Weekend Rucksack · 9 stories

A Slow Errand Through Gapyeong

Writes about restaurants, cafes, bars, beauty spots, and small outings across Seoul, Gangwon, Incheon, Gyeonggi, and Daejeon/Chungcheong. · Writes about: Cafés · Restaurants · Bars · Hair & beauty salons · Things to do

PlaceJongno, SeoulRestaurants

Jonggak diet shop for body profile prep: beef cauliflower rice, Wystab

Wystab Diet Gwanghwamun is a diet meal shop on the first basement floor of Le Meilleur Jongno Town, near Jonggak Station in Jongno, Seoul. While preparing for a body profile (fitness photo shoot), the writer got the trainer's OK to eat beef and stopped by after work, before the gym, for the beef cauliflower rice drink set with Narand Cider and sriracha mayo: 334kcal and 40g of protein. Thanks to the tender 150g beef steak, Wystab Diet Gwanghwamun's beef cauliflower rice is an easy, guilt-free pick for eating out on a diet.

Written Jun 13, 2026Sponsored
PlaceDanyang, ChungbukCafés

Danyang market bakery, garlic bread with chicken and beer: Danppang

Danppang Bakery (단빵제빵소) is a garlic bread bakery in Gugyeong Market in Danyang, Chungbuk. The writer parked for free at the Hasang Parking Lot, bought 2 boxes of the 4-flavor assorted set (14,000 won each) at Danppang Bakery, and ate them with the market's garlic dakgangjeong (sweet, crispy fried chicken) and beer for dinner at their lodging. The cream cheese, sweet potato custard, black garlic and baguette garlic breads were all delicious, making Danppang Bakery a recommended travel snack and Danyang souvenir.

Written Oct 19, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulBars

Mangwon Korean bar: bossam and steamed clams with soju, Jeongju Ilga

Jeongju Ilga (정주일가) is a Korean bar on Mangridan-gil near Mangwon Station in Mapo, Seoul. After a Mangwon bakery crawl, the writer walked in as the first customer early on a rainy Sunday evening and ordered the medium Jeongju Bossam (27,000 won) and jogae suljjim, clams steamed in liquor (15,000 won), with soju. Jeongju Ilga's bossam was generous and tender enough to make the writer want to go back.

Written Jul 12, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGeomdan, IncheonRestaurants

Geomdan, Incheon tonkatsu after weekend errands: Set C for two

HOKATSU is a tonkatsu restaurant on Seogot-ro in Geomdan, Incheon, specializing in pork aged with a handmade yogurt dry-aging method. During a weekend of errands in Incheon, the writer walked in right at opening time and ordered the Signature Set C for two (₩46,000): a three-katsu platter, brazier-grilled hogyu katsu (130g) and tartare cold soba. HOKATSU's tender katsu with no porky smell and refreshing cold soba made an ideal lunch on a hot summer day.

Written Jul 22, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeohae, IncheonRestaurants

Cheongna unlimited eel restaurant, weekday Jungbok dinner: Songrimbok

Songrimbok Jangeo Freshwater Eel Unlimited Refill Cheongna Direct Branch is an all-you-can-eat freshwater eel, pork belly and chicken neck BBQ restaurant on the main road by Cheongna Lake Park in Seohae, Incheon. Worn out from business trips and the summer heat, the writer went on a weekday evening on Jungbok (a midsummer day for stamina food). The writer paid 29,900 won per adult for 2 hours of unlimited refills, added a bottle of Chambokbunja (black raspberry wine), and found the eel better than expected. For family dinners or work meals where everyone wants their fill of eel, Songrimbok's Cheongna branch is a good-value choice.

Written Jul 26, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangneung, GangwonCafés

Gangneung café after a solo Haeparang Trail walk: Coffee Dripper

Coffee Dripper is a roastery café in Chodang-dong, Gangneung, right in front of Toetmaru. Traveling solo, the writer walked Haeparang Trail Course 39 from Namhangjin Beach to Gangmun Beach in about 1 hour 20 minutes, then took a window seat at Coffee Dripper with a Chodang sundubu (soft tofu) pudding (7,000 won), a vanilla croffin (5,500 won) and an iced Americano (5,500 won). Coffee Dripper stands out for its nutty, non-acidic Americano and a tofu pudding you can only taste in Gangneung.

Written Jul 28, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangneung, GangwonRestaurants

Eating solo at a Gangneung makguksu restaurant on Sunday: Samgyori

Samgyori Dongchimi Makguksu Namhangjin branch is a dongchimi makguksu (buckwheat noodles in chilled radish water kimchi broth) restaurant in front of Namhangjin Beach in Gangneung, reportedly opened in 1976 and run by the same family for generations. The writer went alone at the 10:30 Sunday opening for a first meal in Gangneung and ordered makguksu (11,000 won) and a small suyuk (boiled pork, 29,000 won), enjoying the slushy dongchimi broth, the pork with no gamey smell and the seasoned pollock sashimi served alongside. The portions were too much for one person to finish, but Samgyori Dongchimi Makguksu's make-it-yourself style, with no fixed broth or spicy versions, turned out to be a plus.

Written Jul 29, 2026Sponsored
PlaceDongdaemun, SeoulRestaurants

Jang-an-dong shabu-shabu on a sofa for two, rosé finish: Shabu Torang

Shabu Torang Jang-an Direct Branch is a one-pot-per-person shabu-shabu restaurant on Janghan-ro in Dongdaemun, Seoul. On a weekend evening, the writer and a friend sat side by side on a sofa seat for two and added fish balls and chicken breast shabu meat to the basic shabu-shabu. They then cooked rosé tteokbokki (spicy rice cakes) and rosé pasta at the table to finish. With its clean soy-based broth and rich, thick rosé finish, Shabu Torang Jang-an is worth a return visit whenever you crave a healthy meal out.

Written Aug 6, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYeonsu, IncheonRestaurants

Incheon sashimi restaurant: sea squirt and abalone set, Veteran

Veteran General Fish Market Incheon Yeonsu Branch is a sashimi restaurant on the 3rd floor of Yeonsu Gwangjang Plaza in Yeonsu-gu, Incheon. After a day out in Songdo, two people ordered the lunch special set (Jin) at 19,900 won per person and received sashimi, sushi, tempura, spicy fish stew, albap (rice with fish roe), grilled saury, spicy sashimi salad, seaweed soup and a seafood platter that included sea squirt and abalone, plus kimchi pancakes grilled at the self-service corner. With three hours of free basement parking, Veteran General Fish Market is an easy lunch stop by car.

Written Sep 24, 2026Sponsored
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