Light Pouch Traveler · 15 stories

Light Pouch, Seoul-Daegu/Gyeongbuk-Busan/Gyeongnam Restaurants, Cafes and Beauty

Writes about restaurants, cafes, and beauty finds across Seoul, Daegu-Gyeongbuk, and Busan-Gyeongnam. · Writes about: Restaurants · Cafés · Beauty products · Hair & beauty salons

PlaceGangnam, SeoulRestaurants

Seolleung eel bowl & Hanwoo nabe with acorn jelly salad: Manmok

Manmok (만목) is a Japanese restaurant serving Kanto-style eel rice bowls and Hanwoo nabe (Korean beef hot pot) near Exit 2 of Seolleung Station in Gangnam, Seoul. Two close friends shared a 260g Hanwoo nabe (63,000 won) and a whole-eel rice bowl (39,000 won), along with a 7-dish banchan spread, acorn jelly salad, matsutake soup, chawanmushi and matcha and black tea ice cream. If you miss the eel rice bowls you ate in Japan, Manmok's eel bowl and Hanwoo nabe combination is a satisfying choice.

Written Jun 10, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJinju, GyeongnamHair & beauty salons

Jinju esthetic salon for swollen calves & scalp breakouts: Jamae Salon

Jamae Salon Esthetic (자매살롱에스테틱) is a newly opened 1:1 esthetic and hair salon run by two sisters on Jinju-daero in Jinju, Gyeongnam, on the site of the old Gaho-dong police substation. The writer's calves were swollen from long hours of standing at work, and her scalp had red scabs and pimples. At Jamae Salon Esthetic she had lower-body care and scalp care together, including oil massage, bamboo therapy, toe massage and a leg massager. Afterward her legs felt clearly more comfortable, and her scalp breakouts had noticeably eased.

Written Jun 18, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJung-gu, BusanRestaurants

Salad shop lunch after Busan Station: pork neck pasta salad, PARENTS

PARENTS Coffee & Salad Jungang-dong Branch is a salad, poke and wrap shop in the office district near Jungang Station in Jung-gu, Busan. On a summer trip to Busan, the writer went to PARENTS straight after getting off at Busan Station for a first meal: seasoned pork neck pasta salad with Oriental dressing, tart cherry and pomegranate juices, plus a smoked duck wrap to go. With 9 dressings and generous vegetables, PARENTS Coffee & Salad is the writer's number one salad spot of all those visited recently.

Written Jun 19, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulRestaurants

Gangnam Korean BBQ room, bear-ice highball, kimchi noodles: Gogikkun

Gogikkun Kimchunbae Gangnam (고기꾼김춘배 강남점) is a Korean BBQ restaurant between Gangnam Station and Sinnonhyeon Station in Seoul serving Handon-certified Korean pork, with a main hall on the 3rd floor and private rooms on the 4th. In the 4th-floor 'Ra' room, the writer grilled premium selected pork neck and five-layer pork belly alongside an omija highball with bear-shaped ice, kimchi mari guksu (cold noodles in kimchi broth) and beef doenjang stew; the rooms have hangers and blankets, and the staff even hand out dental floss and candy. For pork neck and kimchi noodles in a quiet private room, Gogikkun Kimchunbae Gangnam is a good fit.

Written Oct 16, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulHair & beauty salons

Seolleung doll-curl lash lift before a trip abroad: On The Boutique

On The Boutique (온더부티크) is a lash lift and sugaring wax beauty salon in Gangnam, Seoul, a 1-minute walk from Exit 4 of Seonjeongneung Station. Before an overseas trip, the writer, who has prominent eyes with double eyelids, got On The Boutique's On The Ttolmang Perm (a lash lift). The stinging during the treatment was mild, and her droopy lashes were lifted high like a doll's. For anyone who wants less eye makeup on a trip, the On The Ttolmang Perm at On The Boutique is a good fit.

Written Oct 15, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSuseong, DaeguHair & beauty salons

Suseong, Daegu contour salon for face asymmetry: The Esthetic Sumiwon

The Esthetic Sumiwon Daegu Suseong-gu branch is a skin and facial contouring salon on B2 of the Doosan We've the Zenith shopping arcade in Beomeo-dong, Suseong-gu, Daegu. Troubled by an asymmetric face and a square jaw, the writer had 1 small face contouring session that included décolleté care, and saw rounded shoulders, trapezius muscles and the face line become more defined. After just 1 session at The Esthetic Sumiwon, the uneven shoulder height and upper arm line looked noticeably different, and the writer is 100% set on going back.

Written Jun 21, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSuseong, DaeguHair & beauty salons

Brightening facial for dull skin in Suseong, Daegu: La Belle Cheongdam

La Belle Cheongdam is a one-on-one, appointment-only skin care studio in Suseong, Daegu, near Eorinihoegwan Station. The writer's oily-but-dehydrated skin had turned dull and rough from sun exposure and late nights watching the World Cup, so she booked the brightening care: exfoliation, LDM hydration, a CO2 carbonic mask, a whitening ampoule and a modeling mask, and her skin tone looked clearly brighter afterward. The owner's care, adjusted to her skin's condition and explained product by product, was the biggest reason to recommend La Belle Cheongdam.

Written Jun 27, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulRestaurants

Poke shop in Seolleung: smoked duck + yuzu, steak + sesame, Hola Poke

Hola Poke Seolleung Branch is a poke restaurant on the 2nd floor of the first alley of the food street by Seolleung Station Exit 2 in Gangnam, Seoul. Two diners ordered the smoked duck poke with teriyaki sauce and the steak poke with black sesame sauce, then added yuzu and sesame dressings from the self-serve corner. Verdict: yuzu dressing on the smoked duck poke and sesame dressing on the black sesame steak poke were the best pairings.

Written Oct 14, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulRestaurants

Seolleung Station steak restaurant, butter-grilled flat iron: Kkuudeok

Kkuudeok Seolleung Main Branch (꾸우덕) is a pasta and steak restaurant a 5-minute walk from Seolleung Station in Gangnam, Seoul. The writer booked ahead and went with the close older friend who had recommended Kkuudeok, sharing the Kkuudeok Hansang Set of flat iron steak, bacon carbonara pasta and spicy crab cream risotto; the highlight was grilling the pre-seared flat iron steak in butter at the table and dipping it in scallion soy sauce. With a clean, cool dining room, Kkuudeok Seolleung Main Branch is a solid Seolleung Station pick for a date or a special occasion.

Written Jul 1, 2026Sponsored
ProductMeomchitBeauty products

Summer cooling shampoo and body wash for oily scalp: Meomchit Biotox

Meomchit (Meomchit) Biotox Cooling Shampoo & Body Wash is a summer cooling set with a low-irritation, mildly acidic formula, sold in 1000mL bottles with a Green Forest scent. The writer, who has sensitive skin and an oily scalp that turns greasy within a day, used the Meomchit Biotox shampoo and body wash for about a week and found that they lathered well, the cooling feeling lasted, and the scalp felt refreshed. Meomchit Biotox Cooling Shampoo & Body Wash suits anyone who wants a cool, refreshing shower to deal with summer sweat odor and heat.

Written Jul 3, 2026Product provided
PlaceGangnam, SeoulHair & beauty salons

Gangnam barbershop: fast-growing bangs cut to the eyebrow line, Divers

Divers Barbershop Gangnam-gu Office Station Branch is a men's barbershop on basement level 1 of SK Hub Blue on Hakdong-ro in Gangnam, Seoul. The writer's fast-growing bangs were cut to the eyebrow line, and the sides were tidied and given a down perm; the barber suggested lightening the heavy bangs before being asked, and the style came out exactly as hoped. For men whose bangs quickly get shaggy, the 1:1 consultation cut at Divers Barbershop Gangnam-gu Office Station Branch is a great fit.

Written Jul 3, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulRestaurants

Seolleung gyukatsu like Kamakura's, grilled in butter: Gyuen Dang

Gyuen Dang Seolleung Branch (규엔당 선릉점) is a gyukatsu (breaded, seared beef cutlet) restaurant on the 2nd floor of a building on Seolleung-ro 86-gil, a 4-minute walk from Seolleung Station in Gangnam, Seoul. Two diners who never forgot the gyukatsu they ate in Kamakura near Tokyo ordered the sirloin gyukatsu and tenderloin gyukatsu, grilled the slices on the table brazier and tried the tip of melting a quartered pat of butter on top. For a Japanese atmosphere and Japan-style gyukatsu in Seolleung, Gyuen Dang Seolleung Branch is a good choice.

Written Oct 11, 2026Sponsored