Cafe Afternoon Regular · 90 stories
I write about visits to cafes in Gyeonggi and the impressions they leave. · Writes about: Beauty products · Fashion · Food & snacks · Home & living · Cafés · Restaurants · Books & stationery · Bars · Hair & beauty salons · Kids & baby · Shopping · Things to do
Neuroterior (Neuroterior) is a brain-science health book whose title blends "neuro" and "interior." Neuroterior explains how lighting, furniture layout, color and movement paths at home affect brain health and dementia prevention. A reviewer in their 40s who had become more forgetful began tidying the house right after reading it. Verdict: Neuroterior shows that the space you live in matters as much as exercise and diet.
Jeonghwa Gokgan (정화곡간) is a duck restaurant near Gwanak Station and Seoksu Market in Seoksu-dong, Anyang, Gyeonggi. The writer ordered a spicy duck hotpot for lunch, then added sujebi (hand-torn dough flakes) and rice at the end, and was impressed by the tender duck with no gamey smell and the deep broth. Jeonghwa Gokgan's duck hotpot is a hearty, restorative meal that needs the sujebi add-on to be enjoyed properly.
The Completion of Masterpieces, That Person Back Then (명화의 완성, 그때 그 사람) is an art book for general readers by culture and arts journalist Seong Su-yeong, and the final volume of the "That Person Back Then" series. The blogger loved paintings but knew little about art, and found that reading the stories of Picasso, Carl Larsson, Caravaggio and other painters like a storybook changed how they look at artworks. The Completion of Masterpieces is a beginner-friendly art book worth reading before an exhibition.
Sallering Daehak-ro is a salad shop in Daehak-ro near Hyehwa Station in Jongno, Seoul, serving salads, poke and protein rice bowls. On a weekend, the writer took a grilled chicken thigh salad and a salmon salad home from Sallering Daehak-ro and shared them with the family, kids included; both salads came with plenty of chicken or salmon and a hearty mix of vegetables. Sallering Daehak-ro serves generous portions, which makes it a satisfying takeout choice for a family meal.
Aruto Small Theater is a small theater on Daehak-ro 8ga-gil in Jongno, Seoul, that stages the comic horror romance play NEW Oh! My Ghost. The writer watched NEW Oh! My Ghost from the front row with her husband on her birthday, and both laughed out loud at the chemistry of the four actors, especially the deadpan comedy of the actor playing Taegu. For a special birthday or anniversary date in Daehak-ro, NEW Oh! My Ghost at Aruto Small Theater is an easy pick for big laughs.
Post War Investment Strategy (《포스트 워 투자 전략》) is an economics and investing book co-written by nine experts, covering the stock market outlook, the global economy, AI and semiconductors, Bitcoin and policy changes in one volume. The reviewer, who steadily buys US ETFs, Korean stocks, gold and silver, found its view of an "era of regime change", its analysis of the AI ecosystem and its stages of Bitcoin's growth the most striking parts. Post War Investment Strategy suits long-term investors who want a way of reading the market and the consistency to hold through a downturn, rather than stock picks.
Chef Cho Shinsegae Department Store Gangnam is a fruit cake shop in Sweet Park on B1 of Shinsegae Department Store Gangnam, connected to Express Bus Terminal Station in Seocho, Seoul. For her own birthday, the writer chose Chef Cho's Real Mango Rose No. 1 (56,000 won), topped with mango arranged like rose petals, and shared it with her kids, who loved the mango inside as well as on top. The Real Mango Rose isn't cheap, but it is an appealing choice for a birthday or anniversary cake.
Cheonghwawon (청화원) is a Chinese restaurant on Daemyeong-gil in Daehangno, near Hyehwa Station in Jongno, Seoul. The writer, who once did language study in China, ordered knife-cut beef noodles, an eggplant dish and laziji (Sichuan chicken with dried chilies). A splash of vinegar in the beef noodle broth brought back the taste of China, and all three dishes were satisfying. For local-style Chinese food in Daehangno, Cheonghwawon is worth recommending.
Mudri X Professor Kim Tennis Master Class (머드리 X 김교수 테니스 마스터 클래스) is an introductory tennis book by coach Lee Hyung-taik, the first Korean player to win an ATP Tour title. A reviewer who had never played tennis read its 6 chapters on rackets, courts, techniques, equipment, tournaments and strategy, plus a tennis English conversation section, and found that the terminology and tournament system became easy to follow. Mudri X Professor Kim Tennis Master Class is a book worth recommending to beginners who want to enjoy watching tennis broadcasts more.
The Goyoon Disposable Heated Eye Mask is a single-use steam eye mask that needs no charging or power, and the product guide says its warmth of about 43°C lasts about 40 minutes. A working mom with screen-tired eyes from computers and smartphones wore the Goyoon mask on the sofa after work and found the ear-loop fit easy, while the moon-and-star design made her naturally put her phone down. Individually wrapped, the Goyoon Disposable Heated Eye Mask is a simple rest item worth packing for business trips and travel.
Hantiok Lotte Department Store Pyeongchon Branch is a Korean restaurant serving gukbap (rice soup), suyuk (boiled meat) and Andong guksi (noodle soup) on B1 of Lotte Department Store Pyeongchon, connected to Beomgye Station in Anyang. During a weekend shopping trip, the family ordered the bossam set and Andong guksi at Hantiok, and the elementary-school son wrapped the tender bossam in leafy greens himself, saying "Mom, this is really good" again and again. For a filling Korean meal with kids after shopping, the Hantiok Pyeongchon bossam set is a great fit.
Choi Woo-young Gogiya (최우영고기야) is a Korean BBQ restaurant near Gasan Digital Complex Station in Geumcheon-gu, Seoul, where the meat arrives at the table pre-grilled. On a weekend evening, the writer and her husband ordered galbisal (beef short rib meat) and pork belly at the kiosk and enjoyed the self-bar's old-school sausage, seasoned raw crab (yangnyeom gejang) and a generous dessert of buckwheat soba. Choi Woo-young Gogiya is a Gasan Korean BBQ spot worth revisiting when you want to eat your fill of meat without a heavy bill.
