Routine Collector · 11 stories

Daily Formula

I write about beauty products I use in everyday routines. · Writes about: Beauty products · Restaurants · Bars · Cafés · Shopping · Home & living · Hair & beauty salons

PlaceJongno, SeoulRestaurants

Jongno 3-ga Korean BBQ second round: pork belly vs pork neck, Tapgol

Tapgol Gongwon Jongno 3-ga Branch (탑골공원 종로3가점) is a frozen pork belly Korean BBQ restaurant on Supyo-ro in Jongno, Seoul, serving only at outdoor tables beside the stone wall by Tapgol Park's east gate. The writer rode over on an e-bike for a second round after dinner, ordered 1 serving of frozen pork belly and 1 serving of pork neck to compare them side by side, and found the pork belly far better for a fat lover. Tapgol Gongwon Jongno 3-ga Branch is worth shortlisting for grilling meat outdoors in Jongno 3-ga on a nice-weather evening.

Written Oct 27, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJongno, SeoulRestaurants

Weekday after-work Korean BBQ in Jongno: frozen pork belly at Chowon

Chowon Restaurant Jongno 3-ga Branch (초원식당) is a Korean BBQ restaurant serving flash-frozen pork belly and hanwoo beef in the Tapgol Park outdoor-dining alley near Jongno 3-ga Station Exit 5 in Jongno, Seoul. On a weekday evening after work, the blogger and a companion got indoor seats with no wait and ordered 2 servings of flash-frozen pork belly with 2 bowls of rice. The thick-cut pork belly, green onion kimchi, and kimchi and bean sprouts grilled on the same plate stood out. Chowon Restaurant is a good pick for tasty meat with the old-school outdoor-dining atmosphere of Jongno 3-ga.

Written Oct 20, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJongno, SeoulRestaurants

Jonggak Korean dinner: mild octopus & pork stir-fry sets, Bonghyejane

Bonghyejane Jubang Jongno Tower branch is a Korean set-meal restaurant on the second basement floor of Jongno Tower, near Jonggak Station in Seoul. After a wasted trip to a branch in Gwanghwamun that turned out to be closed, the writer went to Bonghyejane Jubang for an after-work dinner and ordered the octopus stir-fry set (16,000 won) and the pork stir-fry set (15,000 won), both on the mild setting; both had a charcoal-grilled aroma and came with mushroom perilla soup and sweet pumpkin porridge. Because every dish lets you choose the spice level, Bonghyejane Jubang is a good Jonggak Korean restaurant to visit with friends who can't handle heat, though the mild level is a little bland, so the regular level is recommended.

Written Oct 22, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYeongdeungpo, SeoulRestaurants

Yeouido IFC Mall tteokbokki bar: takeout set on a train, Hyeonseonine

Hyeonseonine Premium IFC Mall Branch is a tteokbokki and Korean snack bar on basement level 2 of IFC Mall in Yeouido, Seoul. After taking a half day off for a gyeongrak massage, the writer picked up a Hyeonseonine set and a Coke Zero to go for ₩25,000 before catching a train, and shared them at the bus stop and on the train; the sweet, old-school tteokbokki and the generous portion were the highlights. Hyeonseonine Premium is a handy stop when you want quick tteokbokki, fried snacks and sundae (Korean blood sausage) to go in Yeouido.

Written Oct 22, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGwangjin, SeoulRestaurants

Gunja café-style Korean restaurant: ₩36,000 shrimp hotpot, Dimideun

Dimideun Gunja is a clean, café-like Korean restaurant on Dongil-ro 62-gil near Gunja Station in Gwangjin, Seoul, serving gomtang (beef bone soup), suyuk (sliced boiled meat) and hotpots. After work, two people shared one brisket and freshwater shrimp hotpot (₩34,000) plus two bowls of rice for ₩36,000 in total; the broth was spicy and refreshing, and the small freshwater shrimp added savory depth. With its tidy, café-like atmosphere and a wide range of drinks, Dimideun Gunja is a solid pick for a shared Korean dinner for two in Gunja.

Written Oct 14, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGwangsan, GwangjuRestaurants

Gwangju Songjeong Station pork soup, meat refills: Gaeryeong Gukbap

Gaeryeong Gukbap is a pork soup (gukbap) restaurant on the 2nd floor of Gwangju Songjeong Station in Gwangsan, Gwangju. Visiting as a pair, the writer ordered ttaro-gukbap (rice and soup served separately) at 13,000 won and the bossam set at 17,000 won, which came with 8 tasting slices of boiled pork, and the broth was seasoned so well that no chili seasoning paste was needed. Rice, broth and even the meat can be refilled, so Gaeryeong Gukbap makes a filling meal right before a train.

Written Sep 15, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGwangjin, SeoulRestaurants

Second-round ramen in Gwangjin: motsu and tori paitan at Mentsuru

Mentsuru Children's Grand Park Branch is a Japanese ramen restaurant built on chicken broth, about 30 seconds on foot from Exit 4 of Children's Grand Park Station in Gwangjin, Seoul. Still hungry after a first round at an izakaya in Gunja, two diners stopped by for a second round and ordered motsu ramen (beef intestine ramen) at 15,000 won and tori paitan at 12,000 won with 2,500 won of extra chashu, 29,500 won for two bowls. The motsu ramen tastes like a spicy gopchang hot pot and the tori paitan like a rich Korean chicken soup, so Mentsuru works whether you lean gopchang or tonkotsu.

Written Sep 15, 2026Sponsored
PlaceDongdaemun, SeoulRestaurants

Jangan-dong shabu shabu with a pot per person: Shabu Torang Jang-an

Shabu Torang Jang-an Direct Branch is a shabu shabu restaurant in Jangan-dong, Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul, a 3-minute walk from Jangan intersection, where every diner gets their own induction burner and pot. Two people ordered basic shabu shabu with cream risotto and spicy shabu shabu with cream pasta, both with extra meat, for 30,000 won total. Because you pick your own noodles and dessert add-ons — pasta, risotto or tteokbokki (spicy rice cakes) — Shabu Torang is a good-value spot that locals come back to again and again.

Written Sep 15, 2026Sponsored
ProductHEEDABeauty products

Glow serum for dry skin, one week of morning use: HEEDA Glutathione

HEEDA Glutathione High-End Glow Serum is a brightening glow serum that this writer, who has very dry skin, used every morning for just over a week. The light, watery texture layered without feeling heavy, and under makeup the HEEDA serum added a natural sheen with no pilling or patchiness. For dry skin that lacks both moisture and oil, it worked as an easy morning glow step.

Written Dec 7, 2025Product provided
ProductHEEDABeauty products

Low-residue charcoal cleansing balm: HEEDA Jirisan Moist Charcoal

HEEDA Jirisan Moist Charcoal Cleansing Balm (100ml) is a Korean cleansing balm the writer used morning and evening on dry, sensitive skin. The sherbet-like balm melted on contact and left little tightness or residue after rinsing, and the writer paid ₩19,900 instead of the ₩28,000 list price. For everyday cleansing it felt gentle enough, but after makeup the writer chose to follow it with a second cleanse.

Written Dec 2, 2025Product provided
ProductHEEDABeauty products

Korean skin care face wash for dry, sensitive skin: HEEDA charcoal

HEEDA Jirisan Moisture Charcoal Foam Cleanser is a low-pH charcoal face wash from Korea. The writer used HEEDA's charcoal foam cleanser for a few days on dry, sensitive skin, for the morning wash and as a second cleanse after a cleansing balm. The soft, rich foam and the lack of tightness after washing felt good, though the mild charcoal scent may come down to personal taste.

Written Nov 14, 2025Product provided
You've reached the end · 11 stories