Loose Thread Log · 8 stories

Loose Thread, Seoul-Gyeonggi Restaurants, Cafes and Beauty

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

PlaceGangseo, SeoulRestaurants

Pasta lunch near Seoul Botanic Park: spicy aglio e olio, Pasta Go

Pasta Go Magok Branch is a pasta and pizza restaurant in Magok, Seoul, right in front of Seoul Botanic Park near Magongnaru Station. A married couple who work in Magongnaru came for a weekday lunch and ordered aglio e olio and garlic butter cream pasta at Shin Ramyun spice level with shrimp, plus a palm-sized sweet potato pizza. Two pastas and one pizza is just the right amount for two, and with 20% off dine-in or takeout, Pasta Go Magok Branch is an easy, affordable lunch for Magok office workers.

Written Jun 16, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulCafés

Yeonnam-dong terrace café popular with foreigners: Hippo Brunch House

Hippo Brunch House is a terrace brunch café in a converted detached house at the end of an alley in Yeonnam-dong, Seoul. On a weekday lunch visit with a friend, the writer sat by a 1st-floor window and ordered an iced americano, truffle cream soup and avocado open toast, and 6 of the 8 tables were foreign guests, giving Hippo Brunch House a hip atmosphere. The truffle cream soup divided opinion, but the avocado open toast at Hippo Brunch House is a strong recommendation.

Written Jun 22, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYeongdeungpo, SeoulRestaurants

Yeouido gyukatsu restaurant, kids missing Tokyo's taste: Izawa

Izawa Yeouido Direct Store is a gyukatsu (breaded beef cutlet) restaurant one minute from Exit 5 of Yeouido Station in Yeongdeungpo, Seoul. On a Saturday evening, a family whose kids missed the gyukatsu from a Tokyo trip ordered 3 gyukatsu sets and 1 cold soba at Izawa and grilled the beef to taste on the two braziers set at each table. Izawa is not cheap, but it is a Yeouido gyukatsu spot worth recommending to families or couples who want that Tokyo taste again.

Written Jun 18, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGoyang, GyeonggiHair & beauty salons

Foot care shop in Ilsan: toenail scaling and callus removal at Refus

Refus Ilsan Janghang (레푸스 일산장항점) is a foot care shop in Western Dom, Ilsan (Goyang, Gyeonggi), specializing in foot calluses, ingrown toenails and toenail fungus. Ahead of sandal season, the writer booked the Signature Total Care (toenail scaling plus callus removal, ₩150,000, about 1 hour 30 minutes) for deep calluses on the outer edges of the feet and heels, and learned in the consultation that flat feet were the cause. Refus Ilsan Janghang is not cheap, but the private 1:1 room, the hygiene and the careful explanations made the visit worth it.

Written Jun 30, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangseo, SeoulRestaurants

Magok taco restaurant for a booked weekday lunch date: Taqueros

Taqueros Magok Main Branch is a Mexican taco restaurant on the 2nd floor of Magok GMG Tower, near Exit 3 of Magok Station in Seoul. The writer and their husband booked a weekday lunch for two and ordered the Taqueros Signature Couple Set for 2 (56,000 won), with fajitas plus fish and chicken tacos. The separated tables and the 10-minute walk to Seoul Botanic Park made it a satisfying date spot. At Taqueros, the fish taco was far more impressive than the chicken taco.

Written Jul 20, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGochang, JeonbukRestaurants

Gochang loach soup tip from Dolmen Site staff: Sangol Chueojeong

Sangol Chueojeong Gochang Main Branch is a Korean loach soup (chueotang) restaurant on Sanjeong-gil in Gochang-eup, Gochang, Jeonbuk. After touring the Gochang Dolmen Site, the writer took the kids to Sangol Chueojeong on a local staff member's recommendation, got waiting number 7 a little before 12 p.m., and tried rich loach soup with pot rice, tender boiled pork, a cheese pork cutlet, handmade tofu side dishes and misugaru (roasted grain drink). Sangol Chueojeong was worth the wait for a family lunch on a Gochang trip.

Written Oct 7, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangseo, SeoulRestaurants

Kid-friendly hot pot in Magok, Seoul: mild tonkotsu broth, J's Pot

J's Pot Magok Branch is a one-pot-per-person hot pot restaurant on the B2 dining floor of COEX Magok in Gangseo, Seoul. On a weekday evening the writer, her husband and their two children (ages 9 and 7) split their broths: mild pork bone (tonkotsu) broth for the kids and mala broth for the adults, plus orange chicken and a kids' menu dish. J's Pot Magok Branch suits family dinners with kids so well that the picky 7-year-old asked to come back.

Written Jul 29, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJeonju, JeonbukRestaurants

Jeonju family-trip BBQ: plain vs marinated beef ribs at Ubookgeum

Ubookgeum Saenggalbi Seosin Branch is a beef short rib restaurant in Seosin-dong, Jeonju, right in front of Lotte Department Store. A family visiting Jeonju from Seoul arrived at 7:30 pm and ordered both plain (unmarinated) and marinated beef short ribs (500g for ₩58,000). The kids preferred the plain ribs, the husband liked the sweet marinated ones, and staff grilled everything, even cutting the meat off the bones. Ubookgeum Saenggalbi has a wait even in the evening, so booking ahead is a must.

Written Oct 2, 2026Sponsored
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