Worn Powder Route · 35 stories

Worn Compact, Daejeon-Chungcheong-Gangwon-Gyeonggi-Seoul Cafes and Beauty

Writes about cafes, bars, beauty spots, and small restaurants across Daejeon, Chungcheong, Gangwon, Gyeonggi, and Seoul. · Writes about: Restaurants · Cafés · Bars · Hair & beauty salons

PlaceAnseong, GyeonggiCafés

Anseong brunch café before Starfield: rosé pasta, Chat Baker

Chat Baker Brunch & Bakery Café is a large two-floor brunch and bakery café on Seodong-daero in Gongdo-eup, Anseong, Gyeonggi. Before a trip to Starfield Anseong, the writer sat at a second-floor window seat at Chat Baker and had pollock roe shrimp oil pasta, Johnsonville rosé cream pasta, a ten-thousand-layer croissant and coffee, with drinks 50% off when ordering a brunch dish. Chat Baker is a good stop for a filling meal and fresh bread before or after Starfield.

Written Jun 21, 2026Sponsored
PlaceAsan, ChungnamRestaurants

Asan Techno Valley galbi restaurant for late company dinners: Ilpum

Ilpum Chamsut Galbi is a charcoal-grilled pork galbi restaurant in the main commercial district of Asan Techno Valley in Dunpo-myeon, Asan, Chungnam. The writer went late in the evening to this regular company-dinner spot of their group and had the free side dishes of spicy marinated crab, spicy skate salad and muksabal (acorn jelly in cold broth), then charcoal-grilled galbi and naengmyeon (cold noodles) to finish. Ilpum Chamsut Galbi has no weak spot from side dishes to mains, making it a solid pick for family meals or company dinners.

Written Jun 26, 2026Sponsored
PlaceCheonan, ChungnamRestaurants

Cheonan cold noodle restaurant: 70% buckwheat mul and bibim, Geuni

Geuni Sikdang Pyeongyang Naengmyeon is a North Korean-style cold noodle restaurant in Dujeong-dong, Seobuk-gu, Cheonan. On a hot day, the writer ordered Pyeongyang mul naengmyeon (cold noodles in broth), perilla oil bibim naengmyeon (mixed cold noodles) and king mandu (large dumplings). The meal featured a clean hanwoo beef broth, nutty 70% buckwheat noodles and green onion kimchi from the self-serve bar. Geuni Sikdang is a Dujeong-dong naengmyeon spot worth recommending to Pyeongyang naengmyeon beginners and devoted fans alike.

Written Jun 26, 2026Sponsored
PlaceCheonan, ChungnamRestaurants

Gomtang restaurant in Dujeong-dong, Cheonan: hanwoo tangban at Geuni

Geuni Sikdang Pyeongyang Naengmyeon is a Pyeongyang naengmyeon and North Korean-style restaurant in Dujeong-dong, near Dujeong Station in Cheonan. On a chilly day as the seasons changed, the writer and a friend arrived at the 11 AM opening and ordered hanwoo tangban, a beef soup made with 1++ Korean beef that comes with plenty of meat and the rice already in the broth. For a warm, hearty soup-and-rice lunch, the hanwoo tangban at Geuni Sikdang is a filling choice on its own.

Written Oct 13, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSokcho, GangwonRestaurants

Sokcho market dakgangjeong: long line, quick takeout, Seomin Gapbu

Seomin Gapbu Sijang Dakjip (서민갑부 시장닭집) is a dakgangjeong (sweet crispy fried chicken) shop in Jungang Market, Sokcho, that makes each order fresh and is run together with Ttokine Twigim, the original nurungji squid sundae shop. The writer joined a long weekday line at Seomin Gapbu Sijang Dakjip, but it moved fast enough to get dakgangjeong to go without a long wait, and a Naver and Google review event added free drinks. Verdict: Seomin Gapbu Sijang Dakjip's dakgangjeong is a good last stop on a Jungang Market food crawl, taken back as a late-night snack.

Written Jul 2, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSokcho, GangwonRestaurants

Sokcho ramen shop with Busan roots: tonkotsu and draft beer, Ichiba

Ichiba Ramen (이찌바라멘) is a Japanese-style tonkotsu ramen shop on Jungangno in Sokcho, Gangwon, which started as Chichibu Ramen in Busan in 2006 and has operated in Sokcho since 2024. At Ichiba Ramen, the special tonkotsu ramen with extra chashu and extra egg, plus butadon (pork rice bowl) and draft beer, came with a 30-hour pork broth that was rich without feeling heavy. For a filling Japanese ramen meal on a Sokcho trip, Ichiba Ramen's special tonkotsu ramen and butadon combo is well worth ordering.

Written Jul 1, 2026Sponsored
PlaceCheonan, ChungnamRestaurants

Solo sushi near Daejeong Hospital, Cheonan: shrimp set at Ganghan

Ganghan Sushi Cheonan Buldang Branch (강한초밥 천안불당점) is a sushi restaurant in Buldang-dong, Cheonan, near Daejeong Hospital. Before a hospital visit, the writer ate alone at Ganghan Sushi: a shrimp sushi set with cold soba, flying fish roe gunkan and a ₩500 egg sushi from a review event, with the fresh shrimp and aged kimchi standing out most. Ganghan Sushi is an easy, unfussy choice for a filling solo sushi meal in Buldang-dong.

Written Jul 14, 2026Sponsored
PlaceCheonan, ChungnamRestaurants

Cheonan fish grill in Baekseok: Atka mackerel, soy crab and pork

Hwadeuro-ganggodeungeo Cheonan Main Branch (화덕으로간고등어 천안본점) is an oven-grilled fish restaurant in the Baekseok Agro-Industrial Complex, Seobuk-gu, Cheonan. Two diners ordered oven-grilled Atka mackerel and spicy pork stir-fry, added soy-marinated crab (ganjang gejang), and enjoyed the banchan self-bar, DIY bibimbap, sungnyung (scorched-rice tea) and free coffee and snacks by the exit. The oven-grilled Atka mackerel was crisp outside, moist inside and not at all fishy, making Hwadeuro-ganggodeungeo Cheonan Main Branch a solid pick for meals with family, parents or a partner.

Written Jul 12, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSongpa, SeoulRestaurants

Poke at Munjeong Station: half avocado on oat brown rice, Olla Poke

Olla Poke Munjeong Main Branch (올라포케 문정본점) is a poke restaurant on the first basement floor of Terra Tower Building A, near Munjeong Station in Songpa, Seoul. The writer and a friend built custom bowls: an avocado poke on oat brown rice and a raw salmon poke on buckwheat noodles, topped with half an extra-large avocado and a generous portion of raw salmon. For a light but filling, healthy meal near Munjeong Station, Olla Poke Munjeong Main Branch is a satisfying choice.

Written Jul 8, 2026Sponsored
PlaceCheonan, ChungnamRestaurants

Cheonan weekend lunch BBQ: pork belly, brisket & noodles, Motsaenggin

Motsaenggin Ttungdwaeji Cheongdang Branch (못생긴뚱돼지 청당점) is a pork belly BBQ restaurant on Cheongsu 9-ro in Cheongdang-dong, Dongnam-gu, Cheonan. Over a weekend lunch, the writer grilled thick pork belly and chadolbaegi (thin-sliced beef brisket) and finished with bibim naengmyeon (spicy cold noodles) and somyeon (thin wheat noodles). The pork belly was crisp outside, juicy inside and free of gamey smell, and came with 5 dipping sauces and a dessert corner by the exit. For pork belly and cold noodles in Cheongdang-dong, Motsaenggin Ttungdwaeji Cheongdang Branch is well worth recommending.

Written Jul 14, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJongno, SeoulRestaurants

Jongno burger spot after wedding ring shopping: bacon jam, Reel Burger

Reel Burger Gwanghwamun is a handmade burger restaurant on Sambong-ro in Jongno, Seoul. After choosing their wedding jewelry, the blogger and her fiancé ordered the No.2 Classic Burger, the No.4 El Taco Burger, maple sweet potato fries and crispy onion rings, and her picky fiancé kept raving about the bourbon whiskey bacon jam in the Classic Burger. Reel Burger Gwanghwamun has no parking of its own, but the nearby Twosome Place works, making it a great burger stop for a Jongno or Gwanghwamun date.

Written Jul 17, 2026Sponsored
PlaceCheonan, ChungnamRestaurants

Cheonan cutlet spot's retro diner soup, two bowls: Jinsim King

Jinsim King Donkkatsu Cheonan Seongseong branch is a king-size pork cutlet restaurant across from E-Mart Cheonan Seobuk in Seongseong-dong, Seobuk-gu, Cheonan. Visiting as a pair, the writer ordered the Double King Cutlet and the new summer Jinsim Cold Jjolmyeon (chewy cold noodles), and the old-fashioned Western-style soup at the Jinsim King Donkkatsu self-bar was good enough for two bowls. For generous portions at easy prices in Seongseong-dong, Jinsim King Donkkatsu is a satisfying pick.

Written Jul 20, 2026Sponsored