Folded Notebook Carrier · 19 stories

Folded Notebook, Seoul and Incheon

Writes about cafes, restaurants, beauty spots, and bookshops found while moving between Seoul and Incheon. · Writes about: Cafés · Restaurants · Books & stationery · Hair & beauty salons

PlaceJung-gu, SeoulRestaurants

Keto gimbap shop in Euljiro 3-ga, chewy rice paper rolls: 29 Tamago

29 Tamago Euljiro Branch is a keto gimbap (seaweed rice roll) shop on the 2nd floor near Euljiro 3-ga Station exits 11 and 12 in Jung-gu, Seoul. After a day out in Euljiro 3-ga with a friend, the blogger took home a rice paper tuna roll, keto tuna gimbap, keto chicken breast gimbap and apple-carrot tteokbokki (rice cakes in broth) for a family dinner for three, ₩40,500 in total, and the thick, oversized rolls were very filling even without rice. The chewy bite of keto gimbap wrapped twice, in rice paper and seaweed, is the biggest strength of 29 Tamago Euljiro Branch.

Written Jun 14, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJung-gu, SeoulRestaurants

Beef gukbap restaurant, Euljiro 3-ga: clear soup & ponzu shank, Paldal

Paldal Neoguri Haejang Euljiro 3-ga Station branch is a beef gukbap (beef and rice soup) and Korean restaurant right outside Exit 8 of Euljiro 3-ga Station in Jung-gu, Seoul. At weekend opening time, the writer and a friend shared the clear Salsal Sunsal Gukbap (boneless beef rice soup, ₩12,000), a ganyang muchim (seasoned beef tripe) solo set (₩16,500) and Naengkeum Arong Suyuk (chilled beef shank with ponzu, ₩14,900); the broth was mild rather than salty, and the meat was tender with no chewy bits. For clean-tasting, odor-free beef gukbap with beef shank and seasoned tripe on the side, Paldal Neoguri Haejang is worth a return visit.

Written Jun 14, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulCafés

Daeheung café at weekend opening with my parents: cream almond, Ieo

Ieo Coffee Roasters Gongdeok Branch is a roastery café in Mapo, Seoul, tucked in an alley a 4–5 minute walk from Daeheung Station Exit 3 along Gyeongui Line Forest Park. A five-year regular arrived with their parents at the 11am weekend opening and ordered cream almond (house almond latte topped with almond cream), a Bamibreeze iced americano, a hot latte, Basque cheesecake and a fresh-baked walnut pecan chocolate chip cookie. The cream almond is clean rather than heavy, and even the parents loved it, making it the signature drink to order at Ieo Coffee Roasters.

Written Jun 16, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYeongdeungpo, SeoulRestaurants

Yeouido tteokbokki bar: 20+ rice cakes per serving, Hyeonseonine

Hyeonseonine Premium IFC Mall Branch (현선이네 프리미엄 IFC몰점) is a Yongsan-born tteokbokki (spicy rice cake) snack bar on basement level 2 of IFC Mall in Yeouido, Seoul. After a weekend kongguksu (cold soybean noodle) tour and shopping, the writer took home the 25,000-won Hyeonseon Combo Set for a late lunch with a friend, and the single serving of tteokbokki alone held more than 20 rice cakes. The Hyeonseonine combo is a generous takeout set that two people can't finish and three light eaters can easily share.

Written Jun 15, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulRestaurants

Gongdeok weekend salad takeout: 390kcal tofu noodle box, Why Starve

Why Starve Diet Gongdeok Main Branch is a diet salad and protein box shop in the basement arcade of Lotte Castle President by Gongdeok Station in Mapo, Seoul. On a weekend morning, after a café stop near Daeheung Station with the writer's parents, the writer took home a Chicken Tofu Noodle Protein Box (390kcal) and a Chicken Pasta Protein Box (508kcal), both with teriyaki sauce. With a filling 150g of chicken breast and published nutrition facts, Why Starve Gongdeok is a good-value pick for a solo salad meal near Gongdeok Station.

Written Jun 17, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJung-gu, SeoulRestaurants

Chungmuro ramen shop for a quiet solo dinner: tori paitan, Mentsuru

Mentsuru Euljiro Branch is a tori paitan and abura soba ramen shop in Jung-gu, Seoul, between Euljiro 3-ga Station and Chungmuro. With bar seating that suits solo diners, Mentsuru Euljiro Branch was fairly quiet at around 5:30pm, when the writer ordered tori paitan and abura soba for the first time plus the usual homemade karaage, for ₩31,000 in total. Rich, heavy chicken-broth ramen, abura soba finished with kelp vinegar and crispy-chewy karaage make Mentsuru an easy Chungmuro ramen shop for eating alone without feeling awkward.

Written Jun 20, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulCafés

Gongdeok Station café: salt bread & Dubai egg tart at Fluffy Bake Shop

Fluffy Bake Shop is a takeout-focused baked-goods dessert café near Gongdeok Station in Mapo, Seoul. The writer stopped by around opening time and took away a Dubai egg tart, salt bread, matcha and Earl Grey madeleines, and seaweed (gamtae) and Nunettine financiers. Fluffy Bake Shop's Dubai egg tart, packed with pistachio spread, was the standout, and the verdict is that it tastes worth the price.

Written Jun 19, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulCafés

Yeoksam café: a Helsinki latte that beat Finland's lattes, Mini Male

Mini Male Coffee Roaster Yeoksam Branch is a café near Exit 6 of Yeoksam Station in Gangnam, Seoul, popular with local office workers. Visiting just after lunch, the writer waited briefly on the outdoor terrace, then had a large Helsinki latte and a levain cookie; the Helsinki latte had no bitterness, rich heavy milk and a refined sweetness that beat the lattes the writer drank in Finland. Mini Male's Helsinki latte alone is worth a trip to Yeoksam.

Written Jun 24, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJung-gu, SeoulRestaurants

Euljiro Italian, cheese wheel flambé & onion soup: Schedule Osteria

Schedule Osteria is a fresh-pasta Italian restaurant on the 2nd floor of the iM Financial Center, facing Cheonggyecheon near Euljiro 1-ga Station in Jung-gu, Seoul. To wrap up the first half of 2026, two friends sat at the Schedule Osteria bar around 5 p.m. and shared onion soup caramelized for 3 hours, truffle cheese wheel tagliatelle flambéed on the spot and octopus confit potato for 80,000 won in total. Schedule Osteria is a great special-occasion spot for watching the open kitchen, but it is full from 6 p.m., so a reservation is essential.

Written Jun 22, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeocho, SeoulCafés

Morning reading café at Gyodae Station: Portuguese egg tart, Mini Male

Mini Male Coffee Roaster Gyodae Court Branch (미니말레 커피뢰스터 교대법원점) is a specialty coffee shop right outside Exit 6 of Gyodae Station in Seocho, Seoul, and it is the Mini Male branch at Gyodae Station that also opens on weekends. The writer arrived at opening time, ordered a regular Helsinki Latte, 2 Portuguese-style egg tarts, an original babka and a matcha chocolate chip New York cookie, and read a whole book over 2 hours. Mini Male Gyodae Court Branch is a good Gyodae Station café for a quiet solo morning with a Helsinki Latte and pastries.

Written Jun 27, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulCafés

Quiet Hapjeong café, Panama natural drip: Naemyeonui Balgyeon

Naemyeonui Balgyeon (내면의 발견) is a quiet two-story hand-drip café in a Seogyo-dong alley between Hongik Univ. Station and Hapjeong Station in Seoul. The writer sat on the first floor with a Panama Agricola Manuel Edition natural drip coffee, which had berry notes and a chocolate finish, and the signature Basque cheese brûlée, crisp on top and soft inside. Naemyeonui Balgyeon is a hideaway in Seogyo-dong for a solo weekday break when your mind feels crowded.

Written Jul 1, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeocho, SeoulCafés

Seocho Station pie café: birthday pies crisp next day at Saison de Pie

Saison de Pie (쎄종드파이) is a small independent café near Exit 4 of Seocho Station in Seoul, where the owner makes a range of pies by hand. For a friend's birthday, the writer took home a cherry pistachio pie, an Aurora pie and a Lululemon pie, ate one the same day and refrigerated two until the next day, and the crust was still as flaky as mille-feuille. Saison de Pie is a reliable Seocho pie spot for anyone looking for a thoughtful dessert gift.

Written Jul 2, 2026Sponsored