Mirror Stroller · 75 stories

The Beauty Visit

I share first-hand experiences of visiting beauty spots in Gyeonggi. · Writes about: Hair & beauty salons · Restaurants · Cafés · Shopping · Bars · Things to do

PlaceSeocho, SeoulCafés

Seocho cake shop, mango strawberry cake for a home birthday: Chef Cho

Chef Cho Shinsegae Department Store Gangnam is a dessert shop specializing in fruit whole cakes on B1 of Shinsegae Department Store Gangnam, at Express Bus Terminal Station in Seocho, Seoul. For a friend's birthday, the writer reserved and picked up an Apple Mango Strawberry Flower Cake No. 1 (54,000 won), then held a late-night birthday party at home after dinner. With its mountain of mango and strawberries and a moist sponge, fresh cream and fruit in balance, the writer called Chef Cho's Apple Mango Strawberry Flower Cake the best cake of the past few years.

Written Nov 1, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJung-gu, SeoulRestaurants

Halloween-decorated keto gimbap shop in Euljiro 3-ga: 29 Tamago

29 Tamago Euljiro Branch is a keto gimbap (seaweed rice roll) and rice paper roll gimbap shop on the 2nd floor near Exit 12 of Euljiro 3-ga Station in Jung-gu, Seoul. In a Halloween-decorated, party-room-style space, the blogger ate keto tuna gimbap with extra cheese, a chicken breast rice paper roll gimbap and apple-carrot soupy tteokbokki (rice cakes in broth), then took more gimbap home for dinner. With futomaki-sized rolls, generous fillings and tasty sauces, 29 Tamago Euljiro Branch is a strong recommendation for anyone looking for diet-friendly meals.

Written Oct 31, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJongno, SeoulRestaurants

Weekend gyukatsu restaurant in Jonggak: Saturday dinner at Ichigyu

Ichigyu Gwanghwamun Branch is a gyukatsu (breaded beef cutlet) restaurant on B1 of Le Meilleur Jongno Town, between Gwanghwamun Station and Jonggak Station in Jongno, Seoul. The blogger arrived a little after 5pm on a Saturday as third in line and ordered tenderloin gyukatsu, cloud udon topped with egg meringue and Stamina Steki. The Japan-style interior and the tenderloin gyukatsu grilled with butter on a small brazier stood out. For gyukatsu near Gwanghwamun and Jonggak that is open on weekends, the tenderloin gyukatsu at Ichigyu Gwanghwamun Branch is the answer.

Written May 28, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeongdong, SeoulRestaurants

Seongsu burger stop on a pop-up tour: wasabi shrimp & beer, Bas Burger

Bas Burger Seongsu is a handmade burger restaurant between Ttukseom Station and Seoulsup Station in Seongdong, Seoul. During a Seongsu pop-up tour, the writer ordered a wasabi mayo shrimp burger set with Bas Lager, crunchy boneless chicken and a chili mozzarella cheese bar, and a lifelong Zero Coke drinker tried beer with a burger for the first time and was hooked. With whole shrimp packed into the burger and a free, unlimited potato chip self-bar, Bas Burger Seongsu is an easy stop on a Seongsu pop-up or Seoulsup outing.

Written Jun 7, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeongdong, SeoulCafés

Ttukseom café run by a Chosun Hotel alum: perilla smoothie, Iridescent

Iridescent is a café in Seongsu, Seongdong-gu, Seoul, near Seoulsup and Ttukseom Station, reportedly run by an owner who used to work at the Chosun Hotel. After a solo meal in Seongsu on a hot day, the writer paid for and ordered Iridescent's signature perilla smoothie, made with 5 whole perilla leaves blended in, and found it rich in both perilla and lemon flavor, sweet and refreshing. Iridescent is a café worth returning to for its playlist, atmosphere and unusual drinks.

Written Jun 8, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGyeongju, GyeongbukRestaurants

Korean restaurant near Gyeongju World, book ahead for dinner: Hyoeunok

Hyoeunok Gyeongju Branch (효은옥 경주분점) is a Korean restaurant in Bomun, Gyeongju, specializing in minari (water dropwort) beef rib hot pot, 7 minutes by car from Gyeongju World. After a full, chilly day at Gyeongju World, the writer and a friend had the Gyeongju Minari Beef Rib Hot Pot 5-Item Set (65,900 won for 2–4 people) for dinner; Hyoeunok was already full with the waitlist closed, so only their reservation got them a table. If Gyeongju World is on your schedule, book Hyoeunok ahead.

Written Oct 22, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJongno, SeoulRestaurants

Jonggak Exit 4 Korean BBQ, foreign-language menu: Jonggak-ap Nosang

Jonggak-ap Nosang (고기꾼김춘배 종로직영점) is a charcoal Korean BBQ restaurant in Jongno, Seoul, on the 5th floor of the Sinchon Hwangso Gopchang building, a 3–4 minute walk from Jonggak Station Exit 4. Two friends ordered the recommended set for two (today's hanwoo, pork neck and pork belly), staff grilled every cut at the table, and the friend named the charcoal-scented pork neck the best of the meal. With half-and-half naengmyeon (cold noodles) and kkakdugi fried rice that comes out right away, Jonggak-ap Nosang is a filling Korean BBQ spot in Jonggak for two.

Written Jun 13, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGwanak, SeoulRestaurants

Sillim Station diet food spot: perilla pasta & mango drink, Prepers

Prepers Diet Food Sillim Main Branch is a diet food restaurant a 1-minute walk from Exit 3 of Sillim Station in Gwanak, Seoul. Eating solo, the writer had the Beef Cheongyang Perilla Oil Pasta (₩14,900, with Cheongyang chili) and a Mango Amino Drink (₩3,900), then took a fat-free Greek yogurt (₩5,900) home. With a generous meat topping on the pasta and sugar-free, fat-free drinks, Prepers Sillim Main Branch is a strong recommendation for dieters.

Written Jun 12, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJongno, SeoulRestaurants

Cheonggyecheon Chinese restaurant: kung pao chicken bowl, Cheonghwa

Cheonghwa Uyuk Dosakmyeon is a Chinese beef noodle and dim sum restaurant at 19 Jongno, Jongno-gu, Seoul, near Cheonggyecheon between Gwanghwamun Station and Jonggak Station. Two friends ordered beef knife-cut noodles (11,000 won), chewy crystal dumplings (9,800 won) and a kung pao chicken rice bowl (10,800 won) tried for the first time, and all three dishes were satisfying. Open daily with no break time, Cheonghwa Uyuk Dosakmyeon is an easy stop on a weekend outing to Cheonggyecheon or Gwanghwamun.

Written Jun 15, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGyeongju, GyeongbukCafés

Gyeongju walnut pastry shop: almond praline is ₩3,000 extra, Buja Hodu

Buja Hodu (부자호두) is a walnut pastry (hodu-gwaja) shop on the main street of Hwangnidan-gil in Gyeongju. The writer bought a 24-piece boxed mix for ₩27,000 and an iced americano for the trip back to Seoul, then cut open and tasted the original red bean, pea cream cheese and matcha flavors at home. The verdict: Buja Hodu's almond praline flavor is not in the mix and costs ₩3,000 extra, so ask for it before you order.

Written Oct 19, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGeumcheon, SeoulRestaurants

Gasan burger lunch: avocado set & chicken bites, Downtown Gasan Public

Downtown Gasan Public (다운타우너 가산퍼블릭) is a handmade burger shop in Building A of Public Gasan in Geumcheon-gu, Seoul, and appears to operate together with Clap Pizza. For lunch, the writer ordered the signature Avocado Set, added Original Chicken Bites and swapped the set drink for Apple Cider Vinegar Zero. The writer rated the Downtown Gasan Public avocado burger the best handmade burger they had eaten recently.

Written Jun 16, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGyeongju, GyeongbukRestaurants

Gyeongju Korean restaurant, bar-seat lunch and fig persimmon: Goyu

Goyu (고유) is a modern Korean restaurant in a tiled-roof, hanok-style building on the main street of Hwangnidan-gil in Gyeongju, Gyeongbuk. For lunch on day two of a Gyeongju trip, the writer booked Goyu through Naver, sat at the bar counter and ordered pork kimchi jjim (braised kimchi stew) for 2, gangdoenjang ssambap (rice with lettuce wraps and thick soybean paste) topped with cold sliced pork, and a red bean, butter and fig dried persimmon for dessert. The hearty kimchi jjim, nutty soybean paste and sweet, chewy persimmon all hit the mark, and with Daereungwon and Cheomseongdae within walking distance, Goyu is an easy recommendation for a Korean meal on Hwangnidan-gil.

Written Oct 17, 2026Sponsored