Back Label Reader · 35 stories

Reading the Back Label

I write about beauty products, from labels to everyday use. · Writes about: Beauty products · Restaurants · Bars · Hair & beauty salons · Cafés · Shopping · Things to do

PlaceYeongdeungpo, SeoulThings to do

Picnic rental for John Park at the Seonyudo Park festival: Picnic List

Picnic List Seonyudo is a 24-hour picnic gear rental shop near Exit 2 of Seonyudo Station in Yeongdeungpo, Seoul, lending mats, wagons and camping chairs. For a John Park performance at the Seonyudo Park festival, the blogger rented Picnic List Seonyudo's 28,000 won camping set, loaded it onto a wagon and paired it with Yeongdeungpo craft beer and bunsik (Korean snack food) for an autumn night picnic. On an early-dark autumn evening, the camping set's included mood-light speaker made it especially good value.

Written Oct 25, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulRestaurants

DMC gyukatsu restaurant, 3+1 Kirin after 20,000 steps: Izawa Sangam

Izawa Sangam is a gyukatsu (breaded beef cutlet) restaurant in Sangam-dong, Mapo, Seoul, near Digital Media City Station, taking up the whole first and second floors of its building. After a 20,000-step day, the writer ordered gyukatsu and the signature dontoro-don (pork jowl rice bowl), seared the beef on a mini grill and drank four glasses of Kirin draft beer from the 3+1 deal. With 3+1 Kirin draft, Izawa Sangam's gyukatsu stayed satisfying right down to the last piece.

Written Jun 9, 2026Sponsored
PlaceWonju, GangwonRestaurants

Wonju Korean beef BBQ, brisket to ribs: 600g aged cow set at Hanmaeum

Hanmaeum Jeongyuk Sikdang Wonju Enterprise City Branch is an aged-meat butcher's restaurant in the Star Seven building in Jijeong-myeon, Wonju, Gangwon. On a Gangwon road trip, the writer ordered the aged whole cow set (600g, 76,000 won) and mom's fried rice, grilling the beef brisket first, then the chuck flap, then three rib cuts; the beef was deeply flavorful and tender, and extras included a playroom camera screen, doenjang stew refills and 5,000 won highballs. For good-value, high-quality beef in Wonju that is easy to enjoy with kids, Hanmaeum Jeongyuk Sikdang Wonju Enterprise City Branch is an easy choice.

Written Jun 16, 2026Sponsored
PlaceHongcheon, GangwonCafés

Forest-view Hongcheon brunch café before caravan check-in: Cafe Iseo

Cafe Iseo Hongcheon Branch is a red-brick brunch café in Seomyeon, Hongcheon, Gangwon, between the Palbongsan tourist area and Vivaldi Park. Before checking in at a Hongcheon caravan, the blogger ordered the guacamole open sandwich (open sandwiches are ₩17,500), a creamy shrimp pasta at medium spice and a nutty iced americano, and found the ingredients fresh throughout and the forest view relaxing. Cafe Iseo Hongcheon Branch is a good stop for brunch with a forest view on a Hongcheon trip.

Written Jun 17, 2026Sponsored
PlaceHaeundae, BusanCafés

Songjeong tea café with a friend: iced americano, Suwolgyeonghwa

Suwolgyeonghwa (수월경화) is a tea café on the 3rd and 4th floors right next to Ola Hotel in Songjeong, Haeundae, Busan, with views of the Beach Train and the sea. On a trip with a friend, the writer had an iced Migukshik Gabae (americano), an iced Melongmangseu tea and the Dalbodeure box of 5 desserts (₩13,000) in the 4th-floor café, and even the coffee at this tea house was nutty and strong. If you are heading to Songjeong Beach, Suwolgyeonghwa is worth a stop for the Beach Train view and the dessert box alone.

Written Jun 22, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYeongdeungpo, SeoulBars

Yeouido Station skewer izakaya: ₩58,000 Hungry Set for Two, Sodam

Robadayakki Sodam Yeouido Branch (로바다야끼소담 여의도점) is a Japanese robatayaki-style skewer izakaya near Exit 1 of Saetgang Station in Yeongdeungpo, Seoul. On a Friday evening, the writer, a regular with more than five visits, sat at the counter with a friend, watched the skewers being grilled, and had Set 5, the Hungry Set for Two (sashimi, mixed skewers and oden nabe, ₩58,000), with draft beer. Verdict: Robadayakki Sodam offers reasonable prices and good quality, making it an easy Yeouido izakaya pick for company dinners, get-togethers and dates.

Written Jun 29, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYeongdeungpo, SeoulRestaurants

Mullae clam shabu restaurant with hanok-style rooms: Palmi Jogae

Palmi Jogae Kalguksu (팔미 조개칼국수) is a newly opened clam shabu-shabu and kalguksu (knife-cut noodle soup) restaurant in Mullae-dong, Yeongdeungpo, Seoul. On a weekday evening the writer had the Palmi clam shabu kalguksu (18,900 won per person) as three courses: clam and meat shabu-shabu, kalguksu, then abalone innards porridge. The meal came with a welcome sangria slushie and a wasabi soy, chojang and chili sauce combo. With private rooms and an upscale hanok-style interior, Palmi Jogae Kalguksu is a solid pick for company dinners or family meals with parents.

Written Jun 26, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSuseong, DaeguRestaurants

Sincheon Market, Daegu handmade burgers: two-patty Double at Downtown

Downtown Daegu Believe Heritage is a handmade burger restaurant near Sincheon Market in Suseong, Daegu, a 12-minute walk from Daegueunhaeng Station. The writer ordered the Avocado Burger set and the Downtown Burger (Double) set and named the Downtown Burger Double, with two thick patties, as their favorite. Verdict: Downtown Daegu Believe Heritage serves the same Downtown taste the writer loved in Seoul, right here in Daegu.

Written Jul 1, 2026Sponsored
PlaceDong-gu, DaeguBars

Korean pub in Sincheon-dong, Daegu for a promotion toast: Jibduri

Jibduri Dongdaegu Station Branch is a Korean gastropub in Sincheon-dong, Dong-gu, Daegu, near Dongdaegu Station. To celebrate a junior colleague's first promotion, the writer ordered beef shank and tendon hot pot and fried makchang (intestine), paired with Sulsaem Seoseol and omija Saero, and everything from the free starter snacks to the hot pot broth kept the drinks coming. Jibduri Dongdaegu Station Branch is a Korean pub worth recommending when you want good food and a good atmosphere for a celebration or a cheer-up night.

Written Jul 9, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulRestaurants

Gangnam Station brunch with kids and friends: The Mignon Seoul

The Mignon Seoul is a European-style brunch restaurant on Gangnam-daero 102-gil, near Sinnonhyeon Station Exit 6 and Gangnam Station in Seoul. At The Mignon Seoul, a group of friends and a 5-year-old ordered seasonal fruit French toast, mentaiko burrata rosé pasta and chestnut gnocchi, 23,000 won each, and finished all three plates. Roomy 2nd-floor seating and hand cream on every table stood out. The Mignon Seoul is a strong pick for brunch near Gangnam Station.

Written Jul 6, 2026Sponsored
PlaceDong-gu, DaeguRestaurants

Dongdaegu lamb skewer bar after work with a coworker: Yangbokjeom

Yangbokjeom Dongdaegu Station Branch (양복점) is a lamb skewer and Chinese-style pub in Dong-gu, Daegu, a 9-minute walk from Exit 2 of Dongdaegu Station. After work, the writer and a younger coworker ordered one serving of jumbo lamb skewers (₩18,000), one serving of lamb flower ribs (₩26,000) and okmyeon (corn noodles, ₩8,000), and liked the thick 210g skewers, the staff cutting the ribs at the table and clothes that didn't pick up the smell. Yangbokjeom is a solid pick when you want a Tsingtao and lamb skewers after work.

Written Jul 4, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulRestaurants

After-work Korean BBQ in Hapjeong: ₩3,200 beer, corkage, Jeongyukdo

Jeongyukdo (정육도) is a Korean BBQ restaurant with a garden, tucked in an alley near Exit 5 of Hapjeong Station in Mapo, Seoul. After work on a rainy day, the writer and a friend ordered Jeongyukdo's ₩49,000 Handon Pork Set with doenjang stew, plus ₩3,200 draft beer, mul naengmyeon (cold buckwheat noodles) and kimchi fried rice. For fresh meat, cheap draft beer and ₩5,000-per-person corkage, Jeongyukdo is a solid choice.

Written Jul 10, 2026Sponsored