Dress Diary · 33 stories

The Dress Code

I write about clothing and the fashion details that catch my attention. · Writes about: Beauty products · Fashion · Restaurants · Bars · Cafés · Shopping · Things to do

PlaceAnsan, GyeonggiRestaurants

Ansan Korean restaurant: solo fresh-chicken dak-galbi, Morakmorak

Morakmorak Seolleongtang Ansan Seongpo Main Branch (모락모락설렁탕 안산성포본점) is a seolleongtang (ox bone soup) restaurant on basement level 1 of Star Plaza in Seongpo-dong, Ansan, that also serves other Korean dishes such as dak-galbi stir-fry (spicy stir-fried chicken). A regular went alone on a weekday evening and ate the dak-galbi, cooked to order from fresh chicken, with a heaped bowl of rice, scallion salad and lettuce wraps; the portion was about two servings, so the leftovers went home as takeout. Verdict: the dak-galbi at Morakmorak Seolleongtang is a solo meal that gets taste, portion size and friendly service all right.

Written Apr 21, 2026Sponsored
PlaceAnsan, GyeonggiShopping

Ansan butcher: pan-fried galbi-sal, mom's dallae kimchi, Morakmorak

Morakmorak Home & Cook (모락모락홈앤쿡) is a butcher shop and meal kit store on the basement level of Star Plaza in Seongpo-dong, Sangnok-gu, Ansan. A regular customer took home galbi-sal (rib meat) from Morakmorak Home & Cook and simply pan-fried it. The galbi-sal stayed juicy and tender and, with mom's homemade dallae (wild chive) kimchi, made a home meal as good as a restaurant's. Verdict: with good meat quality and neat packaging, Morakmorak Home & Cook is an easy stop when you want a simple meat dish at home.

Written Apr 21, 2026Sponsored
PlaceOsan, GyeonggiRestaurants

Chinese restaurant in Osan with parents: kiosk & jjamppong, Dami Sik

Dami Sik (다미식) is a Chinese restaurant at 55 Sumogwon-ro 49beon-gil in Nueup-dong, Osan, Gyeonggi. On a weekday evening, the writer took her parents to Dami Sik, where the three of them ordered stone jjajang (black bean noodles sizzling on a hot stone plate) and beef brisket jjamppong (spicy noodle soup) at the kiosk. Her parents enjoyed the stone jjajang, which wasn't too salty, and the spicy jjamppong broth, which the beef brisket made rich. With good flavor, atmosphere and portions, Dami Sik is an Osan Chinese restaurant worth revisiting for a family meal.

Written Apr 22, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSuwon, GyeonggiRestaurants

Sunday lunch army stew by Yeongtong Station: Songtan Daegwang

Songtan Daegwang Budae Jjigae Yeongtong branch is a budae jjigae (Korean army stew) restaurant on the 2nd floor of Magic Plaza near Yeongtong Station in Suwon. For Sunday lunch, the writer and her husband ordered Daegwang budae jjigae for 2 with a Jin Ramyeon noodle add-on. They also enjoyed unlimited rice, a self-serve side dish bar and complimentary muk sabal (acorn jelly in chilled broth), and nearly finished the broth. Songtan Daegwang Budae Jjigae Yeongtong branch is a no-fuss Korean restaurant near Yeongtong Station that perfects one dish, budae jjigae.

Written Apr 26, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSuwon, GyeonggiCafés

Solo café near Suwon City Hall Station: fresh mango cake, Café Diaz

Café Diaz is a dessert café on the 4th floor of the HP Building in Ingye-dong, near Suwon City Hall Station in Gyeonggi. On a quiet solo visit, the writer ordered a fresh mango cake slice, a bottled fresh strawberry milk and an Americano at the Café Diaz kiosk, then relaxed amid the wood-tone interior, roomy seating and mirror photo zone. With fresh mango cake and strawberry milk full of real fruit, Café Diaz is a healing solo-café spot well worth a return visit.

Written Apr 28, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSuwon, GyeonggiRestaurants

Morning-walk sundaeguk sets near Suwon Station: Yetnal Gyeongseong

Yetnal Gyeongseong Sundaeguk Suwon Station branch is a Korean restaurant specializing in sundaeguk (blood sausage soup) on Maesan-ro in Suwon. After a morning walk, the writer and a junior colleague ordered a pyeonyuk (sliced boiled pork) and chal-sundae (sticky-rice blood sausage) set and a set with spicy sundaeguk, and found the odor-free broth, generous offal and meat, and chewy chal-sundae all satisfying. For a hearty bowl of gukbap near Suwon Station, Yetnal Gyeongseong Sundaeguk is worth a return visit.

Written May 1, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYongin, GyeonggiRestaurants

Yongin Korean buffet lunch: kimchi fried rice, takoyaki at Daedong

Daedong Korean Buffet & Dosirak is a Korean buffet in Yangji-eup, Cheoin-gu, Yongin, with a large parking lot and a buffet line of mains, namul (seasoned vegetable) side dishes, salad and dessert. The writer came for a daytime lunch with a friend and tried a bit of everything at Daedong Korean Buffet & Dosirak: kimchi fried rice, spicy curry-scented chicken, takoyaki topped with bonito flakes, seaweed soup, fruit and rice cake. Daedong Korean Buffet & Dosirak is a satisfying lunch near Yangji for days when you want a little of everything.

Written Nov 10, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSuwon, GyeonggiCafés

Solo Suwon café: butter tteok dipped in condensed milk, Café Meomureum

Café Meomureum (카페 머무름) is a bakery café on the 2nd floor of the Dongsin shopping arcade in Jeongja-dong, Jangan-gu, Suwon. The writer visited alone and ordered butter tteok (buttery rice cake) and homemade grapefruit tea. The butter tteok was lightly crisp outside and chewy inside, and dipping it in condensed milk made it feel like a proper dessert. Café Meomureum suits anyone who wants to sit quietly alone and try butter tteok.

Written May 4, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSuwon, GyeonggiCafés

Solo café near KT Wiz Park, Suwon: chocolate banana cake, Cafe Dias

Cafe Dias Suwon Sports Complex branch is a dessert café on the first basement floor of a building on Gyeongsu-daero in Suwon, right by KT Wiz Park. The writer, a regular who often visits alone, ordered a chocolate banana cake slice, an Americano and homemade jujube ginger tea. With roomy table spacing and calm lighting, Cafe Dias is an easy Suwon ballpark café to linger in solo.

Written May 4, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSuwon, GyeonggiRestaurants

Okonomiyaki restaurant at Suwon Station, a 2-person set for one: Jojo

Jojo AK Plaza Suwon is a Japanese teppanyaki (iron-griddle) restaurant on basement level 1 (B1) of AK Plaza at Suwon Station. A regular ordered the 2-person Jojo set of okonomiyaki (savory Japanese pancake), yakisoba (stir-fried noodles) and mentaiko (pollock roe) gyoza alone on a weekday evening and nearly finished it, because it was so good despite the large portion. Verdict: Jojo AK Plaza Suwon is a comfortable place to eat alone, with consistent quality and a definite return visit.

Written May 5, 2026Sponsored
PlaceHwaseong, GyeonggiRestaurants

Dongtan jjamppong spot: daughter dinner and crispy tangsuyuk, Bultina

Bultina Kkomak Jjamppong Dongtan Namgwangjang Branch (불티나꼬막짬뽕 동탄남광장점) is a cockle jjamppong (spicy seafood noodle soup) restaurant on Nojak-ro in Dongtan, Hwaseong, serving only four dishes: jjamppong, jajang (black bean noodles), fried dumplings and tangsuyuk (sweet and sour pork). The writer came for dinner with her daughter, ordered level 2 spicy cockle jjamppong and tangsuyuk, ended up adding rice to the spicy broth, and found the tangsuyuk still crispy under the sauce. With a public parking lot right in front, Bultina Kkomak Jjamppong is a Dongtan jjamppong spot the writer wants to return to.

Written Nov 7, 2026Sponsored
PlaceHwaseong, GyeonggiRestaurants

Dongtan Station pho for two, 4:1 sauce & free extra noodles: Mibundang

Mibundang Dongtan Station Branch (미분당 동탄역점) is a pho restaurant with wood-toned bar seating on the first floor of the Dongtan Station Richian Arcade in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi. After waiting outside at lunch, the writer and her husband ordered brisket pho, brisket-and-tendon pho and a mixed fried starter platter; the restaurant's recommended 4:1 hoisin-to-chili sauce mix and the free extra noodles stood out. Mibundang Dongtan Station Branch is a safe pick for a quiet, clean bowl of pho, whether eating alone, on a date or at lunch.

Written May 2, 2026Sponsored