Unboxing Keeper · 29 stories

After First Use

I write about beauty products and things for the home, sharing impressions from using them. · Writes about: Beauty products · Home & living · Restaurants · Cafés · Bars · Shopping · Things to do · Kids & baby · Books & stationery

PlaceGijang, BusanCafés

Family brunch café by the sea in Ilgwang: ice cream waffle at De Mer

De Mer (드메르) is a brunch café in Ilgwang, Gijang, Busan, right in front of Sinpyeong Small Park and the sea. After turning back once because of weekend crowds, the writer returned on a weekday for an ice cream waffle (15,000 won), an iced salted caramel latte (6,500 won), fresh mango juice (8,000 won) and freshly squeezed cheonhyehyang (Korean citrus) juice (7,500 won), while the kids looked at clams and crabs by the sea. De Mer is a great pick for families who want a café and seaside play in one trip, best visited on a weekday.

Written Jun 16, 2026Sponsored
PlaceBusanjin, BusanThings to do

Seomyeon laser tag revisit with team tactics: Laser Tag Sports

Laser Tag Sports Seomyeon is an indoor laser tag arena on the 2nd floor of the Art Box building in Seomyeon, Busan. The writer returned to Laser Tag Sports Seomyeon after a meal and a café stop in Seomyeon; on this second visit, already familiar with the rules and the guns, the writer's team watched for hiding spots and opponents' moves, planned tactics together, and got even more competitive looking at the result screen. Verdict: a revisit to Laser Tag Sports Seomyeon is not boring, and it is a good addition to a Seomyeon day whenever you want to run around, whatever the weather.

Written Oct 17, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGeumjeong, BusanRestaurants

Katsu spot in Oncheonjang, Busan after a Geumjeongsan hike: Gatjidong

Gatjidong Busan Jangjeon Branch is a Japanese-style katsu, udon and rice bowl restaurant in Jangjeon-dong (Oncheonjang), Geumjeong, Busan. After a short hike on Geumjeongsan, a family with kids shared a katsu hamburg steak set (13,800 won), katsu kimchi nabe udon (11,800 won) and a spicy gyudon (9,800 won), plus all-you-can-eat soup from the self bar. With a wide menu the kids happily ate, Gatjidong Busan Jangjeon Branch made a satisfying family meal out.

Written Jun 18, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSuyeong, BusanCafés

Gwangalli brunch café: warm Egg in Hell & cold acai bowl, Famous Benny

Famous Benny Gwangalli Branch is a brunch café tucked inside Millak-dong in Suyeong, Busan, serving brunch from 8am. On a return visit, the writer shared avocado toast (₩16,000), ham cheese toast (₩9,000), Egg in Hell (₩15,000) and an acai bowl (₩9,000) with a café mocha and a lemonade, and found that none of the four dishes tasted alike. The verdict: alternating the warm Egg in Hell with the cold acai bowl was the best combination at Famous Benny.

Written Oct 16, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGijang, BusanRestaurants

Gijang Korean BBQ, breadcrumb sauce dip 15 years on: The Barbecue 051

The Barbecue 051 is a camping-style Korean barbecue restaurant serving pre-grilled pork and skewers on Gijanghaean-ro near Osiria in Gijang, Busan. After shopping at IKEA Dongbusan, the writer returned to the spot where Nokseun Deureomtong ('Rusty Drum') stood 15 years ago and ordered the ₩52,000 set for two (440g of pre-grilled whole pork belly and galmaegisal plus 5 skewers), brisket doenjang stew and mul naengmyeon. The Barbecue 051's special sauce with breadcrumbs and the brisket doenjang stew made it a memorable dinner.

Written Jun 21, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeo-gu, DaejeonRestaurants

Daejeon trip inari sushi shop: 4 flavors to go by car, Kitsune Yubu

Kitsune Yubu Daejeon Dunsan is an inari sushi (rice in sweet tofu pouches) shop near City Hall in Dunsan-dong, Daejeon, with 14 topped varieties. On a family trip, the writer took out 2 each of tuna mayo, beef bulgogi, sweet-salty beef belly and beef kimchi (₩2,500 to ₩3,500) as a light bite after a late lunch; each was about twice the size of ordinary inari sushi, one was filling on its own, and the shapes stayed intact after a car ride. Kitsune Yubu suits families looking for simple takeout that is as filling as a meal.

Written Jul 4, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJung-gu, DaejeonRestaurants

Daejeon family restaurant after O-World: galbitang dinner, Idobonga

Idobonga is a Korean restaurant serving galbitang (beef short rib soup) and stone-grilled galbi near Seodaejeon Station in Oryudong, Jung-gu, Daejeon. After a full day at Daejeon O-World, one family had galbitang (16,000 won) and sanchae bibimbap (mountain-vegetable rice bowl, 11,000 won) for dinner, and even the kids ate the rich broth and the not-too-salty bibimbap. For an easy-parking, filling family dinner after O-World, Idobonga is a good fit.

Written Jul 4, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSuyeong, BusanCafés

Brunch café in Gwangalli after a family trip: 3 toasts, Famous Benny

Famous Benny Gwangalli Branch is an Australian-style brunch café in Millak-dong, Suyeong, Busan, open from 8am. After unpacking from a weekend family trip, the writer had avocado toast (₩16,000), ham and cheese toast (₩9,000), croissant French toast (₩17,000) and an iced Americano in Famous Benny's bright, sunlit space, a good place to slow down over coffee. Famous Benny Gwangalli Branch is a good stop when you want a light brunch and coffee rather than a heavy meal.

Written Jul 8, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeo-gu, DaejeonRestaurants

Mild octopus stir-fry for 4 after Sungsimdang, Daejeon: Chongil Nakji

Chongil Nakji, Tanbang branch (촌길낙지 탄방점) is a Korean restaurant specialising in nakji bokkeum (spicy stir-fried octopus) in Tanbang-dong, Seo-gu, Daejeon, near Lotte Department Store and Sungsimdang bakery. After a Sungsimdang bread run, the writer's family had a late lunch of octopus stir-fry for 4 made mild for the kids, with the standard cheonggukjang (fermented soybean stew), seasoned radish and bean sprouts for mixing, plus a free pork bulgogi from a Naver review event. Thanks to its adjustable spice level, Chongil Nakji, Tanbang branch was an easy, stress-free family meal with children.

Written Jul 5, 2026Sponsored
PlaceNam-gu, BusanRestaurants

Family shabu kalguksu in Munhyeon-dong, kid-safe red broth: Yunujae

Yunujae Munhyeon Shabu Kalguksu (윤우재 문현샤브 칼국수) is a shabu kalguksu restaurant in Daerim Munhyeon City Plaza, Munhyeon-dong, Nam-gu, Busan, where 11,000 won per person covers shabu beef, mushrooms and water dropwort, house-made kalguksu (knife-cut noodles), sujebi (hand-torn dough flakes) and fried rice. The writer's family has eaten at Yunujae many times with friends, parents and children, always ordering the red broth, which was only mildly spicy so the kids ate it happily, and the broth-soaked sujebi was the standout. Yunujae is a good-value Munhyeon-dong spot for a filling family meal.

Written Oct 10, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYeonje, BusanRestaurants

Yeonsan-dong pub: reduced chicken stew with rice cakes, Yetnal Tongdak

Yetnal Tongdak & Tang Yeonsan Main Branch is a pub in Yeonsan-dong, Yeonje-gu, Busan, that serves both dakdoritang (spicy braised chicken stew) and old-fashioned fried chicken. On an early weekend evening with the kids, the writer ordered the Boneless & Tang set of chicken stew plus half a boneless fried chicken (33,000 won), simmered the stew sauce down at the table so it soaked into the rice cakes and glass noodles, and finished with fried rice. For families who want chicken stew and fried chicken in one meal, the Boneless & Tang set at Yetnal Tongdak & Tang is a good fit.

Written Jul 21, 2026Sponsored
PlaceHaeundae, BusanCafés

Haeundae Station cheesecake café after tteokbokki: Geumsong Deokmi

Geumsong Deokmi Haeridan-gil Branch is a cake and dessert café on the second floor of a building on Haeridan-gil, behind Haeundae Station in Busan. After eating tteokbokki (spicy rice cakes) on Haeridan-gil, the writer remembered the cheesecake from the Gijang and Gwangalli branches and went to the Haeundae branch. The writer ordered an Oreo cheesecake (7,200 won), mango tiramisu, mango granita and a royal vanilla bean latte. Geumsong Deokmi's Oreo cheesecake lived up to expectations at the Haeundae branch too, with a rich cheese flavor.

Written Jul 27, 2026Sponsored