Wave Mirror Gazer · 40 stories
Writes about cafes, restaurants, and beauty spots across Gyeonggi and Gangwon. · Writes about: Restaurants · Cafés · Hair & beauty salons · Things to do · Shopping · Bars
Gomemui Hyundai Gardenfive (고메무이 현대가든파이브점) is a Japanese rice-bowl restaurant on B1 of Hyundai City Mall Gardenfive in Songpa, Seoul. Two shoppers shared a mild sea bream bowl and a tender salmon bowl, then added a side tonkatsu (breaded pork cutlet) with a thin, crispy coating. Verdict: Gomemui Hyundai Gardenfive is a good mall restaurant where two rice bowls plus one tonkatsu make a filling meal for two.
Jeongjiyoung Coffee Roasters Hwahongmun Branch (정지영커피로스터즈 화홍문점) is a roastery café near Hwahongmun in Haenggung-dong, Suwon, known for its signature coconut coffee and mango cake. The writer stopped by with a friend on a weekday afternoon after touring Hwaseong Haenggung and enjoyed the coconut coffee topped with thick cream, finding it smoother and less sweet than dalgona coffee. For an open-terrace vibe and a signature coffee in Haenggung-dong, Jeongjiyoung Coffee Roasters Hwahongmun Branch is a good choice.
Dongcheonhong Bongdam Branch is a spacious Chinese restaurant on the 2nd floor of Wangnim Rest Area in Bongdam-eup, Hwaseong. On a weekend, a family with a child ordered jjamppong (spicy seafood noodle soup, 10,000 won), seafood fried rice (10,000 won), crab soup (5,000 won) and handmade steamed dumplings (8,000 won). The sweet, savory jjamppong and the generous 5,000-won crab soup stood out most. With a large parking lot, private rooms and baby chairs, Dongcheonhong Bongdam Branch is a solid pick for families eating out with kids.
Dongbaek Hanokjip Charcoal Grill Butcher Restaurant is a hanok-style butcher BBQ restaurant on Eondong-ro in Giheung-gu, Yongin, where diners choose their meat at the counter before grilling it over charcoal. On a weekend visit with kids, the writer ordered hanwoo lower sirloin and Hi-Pork selected pork neck, and found the high chairs, private parking lot and grilled seaweed on request made eating out with children easy, while the doenjang sul-bap (soybean paste stew with rice) was the hidden star. For a family BBQ dinner with kids in Dongbaek, Yongin, Dongbaek Hanokjip is a satisfying choice.
Ok Doenjang Suwon Hommaesil Branch is a Korean restaurant serving hot pots and stir-fries on the first floor of the Lotte Cinema building in Hommaesil, Suwon. Two diners arrived at weekday lunch opening time and ordered the squid and pork duruchigi (spicy stir-fry, ₩29,000) and the assorted soft tofu hot pot (₩12,000), then had kalguksu noodles and rice stir-fried in the leftover sauce. Thanks to generous portions and a sweet-spicy sauce, Ok Doenjang's squid and pork stir-fry is a combo worth ordering again.
Namhae Mulgogi Anyang (남해물고기) is an aged sashimi restaurant on the 4th floor of a building right beside the fountain near Beomgye Station in Anyang, Gyeonggi. On a weekday lunch with a friend, the writer ordered the sashimi omakase set for two, working through everything from mulhoe (cold raw fish soup) to a shabu-shabu hot pot with extra udon noodles, and shook off some parenting stress over a daytime beer. Namhae Mulgogi Anyang opens at 11:30, making it a solid pick for a lunchtime drink or a group dinner in Beomgye.
Grill the Terrace Dongtan Main Branch is a charcoal Korean BBQ restaurant at Dongtan North Plaza in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi, offering the Uiseong garlic mixed platter (beef and pork belly on one grill). For a weekend family lunch with a child, the writer ordered the 600g Uiseong garlic mixed platter in the plain (unmarinated) version, along with doenjang-jjigae (soybean paste stew) and mul-naengmyeon (cold buckwheat noodles). With a spacious dining room, 3 hours of free underground parking, baby chairs and toys, Grill the Terrace Dongtan Main Branch made for a satisfying family meal with kids.
Chilseong Jemyeonso Suji Main Branch (칠성제면소 수지본점) is a noodle restaurant on the first floor of Seohui Star Hills in Seongbok-dong, Suji-gu, Yongin. On a weekend lunch with the kids, the writer ordered flat dumplings with seasoned vegetables, the cauldron fresh-noodle set, white jjolmyeon (chewy noodles) with charcoal-grilled beef brisket and the kids' cutlet set, then walked the Seongbok Stream path just below. With underground parking, kids' tableware at the self-service bar, high chairs and non-spicy dishes, Chilseong Jemyeonso Suji was a satisfying spot for a family meal out with children.
Jogane Gabojingeo Mulwang Hosu Branch (조가네갑오징어 물왕호수점) is a cuttlefish restaurant near Mulwang Reservoir in Siheung, Gyeonggi, that occupies an entire building. After a walk around Mulwang Reservoir with a friend, the writer came for a weekday lunch and ordered the small cuttlefish bulgogi (41,000 won) and flying fish roe fried rice for 2. Thick cuttlefish in a smoky, spicy sauce, a self-serve side dish bar, easy parking, a spacious dining room and free coffee on the 1st floor make Jogane Gabojingeo a solid lunch stop on a Mulwang Reservoir outing.
Cheolgil Busanjip Beomgye Branch is a fish cake (oden) bar with a Japanese izakaya feel on Pyeongchon-daero 217beon-gil in Beomgye, Anyang. On a weekend evening, after gopchang (grilled beef intestines) with a friend, the writer waited briefly for a table at the packed Cheolgil Busanjip for a second round. The order was the Seomyeon Set fish cake for two (cheese and chili fish cake), Busanjip aged salmon sashimi, a Busanjip highball, and Kirin and Hanmaek draft beer. Individual pots keep the fish cake warm to the last bite and the salmon is thick-cut, making Cheolgil Busanjip a Beomgye second-round spot worth revisiting.
Artis Theme Park is an indoor zoo and aquarium theme park on the 9th floor of Sinyu Medi Plaza near Dongtan Station in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi. On a weekend visit at opening time with a child, the writer wore a name sticker, fed animals from a feed kit, touched a megaball and a horseshoe crab, collected stamp badges and did some drawing. Artis Theme Park combines an indoor zoo and an aquarium in one place whatever the weather, making it a satisfying weekend outing with kids.
Morakmorak Jeongyuk Sikdang Namyang Hwaseong City Hall Main Branch is a butcher-style Korean BBQ restaurant on Yeokgoljungang-ro in Namyang-eup, Hwaseong, open 11:00 to 23:00. On a weekend lunch with the kids, the writer picked beef rib finger and whole pork skirt from the meat showcase and enjoyed staff pre-searing, a taco bar and self-serve bar, muksabal (chilled acorn jelly soup) and yukhoe (beef tartare) starters, doenjang stew and pot rice. With a spacious dining room, a big parking lot and a graphic screen the kids loved, Morakmorak Jeongyuk Sikdang suits both family meals and group dinners.
