Night Compact · 10 stories

Night Compact, Incheon/Seoul Beauty and Bars

Writes about beauty counters, small bars, and everyday restaurants around Incheon, Seoul, and Gyeonggi. · Writes about: Restaurants · Hair & beauty salons · Bars

PlaceGuro, SeoulBars

Alcohol-free izakaya in Sindorim: binchotan yakitori, Sindorim Mungyun

Sindorim Mungyun (신도림문균) is an izakaya on the International Food Culture Street near Sindorim Station in Guro, Seoul, known for yakitori grilled to order over binchotan charcoal. On a holiday evening, arriving by car and skipping alcohol, the writer ordered the 5-skewer yakitori set (₩17,900), Sapporo kushikatsu (₩14,500) and halibut salt gimbap (₩24,900), and the skewers, especially the chicken neck, were the standout. With fair prices, Sindorim Mungyun is a good izakaya for a light second round of yakitori and a beer.

Written May 29, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulRestaurants

Sinnonhyeon Korean BBQ on a rainy weekend: 500g set for 2-3 at Sansol

Sansol Sinnonhyeon is an aged-pork Korean BBQ restaurant in an alley near Sinnonhyeon Station in Gangnam, Seoul, where staff grill the meat at every table. On a weekend of heavy rain, before an afternoon appointment, the writer ordered the set for 2-3 people (54,000 won, 500g of kkodeulsal, pork belly and pork neck) plus kimchi stew; the meat was high quality, and no smell clung to their clothes, likely thanks to the downdraft ducts. Sansol Sinnonhyeon is worth recommending for days when you can't go home smelling of barbecue, or for office dinners and get-togethers around Sinnonhyeon.

Written Oct 21, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJung-gu, IncheonRestaurants

Eulwangni seafood restaurant, heart fried rice with Mom: 300°C

300°C Seafood Galbi Main Branch (300도씨해물갈비 본점) is a seafood restaurant on Yeongjong Island in Incheon, near Eulwangni Beach and Inspire. The writer took Mom, a big fan of braised seafood, there on a Sunday after 2 p.m. for the ₩49,000 couple set of braised cuttlefish, seafood pajeon (savory pancake) and seafood kalguksu (knife-cut noodle soup), then added DIY fried rice. The smoky, tender braised cuttlefish and the crispy cheese seafood pajeon with dried shrimp made it an especially satisfying family meal.

Written Jun 10, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJung-gu, SeoulRestaurants

Black pork BBQ in Myeongdong, potato doenjang stew: Yuktongnyeong

Yuktongnyeong Myeongdong Main Branch is a black pork restaurant in Myeongdong, Seoul, serving native Gwanggaeto black pork aged in omija (five-flavor berry). The writer ordered omija-aged Gwanggaeto black pork belly (ogyeopsal) and pork neck at ₩17,000 each; a skilled staff member grilled them without burning, and the doenjang (soybean paste) stew came packed with floury potatoes and chunks of pork. Verdict: Yuktongnyeong was the writer's most satisfying pork barbecue in recent memory.

Written Jun 13, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulRestaurants

Affordable Apgujeong brunch restaurant, juicy katsu sando: Eulji Darak

Eulji Darak Apgujeong Dosan Park (을지다락 도산) is a Western-style brunch restaurant on the 2nd floor near Dosan Park in Apgujeong Rodeo, Gangnam, Seoul. After a walk in Dosan Park and a look around the Gentle Monster store, lunch at Eulji Darak was Darak Omurice (omelette over fried rice, ₩18,000), katsu sando (pork cutlet sandwich, ₩12,000), spicy crab risotto (₩19,000) and a Darak Ade (₩6,900), and the juicy katsu sando was the best dish of the day. Eulji Darak Dosan is a good-value brunch pick in Apgujeong Rodeo, especially for college students.

Written Jun 17, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulHair & beauty salons

Cheongdam hair salon magic C-curl perm + protein care: Beorn Hair

Beorn Hair Cheongdam is a hair salon in Cheongdam-dong, Gangnam, Seoul, on the 2nd floor right in front of Gangnam-gu Office Station. For long-neglected, damaged semi-curly hair, Beorn Hair Cheongdam swapped the usual clinic treatment for protein care and combined a magic straightening setting on the top layer with a C-curl perm underneath, taking about 3 hours. With a detailed consultation and strong, well-defined curls, it was a satisfying visit.

Written Jun 19, 2026Sponsored
PlaceAnyang, GyeonggiRestaurants

Beomgye sashimi restaurant with summer croaker omakase: Namhae Mulgogi

Namhae Mulgogi Anyang is an aged-sashimi restaurant on the 4th floor of Jungang Plaza near Beomgye Station in Anyang, Gyeonggi. At an early lunch, the sashimi omakase set for two (78,000 won) came as a full course: abalone porridge, mulhoe (cold raw fish soup), seasonal minmeo (brown croaker) sashimi with ttaksaeu (deep-sea shrimp), futomaki with ankimo (monkfish liver), clams steamed in sake with pasta, grilled herring and maeuntang (spicy fish stew). At 39,000 won per person, Namhae Mulgogi Anyang serves a full course of this quality at excellent value for Beomgye Station.

Written Jul 22, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulRestaurants

Sunday lunch at a Gangnam samgyetang restaurant: Masamgyetang

Masamgyetang Bangbaeng Sageori Branch (마삼계탕 뱅뱅사거리점) is a newly opened samgyetang (ginseng chicken soup) restaurant at Bangbaeng Sageori in Gangnam, Seoul, specializing in soup made with raw yam. On a Sunday lunch visit, the writer ordered two bowls of masamgyetang at 18,000 won each and went back to the self-serve bar again and again for kimchi, pickled chili peppers and pickled garlic, finishing every drop of broth. The thick, nutty yam broth is what makes Masamgyetang Bangbaeng Sageori Branch worth the trip.

Written Aug 3, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeocho, SeoulRestaurants

Seocho lamb skewer restaurant with no gamey smell: Banpo Yangkkochi

Banpo Yangkkochi (반포양꼬치) is a lamb skewer restaurant on basement level 1 of Banpo Jonghap Sangga, by Exit 8-1 of Express Bus Terminal Station in Seocho, Seoul. The original lamb skewers (19,000 won) and the skewers marinated in cumin seasoning (20,000 won) had no gamey smell at all, and the 11,000 won smashed cucumber salad cut through the richness of the lamb fat. With a charging cable at every table and friendly staff, Banpo Yangkkochi is worth recommending for clean-tasting lamb skewers near Shinsegae Gangnam and the Express Bus Terminal.

Written Aug 4, 2026Sponsored
PlaceNamdong, IncheonRestaurants

Guwol-dong sashimi restaurant: 19,900 won saury lunch set, Veteran

Veteran General Fish Market Incheon Guwol Branch is a sashimi restaurant on Rodeo Street in front of Lotte Department Store in Guwol-dong, Incheon, serving a sashimi lunch special in three tiers: mi, seon and jin. Over lunch at the end of a holiday, the writer ordered two 19,900 won jin sets and got flounder sashimi, sushi, fried food, grilled saury, three kinds of seafood and spicy fish stew, plus free ramyeon noodles for the stew and a self-serve kimchi pancake. Verdict: the 13,900 won mi set, which already includes all the basics, is the best value at Veteran General Fish Market.

Written Sep 30, 2026Sponsored
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