Ceramic Rim Fan · 20 stories

The Ceramic Rim

I write about meals and visits to restaurants in Seoul. · Writes about: Restaurants · Bars · Hair & beauty salons

PlaceMapo, SeoulHair & beauty salons

Hongdae lash salon: no-glue lash lift with black tint at Dodo Brow

Dodo Brow (도도브로우) is a semi-permanent eyebrow and lash lift salon on Sinchon-ro 4-gil, near Exit 5 of Hongik Univ. Station in Mapo, Seoul. The writer booked a weekday 7 PM slot through Dodo Brow's KakaoTalk channel for a no-glue lash perm (with clinic care) plus a black tinting add-on; after a consultation form checked lash condition first, the lashes were set in the tightly lifted curl she wanted. Dodo Brow delivered defined lashes without mascara and a complimentary eyebrow tidy-up, making it a salon worth returning to.

Written Nov 13, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulHair & beauty salons

Hongik Univ. Station hair salon: winter frizz clinic | Hongdaeshop

Hongdaeshop Hongdae Station Branch (홍대샵 홍대역점) is a hair salon on the 2nd floor of a building near Exit 9 of Hongik Univ. Station in Mapo, Seoul, offering cuts, perms, dye and hair clinics. The blogger had the 3-step Nano Heal clinic (₩80,000) on a collarbone-length perm left frizzy by winter static and dryness, and the shine and softness were clearly different from before the treatment. For anyone who wants to treat winter frizz after work, the Nano Heal clinic at Hongdaeshop Hongdae Station Branch is a good-value choice.

Written Nov 12, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulRestaurants

DMC Station gyukatsu: solo draft beer set & mini curry, Izawa Sangam

Izawa Sangam (이자와 상암점) is a Japanese gyukatsu (breaded beef cutlet) restaurant near DMC Station in Sangam-dong, Mapo, Seoul. The writer ordered gyukatsu with the solo-drinking set (draft beer) and a mini curry, then grilled the beef on a tabletop grill. The writer singled out the melt-in-your-mouth texture, the wasabi and sauce pairings, and the spicy curry that refreshed the palate. If you are unsure about ordering gyukatsu alone, adding the mini curry at Izawa Sangam made for a satisfying meal.

Written Nov 11, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangseo, SeoulRestaurants

Octopus restaurant near Seoul Botanic Park: brisket for 2, Jju Baksa

Jju Baksa Magok Branch (쭈박사 마곡점) is a griddle baby octopus restaurant in Magok-dong, Gangseo, Seoul, between Magok Station and Yangcheonhyanggyo Station. From the fried rice set, the writer chose beef brisket and baby octopus for 2 (medium spice) with a cheese bomb steamed egg, then added 2 fried eggs and a cola. Staff stir-fry everything on the griddle and the meal finishes with flying fish roe fried rice, making Jju Baksa a solid lunch pick near Seoul Botanic Park.

Written Nov 10, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangseo, SeoulBars

Chinese pub for group dinners near Hwagok Station: Chwiring Chwiring

Chwiring Chwiring Hwagok Station main branch is a Chinese-style pub near Exit 7 of Hwagok Station in Gangseo, Seoul. In a spacious hall with a separate group seating area at the back, the blogger had the mala hot pot and lemon cream shrimp set with fried rice, Yantai highballs and 300cc draft beer for ₩1,900. For a team dinner or group get-together near Hwagok Station, Chwiring Chwiring Hwagok Station main branch is a safe, easy choice.

Written Nov 9, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulRestaurants

Yeonnam-dong tonkatsu, ₩17,000 fillet vs ₩14,000 loin: Katsu Monster

Katsu Monster Yeonnam Main Branch is a tonkatsu (Japanese pork cutlet) restaurant on Donggyo-ro 38-gil in Yeonnam-dong, Mapo, Seoul. The writer ordered one fillet katsu (17,000 won) and one loin katsu (14,000 won) to compare them, and was happy with the thick, tender pork, the generous portions, the kelp pot rice and the soup packed with big chunks of meat. Verdict: for two people at Katsu Monster Yeonnam Main Branch, order one loin katsu and one fillet katsu and share.

Written Oct 21, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulRestaurants

Hongdae chicken pub: Cajun fries & boneless Gochu Basasak at Goobne

Goobne Chicken Hongdae Red Road is a dine-in Goobne Chicken restaurant on Red Road in Hongdae (Jandari-ro, Mapo, Seoul), with a pub-style space, a large hall and a big screen. The writer ordered boneless Gochu Basasak (crispy chili-pepper chicken, 4,000 won extra for boneless), Cajun fries and a Coke Zero, dipping the chicken alternately in Goblin sauce and Marbling sauce. Goobne Chicken Hongdae Red Road is a Hongdae chicken-and-beer spot for lingering, not just a quick chicken stop.

Written Oct 2, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJung-gu, SeoulRestaurants

Seoul Station gyukatsu, weekend lunch with mini curry: Ichigyu

Ichigyu Seoul Station Branch is a Japanese gyukatsu (beef cutlet) restaurant with tabletop braziers, on basement level 1 of the LG Building at Seoul Station Exit 10 in Jung-gu, Seoul. On a weekend lunch visit, the writer waited behind 2 groups, ordered the basic gyukatsu with a mini curry side and a Coke Zero, and grilled the sirloin on a brazier with melted Isigny butter. Ponzu with wasabi was the best sauce pairing, and with easy access, good food and good service, Ichigyu Seoul Station Branch is a place worth revisiting.

Written Aug 3, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYangcheon, SeoulRestaurants

Seoul Korean BBQ by Deungchon Exit 4: self-serve banchan at Ggupdda

Ggupdda (꿉따) is a samgyeopsal (pork belly) restaurant near Exit 4 of Deungchon Station in Seoul. The writer ordered Ggupdda's minari pork belly & gabrisal (pork collar) set with mul-makguksu (cold buckwheat noodles in broth), got a free doenjang jjigae (soybean paste stew) from the opening event, and kept refilling banchan (side dishes) at the self-serve bar. The thick-cut meat at Ggupdda was tender rather than chewy, making it worth a return visit when looking for Korean BBQ in Gangseo-gu.

Written Aug 6, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulRestaurants

Solo after-work dinner in Sangam, Seoul: eel pot rice at Solsot

Solsot Sangam Branch is a Korean pot rice (sotbap) restaurant on basement level 1 of the DDMC building at Digital Media City Station in Mapo, Seoul. A Sangam office worker of six years ordered the eel pot rice + 1 shrimp tempura + Coke Zero set for a solo dinner after work. The eel pot rice was eaten with perilla leaf, wasabi and pickled wild garlic (myeongi), then finished with nurungji (scorched rice) made by pouring broth into the pot. With thick eel, fluffy rice and a spacious, clean dining room, Solsot Sangam Branch works well for both solo meals and meetings.

Written Aug 5, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulHair & beauty salons

Ahyeon Station hair salon jelly perm for thin hair volume: Unity Hair

Unity Hair Ahyeon Station is a hair salon on the 2nd floor of Semin Hi-Park, near Exit 4 of Ahyeon Station in Mapo, Seoul. The writer arrived with thin, straight hair that had no volume and got a jelly perm (a design digital perm with added length) from designer Soyeon, ending up with full volume and thick curls rather than a tight, frizzy look. For anyone hesitating over a perm because of thin hair, the jelly perm at Unity Hair Ahyeon Station is a good choice.

Written Aug 10, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulHair & beauty salons

Gongdeok lash salon: black tint lift for mascara-free summer, Iyo Shop

Iyo Shop is a 1:1 appointment-only lash salon in Mapo, Seoul, a 5-minute walk from Gongdeok Station in Park Palace (2F, Unit 211). Finding mascara too heavy in summer, the writer booked the nourishing + black tint lash lift for ₩50,000 and asked the owner to lift the droopy lashes as high as possible. Verdict: Iyo Shop's lift brought out both curl and color, so the eyes looked defined without any eye makeup.

Written Aug 8, 2026Sponsored