Checkered Cloth Guest · 112 stories

Checkered Tablecloth

I write about meals and restaurant visits in Daegu and Gyeongbuk. · Writes about: Beauty products · Tech & gadgets · Restaurants · Fashion · Cafés · Hair & beauty salons · Kids & baby · Bars · Shopping · Things to do

PlaceCheongju, ChungbukRestaurants

Cheongju pork BBQ lunch on a gestational diabetes diet: Baeksan Hwarro

Baeksan Hwarro Techno Polis Songjeol Branch (백산화로) is a grilled pork BBQ restaurant in Songjeong-dong (around Songjeol-dong), Heungdeok-gu, Cheongju. The writer and his wife, who is managing gestational diabetes through diet, had the 530g small mixed platter (pork skirt, pork jowl, thick-salt grilled pork and scored pork skin) as ssam (lettuce wraps) for lunch, and the fresh meat and generous side dishes made Baeksan Hwarro a satisfying choice. Baeksan Hwarro is an easy Cheongju BBQ restaurant to eat out at, even while watching your diet.

Written May 28, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYuseong, DaejeonRestaurants

Daejeon pub: white-charcoal whole octopus and garlic pork, Gim Ojo

Gim Ojo Charcoal Webfoot Octopus (김오조숯불쭈꾸미) is a new pocha-style (Korean street pub) charcoal grill for jjukkumi (webfoot octopus) and pork in the Bongmyeong-dong food alley near Yuseong Spa Station in Yuseong, Daejeon. On a weekday evening with friends, the writer grilled pre-seared whole webfoot octopus, garlic pork and gochujang pork over white charcoal (baektan), with a flying fish roe rice ball and cheonggukjang (fermented soybean stew) on the side; the octopus's heat sits between Buldak and Shin Ramyun. The smoky, white-charcoal whole octopus at Gim Ojo stands out, making it a Yuseong Spa Station drinking spot worth a return visit.

Written May 28, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYuseong, DaejeonRestaurants

Korean BBQ family dinner in Bongmyeong-dong, Daejeon: Sanjang Samgyeop

Sanjang Samgyeop Daejeon Bongmyeong is a pork belly restaurant in Bongmyeong-dong, Yuseong, Daejeon, where the staff grill all the meat for you. For a family dinner, the writer ordered the minari (water dropwort) set and tried daechang (intestine) kimchi stew, pork belly with minari, bracken and king oyster mushrooms, and soy-based pork skin, in a roomy wood-panelled dining room with almost no meat smell. Because nobody has to grill, Sanjang Samgyeop Daejeon Bongmyeong is an easy pick for family dinners or work get-togethers.

Written May 28, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeo-gu, DaejeonRestaurants

Daejeon Chinese restaurant, ₩18,000 coworker lunch: Macheonchwi

Macheonchwi (마천취) is a long-established Chinese restaurant in Mannyeon-dong, Seo-gu, Daejeon, near Hanbat Arboretum and Daejeon Arts Center. Over lunch with a junior colleague, the writer had the Modern Simple Set at around ₩18,000 per person: three dishes (yusanseul seafood-and-vegetable stir-fry, chili shrimp and Peking-style tangsuyuk sweet and sour pork), then jjajangmyeon or jjamppong noodles and dessert. Macheonchwi's Modern Simple Set is a great-value Chinese course with generous portions and variety for the price.

Written May 28, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulHair & beauty salons

Gangnam wax salon, first Brazilian before natural birth: Super Waxing

Super Waxing Gangnam is a wax salon on the 3rd floor of City Building near Gangnam Station Exit 11 in Seoul. The Brazilian wax in this story was a first-ever one, done before giving birth while preparing for a natural delivery, and thanks to Lycon wax and a no-double-dip hygiene policy at Super Waxing Gangnam it hurt less than expected and was finished in 30 minutes. For expectant mothers and their families worried about hygiene and pain before a first Brazilian wax, Super Waxing Gangnam is worth considering.

Written May 29, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeongnam, GyeonggiRestaurants

Seohyeon salad spot, flat iron beef & spicy teriyaki pork: Prefers

Prefers Diet Food Bundang Seohyeon is a high-protein diet salad and lunch box restaurant right by Seohyeon Station in Seongnam, Gyeonggi. The writer used a ₩1,000 time-slot discount to take home the flat iron beef signature, a chicken cobb salad and a pork plate with spicy teriyaki sauce, and found the sous vide meat tender and the range of sauces fun to mix. Prefers Diet Food is a good pick near Seohyeon Station for a filling protein meal when making your own salad feels like too much work.

Written May 30, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSuwon, GyeonggiRestaurants

Vietnamese spot near Ajou, Suwon: fish-sauce pork jowl bowl, Madam Hao

Madam Hao (마담하오) is a Vietnamese restaurant near Ajou University in Yeongtong-gu, Suwon. Over lunch with a senior from school, the writer ordered brisket pho, whose broth can be adjusted with lemon and hot sauce, and a pork jowl rice bowl that tasted great and not greasy once fish sauce was poured over it. With parking and hours running until the early morning, Madam Hao is a handy pho spot for lunch or a late-night meal near Ajou University.

Written Oct 28, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSejongRestaurants

Sejong restaurant near AK Plaza, octopus ceviche date: Le Garden Bleu

Le Garden Bleu (르가든블루) is a Western restaurant on the ground floor of KT&G Sejong Tower A (the Nike building) in Eojin-dong, Sejong. After shopping for their kids' clothes at AK Plaza, the writer and his wife booked through Naver Reservation and ordered octopus ceviche, a crispy chicken orange salad (₩18,500) and gambas pasta served in a ttukbaegi (Korean earthenware pot). With floor-to-ceiling windows, an open kitchen, generous portions and clean flavors, Le Garden Bleu is a date-meal spot near AK Plaza worth returning to.

Written May 29, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeongnam, GyeonggiCafés

Jeongja Station café date: yogurt sand & dujjonku at Butter & Shelter

Butter & Shelter Bundang Jeongja is a dessert café near Jeongja Station in Seongnam, Gyeonggi, opened in September 2025 by the Yeonnam-dong butter sand shop Butter & Shelter. On a weekend lunch café date, the couple ordered an original levain cookie, a low-sugar yogurt sand and a dujjonku (Dubai-style chewy cookie), with a latte and an iced americano. With free parking at the shopping arcade, roomy wood-toned seating and gift box packaging, Butter & Shelter Bundang Jeongja is worth recommending for a date or dessert gifts near Jeongja Station.

Written May 30, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulRestaurants

Work-trip lunch at Gangnam Station: duck poke on oat rice, Ola Poke

Ola Poke Gangnam is a poke and salad chain restaurant on Teheran-ro 4-gil near Gangnam Station, Seoul. On a solo lunch during a work trip, the writer ordered the smoked duck poke with added avocado on an oat brown rice base, and with lentils, chickpeas and seaweed in the bowl, never felt hungry even though it was a salad. Ola Poke Gangnam suits anyone watching their weight who wants a light but filling solo meal near Gangnam Station.

Written May 29, 2026Sponsored
PlaceHwaseong, GyeonggiRestaurants

Dongtan Yeoul Park pasta for a pregnant wife: ricotta salad at Paol

Paol Dongtan Yeoul Park Branch is a pasta restaurant near Yeoul Park in Dongtan, Hwaseong. The writer visited with his wife, who has gestational diabetes, and ordered à la carte instead of a set: a ricotta cheese salad, shrimp aglio e olio and a soupy seafood hangover pasta. The generous ricotta salad and the hangover pasta's refreshing, peppery broth stood out, and with easy parking and small, cozy seating, Paol Dongtan Yeoul Park Branch is worth returning to for a date meal paired with a walk in Yeoul Park.

Written May 31, 2026Sponsored
PlaceOsan, GyeonggiRestaurants

Conveyor sushi near Osan City Hall, weeknight futomaki: Special Sushi

Special Sushi Osan Branch (특별한초밥 오산점) is a conveyor-belt sushi restaurant near Unamtteul (운암뜰) and Osan City Hall, opened after the original Yeongtong branch became popular. After a weeknight dinner wait, the writer sat at the bar and ate futomaki, flounder fin, sea bream, tuna and salmon at a flat ₩1,890 per plate, plus flounder with ankimo (monkfish liver) from the ₩3,000 line. For relaxed, varied sushi at one flat price, Special Sushi Osan Branch is a satisfying choice.

Written May 28, 2026Sponsored