Yeoksam Picker · 65 stories

Everyday Selections

I write about digital products and fashion, sharing everyday impressions. · Writes about: Tech & gadgets · Cafés · Fashion · Restaurants · Things to do · Hair & beauty salons · Bars · Shopping · Stays · Home & living · Food & snacks

PlaceGangnam, SeoulCafés

Yeoksam night terrace café with Mom: Helsinki latte, Mini Male

Mini Male Coffee Roaster Yeoksam Branch is a specialty coffee shop in Gangnam, Seoul, tucked into an alley inside the AC Hotel building near Exit 6 of Yeoksam Station. After a hanjeongsik (Korean set-course meal) with her mom, the writer stopped by Mini Male at night, took plenty of photos on the outdoor terrace, and tried a hot latte, the Helsinki latte (5,400 won) and New York cookies. Verdict: Mini Male's Helsinki latte is thick and creamy like aged milk without being too sweet, and it is worth coming back for.

Written Oct 28, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulCafés

Gangnam café: cinnamon caramel cookie yogurt on bread, Lazy Yogurt

Lazy Yogurt Gangnam is a handmade Greek yogurt café about a 4-minute walk from Exit 5 of Gangnam Station in Seoul. A self-described Greek yogurt fan took out a large cinnamon caramel cookie Greek yogurt to spread on bread and a 5,500 won black milk tea bagel sandwich that stood in for lunch. With generous cookie toppings and a filling bagel sandwich, Lazy Yogurt Gangnam is a Greek yogurt spot near Gangnam Station worth recommending.

Written Oct 28, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGoyang, GyeonggiRestaurants

Seooreung Chinese restaurant with Mom: spicy level 3 jjajang

Jjamppong Jijeon Seooreung Branch (짬뽕지존 서오릉점) is a Chinese restaurant specializing in jjamppong (spicy seafood noodle soup) and jjajangmyeon (black bean noodles) on the main road by Seooreung in Deogyang-gu, Goyang. Over lunch with Mom, the writer had two Jijeon Jjajang at spice level 3 and glutinous-rice tangsuyuk (sweet and sour pork), plus complimentary jjamppong mandu (dumplings) with a smoky wok aroma that Mom, who rarely eats dumplings, nearly finished. With a large private parking lot, partitioned tables and a free drink corner, Jjamppong Jijeon Seooreung Branch is an easy pick for a family lunch.

Written Jun 1, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulCafés

Gangnam Station café, banana tiramisu to go for Mom: Selected Nicks

Selected Nicks (셀렉티드닉스) is a large café near Exit 3 of Gangnam Station in Seoul, spread over several floors from basement 1 to the rooftop, with its own parking lot and an outlet at every seat. While waiting for a friend at Selected Nicks, the writer had a hot Americano and a banana tiramisu (7,800 won), and the banana tiramisu was so good that a second one went home as takeout for Mom. For a work-friendly café near Gangnam Station that is also a great tiramisu spot, the banana tiramisu at Selected Nicks is the one to order.

Written Oct 28, 2026Partially sponsored
PlaceEunpyeong, SeoulRestaurants

Bulgwang Station tonkatsu: cheese cutlet revisit at Insaeng Donkatsu

Insaeng Donkatsu Bulgwang branch is a tonkatsu (pork cutlet) restaurant in Eunpyeong, Seoul, a 3-minute walk from Bulgwang Station Exit 6. A self-described tonkatsu lover went back to Insaeng Donkatsu craving the cheese tonkatsu and took home cheese tonkatsu and three scored loin cutlets to share with the family. The verdict: the cheese tonkatsu is stuffed so full that the cheese spills out, and the thick loin cutlets stay crispy even after takeout.

Written Oct 27, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulRestaurants

Gongdeok poke shop with a friend: Sriracha mayo salmon, Why Starve

Why Starve Diet Gongdeok Main Branch is a protein box, salad and poke shop on basement level 1 of Lotte Castle President, connected to Exit 2 of Gongdeok Station in Mapo, Seoul. The writer, who was keeping up their protein while working out, ate in with a friend, ordering a chicken protein box (₩8,900) with spicy teriyaki sauce and a salmon protein box (₩11,900) with Sriracha mayo, then came back for takeout the next day. Because you choose your own sauce, Why Starve breaks the idea that salad has to be bland.

Written Oct 26, 2026Sponsored
PlacePaju, GyeonggiCafés

Medium-dog indoor café in Unjeong, Paju: roe salt bread, Paun Coffee

Paun Coffee Gyoha branch (파운커피 교하점) is an indoor dog-friendly café on Chaekhyanggisup-gil in Unjeong, Paju, and it welcomes medium-sized dogs of any breed. After a walk, the writer visited with a dog and the dog's vaccination record, then ordered a nutty Americano, a latte, pollack roe (myeongnan) salt bread and basil tomato salt bread. Paun Coffee Gyoha branch is a good fit for anyone who wants a quiet break and salt bread with their dog.

Written Jun 4, 2026Sponsored
PlacePaju, GyeonggiRestaurants

Date-night pork belly BBQ near Yadang Station: Girin Samgyeopsal

Girin Samgyeopsal is a stone-griddle pork belly restaurant in Paju, about a 7-minute walk from Yadang Station. The writer visited Girin Samgyeopsal on a weekday evening with a partner and ordered pork belly (160g for 15,000 won) and kimchi stew (6,000 won). The large stone griddle kept the meat warm to the last bite, and the kimchi grilled in the pork fat and the spicy kimchi stew both hit the spot. For a Yadang Korean BBQ spot with good meat, side dishes and parking, Girin Samgyeopsal is worth a return visit.

Written Jun 4, 2026Sponsored
PlacePocheon, GyeonggiRestaurants

Pocheon Italian restaurant for wedding invite meetups: Eoneu Dal

Eoneu Dal (어느달) is an Italian restaurant with a pleasant atmosphere on Jeongmundong-gil in Pocheon, Gyeonggi. The writer has been to Eoneu Dal three times, for dates and a friend's wedding invitation meetup, and this time shared shrimp rosé pasta, chicken risotto and white ragu gnocchi with their partner. Eoneu Dal's chicken risotto, ordered on every visit, remains the undisputed favorite, and a Catch Table reservation is a must on weekends.

Written Oct 25, 2026Sponsored
PlacePocheon, GyeonggiCafés

Dog-friendly Pocheon café revisit, anbutter salt bread: Geurine Oasis

Geurine Oasis is a large dog-friendly bakery café right in front of Gomori Reservoir in Soheul-eup, Pocheon. On a sunny autumn weekend, the writer made a second visit to Geurine Oasis, sat beside the dog run with milk tea, a latte and an anbutter salt bread (salt bread filled with red bean paste and butter), and had no parking stress, even on a weekend, thanks to the parking attendants. Geurine Oasis is a Pocheon café worth recommending to dog owners who want a lake view, music, a spacious main building and annex, and a dog run all in one place.

Written Oct 25, 2026Sponsored
PlacePocheon, GyeonggiRestaurants

Pocheon offal soup restaurant, beating the weekend wait: Brothers

Brothers Yangpyeong Haejangguk Naechon Branch is a hangover soup (haejangguk) restaurant on Geumgang-ro in Naechon-myeon, Pocheon, about 5 minutes by car from Hanlim Gwangneung CC, and it opens at 5am. To avoid the weekend wait, the writer arrived around 11am and ordered the black garlic offal soup (₩15,000) and the handmade jumbo pork cutlet (₩12,000). The tripe and mixed offal kept coming, and the broth was so rich that not a drop was left. For anyone who loves tripe and offal, the offal soup at Brothers Yangpyeong Haejangguk Naechon Branch is worth a special drive to Pocheon.

Written Oct 21, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGoyang, GyeonggiCafés

Dog-friendly café in Goyang: fan rentals & green onion bagel, Baedagol

Baedagol Bakery House (배다골베이커리하우스) is a garden-view bakery café on Hoguk-ro 1121beon-gil in Deogyang-gu, Goyang, Gyeonggi, where dogs are not allowed indoors but are welcome in the outdoor garden and on the terrace, with fans available to borrow. On a weekday evening the writer had a latte, a butter pretzel and a green onion bagel; parking was easy thanks to 3 lots, but many popular breads had already sold out. Verdict: Baedagol Bakery House is worth recommending if you want a garden view, easy parking, good bread and outdoor seating with your dog.

Written Jun 7, 2026Sponsored