Pocket Mirror Traveler · 8 stories

A Small Mirror Case, Myeong-dong

Notes from a Seoul beauty counter regular, on products and routines tried around the city. · Writes about: Restaurants · Hair & beauty salons · Bars

PlaceSuwon, GyeonggiRestaurants

Gwanggyo pizzeria near last order, jambon truffle funghi: The European

The European Gwanggyo is a European-style wood-fired pizza and pasta restaurant on Gwanggyo café street in Suwon, Gyeonggi. The writer booked through Catch Table and arrived with a friend around the 8:30pm last order, eating a jambon truffle funghi pizza and beef ragu pasta in a quiet dining room. The most memorable dish of that calm late dinner at The European Gwanggyo was the jambon truffle funghi pizza, whose truffle aroma lingers.

Written Jul 27, 2026Sponsored
PlacePyeongtaek, GyeonggiRestaurants

Pyeongtaek Korean BBQ, doenjang stew the next table ordered: Ihwajeong

Ihwajeong Charcoal-Grilled Pork Galbi is a charcoal-grill pork galbi (marinated pork ribs) and beef galbisal (rib-finger beef) restaurant on Manse-ro near Sosabeol in Pyeongtaek. On a weekend evening, two friends ordered the seasoned pork grill (17,000 won), seasoned pork galbi (19,000 won) and beef galbisal (24,000 won), grilling the beef first. They also had mul naengmyeon (cold buckwheat noodles, 8,000 won), a doenjang stew (soybean paste stew, 5,000 won) added after smelling the next table's, and self-serve pear slush. On this first visit not a single piece of meat at Ihwajeong was tough, making it the place to return to for galbi in Pyeongtaek.

Written Jul 26, 2026Sponsored
PlacePyeongtaek, GyeonggiRestaurants

Sosabeol black pork galbi house for dinner with parents: Okryeon Galbi

Okryeon Galbi Pyeongtaek Main Branch is a Jirisan black pork galbi restaurant in Sosabeol, Bijeon-dong, Pyeongtaek, where staff grill the meat over charcoal from start to finish. On a reserved dinner with parents, the table ordered 2 servings of Jirisan black pork fresh galbi, 3 servings of yuzu-marinated galbi, homemade doenjang (soybean paste) stew and perilla oil buckwheat makguksu, with a meal that opened on black pork rillette on gim-bugak (crispy seaweed) and closed with ginger lemon sorbet. With easy parking and a neat, calm room, Okryeon Galbi left the whole family satisfied and planning a return visit.

Written Sep 30, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeongnam, GyeonggiRestaurants

Jeongja Station pub for flounder makhoe wraps and beer: Pohang Makhoe

Pohang Makhoe is a pub near Jeongja Station in Bundang, Seongnam, that specialises in wild-caught makhoe (raw fish sliced thin with the bones in). On a visit with a friend, sitting at the outdoor tent tables, the writer had the wild makhoe (39,000 won), made that day with chamgajami and honggajami flounder, plus a seafood ramyeon (14,000 won) and beer; the soft-boned flounder and the spicy ramyeon broth paired well. Pohang Makhoe is a good pick near Jeongja Station for raw fish and a beer with a friend on a cool evening.

Written Sep 29, 2026Sponsored
PlacePyeongtaek, GyeonggiRestaurants

Weekday kalguksu and makgeolli with parents in Pyeongtaek: Goryeo

Goryeo Mulchong Kalguksu is a Korean restaurant on Pyeongnam-ro in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi, specializing in mulchong (dongjuk clam) kalguksu (knife-cut noodle soup). On a weekday lunch with her parents, the writer ordered the 3-person set (49,000 won) of two servings of kalguksu, napa cabbage mandu (dumplings) and pear-leaf herbal pork with iced makgeolli, then finished the leftover broth with free seasonal fried rice made with minari. With parking right in the building and widely spaced tables, Goryeo Mulchong Kalguksu is an easy choice for a meal with parents.

Written Aug 8, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSuwon, GyeonggiBars

Suwon bar with free popcorn refills and three anju for two: Hwial

Hwial Ajou University Branch is a Korean gastropub in the Ajou University district of Suwon, Gyeonggi, with calm lighting and sofa seats made for quiet conversation over a drink. On a weekend evening two people ordered three anju (drinking snacks) — beef yukjeon, whole squid muchim, and beef brisket jjamppong hotpot — and refilled the complimentary popcorn twice. All three tasted home-cooked, and the beef brisket jjamppong hotpot was the clear winner of the night.

Written Aug 11, 2026Sponsored
PlaceAnseong, GyeonggiRestaurants

Chinese restaurant lunch before Aquafield in Anseong: Chibao

Chibao Starfield Anseong Branch is an authentic Chinese and Taiwanese restaurant inside the Itopia food hall on the 2nd floor of Starfield Anseong in Anseong, Gyeonggi. Before heading into Aquafield with friends, we ordered the 2-person couple set (yuni jjajangmyeon, shrimp fried rice and mini chili tangsuyuk) plus beef tantanmen, then asked for extra chili oil: the fried rice came out fluffy and the tantanmen broth, thick with peanut sauce and chili oil, was addictive. Everything arrived fast, so Chibao is a solid place to fill up before a day in the water.

Written Sep 20, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeocho, SeoulHair & beauty salons

Jamwon hair salon in Seoul: 15cm long-hair cut and build perm at

Abidasun Salon Jamwon is a hair salon in Jamwon-dong, Seoul, in Room 304 of the Maple Zai mall East Wing, right in front of Exit 1 of Jamwon Station. Director Hayeon's signature package — a head-shape-tailored cut plus an easy-care build perm — took about 15cm off hair that fell below the waist, adding a layered cut with a semi root perm and design C/S curls. At Abidasun, the curls and volume came back with nothing more than a rough blow-dry, which made daily styling far easier.

Written Sep 14, 2026Sponsored
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