Fine Brow Pencil · 9 stories

Thin Brow, Gyeonggi Beauty and Cafes

Writes about cafes, restaurants, and beauty spots she visits around Seoul and Gyeonggi. · Writes about: Restaurants · Hair & beauty salons · Cafés

PlaceDongducheon, GyeonggiRestaurants

Dongducheon Korean restaurant for kids: seaweed soup, Sokchobaram

Sokchobaram (속초바람) is a Korean restaurant on Pyeonghwa-ro in Dongducheon, Gyeonggi, specializing in braised pollock (kodari jorim) and pollock stew (dongtae-tang). The writer went for dinner with an elementary-school son who was craving seaweed soup, ordered the siraegi (dried radish greens) braised pollock for ₩15,000, and refilled side dishes from the self-serve bar twice. Sokchobaram's sweet-and-spicy braised pollock, seaweed soup and side dishes make for a filling meal with a child.

Written Jun 13, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulRestaurants

Gangnam Station Chinese spot: solo honey char siu bowl, Namsogwan

Namsogwan U Yuk Dosakmyeon (남소관우육도삭면) is a two-floor Chinese restaurant on Teheran-ro 1-gil near Exit 11 of Gangnam Station in Seoul. On a solo dinner visit, the honey char siu rice bowl came with its sauce on the side, sweet rather than salty, and the bowl was finished to the last grain; the shrimp spring rolls were crisp outside, but the shrimp inside tasted slightly undercooked. Namsogwan U Yuk Dosakmyeon is a tidy spot for a solo Chinese meal or a group dinner at Gangnam Station, and the honey char siu rice bowl is the dish to order.

Written Jun 20, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulRestaurants

Solo-dining pasta spot by Gangnam Station, perilla pasta: Eulji Darak

Eulji Darak Gangnam Station is a chandelier-lit Western restaurant on the 2nd floor of a building on Gangnam-daero 96-gil near Gangnam Station in Seoul. After a visit to a nearby dermatology clinic, the writer ate alone at Eulji Darak and ordered the brisket perilla pasta (19,000 won), a katsu sando (12,000 won) and a Darak Ade Pineapple (6,900 won). Thanks to the nutty perilla seeds and fragrant perilla leaves, the writer finished the generous pasta portion without it feeling greasy. Verdict: Eulji Darak is an easy Gangnam Station pick for an unusual pasta, even when dining solo.

Written Jun 25, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeocho, SeoulCafés

Public-holiday café in Sinnonhyeon: print, lunch & study at Selecto

Selecto Coffee Sinnonhyeon Branch is a 24-hour auto-brew café near Exit 1 of Sinnonhyeon Station in Seocho, Seoul. On a public holiday, after buying an album at Kyobo Hottracks, the writer had a Geisha blend and a kabocha egg sandwich for lunch at Selecto Coffee, printed documents at 100 won (black-and-white) or 300 won (color), and worked in a partitioned study zone with outlets. Coffee, lunch, printing and work can all be handled in one stop at Selecto Coffee Sinnonhyeon.

Written Jul 19, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYangju, GyeonggiRestaurants

Yangju galbi house, full on a weeknight: galbi naengmyeon wraps, Manpo

Manpo Garden is a Korean barbecue restaurant on Godeok-ro in Yangju, Gyeonggi, specializing in handmade Handon (Korean pork) galbi. On a weekday evening, the family ate 3 servings of handmade Handon galbi and tried both the mul (cold broth) and bibim (spicy) versions of the free house-made Hamheung naengmyeon, then finished with self-serve puffed-rice ice cream. With yukhoe (beef tartare) and yukjeon (pan-fried beef) served as standard sides and free self-serve bar refills, Manpo Garden is a satisfying galbi restaurant for a family dinner in Yangju.

Written Jul 14, 2026Sponsored
PlaceUijeongbu, GyeonggiRestaurants

Uijeongbu cold noodle spot for solo bibim naengmyeon: Daedae Myeonok

Daedae Myeonok (대대면옥) is a Korean restaurant on Gosan-ro in Gosan-dong, Uijeongbu, Gyeonggi, specializing in naengmyeon (cold noodles) and seasoned grilled pork. The writer went alone around 4 pm on a weekend, ordered bibim naengmyeon (11,000 won) and a 250g half plate of seasoned grilled pork (12,000 won), and finished both: sweet-spicy noodles that are easy even for people who can't handle heat, paired with tender pork with a charcoal aroma. For a solo meal at Daedae Myeonok, bibim naengmyeon with the 250g pork half plate is the combo to order.

Written Jul 27, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangdong, SeoulRestaurants

Best-ever tonkatsu near Olympic Park with ebi fry: Riae Premium

Riae Premium Olympic Park Branch is a Japanese tonkatsu (breaded pork cutlet) restaurant in Seongnae-dong, Gangdong, Seoul, near Olympic Park. The writer booked a 2 p.m. table on Naver with a friend and ordered the Premium Special Loin + Ebi Fry with 2 shrimp (23,000 won), the cold soba loin set (19,500 won) and a side of Tokyo spicy curry (5,500 won); on weekends, even at 2 p.m., about 6 groups wait roughly 50 minutes. The writer calls Riae Premium's special loin the best tonkatsu they have ever eaten and would come back for the same order.

Written Jul 28, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYangju, GyeonggiRestaurants

Yangju Korean BBQ, family of 3 orders 2 galbi + bibimbap: Manpo Galbi

Manpo Galbi Yangju Main Branch is a charcoal-grill galbi (marinated ribs) restaurant on Songnang-ro in Yangju, Gyeonggi. A family of three ordered 2 servings of galbi plus a ₩15,000 yukhoe bibimbap (beef tartare rice bowl) instead of 3 galbi servings, and the complimentary yukhoe, yukjeon (pan-fried beef) and free dessert naengmyeon (cold noodles) left everyone full. Manpo Galbi's mildly marinated galbi and its yukhoe bibimbap, seasoned only with sesame oil and gochujang, pair well for a family meal out.

Written Jul 30, 2026Sponsored
PlaceUijeongbu, GyeonggiRestaurants

Squid bulgogi set for 3 at Daebak Haemulchon, a Uijeongbu restaurant

Daebak Haemulchon Uijeongbu Main Branch is a Korean seafood and bossam (boiled pork wrap) restaurant near Exit 1 of Uijeongbu Station on the light rail in Uijeongbu, Gyeonggi. A family of three shared the Obul Special for 52,000 won, which brings squid bulgogi, squid bossam and naengmyeon (cold noodles), and added rice balls as a side. Daebak Haemulchon is a good pick for group dinners and family gatherings when everyone wants something different, whether seafood, bossam or soju.

Written Aug 3, 2026Sponsored
You've reached the end · 9 stories