Yeoju Zipper Fan · 27 stories

After the Zipper

I write about clothes and the small fashion details I notice. · Writes about: Restaurants · Fashion · Food & snacks · Cafés · Hair & beauty salons · Shopping

PlaceSongpa, SeoulRestaurants

Eel pot rice restaurant at Gardenfive: whole eel after work, Gomemui

Gomemui Hyundai Gardenfive is a Japanese pot rice and tonkatsu restaurant on the B1 floor of Hyundai Gardenfive near Jangji Station in Songpa, Seoul. After a tiring day at work, I ordered the eel pot rice (23,000 won), topped with a whole eel, and the tonkatsu Ichiban curry (15,000 won), then enjoyed the eel pot rice like scorched rice (nurungji) down to the last bite. If you want a filling meal while shopping at Gardenfive, Gomemui's eel pot rice is a great fit.

Written Nov 14, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulRestaurants

Samseong-dong Korean restaurant: octopus soup & fish balls, Obongjip

Obongjip Samseong Branch (오봉집 삼성점) is a Korean octopus restaurant in the food alley behind COEX in Samseong-dong, Gangnam, Seoul. Even at an off-peak weekend lunch hour there was a long wait. The writer ordered the Maesaengi Yeonpo Bossam set, which comes with seaweed octopus soup, a small bossam (boiled pork), porridge and kalguksu noodles, and chose fish balls as the required side. Clean-tasting bossam, plenty of bossam kimchi even with the small size and a rich broth made Obongjip Samseong Branch a hearty, satisfying meal on a chilly day.

Written Apr 25, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeongnam, GyeonggiRestaurants

Dog-friendly Pangyo brunch: surprise ricotta tomato salad at Andover

Andover is a dog-friendly Western and brunch restaurant on Pangyoyeok-ro 10beon-gil in Pangyo, Seongnam, run by a family who love food and wine. A couple ordered the whole tomato marinade with ricotta cheese (15,000 won), the shrimp bisque pasta (26,000 won) and the 650g Andover lasagna, and the ricotta salad they ordered without expectations stunned them both. Verdict: Andover is a strong pick for an atmospheric brunch or Western meal in Pangyo.

Written Nov 12, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangdong, SeoulCafés

Olympic Park café for 2-layer tiramisu and rice gelato cone: Damgeum

Damgeum is an Italian bar-style café and brunch spot in Seongnae-dong, Gangdong, Seoul, on a side street near Olympic Park's North Gate 2. On a weekday afternoon the visit covered an americano, a café latte, a handmade 2-layer tiramisu and a white rice and chocolate chip gelato cone; Damgeum's coffee was nutty with no acidity, and the tiramisu carried a subtle specialty coffee syrup aroma. Damgeum delivered on drinks, desserts and atmosphere alike, making it a satisfying stop on an Olympic Park walk.

Written Apr 29, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulHair & beauty salons

Aroma spa in Seolleung: back and décolleté massage at Premium Spa L

Premium Spa L Yeoksam is a hotel-style aroma spa in Yeoksam, Gangnam, Seoul, within walking distance of Seolleung Station. After smelling several aroma oils, the writer chose Balance oil and had a back aroma treatment plus a neck, shoulder and décolleté aroma treatment, then enjoyed dessert and tea in a private room. Because the course keeps oil off the face and hair, Premium Spa L Yeoksam is an easy spa to fit in right before other plans.

Written May 29, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeongnam, GyeonggiRestaurants

Chilly-day spicy-broth shabu-shabu buffet in Namwirye: Dadam

Dadam Shabu Shabu & Wolnamssam Wirye Branch is an all-you-can-eat shabu-shabu and rice paper wrap (wolnamssam) restaurant about a 5-minute walk from Namwirye Station in Seongnam, Gyeonggi. On a chilly day at Dadam Shabu Shabu, the writer took beef chuck and beef belly in spicy broth, switched between shabu-shabu and rice paper wraps, then finished with porridge cooked in plenty of extra broth and an affogato. Dadam Shabu Shabu is a filling choice when you want 2 hours of all the vegetables and beef you can eat, with dessert included.

Written Oct 26, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJung-gu, DaejeonCafés

Jungangno Station café in Daejeon: Husk Latte & cinnamon roll, HUSK

HUSK is a brunch and drip coffee café on Bomun-ro in Seonhwa-dong, Jung-gu, Daejeon, near Jungangno Station. After a meal, the writer stopped at HUSK for an iced americano (₩4,500), the Husk Latte topped with butterscotch cream and Maldon salt (₩5,500), and a homemade Danish cinnamon roll and cheesecake (₩5,500 each), and liked the calm atmosphere and not-too-sweet desserts. HUSK is a good Daejeon café for a break while exploring Eunhaeng-dong and Seonhwa-dong.

Written Jun 5, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeongnam, GyeonggiRestaurants

Mexican restaurant in Jeongja-dong: huge fajitas & nacho cheese, Elato

Elato Bundang (엘라토 분당) is a Mexican restaurant in Jeongja-dong, Bundang-gu, Seongnam, Gyeonggi. A couple ordered the signature fajitas, wrapping beef, pork, chicken and shrimp in tortillas and dipping chicken in nacho cheese, and the portion was so generous that even these hearty eaters left a little behind. With high chairs, a handwashing area and vegan options, Elato Bundang is an easy Mexican pick in Jeongja-dong for a family meal.

Written Oct 24, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeongnam, GyeonggiRestaurants

Sunae Station noodle house, husband's pollock naengmyeon: Myeongyeok

Myeongyeok (면계옥) is a Korean noodle restaurant near Sunae Station in Bundang, Seongnam, serving naengmyeon (cold noodles) in beef-bone and brisket broth, chicken kalguksu (knife-cut noodle soup) and diner-style chicken katsu. On a chilly day the writer and her husband ordered the chicken kalguksu set with two pieces of chicken katsu, plus the pollock naengmyeon he loves, and the rich broth, perilla oil and seed sauce, and geotjeori (fresh kimchi) were the highlights. Myeongyeok is a good fit for lunch or a family meal near Sunae Station when you want naengmyeon and chicken dishes in one sitting.

Written Oct 23, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGwangju, GyeonggiRestaurants

Korean set meal with self-serve bibimbap in Chowol, Gwangju: Bomseol

Bomseol (봄설) is a two-floor hanjeongsik (Korean set meal) restaurant in Chowol, Gwangju, Gyeonggi. At lunch the writer had the Bomseol Hansang set at ₩15,000 per person: stone-pot rice, master-made banchan (side dishes), braised kodari (half-dried pollack) and cheonggukjang (fermented soybean stew), finished with the nurungji (scorched rice) from the pot. The writer also used the self-serve barley bibimbap zone, the banchan self-serve bar and the free coffee and puffed corn in the waiting area. Bomseol is a safe pick in Chowol, Gwangju for a meal with parents or a family outing.

Written Oct 23, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSongpa, SeoulRestaurants

Cold-day Jamsil sandwich shop: ₩14,000 corn soup set at Town Sandwich

Town Sandwich Jamsil Branch is a sandwich shop in the Jamsil and Sincheon area of Songpa, Seoul, that makes its sandwiches on a baguette developed in-house. On a cold day the writer ordered the All-in-One set (sandwich, drink and soup for ₩14,000, ₩2,000 off the regular price) at the kiosk and had a Town Sandwich, an Ageujak Latte (아그작라떼) and corn soup. With a baguette that is crispy outside and chewy inside plus a hot bowl of corn soup, Town Sandwich Jamsil Branch is a good spot for a filling meal.

Written Oct 18, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeongnam, GyeonggiBars

Chinese bar in Wirye: stir-fried tangsuyuk and spicy jjamppong, Waru

Waru Wirye is a Chinese pub on Wiryeseoil-ro 1-gil in Wirye, Seongnam, serving everything from jjajangmyeon (black bean noodles) and jjamppong (spicy seafood noodle soup) to Chinese drinking snacks. At Waru Wirye the writer ordered jjajangmyeon, jjamppong and stir-fried tangsuyuk (sweet and sour pork) served with fried shiitake mushrooms; the pork had no gamey smell at all, and the standard jjamppong was fairly spicy. If you want dinner and drinks in one stop in Wirye, the stir-fried tangsuyuk at Waru Wirye is well worth ordering.

Written Oct 16, 2026Sponsored