Shopping Bag Day · 22 stories

Paper Bag, Seoul

Writes about Seoul cafes, restaurants, bars, beauty spots, shopping streets and things to do around the city. · Writes about: Restaurants · Hair & beauty salons · Bars · Shopping · Cafés · Things to do

PlaceGangnam, SeoulRestaurants

One-chef izakaya near Maebong Station: Gizakura Fuku junmai at Ikoi

Ikoi is a one-chef izakaya on Nonhyeon-ro 64-gil in Yeoksam-dong, Seoul, near Severance Intersection by Maebong Station, where a chef with 25 years of experience serves a seasonal special course in 4 private rooms. The 9-dish Ikoi special course costs 77,000 won per person and was paired with a bottle of Gizakura Fuku junmai sake, moving through labor-intensive dishes such as a creamy steamed dish, futomaki (thick sushi roll), wagyu tenderloin steak and a lotus root sandwich. Verdict: the Ikoi special course is polished for its price, a high-value izakaya omakase in Yeoksam-dong.

Written Jun 3, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeocho, SeoulRestaurants

Seocho lamb skewer spot for 5 PM beer & tomato eggs: Banpo Yangkkochi

Banpo Yangkkochi (반포양꼬치) is a new lamb skewer and Chinese restaurant in the basement of Banpo Shopping Town Building 3 at Express Bus Terminal in Seocho, Seoul. On a quiet visit at 5 PM, the writer had beer with 2 servings of the original 48-hour aged Banpo Yangkkochi lamb skewers at 19,000 won per serving, October-only mala cream shrimp for 17,000 won and tomato egg stir-fry for 16,000 won. The unseasoned raw lamb was fresh with no gamey smell and tasted great with just sea salt, so Banpo Yangkkochi is best visited at an off-peak hour to skip the wait.

Written Oct 24, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeocho, SeoulRestaurants

Seoul Korean BBQ: half-and-half marinated galbi at Seonhwa's Meat

Seonhwa's Meat Bangbae Main Branch is a Blue Ribbon marinated galbi (rib) BBQ restaurant near Naebang Station in Seocho, Seoul, run by a certified meat master. Two diners shared one 600g half-and-half plate of Emperor marinated nabisal (butterfly cut) and marinated rib-finger galbi for 72,000 won, plus the Uiroun Set of sides. They found the fresh meat, clean onion pickles and kimchi stew satisfying throughout. Verdict: Seonhwa's Meat is the first neighbourhood spot to think of near Naebang Station when you crave sweet-salty marinated galbi.

Written Jun 14, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeocho, SeoulRestaurants

Gyodae Station noodle house: spicy octopus cooled by kongguksu, Daseon

Daseon Kalguksu (다선칼국수) Gyodae branch is a Korean restaurant and pub near Gyodae Station in Seocho, Seoul, serving kalguksu (knife-cut noodle soup), suyuk bossam (boiled pork wraps) and kalnakji (spicy stir-fried octopus). A spice-averse blogger visited around 1–2 PM with her husband, ordered a medium suyuk bossam, kalnakji and the summer black soybean kongguksu (cold soybean noodles), and kept switching between the fiery kalnakji and the nutty soy broth. Daseon Kalguksu's kalnakji and kongguksu pairing is a great fit when you want to burn off stress with spicy food.

Written Jun 14, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeocho, SeoulRestaurants

Seoul Korean restaurant: ₩38,000 Spam sundubu jjageuri set, Bapjangin

Bapjangin Express Bus Terminal Branch is a Korean home-style set-meal chain restaurant on the B1 level of Seoul Express Bus Terminal (Gangnam Terminal) in Seocho, Seoul. On a hot evening, the writer ordered the ₩38,000 set of smoky gochujang bulgogi and Spam-packed sundubu jjageuri (soft tofu stew) at level 1, Jin Ramen spiciness. The writer enjoyed the broth, which was clearer and thinner than expected, the seaweed-flake rice and the generous refills of seasoned bean sprouts. Bapjangin Express Bus Terminal Branch is a hearty Korean meal worth recommending when you have time to kill at Gangnam Terminal, with seats for solo diners.

Written Jun 17, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulRestaurants

Cheongdam terrace dinner with autumn mocktails: People the Terrace

People the Terrace is a terrace restaurant in Cheongdam-dong, Gangnam, Seoul, near Apgujeongnodeo Station. On a cool autumn night, the writer had dinner on the People the Terrace terrace with mushroom cream risotto & tartufo steak, beef brisket kimchi fried rice and truffle fries, paired with non-alcoholic piña colada and lac vert cocktails, and found the food, space and service all satisfying. Verdict: People the Terrace is a Cheongdam-dong dining spot for a birthday party or date-night dinner where you can enjoy the terrace mood without alcohol.

Written Oct 16, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulRestaurants

Italian wine date at Hakdong Station: truffle gelato, Osteria Lucia

Osteria Lucia is an Italian restaurant near Hakdong Station in Gangnam, Seoul, reportedly run by a chef who trained at a Michelin 3-star restaurant. On a rare dinner date after marriage, the couple ordered a glass of white wine (10,000 won), burrata (15,000 won), the signature bottarga pasta (32,000 won), mushroom risotto (24,000 won), fries (12,000 won), lemon sorbetto and truffle gelato. With a wine list that is almost entirely Italian and corkage perks for regulars, Osteria Lucia is an especially good fit for wine lovers.

Written Jun 22, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeocho, SeoulCafés

Seocho cake shop, ice-packed Real Mango No. 1, an hour home: Chef Cho

Chef Cho Shinsegae Department Store Gangnam is a fresh-fruit and dairy-cream cake shop in Sweet Park on B1 of Shinsegae Gangnam, at Express Bus Terminal Station in Seocho, Seoul. The writer visited Chef Cho in the afternoon, browsed a nearly empty showcase, and bought a Real Mango Cake No. 1 packed with mango cream and fresh mango, carrying it an hour home with one ice pack for a party. Thanks to the not-too-sweet mango cream and the sponge-soft white cake layer, Chef Cho's Real Mango Cake would rank among the best cream cakes even without the mango.

Written Jun 22, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeocho, SeoulRestaurants

Seoul Korean BBQ date in Gyodae: odorless briquette grill, Galgol

Galgol Yeontanjip Seocho Gyodae Branch (감골연탄집 서초교대점) is a retro-style briquette-grilled Korean BBQ restaurant near Gyodae Station in Seocho, Seoul, serving pork belly, pork neck, gochujang bulgogi and grilled hagfish (kkomjangeo). On a weekend dinner date, the writer had the three signature dishes (briquette salt pork belly, Juljuri special pork neck and gochujang briquette bulgogi), plus flat bibim noodles and a seafood-packed hangover sundubu (soft tofu stew), and was surprised that the briquette grill left no smell. Galgol Yeontanjip Seocho Gyodae Branch is an easy pick in Gyodae for either drinks or a meal.

Written Jun 21, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulHair & beauty salons

Cheongdam spa calf massage for uphill-walking knots: Clermont Monde

Clermont Monde (끌레르몽드) is a skin care and body care spa in a converted standalone house near Cheongdam Station in Gangnam, Seoul. With calves badly knotted from uphill walking workouts, the writer had Clermont Monde's aroma oil lower-body treatment, which worked firmly from the soles through the calves, thigh cellulite, glutes and pelvis before finishing with a toe massage and heat therapy. Clermont Monde's lower-body care was a satisfying choice for anyone who wants thorough work and pressure that hurts in a good way.

Written Oct 13, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeocho, SeoulBars

Nonhyeon izakaya date night: miso motsunabe and ebi tempura at Gobusi

Gobusi Nonhyeon Branch is a Japanese izakaya with outdoor tables on Gangnam-daero 91-gil, near Nonhyeon Station in Seoul. On a date with her husband, the blogger planned to sit outside but moved indoors because of the heat, then ordered miso motsunabe (Fukuoka-style beef intestine hotpot), ebi tempura and wagyu steak and finished every bite. Gobusi Nonhyeon Branch is worth the trip for the food quality alone, even without the outdoor seating.

Written Jun 25, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulRestaurants

Rice bowl restaurant in Gangnam: solo pork neck steak set, Gogigadeuk

Gogigadeuk Deopbap Gangnam-gu Office Station branch is a rice bowl restaurant in Gangnam, Seoul, near Exit 2 of Gangnam-gu Office Station and across from the Gangnam-gu Public Health Center. The writer and her husband shared the 19,300 won solo rice bowl set (pork neck steak bowl, teriyaki flavor) and the 14,900 won chicken steak bowl (spicy teriyaki flavor), and found the amount and quality of the meat hard to believe for a rice bowl. For a solo meal near Gangnam-gu Office Station, the Gogigadeuk Deopbap pork neck steak bowl set is a filling choice.

Written Jun 27, 2026Sponsored