Brush Light Logger · 54 stories

Brush and Light

I write about my experiences visiting beauty spots in Seoul. · Writes about: Tech & gadgets · Hair & beauty salons · Restaurants · Cafés · Shopping · Bars

PlaceNamdong, IncheonRestaurants

Japanese spot in Nonhyeon, Incheon: à la carte salmon-tuna scoop sushi

Hongdae Gureume Incheon Nonhyeon Branch (홍대구루메 인천논현점) is a Japanese restaurant on the 2nd floor of the iFlex Building in front of Nonhyeon Station in Namdong, Incheon. The writer, a regular who has been back many times, ordered the salmon and tuna scoop sushi (a chirashi-style rice bowl) à la carte, 5,000 won cheaper than the set, plus the Mixed Katsu B with loin, cheese and shrimp, and was pleased with the crispy frying and the filling chirashi sushi. Hongdae Gureume Incheon Nonhyeon Branch is a dependable Japanese restaurant in Nonhyeon-dong, Incheon, for dates, solo meals and family dinners alike.

Written Oct 25, 2026Sponsored
PlaceBupyeong, IncheonRestaurants

Bupyeong Station Exit 28 seafood jjim, iron-pan fried rice: Donghae

Haemulmyeongga Donghae Haemultang (해물명가 동해해물탕) is a seafood jjim (spicy braised seafood) and seafood stew restaurant on the seafood stew street in Bupyeong, Incheon, with free parking and a spacious dining hall. The writer and her mom shared a small seafood jjim for 45,000 won and one portion of fried rice for 3,000 won, and especially loved the side dishes (mussel soup, soy sauce marinated crab and savory pancake) and the deeply savory sauce. Haemulmyeongga Donghae Haemultang is a good fit for family or group meals when you want seafood jjim loaded with roe and milt.

Written Jun 9, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulRestaurants

Hongdae Korean restaurant revisited for a solo Spam set: Bap Jangin

Bap Jangin Hongdae Branch is a Korean restaurant near Exit 8 of Hongik Univ. Station in Mapo, Seoul, serving jjageuli (spicy pork stew), kimchi stew and bulgogi. The writer, a regular since college, returned alone after a long break, ordered the 1-person Spam set with jjageuli and added steamed egg. With plenty of single-person tables and a self-serve side-dish bar, Bap Jangin Hongdae Branch is an easy pick for a solo Korean meal in Hongdae.

Written Oct 22, 2026Sponsored
PlaceAnyang, GyeonggiRestaurants

Anyang Arts Park shabu-shabu by bus: ₩14,900 lunch, Ppongip Sarang

Ppongip Sarang Anyang Arts Park branch (뽕잎사랑 안양예술공원점) is a shabu-shabu restaurant at Anyang Arts Park in Anyang, Gyeonggi, serving shabu-shabu, bossam (boiled pork), kalguksu (knife-cut noodles) and fried rice as one course. The writer came by bus on a weekday and ordered the Ppongip Sarang Special Shabu-shabu lunch (14,900 won per person) for two, with the spicy broth and tender bossam as highlights. Verdict: a satisfying lunch course, but add clear broth before the fried rice, because long-simmered spicy broth makes it too salty.

Written Oct 19, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulRestaurants

Hongdae tavern-style chicken hot pot & skewer jeon: Ttukdak Hongdae

Ttukdak Hongdae is a chicken restaurant in Hongdae, Seoul, a 2-minute walk from Exits 8–9 of Hongik Univ. Station, serving dakhanmari (whole-chicken hot pot), dakjjim, dakgalbi, bossam and jeon. On a weekday the writer had chicken hot pot for 2 (30,000 won), small gabri bossam (boiled pork, 29,000 won) and assorted skewer jeon (pan-fried skewers, 16,000 won), then finished with free dessert porridge. The rich broth and the Joseon-era tavern interior stood out, making Ttukdak Hongdae a good one-stop spot for dinner and drinks in Hongdae.

Written Jun 14, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangdong, SeoulRestaurants

Tonkatsu lunch by Gangdong-gu Office, end piece first: Katsu Monster

Katsu Monster Gangdong Office Branch (카츠몬스터 강동구청점) is an open-kitchen tonkatsu restaurant across from Gangdong-gu Office in Gangdong, Seoul, opposite Burger King. After running errands near Gangdong-gu Office Station, the writer had the Mixed Katsu B set (tenderloin katsu and cheese katsu) with an added cold soba (naengmomil), and alternating the freshly fried cutlets with the chilled noodles kept the meal from getting heavy to the last bite. For a filling tonkatsu lunch near Gangdong-gu Office, Katsu Monster Gangdong Office Branch is a good choice.

Written Oct 18, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJongno, SeoulRestaurants

Jongno 3-ga Korean BBQ with a fortress wall view: 21st in line, Tapgol

Tapgol Gongwon Jongno 3-ga Branch is an outdoor Korean BBQ restaurant in an alley across from the east gate of Tapgol Park in Jongno 3-ga, Seoul, where diners eat flash-frozen pork belly while looking out at the old fortress wall. The writer joined the weekend waitlist as 21st at around 5:45pm, but 15 extra seats opened at 6pm and they were seated in 15 minutes, then grilled flash-frozen pork belly (₩18,000) with kimchi and bean sprouts on a stone plate and ordered the brisket doenjang stew (₩7,000). The brisket doenjang stew felt like weak value, but with good lighting, a self-serve bar and decent restrooms, Tapgol Gongwon Jongno 3-ga Branch is recommended for outdoor pork belly in Jongno.

Written Oct 16, 2026Sponsored
PlaceBupyeong, IncheonRestaurants

Bupyeong Station restaurant: vongole & cheese balls at Two Find Peter

Two Find Peter Bupyeong is a Western restaurant on Bupyeong-daero 32beon-gil, near Bupyeong Station Exit 30 in Incheon. The writer, who has visited several Two Find Peter branches, came with a friend for a wedding invitation meetup and ordered caesar salad, vongole, spicy crabby risotto and cheese balls; the dim lighting and classic red-and-green interior set the Bupyeong branch apart from the others. For a wedding invitation meetup or blind date in Bupyeong, Two Find Peter Bupyeong is a safe choice for both atmosphere and price.

Written Oct 15, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGwangmyeong, GyeonggiRestaurants

Baby octopus restaurant for spice-shy friends, Gwangmyeong: Jeongipum

Jeongipum Jjukkumi Gwangmyeong 1st Branch (정이품쭈꾸미 광명1호점) is a griddle baby octopus (jjukkumi) restaurant on Yangji-ro near Gwangmyeong Station in Gwangmyeong, Gyeonggi. On a first meetup with a friend at Gwangmyeong Station, we ordered griddle baby octopus with the generous sides option and added chestnut-fed black pork belly, and the savory sauce heaped with minari (water dropwort), the free steamed egg and the cheese fried rice were all satisfying. Jeongipum Jjukkumi is a Gwangmyeong Station baby octopus spot that even people who can't handle spice can enjoy, and a definite place to return to.

Written Jun 23, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulRestaurants

Hongdae pasta spot with doodle walls & mild chili tomato: Hey Joji

Hey Joji (헤이죠지) is an American home-style Western restaurant in a Yeonnam-dong alley in Mapo, Seoul, about a 10-minute walk from Exit 3 of Hongik Univ. Station. The writer visits Hey Joji often because it has no break time, and this time ordered the bocconcini meat chili tomato pasta and the jambalaya rosé risotto (17,000 won each), while enjoying the green wallpaper, doodle-covered walls and open kitchen. Hey Joji is a good fit if you want crowd-pleasing pasta in an exotic setting in Yeonnam-dong at almost any hour.

Written Jun 24, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulRestaurants

Retro Hapjeong galbi-jjim spot: Shin Ramyun-level spice at Bongmaruji

Bongmaruji Hapjeong (봉마루집 합정점) is a braised pork rib (galbi-jjim) restaurant near Hapjeong Station in Mapo, Seoul. On a weekday evening with another couple, the writer ordered Bongmaruji's best-selling aged kimchi galbi-jjim for 3 (48,000 won) at spice level 2 (Shin Ramyun-level). They added glass noodles and steamed egg, and the portion was so generous that they never got to the fried rice. With its retro, grandma's-house feel, Bongmaruji Hapjeong is a good galbi-jjim spot in Hapjeong for a meal with drinks.

Written Jul 3, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGeumcheon, SeoulRestaurants

Pizza shop in Gasan, Seoul: ₩5,000 off truffle gorgonzola, Clap Pizza

Clap Pizza Gasan Public is a pizza shop in Building A of Public Gasan near Gasan Digital Complex Station in Geumcheon, Seoul, sharing one space with the handmade burger shop Downtowner. The writer ordered an R-size truffle gorgonzola pizza (₩18,300) and a corn salad (₩3,000), and liked the ₩5,000 discount on R and L sizes and the free pickles and sauces, but found the dough soggy from the honey and the mozzarella sparse. Clap Pizza Gasan Public is a good pick for burgers and pizza in one place, and the corn salad is the side to order.

Written Jul 1, 2026Sponsored