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Restaurants

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

Gangnam, SeoulRestaurants

Sinsa dim sum dinner: kimchi xiaolongbao at Samsin Garosu-gil

Samsin Garosu-gil is a dim sum and Chinese restaurant on Garosu-gil near Sinsa Station in Gangnam, Seoul. On a night visit the order was handmade xiaolongbao (8,000 won), handmade shrimp har gow (9,000 won), wedding shaomai (10,000 won), kimchi xiaolongbao (9,000 won) and yuni chili jajangmyeon (12,000 won); the plump shrimp har gow and the crisp-onion jajangmyeon were the highlights, while the kimchi xiaolongbao was a letdown next to the plain one. Samsin Garosu-gil suits a group that wants to share a colorful spread of dim sum.

Written Sep 14, 2026Sponsored
Yuseong, DaejeonRestaurants

Pork belly at 3pm, no break time: Jeonju House in Bongmyeong-dong

Jeonju House is a Korean restaurant near the back gate of Gyeryong Spatel in Bongmyeong-dong, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, serving fresh pork belly grilled on a cast-iron pot lid and galbi kimchi stew cooked in a cauldron. Two diners arrived for a late Saturday lunch after 3pm and ordered four servings of the cast-iron lid pork belly, two bowls of rice and the 2,000 won doenjang stew (soybean paste stew), with no break time to work around. The fresh pork belly was chewy with crisp fat, and the self-serve side dish bar makes Jeonju House an easy pick for group dinners too.

Written Sep 14, 2026Sponsored
Cheongju, ChungbukRestaurants

Korean BBQ in Osong, Cheongju: 600g three-cut platter at Risan

Risan is a samgyeopsal (grilled pork belly) Korean BBQ restaurant that recently opened on Osong Saengmyeong 7-ro in Cheongju, Chungbuk. The Risan assorted platter 600g brings black pork belly, black pork neck and Risan's special cut at 200g each, and we added soybean paste stew and steamed egg for a dinner date, with baby chairs on hand for the many families visiting with little ones. Between the black interior and the open kitchen, Risan works for both a date night and a family dinner in Osong.

Written Sep 14, 2026Sponsored
Yeongdeungpo, SeoulRestaurants

Seonyudo family dinner burger restaurant with 3 side swaps: BAS Burger

BAS Burger Seonyudo is a handmade burger restaurant right in front of Exit 4 of Seonyudo Station on Line 9 in Yeongdeungpo, Seoul. Over dinner for three, the writer, her husband and their son ordered two BAS Burger sets and one chicken burger set, swapping the sides to french fries, onion rings and coleslaw, and asking for grilled onion with the tomato left out. With free potato chips from the self-bar, BAS Burger Seonyudo suited both a family dinner in the dining room and takeout for a Han River picnic.

Written Sep 14, 2026Sponsored
Jeju, JejuRestaurants

Hallim soup restaurant with abalone soondubu: Hyeopjae On Ttukbaegi

Hyeopjae On Ttukbaegi is a haejangguk (hangover soup) and ttukbaegi (hot stone pot) restaurant a 5-minute walk from Hyeopjae Beach in Hallim, Jeju. After walking over from the beach, the writer shared bomal (sea snail) haejangguk, spicy abalone soondubu and Jeju black pork bulgogi, and the ox-bone broth simmered from dawn each day and the spicy side dishes stood out most. Kongguksu (cold soybean noodle soup) is summer-only and was missed this time, which is exactly why Hyeopjae On Ttukbaegi is worth a return visit.

Written Sep 12, 2026Sponsored
Cheongju, ChungbukRestaurants

Cheongju donburi restaurant lunch: tarae-buta-don at Momo Lab

Momo Lab Cheongju Downtown Seongan-gil Main Branch is a Japanese donburi (rice bowl) restaurant inside Art Avenue 198 in the heart of Seongan-gil, Cheongju, Chungbuk. Instead of the usual black katsu, this visit ordered yakitori-don and tarae-buta-don just before the lunch peak, breaking the egg yolk and mixing it into the tarae sauce. Momo Lab serves a welcome drink and even keeps hair ties and floss in the table drawer, making it a filling weekday lunch near the office.

Written Sep 10, 2026Sponsored
Hwaseong, GyeonggiRestaurants

Gondre beef fried rice at Dorimgwan, a Hyangnam Korean BBQ spot

Dorimgwan Hyangnam is a charcoal-grilled garlic marinated short rib restaurant on Seobong-ro in Hyangnam-eup, Hwaseong, Gyeonggi. The writer brought her mother here for a restorative meal of garlic-marinated galbisal (short rib meat) grilled over charcoal, then finished with the beef gondre (mountain vegetable) fried rice that only Dorimgwan serves, cooked on a hot plate. The house tip at Dorimgwan: skip the bowl of rice, eat the meat first, and add the gondre fried rice at the end.

Written Sep 14, 2026Sponsored
Jung-gu, SeoulRestaurants

Gyukatsu restaurant near Seoul Station for dinner with kids: Furato

Furato Shokudo Seoul Square Direct Store is a gyukatsu (Japanese-style beef cutlet) restaurant on the first basement level of Seoul Square, one minute from Exit 9 of Seoul Station in Jung-gu, Seoul. Over dinner with his wife and kids, the writer ordered the gyukatsu and the steki jeongsik (steak set), both served as rare striploin and finished on a mini tabletop grill: the gyukatsu melted in the mouth, while the steki had a firmer, meatier bite. Apart from small rice portions, Furato Shokudo works well for a family dinner with children or a date night.

Written Sep 14, 2026Sponsored
Jungnang, SeoulRestaurants

Tonkatsu restaurant near Seoil University in Seoul: Katsu Monster

Katsu Monster Myeonmok is a tonkatsu restaurant on Sangbong-ro in Jungnang, Seoul, known among Seoil University students as a go-to delivery and takeout spot. For lunch, two friends ordered the cheese katsu set and the pork loin katsu set, which brought thick cutlets, stretchy mozzarella and a mini cold soba on the side. With crisp breading, juicy pork and generous portions, Katsu Monster Myeonmok is worth a return trip.

Written Sep 14, 2026Sponsored
Gwacheon, GyeonggiRestaurants

Private room restaurant in Gwacheon for groups: Gwacheon Haesintang

Gwacheon Haesintang Gwacheon Main Branch is a haesintang (chicken and seafood hot pot) restaurant on the second floor of Jeil Shopping Center in Gwacheon, Gyeonggi, a 4-minute walk from Government Gwacheon Complex Station. Three 8-person private rooms connect into one space for family gatherings and group dinners, and this meal, shared with a husband and mother, was the ginseng chicken and octopus haesintang for two (59,000 won) with added porridge (3,000 won) plus abalone and octopus cauldron rice (15,000 won). With live seafood and a cordyceps broth, Gwacheon Haesintang is a restful, restorative choice among Gwacheon private room restaurants.

Written Sep 14, 2026Sponsored
Suyeong, BusanRestaurants

Window-seat daytime soju at a Gwangalli sashimi restaurant, Gwanganda

Gwanganda Jjji Gwangalli Main Branch is an ocean-view sashimi restaurant on the 6th floor of Sanbada Hoetown, near Millak Waterside Park in Gwangalli, Busan. A window table with a Gwangan Bridge view was reserved in advance, and the dachi hansang set for two (55,000 won) arrived with soju, running from endless sukkidashi side dishes through sashimi, blue crab stew and abalone porridge. With the soju served in an ice basket, Gwanganda Jjji made pacing the drinks the only real challenge of a mid-afternoon meal.

Written Sep 14, 2026Sponsored
Cheongju, ChungbukRestaurants

Cheongju late-night restaurant for galbitang: Hongdeung Sikdang 1997

Hongdeung Sikdang 1997 Cheongju Main Branch is a braised pork rib and galbitang (beef short rib soup) restaurant in Yulryang-sacheon-dong, Cheongju, Chungbuk, having moved from its former Yongam-dong location. This late dinner after 8pm covered an earthenware pot of braised pork ribs, an earthenware pot of galbitang, an added rice ball, the perilla leaf and pickled radish self-bar, and soju and beer at 4,500 won each. Hongdeung Sikdang 1997 is a picky father's regular spot that became his daughter's all-time favorite restaurant.

Written Sep 12, 2026Sponsored