Post Check-in · 27 stories

After Check-in

I write about places I’ve stayed in Daejeon and the Chungcheong region. · Writes about: Stays · Hair & beauty salons · Restaurants · Cafés · Shopping

PlaceSokcho, GangwonCafés

Sokcho bakery café: same-day squid ink potato bread vs. frozen, Bultan

Sokcho Bultan Gamja Bread Main Store (속초불탄감자빵 본점) is a bakery café on Haksapyeong-gil in Sokcho, Gangwon, known for its potato bread and jjondeugi (a chewy grilled snack). During an autumn foliage trip to Sokcho, the writer stopped at the main store, which looks out on Seoraksan, and bought a box of 4 potato breads for ₩10,000 plus squid-flavored jjondeugi to eat back at the accommodation. Verdict: compared with the frozen courier potato bread the writer usually ate, the chewy same-day squid ink potato bread was in a different league.

Written Nov 10, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGoseong, GangwonRestaurants

Goseong Korean BBQ with under-seat smoke vents & raw galbi: Yongchon

Yongchon Gogi-jip (용촌고기집) is a Korean BBQ restaurant in Toseong-myeon, Goseong, Gangwon, near Sokcho, whose main dishes are hand-cut pork galbi (ribs), raw pork belly and raw galbi. The writer booked a dinner for two at Yongchon Gogi-jip and ordered 2 servings of raw galbi (18,000 won per serving), doenjang sulbap (8,000 won) and cold noodles for dessert (6,000 won), grilling without smoke or smell thanks to smoke vents under the seats. Verdict: a thoroughly satisfying Korean BBQ the writer wants to return to on any Sokcho trip.

Written Nov 10, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSokcho, GangwonRestaurants

Sokcho tofu restaurant: white bibimbap before Seoraksan, Daecheongmaru

Daecheongmaru (대청마루) is a Korean restaurant in Haksapyeong Sundubu Village in Sokcho, Gangwon, specializing in chodang sundubu (soft tofu) and hwangtae (dried pollack) dishes. Before a Seoraksan trek, the writer had a late lunch at Daecheongmaru of stone-pot sanchae bibimbap (mountain herb rice bowl), mixed without gochujang, and spicy sundubu. The writer also finished every side dish, from braised kodari (half-dried pollack) to namul and cucumber salad. The mild yet flavorful herb bibimbap at Daecheongmaru was the standout and is well worth trying.

Written Nov 10, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSokcho, GangwonCafés

Sokcho café for solo travelers: biji drip tea & view seat, Cafe Neorae

Cafe Neorae (카페너래) is a café with Seoraksan and Ulsanbawi views on the 2nd floor of the Yetgogeul Sundubu (옛고을 순두부) soft tofu restaurant on Wonamhaksapyeong-gil in Sokcho, Gangwon. During a Sokcho trip, the writer enjoyed the signature Neorae Latte, Neorae Tea (biji, or soybean pulp, brewed by drip) and thousand-layer bread with a Seoraksan view through floor-to-ceiling windows, and found a small separate space where solo visitors can enjoy the view too. Cafe Neorae is recommended for travelers who want a relaxed break in a spacious, high-ceilinged café.

Written Nov 10, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSokcho, GangwonRestaurants

Late lunch after a 3-hour drive at Sokcho Korean restaurant Bigeumdo

Bigeumdo (비금도) is a Korean set-meal restaurant on Sinheung 2-gil in Sokcho, Gangwon, open from 8:30 AM. On the first day of a Sokcho trip, after more than 3 hours of driving, the writer had a late lunch of pressure-cooker hwangtae gukbap (dried pollack soup with rice) for 2 and finished every made-to-order side dish, plus the yukjeon (egg-battered beef slices) from the review event. Thanks to its fresh ingredients, Bigeumdo is a Sokcho Korean restaurant the writer plans to return to.

Written Nov 10, 2026Sponsored
PlaceCheongju, ChungbukRestaurants

Cheongju Western restaurant for a birthday dinner: hanu tartare, Maneu

Maneu (마느) is a Western restaurant on Heungdeok-ro 137beon-gil in Heungdeok-gu, Cheongju, Chungbuk. For a housemate's birthday dinner, the writer had non-alcoholic sangria, hanu beef tartare, a cuttlefish pasta made with baby octopus (jjukkumi) instead, and lasagna, and was impressed by Maneu's friendly menu explanations and attentive service. The writer ranks Maneu first for flavor among the Western restaurants they have tried in Cheongju, but Maneu is closing on December 31.

Written Nov 5, 2026Sponsored
PlaceHwaseong, GyeonggiHair & beauty salons

Asymmetrical brow waxing at a Dongtan lash & brow salon: Moodmoa

Moodmoa Lash & Brow is a lash lift and lash extension salon near Central Park in Bansong-dong, Dongtan, Hwaseong. The writer came for a lash lift, but because her lashes were short and sparse, the lift was postponed and she had her uneven, mismatched-height eyebrows waxed instead. Verdict: Moodmoa Lash & Brow's brow waxing corrected much of the asymmetry and brightened her whole face, leaving her very satisfied.

Written Nov 2, 2026Sponsored
PlaceCheongju, ChungbukRestaurants

Yullyang-dong, Cheongju BBQ with 2kg-a-day pork jowl: Anmin Yullyang

Anmin Yullyang (안민 율량) is a clean, stone-and-bamboo pork belly BBQ restaurant in Yullyang-dong, Cheongju. Two diners booked on Naver and had pork neck 160g, pork jowl 200g and pork belly 160g grilled by staff, with 9 shared side dishes, and thanks to the smoke-extraction grill their clothes barely smelled afterward. At Anmin Yullyang, the pork jowl, limited to one order per table and 2kg a day, is the cut not to miss.

Written Jul 25, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSongpa, SeoulHair & beauty salons

Jamsil hairline tattoo for a wide forehead and cowlick: Mood Moon Brow

Mood Moon Brow is a 100% by-appointment semi-permanent makeup studio in the Winners Building (Building 2) near Sports Complex Station in Songpa, Seoul. The writer, troubled by a wide, uneven forehead and a front cowlick that split her bangs, got her first hairline tattoo at Mood Moon Brow, and the owner drew it strand by strand so it blends in like real hair. With a smaller-looking forehead and a slimmer face, the writer calls her first semi-permanent hairline at Mood Moon Brow a highly satisfying result.

Written Oct 2, 2026Sponsored
PlaceHwaseong, GyeonggiRestaurants

Byeongjeom squid restaurant with a niece: double kalguksu at Haetan

Haetan Hwaseong Byeongjeom (해탄 화성병점점) is a hot-plate squid stir-fry restaurant on the 2nd floor of 1024 Hyohaeng-ro, Byeongjeom-gu, Hwaseong. The writer and their niece shared a two-person hot-plate squid stir-fry (ordered at Shin Ramyun spice level) and minari (water dropwort) clam soup, added kalguksu (knife-cut noodles) twice and fried rice in the leftover sauce. Haetan is a Byeongjeom squid restaurant where you can eat a generous, filling meal with kids.

Written Oct 2, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYuseong, DaejeonRestaurants

Galbi kimchi stew for two plus jumbo egg roll in Daejeon: Jeonju House

Jeonju House is a Korean restaurant on Oncheon-ro in Bongmyeong-dong, Yuseong, Daejeon, serving fresh galbi (rib) kimchi stew and pork belly grilled on a cast-iron lid. The writer ordered galbi kimchi stew for two and a jumbo egg roll, ate them with the pot rice that comes with every order, and added a few pieces of stew tofu from the self-serve bar to the broth. From the banchan (side dishes) to the kimchi stew broth, everything at Jeonju House was seasoned just right without being harsh, a home-style meal worth a return visit with family.

Written Aug 7, 2026Sponsored
PlaceHwaseong, GyeonggiRestaurants

Family Japanese dinner in Bongdam, Hwaseong: butter-grilled steak

Sindong Lab Hwaseong Bongdam Branch is a Japanese restaurant on Wau-ro in Bongdam-eup, Hwaseong, Gyeonggi. On a dinner visit with her older sister and niece, the writer ordered a sukiyaki set for one, a 250g steak grilled in melted butter on a tabletop grill, and a kids' menu, then enjoyed sukiyaki dipped in egg yolk and four kinds of dessert ice cream. With kids' menu items at no extra charge and easy parking, Sindong Lab Hwaseong Bongdam Branch is a solid pick for a family meal with children or a date.

Written Sep 27, 2026Sponsored