Dress Diary · 34 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

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
PlaceHwaseong, GyeonggiBars

Dongtan pub for a solo dinner: Cheongyang cream risotto, Jusangnakwon

Jusangnakwon (주상낙원) Dongtan North Plaza is a Korean fusion pub in the Dongtan North Plaza central shopping district of Hwaseong, Gyeonggi. Remembering the taste of the Geumgok-dong branch, the writer sat alone on the 2nd floor one weekday evening with crispy shrimp minari jeon (water dropwort pancake), Cheongyang chili cream risotto and a Bundaberg Pink Grapefruit, and also got a complimentary sweet potato ppasseu (candied sweet potato). Verdict: Jusangnakwon is a Dongtan North Plaza pub where you can quietly enjoy dinner and bar food on your own, even if you don't drink.

Written May 18, 2026Sponsored
PlaceAnsan, GyeonggiRestaurants

Indian restaurant in Ansan, solo chana masala & tandoori: Meno Ka Mena

Meno Ka Mena Ansan is an Indian restaurant on the 2nd floor of the Dongseo Core building near Jungang Station in Ansan, Gyeonggi. Dining alone, the writer ordered half a tandoori chicken, a spicy chana masala (chickpea curry) and basmati rice, and especially enjoyed the moist, mild tandoori chicken and the rich, hearty chickpea curry. Meno Ka Mena Ansan is a good spot near Jungang Station for a quiet solo Indian curry meal without feeling out of place.

Written May 19, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYongin, GyeonggiRestaurants

Spicy seafood sundubu restaurant in Giheung, Yongin: Wangttukbaegi

Wangttukbaegi Jjamppong Sundubu (왕뚝배기짬뽕순두부) is a jjamppong soft tofu stew restaurant near the Korean Folk Village in Giheung-gu, Yongin. On a weekday evening with a friend, the writer ordered the Chodang Samseon Jjamppong Sundubu and the Chodang Samseon Jjamppong Noodles & Sundubu (13,000 won each), a spicy broth loaded with seafood and soft, curdy Chodang tofu, and finished both earthenware pots. Wangttukbaegi Jjamppong Sundubu is a filling meal before or after the Korean Folk Village, with a fire-gazing café nearby to round off the evening.

Written May 20, 2026Sponsored
ProductYunoaBeauty products

EGF night cream for dry, sensitive skin: Yunoa EGF Regeneration Cream

Yunoa EGF Regeneration Cream is a Korean functional cream for brightening and wrinkle improvement, made with EGF (epidermal growth factor), ceramide and peptides. The writer has dry skin that reddens easily and used Yunoa EGF Regeneration Cream regularly as the last step of an evening routine and as a sleeping pack. The texture felt rich but not heavy, and the next day skin was smooth and makeup did not lift. Verdict: Yunoa EGF Regeneration Cream delivered on moisture and overall skin condition and became a skincare essential.

Written May 19, 2026Product provided
PlaceOsan, GyeonggiRestaurants

Osan Korean restaurant with refillable sides: Bomseol Main Branch

Bomseol Main Branch is a Korean set meal (hanjeongsik) restaurant on Oesammi-ro in Osan, Gyeonggi, between Dongtan and Osan. For Sunday lunch, the writer and her husband started with self-serve barley rice at Bomseol Main Branch, then shared the braised half-dried pollack set and the fiery spicy pork set, served with refillable side dishes, stone pot rice and cheonggukjang (fermented soybean stew). Bomseol Main Branch suits anyone looking for a neat, homestyle, reasonably priced Korean lunch or a family meal out.

Written May 23, 2026Sponsored
PlaceNowon, SeoulRestaurants

Nowon Western restaurant: risotto with flat iron steak, Pasta Han Kki

Pasta Han Kki Nowon Main Branch is a budget-friendly Western restaurant on Sanggye-ro 5-gil near Nowon Station in Seoul. On a weekday evening after work, the writer ate alone at Pasta Han Kki, ordering the plump shrimp tomato risotto with a 100g flat iron steak add-on, plus sausage and grapefruit ade from the set. Pasta Han Kki is affordable and generous, making it a filling solo dinner.

Written May 22, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSuwon, GyeonggiCafés

After-work solo café at Suwon Station: Udo peanut cake & luwak, Tteum

Tteum Café by Oneplay Suwon Station is a cake and specialty coffee café on Sehwa-ro 154beon-gil, near Suwon Station in Suwon, Gyeonggi. On a weekday after work, the writer stopped by Tteum Café alone for the staff-recommended Udo peanut cake, an espresso and a fruity specialty coffee, and the coffee bean aroma corner, the luwak coffee and the Versace cake plate stood out. Tteum Café suits coffee lovers who want a quiet solo dessert-and-coffee break near Suwon Station.

Written May 25, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYongin, GyeonggiRestaurants

Yongin Korean restaurant for solo dining: perilla black sujebi, Sigol

Sigol Makguksu wa Ongsimi Yongin is a Korean restaurant specializing in makguksu (buckwheat noodles) and ongsimi (potato dumplings) in Yeokbuk-dong, Cheoin-gu, Yongin. On a solo weekday lunch, the writer used table ordering to get ongsimi black sujebi (hand-torn dough soup) and buckwheat dumplings; the perilla broth was rich and nutty, and the chewy black sujebi and large potato ongsimi came in generous portions. With a spacious dining room and fast service, Sigol Makguksu wa Ongsimi Yongin made a filling, satisfying solo lunch.

Written May 20, 2026Sponsored
PlaceHwaseong, GyeonggiRestaurants

Dongtan Lake Park Japanese restaurant: omurice & brazier steak, Hurato

Hurato Sikdang Dongtan Lake Commo (후라토식당 동탄레이크꼬모점) is a Japanese home-style restaurant on the 2nd floor of Lake Commo, facing Dongtan Lake Park in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi. On a weekday evening, the writer and a younger colleague shared a soft-set omurice and a steak set (steki jeongsik) they grilled themselves on a tabletop brazier, then walked around Dongtan Lake Park at night. Hurato Sikdang Dongtan Lake Commo is worth recommending as a Dongtan date course that pairs dinner with a lakeside stroll.

Written May 26, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSuwon, GyeonggiCafés

Solo Mangpo Station café before closing: brownie & omija tea, Hongrad

Hongrad Mangpo Station Branch is a vintage-style dessert café on the 4th floor of a building near Mangpo Station in Yeongtong-gu, Suwon. The writer stopped by Hongrad alone about an hour before closing for a brownie topped with ice cream and fruit and a cup of omija tea (five-flavor berry tea), and rested quietly. Fewer menu items are left late in the evening, but Hongrad Mangpo Station Branch is an easy place to linger on your own.

Written May 28, 2026Sponsored
PlaceHwaseong, GyeonggiRestaurants

Sindongtan grilled fish set and self-bar: Baeknyeon Godeungeo 1750

Baeknyeon Godeungeo 1750 Sindongtan (백년고등어1750 신동탄직영점) is a Korean restaurant serving oven-grilled fish on Samseong 1-ro in Byeongjeom-gu, Hwaseong, Gyeonggi. On a weekend evening the writer and her husband shared the mixed grilled fish set, a generous spread of grilled flounder, mackerel, Atka mackerel and Spanish mackerel, and found the self-bar side dishes, fried foods, soybean paste soup and pot rice all satisfying. For a full grilled fish meal with self-serve fried foods, Baeknyeon Godeungeo 1750 Sindongtan is well worth recommending.

Written May 30, 2026Sponsored