Ansan Pouch Explorer · 58 stories

Beauty, Up Close

I write about my firsthand beauty experiences in Seoul. · Writes about: Hair & beauty salons · Restaurants · Cafés · Bars · Shopping · Things to do

PlaceGwangjin, SeoulRestaurants

Retro gopdori-tang pub at Konkuk Univ.: rice cake dori-tang, Segyegwan

Segyegwan Charcoal Gopdori-tang Konkuk Univ. branch is a newly opened, retro-style gopdori-tang (spicy chicken stew with beef intestines) pub on the food street by Konkuk Univ. Station in Gwangjin, Seoul. Two friends ordered a medium Malang Tteok-dori-tang (soft rice cake chicken stew), a Cheese Crispy Kimchi Pancake and Andong Perilla Oil Acorn Noodles for 53,000 won, and also tried yukhoe (Korean beef tartare) from the opening event. With generous portions and an upscale mood, Segyegwan Charcoal Gopdori-tang Konkuk Univ. branch is a good pick for a night out with friends or a date.

Written May 9, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeongdong, SeoulRestaurants

Seongsu Thai restaurant, 10-shrimp curry & first menbosha: Soi Nana

Soi Nana (소이나나) Seongsu is a Thai restaurant on Seongsui-ro 22-gil near Seongsu Station Exit 2 in Seoul. After a pop-up outing, two friends returned at 5 p.m. on a weekday and ordered kung pad pong curry (shrimp curry), bun cha, menbosha (fried shrimp toast) and a Pepsi Lime Zero for ₩55,800. Because they didn't order rice noodles, Soi Nana served a large free bowl of rice noodle broth. For mild, Korean-friendly Thai food in Seongsu, Soi Nana Seongsu is a safe pick.

Written Oct 30, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeongdong, SeoulRestaurants

Eel BBQ buffet in Seongsu, back for dinner with a friend: Songnim Bok

Songnim Bok Jangeo Unlimited Freshwater Eel Seongsu Branch is a charcoal-grill buffet on Seongdeokjeong-gil in Seongdong, Seoul, serving unlimited freshwater eel, pork belly and chicken neck. After a satisfying first visit, the writer returned with a friend on a weekday evening and found Songnim Bok Jangeo already full around 6:30 pm. The thick eel came off the charcoal with eel sauce, pickled perilla leaves, white kimchi and lettuce wraps. At 29,900 won per adult for unlimited eel and meat, the revisit was still great value.

Written Oct 28, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeongdong, SeoulRestaurants

Seongsu burger joint for shrimp fans & meat fans at 5 PM: bd Burger

bd Burger Seongsu Station Yeonmujang-gil Lunch & Dinner is a handmade burger restaurant on the 2nd floor of a Yeonmujang-gil side street near Exit 3 of Seongsu Station in Seongdong, Seoul. The writer went back to bd Burger with a friend around 5 PM on a weekday, and they shared a big-size wasabi shrimp set, a double cheese burger set, butter garlic fries and corn salad for ₩51,000. Verdict: bd Burger keeps both the seafood fan and the meat fan happy, and with no break time it remains a go-to burger spot for Seongsu outings.

Written Oct 27, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeongdong, SeoulRestaurants

Seongsu Station Western restaurant with no break time: Seongsu Darak

Seongsu Darak is an attic-themed Western restaurant on the 2nd floor of 20 Ttukseom-ro 9-gil in Seongdong, Seoul, about a 5-minute walk from Seongsu Station Exit 3. The writer visited Seongsu Darak with a friend around 3pm on a weekday, since it has no break time, ordering the spicy crab risotto (₩18,000), chopped pork neck steak (₩22,000) and yuja ade (₩6,900), and watched it fill up with foreign tourists by nearly 4pm. For a meal in Seongsu during the usual break-time hours, the crab-loaded spicy crab risotto at Seongsu Darak is a good choice.

Written Jun 1, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeongdong, SeoulRestaurants

Dog-friendly Taiwanese food in Seongsu after break time: Bao Seoul

Bao Seoul Seongsu is a Taiwanese restaurant on Yeonmujang-gil in Seongsu, Seoul, serving bao, rice bowls and beef noodle soup, and dogs of any breed or weight may come in as long as they are in a carrier. The writer visited Bao Seoul Seongsu right after break time with a friend and their dog Jiana, ordering classic bao, a dongpo pork (braised pork belly) rice bowl and Taiwanese beef noodle soup for 44,000 won in total; the tender beef in the noodle soup and the dongpo pork bowl topped with pickled mustard greens and Taiwanese-style kimchi stood out. Bao Seoul Seongsu is worth a stop if you want a Taiwanese night-market feel in Seongsu with your dog.

Written Jun 3, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeongdong, SeoulCafés

Seongsu yogurt café with a dog: Claire & dog Single, Lazy Yogurt

Lazy Yogurt Seongsu is a dog- and cat-friendly Greek yogurt café inside Seongsu Yeonbang in Seongdong, Seoul. It specialises in handmade organic Greek yogurt aged at low temperature for 72 hours. The writer visited with her dog Jiana and ordered a Claire Double, a plain Double topped with seasonal fruit (peach) and dried fig, and a plain Single for Jiana, paying 26,700 won in total. Lazy Yogurt Seongsu is a good dog-friendly dessert café in Seongsu where people and dogs can each enjoy their own bowl of thick Greek yogurt.

Written Jun 3, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulRestaurants

Hapjeong rib restaurant: kimchi galbi-jjim and crispy jeon, Bongmaruji

Bongmaruji Hapjeong (봉마루집 합정점) is a braised pork rib restaurant on Yanghwa-ro 6-gil in Mapo, Seoul. On a weekday after work, the writer and a friend ordered the Rice Thief aged kimchi galbi-jjim (braised ribs) for 2 at spice level 1, a bite-size crispy assorted jeon (Korean savory pancakes) platter and 2 bowls of rice, for 47,000 won in total. With aged kimchi, thick pork ribs and freshly fried jeon that pair well together, Bongmaruji Hapjeong is a good pick for a homestyle Korean dinner or a casual drink.

Written Mar 5, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGunpo, GyeonggiRestaurants

Sanbon fish restaurant, croaker dinner with Mom: Sokcho Fish Market

Sokcho Fish Market Sanbon branch is a raw fish restaurant in the Sanbon Jungsim shopping district in Gunpo, Gyeonggi, serving live sashimi, set menus, seafood sides and meal dishes. The writer visited Sokcho Fish Market Sanbon branch with her mother on a weekday evening and ordered the Mokpo croaker set for 2 (₩99,000) with croaker (minyeo) sashimi, croaker jeon (pan-fried fillets) and croaker soup, and the croaker soup broth stood out as refreshing and deep. Sokcho Fish Market Sanbon branch is a good choice in Sanbon for a family health-boost meal that pairs sashimi with a warm soup.

Written Jun 6, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeongdong, SeoulRestaurants

Seongsu Station burger joint: split wasabi & Buldak shrimp, bd Burger

bd Burger Seongsu is a handmade burger restaurant on the 2nd floor on Seongsui-ro 14-gil, near Exits 3 and 4 of Seongsu Station in Seoul. After browsing the Seongsu pop-ups, the writer and a friend arrived around 8 PM. They split a big wasabi shrimp set, a Buldak (spicy fire chicken sauce) shrimp set, fried eggplant and a milkshake upgrade for 50,000 won in total. Alternating the clean wasabi burger with the spicy Buldak burger and dipping fries in the milkshake made bd Burger Seongsu a handmade burger spot whose shrimp patties have real character.

Written Jun 7, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGwangjin, SeoulRestaurants

24-hour sundae gopchang hot pot in Hwayang-dong, Seoul: Boseunghoegwan

Boseunghoegwan Seongsu Geondae (보승회관 성수건대점) is a 24-hour gukbap (Korean rice soup) restaurant at Hwayang intersection in Hwayang-dong, Gwangjin, Seoul. On a return visit with a friend, two people shared sundae gopchang jeongol (blood sausage and pork intestine hot pot) for 2 at ₩32,000, pork head slices at ₩11,000 and two bowls of rice, and the spicy broth grew richer as it boiled and paired well with white rice. For a late-night solo meal or a drink over gukbap, Boseunghoegwan Seongsu Geondae is a dependable choice.

Written Jun 8, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangneung, GangwonRestaurants

Gangneung tofu restaurant, lunch with Mom for ₩54,000: Jeong Eunsuk

Jeong Eunsuk Chodang Sundubu (정은숙초당순두부) is a TV-featured soft tofu restaurant in Chodang-dong, Gangneung, across from the Heo Nanseolheon birthplace site. On a weekday around 11:30 a.m., the writer and her mom ordered the Chodang Premium Table for 2 (₩50,000) and 2 Coke Zeros, for a total of ₩54,000; by noon Jeong Eunsuk Chodang Sundubu was full with a line outside. The soft tofu hot pot, grilled seasoned kodari and tofu samhap were plenty for two, and Mom praised it as a thoughtful lunch.

Written Oct 24, 2026Sponsored