Open Page Stroller · 14 stories

Open Notebook, Gangwon-Seoul Restaurants and Shopping

Writes about restaurants, cafes, things to do and shopping across Gangwon, Seoul, Incheon, Gwangju/Jeolla and Gyeonggi. · Writes about: Restaurants · Cafés · Things to do · Shopping

PlaceSeogwipo, JejuRestaurants

Seongsan hairtail restaurant for a 3rd anniversary revisit: Jejurowoon

Jejurowoon Cheonghaewon Seongsan Ilchulbong Branch is a braised hairtail restaurant on Sinyang-ro in Seongsan-eup, Seogwipo, Jeju. On the last morning of a 3rd wedding anniversary trip to Jeju, the blogger returned after a visit the year before and ordered two A braised hairtail sets (₩24,000 per person), choosing seafood ttukbaegi (earthenware pot stew) as the soup. With braised hairtail, grilled tilefish, soy-marinated crab and sticky pot rice, plus good value and friendly service, Jejurowoon Cheonghaewon was just as satisfying a year later.

Written Oct 19, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYeonsu, IncheonRestaurants

Weekend sushi lunch in Songdo with my husband: free otoro, Sushi Doku

Sushi Doku The Songdo (스시도쿠 더송도) is a sushi restaurant on the 2nd floor of Onesta Mall in Songdo, Yeonsu, Incheon, close to Songdo Hyundai Premium Outlet. After weekend shopping at the outlet with her husband, the writer had a reserved lunch of the Premium Sushi Set for 2 at Sushi Doku The Songdo and got otoro (fatty tuna) nigiri on the house for leaving a Naver receipt review. With aged sushi, truffle chawanmushi and friendly service, Sushi Doku The Songdo is a recommended pick for a date or a family meal out.

Written Jun 15, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulRestaurants

Yeoksam eel rice bowl: weekday stamina lunch with Dad, Unagiwa

Unagiwa is an eel rice bowl restaurant in Yeoksam, Gangnam, Seoul, a 5-minute walk from Yeoksam Station, serving hitsumabushi and unadong (grilled eel rice bowl) with one whole domestic freshwater eel each. On a weekday lunch with an eel-loving dad, the writer ordered one hitsumabushi and one unadong (listed at ₩38,000). Eating the hitsumabushi as ochazuke (broth poured over rice) was the tastiest part, and Unagiwa added free fried shrimp. Unagiwa is recommended as a summer stamina lunch to take your parents to.

Written Jun 19, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulCafés

Sinnonhyeon terrace café for weekday lunch: Upper and Under

Upper and Under (어퍼앤언더) is a large café in a converted house, tucked in an alley behind the Gangnam CGV near Sinnonhyeon Station in Gangnam, Seoul. On a weekday lunch break, the writer sat on the Upper and Under terrace with yangzhi ganlu (mango pomelo sago dessert, 8,500 won), a salted caramel canelé (4,500 won), an Einspänner (8,000 won) and a mango sherbet latte (9,000 won), and found the cream lattes and the look of the desserts especially satisfying. For a coffee-and-dessert break on a terrace during a busy weekday lunch, Upper and Under is a good fit.

Written Jun 20, 2026Sponsored
PlaceDonghae, GangwonRestaurants

Octopus hotplate restaurant near Haerang Observatory in Mukho: Onda

Onda Donghae Mukho Main Branch is an ocean-view Korean restaurant near Mukho Port in Donghae, Gangwon, where diners eat an octopus and seafood hotplate while looking out at the sea. The writer stopped by for a weekday lunch with a friend after Dojaebigol Sky Valley and Haerang Observatory, ordered the signature Donghae octopus seafood hotplate for two (58,000 won) and got free fried rice through the review event. The hall at Onda was nearly full even on a weekday, but the fresh seafood and sea view make it a stop worth repeating on a Donghae trip.

Written Jun 25, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeocho, SeoulCafés

After-lunch Yangjae café: vanilla ice cream latte, scones, Mini Male

Mini Male Coffee Roasters Yangjae Main Branch is a roastery and bakery café near Yangjaesiminuisup Station in Seocho, Seoul. After lunch with a friend, the writer ordered a vanilla ice cream latte, a strawberry latte, a Victoria scone and a plain scone at Mini Male, and the scones, crisp outside and moist inside, stood out most. Mini Male Yangjae is a good coffee shop in Seoul for coffee and dessert after a meal.

Written Jul 1, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeocho, SeoulRestaurants

Bangbang Intersection Korean fine dining, ₩49,000 weekday lunch: MUSEO

MUSEO (무제오) is a Korean fine dining restaurant on basement level 1 near Bangbang Intersection, between Gangnam Station and Yangjae Station in Seoul. The weekday Lunch Premium Baekban course costs 49,000 won per person. It includes steamed egg, seafood mulhoe (chilled raw fish soup) and a Hanwoo ox-foot dish, followed by mint sherbet and Hanwoo chuck flap tartare namul bibimbap. This visit added an 11,000 won upgrade to MUSEO Boyang Gukbap and finished with ice cream topped with Korean melon and granola. MUSEO is worth recommending as a Gangnam course-meal date spot that delivers on atmosphere, flavor and value.

Written Jul 2, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJongno, SeoulThings to do

Bukchon perfume workshop with a friend: husband's woody gift, Muhwawon

Muhwawon Bukchon Perfume Workshop is a perfume studio on Yulgok-ro 6-gil in Bukchon, Jongno, Seoul, that gives a modern twist to Korean natural scents such as hanji paper, herbal medicine and incense. The writer and a friend tried tablet-guided self-blending at Muhwawon, smelled their way through 3 rounds, and the writer made a sweet perfume with a woody note for her husband, finished with a sticker of his nickname. Muhwawon is a good pick for a Bukchon day out with a friend or for a day when you want to make a perfume gift yourself.

Written Jul 6, 2026Sponsored
PlaceNowon, SeoulRestaurants

Nowon sushi buffet with my mother-in-law: park before 11am, Kuu Kuu

Kuu Kuu Nowon Branch is a seafood and sushi buffet on the 6th floor of 247 Nowon-ro in Nowon, Seoul. The blogger visited on a weekend with her husband and mother-in-law and had sushi, barbecue, en croûte soup (soup baked under a pastry lid) and summer fruit desserts. She notes that the building's basement parking lot is only easy if you arrive before 11am on weekends. With its spacious dining hall and kids' zone, Kuu Kuu Nowon Branch is a dependable sushi buffet for a three-generation family meal.

Written Jul 6, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSokcho, GangwonRestaurants

No-wait Sokcho market snack bar after Seorak Waterpia: Masibuja Twigim

Masibuja Twigim (맛이부자튀김맛집) is a snack bar specialising in fried food and seafood ramen, located right at Gate 6 of Sokcho Jungang Market in Sokcho, Gangwon, and is the second branch of Hwangbuja Twigim. After swimming at Seorak Waterpia, a couple skipped the wait at the Hwangbuja Twigim main branch and ate red snow crab ramen, squid sundae (stuffed squid) and a fried set of nude shrimp and snow crab meat inside Masibuja Twigim, enjoying the dried pollack broth and the thin, crispy batter. For sitting down to Sokcho Jungang Market fried food and a hangover-curing ramen without a wait, Masibuja Twigim is a good choice.

Written Jul 18, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangbuk, SeoulRestaurants

Hoe naengmyeon restaurant near Hanil Hospital, Suyu: Iseol Myeonok

Iseol Myeonok Suyu Main Branch is a Korean restaurant specializing in Hamheung-style naengmyeon (cold noodles) and galbi (short ribs), run by a certified Korean cuisine master next to the 4.19 Democratic Cemetery Park in Gangbuk, Seoul. On the day of Dad's hospital checkup, a family of three stopped in for a weekday lunch and ordered hoe naengmyeon, king galbitang and king dumplings, and the writer called the hoe naengmyeon the best naengmyeon of their life. Apart from the lack of a self-serve side dish bar, Iseol Myeonok Suyu Main Branch was a family-friendly spot with parking and friendly service.

Written Jul 14, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSokcho, GangwonShopping

Sokcho market jeotgal after Waterpia: hairtail for parents, Hwangbuja

Hwangbuja Jeotgal (황부자젓갈) is a salted seafood (jeotgal) shop inside Sokcho Jungang Market (Sokcho Tourist & Fish Market) in Sokcho, Gangwon, right next to Hwangbuja Fried Food. On a weekend afternoon after a day at Seorak Waterpia, the writer tasted several kinds of jeotgal at Hwangbuja Jeotgal and bought 700g of hairtail innards jeotgal (galchi-sokjeot) as a gift for her parents and 600g of salted octopus (nakji jeotgal) for her husband, ₩15,000 each. With a wide selection, generous portions and cooler-bag and ice-pack packing even in summer, Hwangbuja Jeotgal is a can't-miss stop for Sokcho trip gifts.

Written Jul 22, 2026Sponsored