Tote Bag Nightowl · 10 stories

Full Bag, Seoul/Daegu-Gyeongbuk Shopping, Bars, Beauty and Restaurants

Writes about restaurants, bars, beauty spots, and shopping stops found while moving between Seoul and Daegu-Gyeongbuk. · Writes about: Restaurants · Bars · Hair & beauty salons · Shopping

PlaceJungnang, SeoulRestaurants

Meokgol Station Korean restaurant: refillable doenjang stew, Sanchaega

Sanchaega Hanjeongsik Meokgol Main Branch is a cauldron-rice Korean set meal (hanjeongsik) restaurant near Exit 5 of Meokgol Station in Jungnang, Seoul. A couple ordered the gondre (Korean thistle) cauldron special set for two and ate spicy stir-fried pork, grilled dried pollack with deodeok root, grilled flounder, unlimited refills of banchan (side dishes) and doenjang (soybean paste) stew, and scorched-rice tea; a solo set costs ₩7,000. Sanchaega Hanjeongsik Meokgol Main Branch is a good Korean restaurant near Meokgol Station for taking parents, and the writer plans to return.

Written Jun 9, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangbuk, SeoulRestaurants

Couple's Korean BBQ at Suyu Station, ₩44,000 for two: Suyu Daewang

Suyu Daewang Sotttukkeong Samgyeopsal is a cauldron-lid pork belly restaurant in a food alley about 5 minutes from Suyu Station in Gangbuk, Seoul. On a late weekday evening, the writer and her husband ordered half pork belly and half pork neck (₩29,000), bibim naengmyeon (spicy cold noodles) and one serving of cheese fried rice, paying ₩44,000 in total. They especially loved grilling soybean sprouts, mung bean sprouts and kimchi from the self-serve bar on the lid. Suyu Daewang Sotttukkeong Samgyeopsal is a good-value Korean BBQ spot near Suyu Station where two people can eat until stuffed without straining the budget.

Written Jun 16, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeocho, SeoulBars

Sinnonhyeon jazz bar wedding anniversary: tomato pasta at Flat Nine

Flat Nine is a jazz bar in Sinnonhyeon, Seoul, between Gangnam Station and Sinnonhyeon Station, where you can eat a course dinner while listening to live jazz. The writer booked Flat Nine through Catch Table for a wedding anniversary and arrived at 7pm to a full house, so they sat at the bar. They had the Classic Course with a bottle of wine, including tomato pasta, Jeju black pork tenderloin steak and tiramisu. Verdict: for a good seat at Flat Nine, arrive at 6pm when doors open.

Written Jun 1, 2026Sponsored
PlaceNowon, SeoulRestaurants

Nowon Korean BBQ with pumpkin leaf wraps and anchovy dip: Moksam Hwaro

Moksam Hwaro Nowon Main Branch (목삼화로 노원 본점) is a pork BBQ restaurant on a food street near Exit 1 of Nowon Station in Seoul. To celebrate finishing a course of herbal medicine, the writer booked a table with her husband, ordered the Moksam platter (recommended for 2, ₩49,000) and aged kimchi stew, and especially loved the pumpkin leaf wraps and the melt-in-your-mouth pork neck. Moksam Hwaro Nowon Main Branch is a Korean BBQ spot near Nowon Station with excellent pork neck, and a good pick for group dinners.

Written Jun 30, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulRestaurants

Apgujeong Italian restaurant, truffle gnocchi date: Osteria Eden

Osteria Eden is an Italian restaurant on the ground floor of the Schedule Cheongdam building near Apgujeongnodeo Station in Gangnam, Seoul. On a date with her husband, the writer had complimentary bread, French onion soup, gnocchi with generously grated truffle and cheese-filled fresh-pasta lasagna, and enjoyed the spacious dining room with its Santorini-view wall and floor-to-ceiling windows. Every dish at Osteria Eden is delicious even without wine, making it a strong pick for an Apgujeong date, an anniversary or a wedding-invitation get-together.

Written Jul 7, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJung-gu, SeoulRestaurants

Friends' night wine bar near Dongdaemun DDP: polpo risotto, Athlonga

Athlonga is a wine restaurant on the 3rd floor of an alley building near DDP in Jung-gu, Seoul, about a 5-minute walk from Dongdaemun History & Culture Park Station. The writer and a friend stayed at Athlonga for over 4 hours, sharing a staff-recommended bottle of red wine, prosciutto pasta, polpo risotto (octopus risotto), gambas and glasses of white wine. From the secret door you open by pressing a wine bottle to the restroom, Athlonga won the writer over and became their go-to spot for friend get-togethers.

Written Jul 13, 2026Partially sponsored
PlaceJungnang, SeoulRestaurants

Sangbong baby octopus restaurant for a couple's stamina meal: Joajukne

Joajukne Jjukkumi (조아죽네쭈꾸미) is a baby octopus restaurant in the Sangbong food alley in Jungnang, Seoul, with outdoor street-side tables. The writer and her husband went for a hearty, energy-boosting meal. On the terrace they had the jjuksam (baby octopus and pork belly) set with sungnyung (scorched-rice tea) and assorted add-ins for 2 at ₩18,900, plus steamed egg with cheese. The portions were so generous that they had no room left for fried rice. When sauce splashed on the writer's clothes, a staff member brought her a stain remover. For outdoor dining in the Sangbong food alley and a filling jjuksam set, Joajukne Jjukkumi is an easy recommendation.

Written Oct 11, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJung-gu, SeoulHair & beauty salons

Yaksu Station salon layered cut for damaged ends: Hair Studio Baekga

Hair Studio Baekga Yaksu Station is a hair salon on Dongho-ro in Jung-gu, Seoul, about a 3-minute walk from Yaksu Station. After six months away, the writer had a layered cut with the head designer, along with a refreshing shampoo and scalp massage, and the damaged ends were trimmed into a style that makes the face look smaller. Even without a clinic treatment, the cut alone left the hair silky enough to earn compliments from the writer's husband and a friend, a very satisfying visit to Hair Studio Baekga.

Written Jul 17, 2026Sponsored
PlaceNowon, SeoulRestaurants

Nowon conveyor sushi with a soldier on leave: 27 plates, Sushi Ianen

Sushi Ianen Nowon Station (스시이안앤 노원역점) is a conveyor sushi restaurant on the 3rd floor of a building on Nowon Station's Culture Street in Nowon, Seoul, where every plate costs ₩1,990. The writer came with their youngest brother, home on military leave, around 1 PM on a weekday; the two ate 27 plates, including aged kimchi sushi, cheese egg sushi and red crab gratin, and received Paik's Coffee Americano vouchers (one per 15 plates). Sushi Ianen Nowon Station is a good-value sushi pick near Nowon Station, with an easy-to-tally bill and pretty, tasty sushi.

Written Jul 25, 2026Sponsored
PlaceNowon, SeoulRestaurants

Junggye shabu-shabu restaurant, summer stamina meal for two: Hana

Hana Shabu Shabu Junggye Main Branch is a shabu-shabu and seiro-mushi (Japanese bamboo-steamer dish) restaurant on the first floor of the Brownstone Junggye shopping complex in Nowon, Seoul. On a sweltering summer day, the writer and her husband sat at the bar and shared the brisket and sirloin shabu-shabu course for two, enjoying the quality vegetables and meat, complimentary tadaki, mentaiko rice bowl and mu-u pudding (무우푸딩) for dessert. Verdict: Hana Shabu Shabu Junggye Main Branch is a Junggye-dong shabu-shabu spot where the 33,000-won course is well worth it.

Written Jul 30, 2026Sponsored
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