Mangwon Between-Meals Traveler · 24 stories

Daegu, Between Meals

I write about restaurants and meals I encounter across Daegu and Gyeongbuk. · Writes about: Restaurants · Cafés · Bars · Hair & beauty salons

PlaceMapo, SeoulHair & beauty salons

Hongdae lash lift salon: curler-free doll lashes for a trip, Lashkimi

Lashkimi is a lash lift salon in the basement of the LG Palace Building, right by Exit 9 of Hongik Univ. Station in Hongdae (Mapo, Seoul), run as a shop-in-shop with Nail Harayu. Before a trip, the writer got a basic moisture lash lift at Lashkimi that took under 1 hour and left her lashes curled up like a doll's without a curler or mascara. With good value, a friendly owner and a warm, clean bed, Lashkimi was a satisfying lash lift in Hongdae all round.

Written Apr 24, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGyeongju, GyeongbukRestaurants

Gyeongju Korean restaurant, kimchi ribs & mixed makgeolli: Hwangnam

Hwangnam Dukkebi Restaurant (황남두꺼비식당) is a tiled-roof Korean restaurant on Hwangridan-gil in Gyeongju, known for its jar-aged kimchi braised pork back ribs. The writer booked through Naver for a Sunday dinner with a younger sibling who lives in Gyeongju, skipped a 10-team wait, and had the braised ribs, fried egg rice, slush cream makgeolli and Gyeongju Beopju rice makgeolli. Hwangnam Dukkebi Restaurant serves generous, good-value braised ribs and tasty makgeolli, and the writer would stop by again on a return trip to Gyeongju.

Written Apr 28, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangbuk, SeoulHair & beauty salons

Mia Station nail salon: pink spring Nail of the Month, Mint Beauty

Mint Beauty is a 100% reservation-only, one-artist nail salon in front of Mia Station in Gangbuk, Seoul, right next to Starbucks. Before a trip, the writer got April's Nail of the Month design exactly as shown, with a choice of colors, shapes and a glossy or matte finish, and Mint Beauty also offers the previous month's designs at the event price. Mint Beauty is careful yet finished in about 1 hour, a good fit for anyone who wants private spring nails.

Written Apr 27, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGeumcheon, SeoulRestaurants

Mala restaurant in Gasan: lamb mala xiang guo at Mapo Mara Hoegwan

Mapo Mara Hoegwan (정통마라탕마포마라회관) is a new malatang, mala xiang guo and hotpot restaurant in basement level 1 of Daeryung Post Tower 6, across from Gasan Digital Complex Station in Geumcheon, Seoul. The writer visited Mapo Mara Hoegwan after work about a week after it opened and ordered a noodle- and rice-cake-free mala xiang guo packed with vegetables, mushrooms and tofu, with extra lamb (₩17,100 total, spice level 2), plus free opening-event guobaorou and free rice. The verdict: Mapo Mara Hoegwan's mala xiang guo is thick rather than oily, the ingredients are fresh, and the meal is good value.

Written Nov 10, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYongsan, SeoulRestaurants

Picnic takeout at Yongsan Station for Yongsan Family Park: Ppareuju

Ppareuju Deopbap & Gangjeong (빠르쥬 덮밥&강정) is a takeout shop for rice bowls and dakgangjeong (sweet glazed fried chicken) in the middle of the KTX and subway platforms area on the 3rd floor of Yongsan Station in Yongsan, Seoul. The writer took away a large seasoned dakgangjeong for ₩12,000 and the Baseball Stadium Cream Shrimp for ₩8,000 and ate them as a picnic lunch at Yongsan Family Park behind the National Museum of Korea; both the dakgangjeong with chewy rice cake sticks and the slightly spicy cream shrimp were satisfying. For an easy Yongsan Family Park picnic meal picked up at Yongsan Station, Ppareuju Deopbap & Gangjeong is a good fit.

Written May 3, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulRestaurants

Gongdeok salad shop at opening: skin-on salmon steak, Why Starve

Why Starve Diet Gongdeok Main Branch is a protein salad shop in the basement of Lotte Castle President, by Exit 2 of Gongdeok Station in Mapo, Seoul. Arriving right at opening, the blogger ordered a salmon protein box to go, upgraded to cauliflower rice with sriracha mayo sauce, and picked it up 5 minutes after ordering. For 12,900 won a set, the moist grilled salmon steak at Why Starve makes a satisfying diet meal.

Written May 7, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJongno, SeoulRestaurants

Dongdaemun chicken hot pot on Children's Day, kalguksu: Sunhuine

Sunhuine Bindaetteok Dak Hanmari Dongdaemun is a dak hanmari (whole-chicken hot pot) and bindaetteok (mung bean pancake) restaurant in Dongdaemun's chicken hot pot alley near Jongno 5-ga Station in Jongno, Seoul. On Children's Day, after shopping for pen-decorating supplies at Changsin-dong Toy Street and the Dongdaemun craft supply market, the writer had chicken hot pot for two (₩33,000) with a kalguksu (knife-cut noodle) add-on at 3 PM, and more than half the diners were foreigners. The Sunhuine Dongdaemun chicken hot pot is generous enough that two people left some uneaten, so it is best for groups of three or more.

Written May 12, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYeongdeungpo, SeoulRestaurants

Yeouido IFC snack bar: spicy medium wheat tteokbokki, Hyeonseonine

Hyeonseonine Premium IFC Mall Branch is a tteokbokki snack bar in the B2 connecting passage that links Yeouido Station with IFC Mall and The Hyundai Seoul in Yeouido, Seoul. At the after-work rush, the 2-person Hyeonseonine Set (23,000 won) was eaten at the outside seats, and its medium-spice broth tteokbokki with wheat rice cakes was quite spicy even for someone who handles heat well. Verdict: Hyeonseonine Premium serves chili-flake broth tteokbokki with sundae, fritters and mini gimbap for less than The Hyundai Seoul food court.

Written Oct 31, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJung-gu, SeoulRestaurants

Myeongdong gukbap spot like Midnight Diner: rainy weeknight, Baekok

Baekok Myeongdong is a Korean restaurant specializing in pork gomtang (clear pork bone soup), tucked into an alley near Myeongdong CGV in Jung-gu, Seoul. On a rainy weekday at 5:30pm, during a shopping trip, the writer had the medium Baekok Yakgomtang for ₩14,000 and four Baekok cabbage dumplings for ₩8,000; the clear, rich broth had no gamey smell, and the toryeom rice kept its texture to the last spoonful. For a healthy, mild gomtang, Baekok Myeongdong is a satisfying choice.

Written May 27, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYongsan, SeoulHair & beauty salons

Sinyongsan makeup salon for wedding guest scar cover: Cheongdam Shop

Cheongdam Shop Sinyongsan Branch (청담샵 신용산점) is a multi-beauty salon on the 1st floor of Building C at Yongsan Central Park Harrington Square, near Sinyongsan Station and Yongsan Station in Seoul, offering makeup, hair and head spa services. Before a close friend's wedding, the writer got guest hair and makeup at Cheongdam Shop Sinyongsan Branch: dark circles, visible veins and a burn scar on the nose were covered to match her skin tone, and her hair was finished in a calm, tidy bun. The makeup stayed put through a full day out, making Cheongdam Shop Sinyongsan Branch a strong pick for wedding guest makeup and profile photo makeup alike.

Written Oct 23, 2026Sponsored
PlaceNam-gu, UlsanRestaurants

Makchang BBQ with non-alcoholic beer in Samsan-dong, Ulsan: Odumak

Odumak Hangari Makchang (오두막 항아리막창) Samsan branch is a makchang (grilled pork intestine) and fresh pork belly BBQ restaurant on Dalsam-ro in Samsan-dong, Nam-gu, Ulsan. The writer drove there, so they had non-alcoholic beer with 3 servings of makchang, then finished with crab doenjang (soybean paste) stew and free dessert kalguksu (knife-cut noodle soup). With parking, free vegetable refills and self-serve side dishes, Odumak Hangari Makchang is an easy, no-pressure place to eat your fill of makchang.

Written Jun 12, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGyeongju, GyeongbukRestaurants

Spicy bone hot pot for two big eaters in Gyeongju Bomun: Hyoeunok

Hyoeunok Gyeongju Branch (효은옥 경주분점) is a Korean restaurant in the Bomun area of Gyeongju that serves Bone-verest, a beef bone hot pot limited to 30 a day. Two big eaters booked a 5 PM table on Naver, ordered the spicy Bone-verest set and finished the meat and vegetables, kalguksu (knife-cut noodles), shabu beef and gondre (thistle) porridge. The portion is huge, but the seokbakji-style kkakdugi (radish kimchi) keeps you eating, making Hyoeunok Gyeongju Branch a true local favorite.

Written Jun 14, 2026Sponsored