Second Glancer · 14 stories
I write about food I’ve tried and fashion that catches my eye in Korea. · Writes about: Beauty products · Food & snacks · Fashion · Restaurants · Cafés · Shopping · Hair & beauty salons · Home & living · Things to do
Botanic Market is a poke and salad bowl shop on Bangbaecheon-ro 2an-gil in Bangbae-dong, Seocho, Seoul. The writer ordered an açaí bowl in Botanic Market's spacious dining room, decorated in wood tones and plants. The rich açaí base came piled with fruit and granola and tasted as good as a dessert. Verdict: Botanic Market is a recommended stop in Bangbae for an açaí bowl brunch or a healthy post-workout meal.
Like It Piercing is a piercing and earring shop in the Jamsil Underground Shopping Center in Songpa, Seoul. The writer visited to swap a long-worn earring for a new design, had an ear check and design consultation, and the swap was finished painlessly with hygienically managed tools. Like It Piercing is a good stop near Jamsil Station when an earring is hard to change yourself or you want advice on piercing combinations.
Prepers Diet Food Sillim Main Branch is a salad and poke restaurant on Sillim-ro in Gwanak, Seoul, with a spacious dining room across the first and second floors. The writer ate a salad at a window seat at Prepers Sillim Main Branch and found fresh vegetables, moist protein toppings and a bigger portion than expected. Verdict: a roomy, comfortable salad spot in Sillim that changes the idea that salads leave you hungry.
Mandong Jegwa Yeonnam Branch (만동제과 연남점) is a bakery in the Yeonnam-dong and Hongdae area of Seoul, a popular bakery-crawl stop known for its garlic baguette. A regular bought the basil tomato bagel and the fig campagne and found that ordering by simply telling the counter how many of each plastic-covered bread you want was actually convenient. Mandong Jegwa has no tables, but with English and Chinese labels and free samples, it is a Hongdae bakery that gets the basics right.
Boseung Hoegwan Bangi Branch (보승회관 방이점) is a Korean restaurant specializing in sundae (Korean blood sausage) soup and hot pots, near the Bangi-dong food alley and Seokchon Lake in Songpa, Seoul. The writer ordered the sundae-gopchang jeongol (blood sausage and offal hot pot) for dinner and was happy with the pot packed with sundae, offal and vegetables, and with the rich broth that was spicy without being too much. If you like sundae and offal, the sundae-gopchang jeongol at Boseung Hoegwan Bangi Branch is a hearty dinner for sharing with a group.
Pug Pizza House Sillim Branch (퍼그피자하우스 신림점) is a three-floor pizza and pasta restaurant near Sillim Station in Gwanak, Seoul, and its 3rd floor is dog-friendly. The blogger shared a sweet potato pizza, a Mad Max American pizza, rosé bacon cheese spaghetti and a salad, and helped themselves to sauces and pickles from the self-bar. With a roomy dining space and generous portions, Pug Pizza House Sillim Branch is a good Sillim Station pizza place for sharing with a group.
Hanmaeum Jeongyuk Hwaseong Hyangnam 2-jigu Branch (한마음정육식당 화성향남2지구점) is a butcher-style Korean BBQ restaurant on Sangsinhagil-ro in Hyangnam-eup, Hwaseong, Gyeonggi. On a weekend evening the writer ordered a mixed meat platter and naengmyeon (cold noodles): several cuts tasted fresh with no gamey smell, and the meal came with free doenjang jjigae (soybean paste stew), a self-serve bar with dongchimi and sikhye, a kids' play room and 3 hours of free parking. For a family meal or group dinner in Hyangnam, Hanmaeum Jeongyuk is satisfying enough to make the writer want to return.
Tteum Café by Oneplay Suwon Station is a coffee and dessert café on Sehwa-ro 154beon-gil, near Suwon Station in Gyeonggi. After a furniture show nearby, the writer stopped in for an ice cream croffle, an iced Americano and an iced yuzu tea, liked the mix of crisp croffle and cold ice cream, and got to smell the coffee beans before ordering. Tteum Café by Oneplay is an easy stop near Suwon Station when you want something sweet after a meal.
Halls Gimbap Main Branch is a gimbap (seaweed rice roll) restaurant near Gyodae Station in Seocho, Seoul. Ordering wasabi gimbap, Jindo scallion tuna gimbap, and cheese gimbap to go showed off three distinct flavors — sharp, oniony, and savory — so eating all three together never got repetitive. Whether it's a quick solo meal or takeout near Gyodae Station, this place handles both dine-in and takeout easily.
The Everlast Men's Running Crew Set is a men's running outfit tested in Korea, with a layered T-shirt and shorts leggings. In black, the set felt light, not overly restrictive, and useful for running with small essentials. Verdict: a comfortable matching set for getting back into running.
Meda Bag Women's Summer Rattan Shoulder Bag is a woven fashion bag from Korea. I liked that the inner zip kept my belongings out of sight and the even weave held its neat shape. Verdict: a versatile accent bag for outfits across the seasons.
Ieum Marinated Daechang Grilling Set is a frozen beef large-intestine grilling kit from Korea. I thawed it and cooked it in a pan over medium-low heat, finding the smell, smoke, and oil splatter manageable. Verdict: an easy, satisfying option for cooking daechang at home.
