Morning Mirror · 33 stories

Getting Ready

I write about beauty products, clothes, and household items I use in everyday life. · Writes about: Beauty products · Home & living · Fashion · Restaurants · Cafés · Hair & beauty salons · Bars · Food & snacks

PlaceGangnam, SeoulRestaurants

Gangnam Station burgers after work: mozza sticks & salad, Downtowner

Downtowner Gangnam is a handmade burger shop on the ground floor of the Samwon Building on Teheran-ro 1-gil, near Exits 11 and 12 of Gangnam Station in Seoul. On an after-work visit, the signature avocado burger came with jumbo mozzarella sticks and a cup salad, and the hefty burger, crispy cheese sticks and refreshing salad balanced each other well. A set runs 20,000–30,000 won, which isn't cheap, but Downtowner Gangnam is a convincing choice for a quick, filling handmade burger at Gangnam Station.

Written May 27, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeongnam, GyeonggiRestaurants

Beef and lamb BBQ near Jeongja Station after a wedding-prep day: Nokji

Nokji Bundang Jeongja Branch (녹지 분당정자점) is a beef and lamb BBQ restaurant near Exit 3 of Jeongja Station in Seongnam, Gyeonggi. On an evening when wedding prep had left the writer drained, she booked through Catchtable and ordered the beef and lamb set for two, priced in the ₩100,000s. Staff grilled the aged raw galbi (short rib), French rack and shoulder rack at the table, so all she had to do was sit and eat. If you want beef and lamb together and to feel looked after on a tired day, Nokji Bundang Jeongja Branch is a good fit.

Written May 31, 2026Sponsored
ProductMMLGFashion

Charcoal tee for summer cool tones with jeans: MMLG Circle Logo Tee

The MMLG Circle Logo T-Shirt is MMLG's steady bestselling short-sleeve tee, available in 11 colors. A reviewer with a summer cool tone chose charcoal and tested the 20-count cotton feel, the semi-oversized fit and everyday outfits with straight and wide-leg jeans. The MMLG Circle Logo T-Shirt is a soft, clean basic tee, good enough that the reviewer wants to stock up on more colors.

Written May 31, 2026Product provided
PlaceYongin, GyeonggiRestaurants

Budae jjigae takeout near Seongbok Station, fried rice next day

Abuzzi Budae Jjigae Suji Branch (아부찌부대찌개 수지점) is a budae jjigae (Korean army stew) restaurant for takeout and dine-in, in a shopping arcade near Seongbok Station Exit 3 in Suji-gu, Yongin. For a work-from-home lunch, the writer took home the beef belly budae jjigae for 3 (₩16,900) as a meal kit and cooked it at home. The rich meat broth and generous portion even left enough soup for fried rice the next day. For anyone after takeout budae jjigae to replace a home-cooked meal, the beef belly version at Abuzzi Budae Jjigae Suji Branch is a good-value choice.

Written Jun 4, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSuyeong, BusanRestaurants

Early-evening Korean BBQ in Gwangalli, Busan: pork omakase, Donbegi

Donbegi Gwang-an Branch (돈베기 광안점) is a Korean BBQ restaurant in Millak-dong, Gwangalli, Busan, serving charcoal-grilled pork aged 480 hours. The writer visited in the early evening for the signature pork omakase plus doenjang stew (soybean paste stew) and a bomb egg custard, and staff grilled the meat from start to finish, so the different textures of each cut were easy to enjoy. Verdict: Donbegi Gwang-an Branch is worth a return visit if you want aged pork without lifting the tongs.

Written Jun 4, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYongin, GyeonggiRestaurants

Suji noodle spot after moving house: yeolmu cold memil, potato jeon

Chilseong Jemyeonso Suji Main Branch is a noodle restaurant that makes its own noodles, on the first floor of Seohui Star Hills in Seongbok-dong, Suji-gu, Yongin. Worn out from moving house, the writer went back to Chilseong Jemyeonso, a longtime regular spot, for the perilla oil soba set, Chilseong cold yeolmu memil (buckwheat noodles with young radish kimchi), chewy potato jeon (pancake) and tteok (rice cake) skewers. Now even closer after the move, Chilseong Jemyeonso Suji Main Branch has become the family's everyday go-to thanks to free basement parking and roomy seating.

Written Jun 15, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJung-gu, BusanRestaurants

Nampo, Busan burger shop: shopping-break truffle burger at Downtowner

Downtowner Busan Lotte Gwangbok is a handmade burger shop on B1 of Aqua Mall at Lotte Department Store Gwangbok in Nampo, Busan. The writer ordered the Double Cheese Truffle burger, sweet potato fries and the new Cream Cheese Chicken Bites, and was pleased with both the clean, open layout and the burger's rich truffle aroma. Downtowner Busan Lotte Gwangbok is a good choice for a light but proper meal during a shopping trip.

Written Jun 24, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeongnam, GyeonggiRestaurants

Kid-friendly pho restaurant in Jeongja-dong with free parking: Kkamon

Kkamon Bundang Jeongja Direct Store (까몬 분당정자직영점) is a Vietnamese pho restaurant on the first floor of The Sharp Star Park shopping block in Jeongja-dong, Bundang, Seongnam. The writer went with a younger friend and her noodle-loving little one, sharing beef shank pho, cream-sauce shrimp balls, bún chả and stir-fried water spinach, with pho priced in the low ₩10,000s, and the child happily ate the clear, rich broth and generous beef. With wide table spacing and 2 hours of free parking, Kkamon Bundang Jeongja is an easy pho stop in Bundang to visit with kids.

Written Jun 26, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeocho, SeoulRestaurants

Quiet Gangnam Station sashimi spot to treat ex-colleagues: Damiseon

Damiseon Gangnam Station Branch is a Japanese-style restaurant specialising in live fish sashimi and fish dishes, on the B1 level near Gangnam Station in Seocho, Seoul. The writer booked ahead to hand out wedding invitations to former colleagues and ordered the sashimi set and altang (spicy fish roe soup); the course-style side dishes, marinated shrimp, firm non-fishy sashimi and flying fish roe maki all impressed. For a quiet get-together or treating guests near Gangnam Station, Damiseon Gangnam Station Branch is a definite place to return to.

Written Jul 2, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeongnam, GyeonggiRestaurants

Pangyo hot pot restaurant near Kakao Agit: unlimited broth, Useum

Useum Pangyo Branch is a Korean pub specializing in hanwoo (Korean beef) suyuk and hot pot in Pangyo Techno Valley, Seongnam, near Pangyo Station Exit 1. Over lunch near Kakao Agit with a friend who works at Kakao, the writer had a hanwoo bulgogi hot pot of about ₩45,000. The writer loved the deep hanwoo broth with no gamey smell, the unlimited broth refills, and staff who kept topping up side dishes and broth. For office workers who love a good broth, Useum Pangyo Branch is a can't-miss lunch spot in Pangyo.

Written Jul 2, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeongnam, GyeonggiRestaurants

Seohyeon rib stew dinner, mild pork and rice cakes: Gimcheongja

Gimcheongja Maeun Galbijjim Seohyeon Station Branch is a spicy galbijjim (braised short rib stew) restaurant near Seohyeon Station in Bundang, Seongnam, Gyeonggi. For dinner with a friend who can't handle much heat, we ordered 2 servings of spicy pork galbijjim at the mild level, added steamed egg and finished with fried rice. Even the mild level had a gentle kick, and the glass noodles and rice cakes included by default plus the refillable seaweed made it satisfying. Because you can choose the spice level, Gimcheongja is a good Seohyeon Station rib stew spot to visit with a friend who can't handle spice.

Written Jul 2, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYongin, GyeonggiRestaurants

Brisket wrap kalguksu after a 15-team wait in Giheung: Jangwongap

Jangwongap Kalguksu Yongin Giheung Branch (장원갑칼국수 용인기흥점) is a shabu-shabu kalguksu (knife-cut noodle soup) restaurant on Gomae-ro in Giheung-gu, Yongin, near Lotte Outlet Giheung. On a weekend at 1:30pm there were 15 teams ahead and a wait of about 30 minutes. After that came brisket-minari wrap kalguksu for 2, then 1 extra serving of brisket for dipping in the house oil sauce, plus self-serve misutgaru (roasted grain drink) and gangnaengi (puffed corn snack). Jangwongap Kalguksu was worth the 30-minute wait, and the writer plans to return with their parents.

Written Jun 27, 2026Sponsored