying on a return visit.
Gim Geumja Sutbul Galbi Daeyeon Branch is a charcoal-grilled pork rib restaurant in Nam-gu, Busan. I paired its Level 1 spicy marinated ribs with Cheongyang cream udon, bone soup, and doenjang sulbap for 40,900 won. Verdict: the cream udon is an especially good match for the heat.
Eonyang Dak Kalguksu Songcheon-dong Eco City Branch is a Korean restaurant in Songcheon-dong, Jeonju, serving chicken kalguksu and chicken gomtang. I tried its clear Eonyang-style noodles, spicy perilla-seed noodles, bubbling chicken soup, and silbi kimchi. A satisfying choice when you are craving a warm, rich broth.
BAS Burger Euljiro Branch is a burger restaurant in Jung-gu, Seoul. I paired a BAS Burger set with coleslaw instead of fries, Buffalo chicken wings, truffle mayo, potato chips, and draft beer. Verdict: a satisfying choice for a solo lunch set or shareable sides with friends.
Tams Badaetgaja is a live-lobster restaurant in Dong-gu, Gwangju. My partner and I had the 74,000 won Tams Half Course lunch, including butter-and-cheese grilled lobster, soup, and noodles, in a private room. Tams Badaetgaja is a lovely pick for a special lobster meal.
Jongga Mandu is a Korean restaurant near Jongno 3-ga Station in Jongno, Seoul, serving a half-and-half broth dumpling hot pot. For 28,000 won, the set included four meat dumplings, four kimchi dumplings, shabu meat, vegetables, and kalguksu noodles, plus many refills of tasty geotjeori kimchi. Verdict: a hard-to-choose split-broth hot pot where both sides were delicious.
Donghae Bada Hoetjip is a seafood restaurant in Dujeong-dong, Cheonan, Chungnam. After a performance, I shared the 110,000-won sashimi and seafood stew course for two with my boyfriend, from its generous side dishes to its spicy stew. Verdict: a wonderfully filling choice with roomy parking and tables.
Solsot Gwangalli is a Korean restaurant in Suyeong, Busan, serving a range of sotbap (pot rice). We ordered steak and abalone sotbap with fried shrimp, then finished with scorched rice. Verdict: a neat, filling lunch in Gwangalli that I’d happily recommend.
