Powder Room Rambler · 7 stories

Small Compact, Seoul

Writes about Seoul's bars, restaurants, beauty spots, and things to do around the city. · Writes about: Bars · Restaurants · Hair & beauty salons · Things to do

PlaceMapo, SeoulBars

Hapjeong solo bar for a Godfather and endless 8,000-won draws: Woo Woo

Woo Woo is a solo-drinking bar on Wausan-ro in Mapo, Seoul, tucked in an alley between Sangsu Station and Hapjeong/Hongdae. On her third visit to Woo Woo, the writer stopped in for a second round with a younger male friend, drank a Godfather cocktail (whiskey mixed with amaretto) and played the 8,000-won prize draw round after round. Verdict: Woo Woo is a lively, busy solo bar that works just as well for drinking alone as for two friends looking to have fun.

Written Jun 10, 2026Sponsored
PlaceEunpyeong, SeoulRestaurants

Yeonsinnae Korean BBQ to cheer up a friend: pogalbi at Golmokjip

Golmokjip Galbisal Yeonsinnae Main Branch (골목집갈비살 연신내본점) is a retro beef rib BBQ restaurant in Eunpyeong, Seoul, about 2 minutes on foot from Yeonsinnae Station Exit 6. The writer went there to comfort a younger friend who had been scammed over a business investment, shared the mixed set of plain and marinated galbisal (grilled beef rib meat), and ordered a second portion of the handmade marinated pogalbi because it was so good. At Golmokjip Galbisal, the 500 won doenjang sulbap upgrade and the handmade marinated pogalbi were the biggest highlights of the night.

Written Jun 11, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulRestaurants

Hongdae Korean BBQ day drinking, pork belly in meljeot: Gogikkun

Gogikkun Gim Chunbae Hongdae Main Branch (고기꾼김춘배 홍대본점) is a charcoal-grill Korean BBQ restaurant on the 3rd floor of Hongik-ro 3-gil in Mapo, Seoul. The writer, who was cutting back on drinking, went on a weekday afternoon with a younger friend who has Tuesdays off. They ordered the hanwoo and Korean pork set, half-and-half naengmyeon (cold noodles) and diced fried rice, and finished two bottles of Saero soju. Thanks to the calm, tall wooden-partition seating and five-layer pork belly dipped in meljeot (salted anchovy sauce), Gogikkun Gim Chunbae Hongdae Main Branch is a good pick for anyone tired of loud Hongdae BBQ spots.

Written Jun 19, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYeongdeungpo, SeoulBars

Dangsan pub with half-and-half pepperoni pizza: Long Time No See

Long Time No See Dangsan Branch is a self-pour beer and pizza pub a 1-minute walk from Exit 12 of Dangsan Station in Yeongdeungpo, Seoul. The writer and a high school friend tagged wristbands to pour their own picks from dozens of beers and shared a half-combination, half-pepperoni pizza cut into squares, which impressed more than the beer. Long Time No See Dangsan Branch is a top pick for a return visit whenever pizza and beer near Dangsan Station sounds good.

Written Jun 26, 2026Sponsored
PlaceEunpyeong, SeoulRestaurants

Weekend bibim-mandu at a Bulgwangcheon noodle shop: Songa Kalguksu

Songa Kalguksu (송아칼국수) is a kalguksu (knife-cut noodle soup) restaurant right beside Bulgwangcheon stream in Eungam-dong, Eunpyeong, Seoul, and it is full so often that there is usually a wait. The writer arrived early on a weekend with a friend, took the last bar seats, and ordered chicken kalguksu, the newly added jang kalguksu (spicy soybean-paste noodle soup) and bibim-mandu (dumplings tossed in a sweet-and-tangy sauce), enjoying the rich chicken broth, the seafood-loaded jang kalguksu and the tangy-sweet dumplings. The bibim-mandu was the standout at Songa Kalguksu and is reason enough for a return visit.

Written Jun 27, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYeongdeungpo, SeoulRestaurants

Seasoned heart, zero-sugar soju at a Dangsan Station BBQ: Chodaechang

Chodaechang Dangsan Station is an offal BBQ restaurant on the 2nd floor of the Olive Young building, right by Exit 11 of Dangsan Station in Yeongdeungpo, Seoul. For a quick first round with a friend, the writer ordered Mixed Grill A (daechang, teukyang, makchang and beef heart), which staff grilled from start to finish, and paired the seasoned heart and crispy-outside, tender-inside daechang with zero-sugar soju. Having to leave before trying the cold kimchi noodles and doenjang rice soup was the only regret, making Chodaechang Dangsan Station a daechang spot worth going back to.

Written Jun 26, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeodaemun, SeoulHair & beauty salons

Namgajwa-dong hair salon: men's perm before Waterbomb, Lian Hair

Lian Hair Myeongji University Branch 2 is a hair salon on the 2nd floor across from the Myeongji University main gate in Namgajwa-dong, Seodaemun, Seoul. The writer went the day before Waterbomb planning a hippie perm, but after the designer's consultation got a natural volume perm and down perm suited to the writer's hair texture and head shape, which tamed a lion-like mane into a neat style. For anyone considering a men's perm, Lian Hair Myeongji University Branch 2 is worth recommending for its thorough consultation.

Written Jul 26, 2026Sponsored
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