Weekend Route Keeper · 9 stories

Late Mirror, Seoul, Gyeonggi and Daejeon/Chungcheong Bars, Cafes, Restaurants and Beauty

Writes about bars, restaurants, cafes and beauty spots across Seoul, Gyeonggi and Daejeon/Chungcheong. · Writes about: Bars · Restaurants · Cafés · Hair & beauty salons

PlaceGwacheon, GyeonggiRestaurants

Gwacheon galbi naengmyeon lunch with yeolmu kimchi: Najumyeonok

Najumyeonok Gwacheon Branch (나주면옥 과천점) is a pork galbi restaurant with a hanok-style exterior on Chanumul-ro in Gwacheon, Gyeonggi. On a reserved Saturday lunch with the writer's uncles, the table ordered galbi bibim naengmyeon (spicy cold noodles), galbi mul naengmyeon (cold noodles in broth) and hanwoo yukhoe bibimbap (Korean beef tartare rice bowl); the pork galbi on the noodles was tender, the yukhoe portion was generous and the yeolmu kimchi (young radish kimchi) from the self-serve bar stood out. Najumyeonok Gwacheon Branch is a good Gwacheon pick for cold noodles and meat together with family and elders on a hot day.

Written Jun 8, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGwacheon, GyeonggiRestaurants

Medium-spice gopchang daechang hot pot lunch in Gwacheon: Horangigul

Horangigul Gwacheon Branch (호랑이굴 과천점) is a gopchang (beef small intestine) hot pot restaurant with a Japanese izakaya feel on Saesulmak-gil, near Hillstate in Gwacheon, Gyeonggi. The writer and her husband ordered the Horangi gopchang daechang hot pot at medium spice as a set for 2 with a chicken skin dish, plus egg risotto. The gopchang wasn't chewy, the daechang (large intestine) melted in the mouth, and the spicy broth held it all together. Horangigul Gwacheon Branch is a Gwacheon gopchang hot pot spot worth revisiting for lunch or for drinks.

Written Jun 9, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGwacheon, GyeonggiCafés

Evening café in Gwacheon: matcha cookie and Helsinki Latte, Minimale

Minimale Coffee Roaster Gwacheon Knowledge Information Town Branch is a roastery café on the first floor of E Tower in Gwacheon Knowledge Information Town, Gwacheon, Gyeonggi, serving house-roasted beans and Finnish-style baked goods. On an evening visit, the writer had a Helsinki Latte and an Americano; all the bread had sold out, but the leftover matcha cookie beat expectations. Minimale is a good pick for stylish evening lighting and strong coffee, but come during the morning brunch hours if you want to choose from the bread.

Written Jun 21, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGwacheon, GyeonggiRestaurants

Gwacheon short rib stew with gopchang and shrimp: Gohyang Sogalbijjim

Gohyang Sogalbijjim Gwacheon (고향소갈비찜 과천점) is a braised beef short rib (galbijjim) and short rib soup (galbitang) restaurant near Exit 11 of Government Complex Gwacheon Station in Gwacheon, Gyeonggi. Three diners shared the new galgopsae, a pot of tender short ribs, chewy gopchang (beef small intestine) and plump shrimp, and finished with fried rice. With plenty of short rib in the pot, Gohyang Sogalbijjim Gwacheon is a good-value galbijjim pick in Gwacheon.

Written Jun 26, 2026Sponsored
PlaceAnyang, GyeonggiCafés

Cozy room-seat brunch café in Anyang: lasagna, scallop pasta, Eggroom

Eggroom is a brunch café in Dongpyeon-maeul, Anyang, built around egg dishes and desserts. At Eggroom the signature lasagna tasted mild with fresh ingredients, and the slightly spicy scallop oil pasta wasn't greasy at all, alongside an egg cream latte and an americano. The egg tarts had already sold out by the morning, but Eggroom is well worth recommending if you want a brunch café in Dongpyeon-maeul.

Written Jun 28, 2026Sponsored
PlaceCheonan, ChungnamRestaurants

Cheonan sashimi spot: horn snail jjim and bluefin for 3, Donghae Bada

Donghae Bada Hoetjip (동해바다횟집) is a sashimi restaurant in Dujeong-dong, Cheonan, that sells assorted sashimi as a set with seafood jjim (spicy braised seafood) or seafood stew. Three diners ordered the sashimi and seafood jjim set for 2 and added bluefin tuna and flounder sashimi. The side spread at Donghae Bada Hoetjip includes boiled pork, and staff prepared the seafood jjim, horn snails included, right at the table. With a large private parking lot and private rooms, Donghae Bada Hoetjip is an easy choice in Cheonan for family meals and group dinners.

Written Jul 3, 2026Sponsored
PlaceUiwang, GyeonggiRestaurants

Uiwang fish restaurant for moms with babies: barley croaker, mackerel

Hwadeogeuro Gan Godeungeo Baegun Lake Branch is a Korean set-meal restaurant serving wood-fired grilled fish near Baegun Lake in Uiwang, Gyeonggi. Two moms who are fellow parents brought their babies and ordered the bori gulbi (barley-dried yellow croaker) set and grilled mackerel. The wood-fired mackerel was light and moist, and the bori gulbi was pleasantly chewy rolled in green tea water. With an entrance ramp, plenty of baby chairs and a large parking lot, Hwadeogeuro Gan Godeungeo Baegun Lake Branch is a solid pick for a nourishing meal out with little ones.

Written Jul 26, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGwacheon, GyeonggiRestaurants

Infant-friendly duck BBQ lunch in Gwacheon, couple course: Deo Chadol

Deo Chadol Gwacheon is a duck barbecue restaurant near Exit 3 of Seonbawi Station in Gwacheon, Gyeonggi, an easy stop before or after Seoul Land and Seoul Grand Park. On a weekday visit at 12:50 p.m. with a baby under one, the writer ordered the 55,000-won couple course plus buckwheat makguksu (cold buckwheat noodles) and perilla oil makguksu at 9,000 won each, and Deo Chadol staff wiped down a baby chair and tableware with wet wipes and brought them right over. Deo Chadol's grilled duck brisket has no gamey smell, making it a solid pick for eating out with little ones.

Written Aug 10, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulRestaurants

Private-room eel rice bowl lunch near Seolleung Station: Manmok

Manmok is a Japanese restaurant specialising in eel rice bowls (jangeo deopbap), a 2-minute walk from Exit 2 of Seolleung Station in Gangnam, Seoul. A whole eel rice bowl at lunch costs 39,000 won and arrives as a set with salad, chawanmushi and pine mushroom soup, and Manmok also offers two free parking spots out front, a group room plus a long central table, and a restroom stocked with floss and hand cream. It is a quiet spot that suits a team lunch just as well as a date or a meal with parents.

Written Aug 13, 2026Sponsored
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