Pouch and Pint · 8 stories

Thin Compact, Seoul Restaurants, Bars and Beauty

Writes about neighborhood restaurants, small bars, and beauty spots around Seoul. · Writes about: Restaurants · Bars · Hair & beauty salons · Cafés

PlaceJung-gu, SeoulRestaurants

Sindang Station Korean BBQ, half-open for autumn nights: Beefjeong

Beefjeong (Beefjeong Gogi Jip) is a Korean BBQ restaurant near Sindang Station in Jung-gu, Seoul, with a half-open layout that gives it the feel of outdoor street-side dining. On a cool autumn evening, the writer had 2 servings of pork belly from Majang-dong meat (32,000 won), 1 serving of pork jowl (21,000 won) and a side of steamed egg. Beefjeong's side dishes, said to come from Taebaek in Gangwon-do, and its unusually colored wasabi paired well with the meat. Verdict: Beefjeong suits anyone who wants outdoor-style Korean BBQ on a chilly night without getting cold, and good meat too.

Written Oct 20, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulRestaurants

Non-spicy bulgogi tteokbokki in Garosu-gil: Mil Tteok Factory

Mil Tteok Factory Main Branch (밀떡팩토리 본점) is an instant tteokbokki (cook-at-the-table spicy rice cake) restaurant on basement level 1, tucked inside Garosu-gil near Sinsa Station in Gangnam, Seoul. The writer had the BROWN brisket tteokbokki in size M for two (20,000 won) and handmade fritters (10,000 won), and liked how the sweet bulgogi-style sauce, smoky flavor, wheat rice cakes and garaetteok (thick rice cakes), ramen and jjolmyeon noodles, and perilla leaves came together, rather than heat. Mil Tteok Factory Main Branch has no fried rice, but for Garosu-gil prices it is a good-value instant tteokbokki spot.

Written Jun 11, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulCafés

Yeonnam-dong café: Omblígon washed for acidity beginners, Central Site

Central Site Yeonnam is a three-floor brewing coffee café on Yeonhui-ro in Mapo, Seoul, about a 10-minute walk from Hongik Univ. Station Exit 3. At the 1st-floor bar, the writer smelled the beans, listened to the barista's notes and picked a bright Colombia Anaya Omblígon Washed and a nutty Guatemala Entre Volcanes, alongside Central Site Yeonnam's signature tiramisu. Central Site Yeonnam is a Yeonnam-dong café where even coffee beginners can enjoy the process of choosing their beans.

Written Oct 18, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulRestaurants

Mapo, Seoul chicken feet bar, bone-in set on a cool night: Cheongnyeon

Cheongnyeon Dakbal 1987 Hongdae Branch (청년닭발1987 홍대점) is a chicken feet bar in a Yeonnam-dong alley in Mapo, Seoul, less than a 10-minute walk from Hongik Univ. Station Exit 3. On a cool evening, two friends ordered the 45,000 won Cheongnyeon Dakbal Hansang with bone-in soup chicken feet at spice level 1 (about as hot as Shin Ramyun), and the set also brought kalguksu (knife-cut noodle soup), muksabal (chilled acorn jelly soup), tuna mayo rice balls and fried chicken skin, more than enough for two. For spice-shy eaters looking for a spicy drinking snack in Yeonnam-dong, the Cheongnyeon Dakbal 1987 set is the answer.

Written Oct 15, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulBars

Sangsu Station solo bar with chat or quiet mode at check-in: Woo Woo

Woo Woo (홍대 우우) is a solo drinking bar built around bar seating on Wausan-ro in Mapo, Seoul, near Sangsu Station Exit 1. The writer tried drinking alone for the first time after work, arrived right at opening time, and at Woo Woo's QR check-in could choose between "I want to chat" and "I want to stay quiet." Having walked in alone and left laughing with the people in the next seats, the writer recommends Woo Woo to first-time solo drinkers.

Written Oct 13, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulBars

After-work Hapjeong pub for spicy gopchang stir-fry: Bako Jumak

Bako Jumak (바코주막) is a tavern-themed Korean pub in Mapo, Seoul, about a 5-minute walk from Hapjeong Station. On the way home from work, the writer ordered a 600cc draft beer with small Korean beef sashimi for 21,000 won and spicy vegetable gopchang (intestines) and gizzard stir-fry for 19,000 won. The beef sashimi was fresh and chewy, and the stir-fry was spicy, generous and free of any gamey smell. Bako Jumak is a good pick when you want Korean bar food with your drink instead of an izakaya.

Written Oct 9, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulRestaurants

Hongdae chicken, crispier than delivery: Gochu Basasak at Goobne

Goobne Chicken Hongdae Red Road is a Goobne Chicken restaurant on Jandari-ro near Hongdae's Red Road in Mapo, Seoul, with outdoor street-side tables and a spacious dining hall. The writer, who had only ever had Goobne Chicken by delivery, ate in for the first time and ordered freshly made Gochu Basasak (crispy chili-pepper oven chicken), Volcano Chibap (spicy chicken rice) and a Coke Zero, and found the Gochu Basasak clearly crispier than delivery. Alternating Gochu Basasak and Volcano Chibap makes a filling meal even without alcohol.

Written Oct 8, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeodaemun, SeoulHair & beauty salons

Myeongji Univ. hair salon: long damaged hair Milbon clinic, Lian Hair

Lian Hair Myeongji University Branch 2 is a hair salon on the 2nd floor of a building across from Myeongji University's main gate in Seodaemun, Seoul. Long hair damaged by frequent styling went through a step-by-step Milbon hair clinic, from smoothing to repair, with scalp exfoliation, keratin filling and cuticle smoothing. The hair felt noticeably softer from the moment it was rinsed out, making the Lian Hair clinic a satisfying visit.

Written Aug 8, 2026Sponsored
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