Booth Seat Sitter · 30 stories

Across the Booth

I write about restaurants I visit in Seoul and the meals I try there. · Writes about: Restaurants · Shopping · Things to do · Cafés

PlaceUijeongbu, GyeonggiThings to do

Uijeongbu kids café for a 21-month-old with vanity play: Qurie Kids

Qurie Kids Café Uijeongbu is a preschoolers-only kids café on the 7th floor of GS Plaza in Uijeongbu, Gyeonggi, offering a weekend package with Sand K, an indoor sand play space on the 3rd floor of the same building. On a chilly weekend morning, a 21-month-old spent 3 hours at Qurie Kids Café on the slide, trampoline and pretend vanity, ate ham and vegetable fried rice and a hot dog, then played with soft Australian sand at Sand K. Qurie Kids Café Uijeongbu is a great way to fill a whole day indoors with an active toddler, whatever the weather.

Written Oct 26, 2026Sponsored
PlaceUijeongbu, GyeonggiRestaurants

Pizza-chicken-burger takeout after Uijeongbu Shinsegae: Mom's Touch

Mom's Touch Uijeongbu Haengbok-ro branch is a pizza, chicken and burger restaurant on the 2nd floor in the Rodeo Street shopping area by Uijeongbu Station, Gyeonggi. On the way home from Shinsegae Department Store Uijeongbu one weekend evening, a couple took out the discounted Pi-Chi Set (₩20,000, down from ₩25,000) plus a Thigh Burger and a shrimp burger for ₩29,300 in total, so each could eat what they wanted. On a day when chicken fans and pizza fans can't agree, the Pi-Chi Set combo at Mom's Touch Uijeongbu Haengbok-ro branch is a hearty way to sort it all out in one go.

Written Oct 24, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGuri, GyeonggiRestaurants

Dakhanmari with a toddler near Guri Station: Gangnam Dakhansang

Gangnam Dakhansang Guri Dolidari branch is a Korean restaurant near Guri Traditional Market and close to Guri Station in Guri, Gyeonggi, serving dakhanmari (whole chicken hot pot) and dakdoritang (spicy braised chicken stew). On a weekend evening with a 16-month-old, the writer ordered dakhanmari for 35,000 won with an added Busan fish cake skewer, and the toddler ate almost a full bowl of rice mixed into the mild, non-spicy broth. Gangnam Dakhansang has no high chairs, but it is a satisfying family dinner spot near Guri Station where parents and a baby can share the same dish.

Written Jun 8, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYangju, GyeonggiShopping

Yangju vintage market, husband's Adidas & Lacoste: Second Traders

Second Traders is a huge vintage market on Gisan-ro in Baekseok-eup, Yangju, Gyeonggi. A vintage beginner and her husband stopped at Second Traders on a weekend drive and picked out 4 pieces for him from racks sorted by color and type, including an Adidas hoodie, Puma pants and a Lacoste shirt, at ₩9,800 each. Verdict: you can browse Second Traders comfortably without digging through piles like at Dongmyo, so it suits vintage first-timers.

Written Jun 14, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJongno, SeoulRestaurants

Gwanghwamun Korean restaurant, bulgogi set with a toddler: Wongiok

Wongiok Gwanghwamun is a Korean set-course restaurant on basement level 1 of the Deplis building near Gwanghwamun Station in Jongno, Seoul. On a weekend visit with a 16-month-old, the writer ordered the Value Set and a kids' menu, switching the main to bulgogi for an extra charge. Staff brought a high chair and baby tableware right away. The neat, well-paced course made Wongiok Gwanghwamun a recommended spot for a family meal with a baby in Gwanghwamun.

Written Jun 20, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGwangjin, SeoulThings to do

500-day baby photos at a Children's Grand Park self-photo studio: U&E

U&E Studio Seongsu is a self-photo studio on the 3rd floor of a building on Gwangnaru-ro, near Children's Grand Park Station in Gwangjin, Seoul. The family took 500-day photos of their 16-month-old at 3 p.m. on a weekend. U&E Studio Seongsu had the centerpiece, lighting and camera set up as requested in advance, and rented out baby outfits, a dress for mom and shoes for dad, so diapers and snacks were all the family needed to bring. U&E Studio Seongsu combines the freedom of a self-photo studio with the convenience of a full studio, making it a good choice for family photos with a baby.

Written Jun 21, 2026Sponsored
PlaceNamyangju, GyeonggiRestaurants

Post-endoscopy shabu kalguksu in Byeollae, monkfish set: Onjeongban

Onjeongban Shabu Kalguksu Namyangju Byeollae Main Branch is a shabu-shabu and kalguksu (knife-cut noodle soup) restaurant in Byeollae, Namyangju, Gyeonggi. After a sedation gastroscopy, the writer went with her husband on an empty stomach for a late weekday lunch. They ordered the Onjeongban shabu set with boiled pork and spicy braised monkfish, and the writer was pleased with the clean, deep broth, the spicy monkfish pairing, the unlimited gondeure rice refills, the private parking lot and the high chairs. Verdict: Onjeongban Shabu Kalguksu is a recommended choice for a gentle yet hearty meal or a family meal out.

Written Jun 24, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulShopping

Sinsa vintage shop with my husband: Polo shirt and knit at Balbal

Balbal Vintage Sinsa is a brand vintage shop on basement floors 1 to 3 of the building next to the Apple Store on Garosu-gil in Sinsa, Gangnam, Seoul. On a weekend visit with a vintage-loving husband, we browsed luxury and casual brands floor by floor, then tried on clothes in the fitting room at the B3 Polo corner and bought one Polo shirt and one Polo knit. Balbal Vintage Sinsa is clean and well organized, so it is easy to browse even on a first visit to a vintage shop.

Written Jun 29, 2026Sponsored
PlaceNamyangju, GyeonggiCafés

Daycare teacher gift from a Byeollae bakery: mango salt bread, Byway

Byway Bakers Byeollae Branch is a small takeout-only bakery in Byeollae, Namyangju, selling several kinds of salt bread, egg tarts, financiers and butter rice cakes. After lunch in Byeollae with her husband, the writer took home the staff-recommended wakppu salt bread (fresh mango and mango jam), a Shanghai butter rice cake and an egg tart to enjoy with coffee at home. The salty-sweet fresh mango wakppu salt bread was the star, and with gentle prices and a neat box, Byway Bakers is a good Byeollae bakery for small gifts.

Written Jun 25, 2026Sponsored
PlaceNowon, SeoulRestaurants

Hagye Station sushi buffet with a 17-month-old and stroller: Kuu Kuu

Kuu Kuu Nowon Branch is a sushi buffet on the 6th floor of the Oncheon Building in Nowon, Seoul, closer to Hagye Station. A couple visited Kuu Kuu Nowon Branch at 2pm on a weekend with their 17-month-old after booking on Naver the day before. Staff saw the stroller and seated them at a roomy inner table, where they enjoyed salmon and shrimp sushi, rolls and dessert. For the price, the sushi and rolls beat expectations, making Kuu Kuu Nowon Branch a solid pick for family gatherings.

Written Jun 28, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYongsan, SeoulRestaurants

Chicken shop in Yongsan Station: meal at home with a baby, Ppareuju

Ppareuju Deopbap & Gangjeong (빠르쥬 덮밥&강정) is a rice bowl and dakgangjeong (sweet, crispy Korean fried chicken) shop on the 3rd floor inside Yongsan Station in Seoul. A couple raising a 17-month-old baby picked up a large dakgangjeong (14,500 won), cream shrimp and peanut bread on a weekend afternoon and ate them at home, especially enjoying the sweet-salty glaze on the dakgangjeong and the cream sauce on the shrimp. Verdict: Ppareuju Deopbap & Gangjeong is a great Yongsan Station dakgangjeong spot for quick takeout.

Written Jun 30, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeongdong, SeoulRestaurants

Korean BBQ near Ttukseom Station after baby's pneumonia: Marblejeong

Marblejeong is a 1++ (tuppul) hanwoo Korean BBQ restaurant on Seongsuil-ro in Seongdong, Seoul, near Ttukseom Station. After their 17-month-old was hospitalised with pneumonia and recovered, a family booked Marblejeong by phone for a weekend meal to regain their strength. They ordered the 400g 1++ hanwoo mixed grill (159,000 won), and baby tableware set out in advance, staff grilling and downdraft smoke extraction let them eat comfortably while caring for the baby. Marblejeong suits families who want a quality hanwoo meal out with a young baby.

Written Jul 6, 2026Sponsored