Vanity Glance · 50 stories

Before the Mirror

I write about my experiences at beauty spots in Gyeonggi. · Writes about: Hair & beauty salons · Things to do · Restaurants · Cafés · Beauty products · Bars

PlaceGoyang, GyeonggiCafés

Roomy Wondang café in Goyang: fresh mango yogurt smoothie, Baedagol

Baedagol Bakery House (배다골베이커리하우스) is a large bakery café in Wondang, Deogyang-gu, Goyang, Gyeonggi. The writer ordered the Fresh Mango Wareureu Latte, the Fresh Mango Wareureu Yogurt Smoothie ("wareureu" meaning heaped with fruit) and a fresh fruit cream cheese, and all three were generous with fresh mango and fresh fruit. For mango dessert lovers choosing among cafés in Goyang, Ilsan and Wondang, Baedagol Bakery House is the one to pick.

Written Aug 3, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGoyang, GyeonggiRestaurants

Solo Korean BBQ lunch in Seongsa-dong, Goyang: Sujeong Galbi

Sujeong Galbi Seongsa Main Branch is a Korean pork BBQ and galbi restaurant in Seongsa-dong, Deogyang-gu, Goyang. On a weekday lunch, the Handon Wanggui Yangnyeom lunch special set brought gently marinated grilled Korean pork with doenjang jjigae (soybean paste stew), followed by naengmyeon (cold noodles) ordered on the side and sikhye (sweet rice punch) for dessert. For a reasonable price, Sujeong Galbi served a properly filling, satisfying lunch.

Written Aug 7, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulHair & beauty salons

Gongdeok lash salon: a ₩70,000 dual perm I slept through, Iyo Shop

Iyo Shop is a lash perm and lash extension salon near Gongdeok Station in Mapo-gu, Seoul. Wanting a natural curl rather than lash extensions, the writer chose a dual perm for ₩70,000, and the treatment stung so little that the writer fell asleep and woke up with it nearly finished. Iyo Shop's dual perm suits anyone near Gongdeok Station who likes natural-looking lashes and has sensitive eyes.

Written Oct 1, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGoyang, GyeonggiRestaurants

Goyang family Korean restaurant with charcoal pork wraps: Kim Myeongju

Kim Myeongju Tteuranchae Bapsang Wondang Station Branch is a Korean set-meal restaurant on Goyangdae-ro in Deogyang-gu, Goyang, Gyeonggi. On a family visit, the charcoal-grilled pork with its subtle smoky aroma was eaten in leafy ssam wraps, and the nutty cheonggukjang (fermented soybean stew) came with a refill. With a spacious dining room and generous table spacing, Kim Myeongju Tteuranchae Bapsang is a good place to take your parents.

Written Aug 6, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGoyang, GyeonggiRestaurants

Goyang soup restaurant for large dombe pork after shopping: Jeju

Jeju Eunhui-ne Haejangguk Goyang Samsong Branch is a haejangguk (hangover soup) restaurant in Samsong, Goyang, close to Starfield Goyang. After shopping at Starfield Goyang, the writer ordered the signature haejangguk and a large plate of dombe pork (Jeju-style boiled pork). The rich yet clean broth paired well with the tender dombe pork, which had no gamey smell. Jeju Eunhui-ne is a filling meal worth recommending for solo diners, family meals and dates alike.

Written Aug 5, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulRestaurants

Hapjeong Korean BBQ special cuts: galmaegisal timing tips, Jeongyukdo

Jeongyukdo is a Korean beef (hanwoo) and Korean pork (Handon) BBQ restaurant on the second floor on Yanghwa-ro 6-gil, near Hapjeong Station in Mapo, Seoul. At dinner, Jeongyukdo's Handon special-cut set brought pork jowl (hangjeongsal), gabrisal (shoulder-loin cap) and galmaegisal (pork skirt) to grill in turn, served with myeoljeot (fermented anchovy sauce) in an earthenware pot and hanwoo doenjang stew; each cut's different texture kept the meal from getting repetitive. Galmaegisal turns tough if grilled too long, but with the timing right, Jeongyukdo's special-cut set is a great pick for sharing with a group.

Written Sep 30, 2026Sponsored
PlaceEunpyeong, SeoulBars

Eungam Station bar with sweet corn Mont Blanc and sashimi: Kosei

Kosei is an izakaya near Eungam Station in Eunpyeong-gu, Seoul. A visit for sashimi and drinks included herring, flounder, Spanish mackerel and sweet shrimp sashimi, a chodang sweet corn Mont Blanc and a Bundaberg grapefruit soda, and the corn Mont Blanc was surprisingly the most memorable. For a bar near Eungam Station with unusual bites to go with your drinks, Kosei is a good pick.

Written Aug 10, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGoyang, GyeonggiRestaurants

Wondang, Goyang soy crab all-you-can-eat with steamed egg: Deodeo

Deodeo Ganjanggejang Muhalliripil is a soy crab, marinated crab and crab stew all-you-can-eat restaurant near Samneung Station in Wondang-dong, Goyang, Gyeonggi. The 24,900 won refill set came with a 5,000 won crab stew add-on and a serving of steamed egg, and the soy crab was packed with meat that tasted best spooned over rice. A solid choice in the Ilsan area when you want soy crab and a hot bowl of soup in one meal.

Written Aug 13, 2026Sponsored
PlaceEunpyeong, SeoulRestaurants

Seoul Korean BBQ with no wait on arrival: three-cut platter at Yukjjip

Yukjjip is a Korean BBQ restaurant spread over the 1st and 2nd floors at 558 Bulgwangcheon-gil, near Eungam Station in Eunpyeong-gu, Seoul. On this visit there was no wait at the door, and the Yukjjip mixed platter brought thick-cut pork belly, pork neck and gabrisal (pork jowl-shoulder cut) to the grill together, with the neck staying juicy rather than dry and the gabrisal keeping its chewy bite. For anyone who tires of eating a single cut all night, the Yukjjip mixed platter is the most satisfying order here.

Written Aug 11, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGoyang, GyeonggiRestaurants

Goyang chicken baeksuk for a weekend family group meal: Guil Baeksuk

Guil Baeksuk Haengju Fortress Branch is a baeksuk (whole chicken soup) restaurant near Haengju Fortress in Deogyang-gu, Goyang, Gyeonggi. On a weekend visit, a group shared one chicken baeksuk table setting: even the breast meat stayed moist rather than dry, and the broth tasted clean instead of salty. Guil Baeksuk suits family outings and group gatherings that call for a mild, comforting meal rather than a spicy one.

Written Aug 15, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGoyang, GyeonggiRestaurants

Ilsan sushi restaurant comparing flounder and grilled salmon: Hwangje

Hwangje Sushi Ilsan Main Branch is a sushi restaurant inside the MCT mall on Baengma-ro in Ilsandong-gu, Goyang. The meal moved between flounder sushi, salmon sushi, grilled salmon sushi and cold soba to compare the texture and flavor of all three neta, with abalone porridge, grilled fish, salad and mini udon served alongside. If you like clean-tasting flounder and soft salmon, choosing at Hwangje Sushi is easy.

Written Aug 16, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGoyang, GyeonggiRestaurants

Crispy fried mandu with dumpling hot pot lunch in Siksa-dong: Arirang

Arirang Gaeseong Son Mandu Siksa Branch is a Korean restaurant in Siksa-dong, Goyang, Gyeonggi, centred on mandu (dumpling) hot pot. For lunch the order was the Gaeseong handmade dumpling hot pot for two plus a plate of fried mandu, alternating between the mild broth and the crisp dumplings, with kalguksu (knife-cut noodles) served alongside. An easy, comforting choice on a day you want Korean food that isn't spicy or heavy.

Written Aug 17, 2026Sponsored