Plain Compact Keeper · 7 stories
Writes about everyday restaurants and beauty spots she visits around Gyeonggi. · Writes about: Restaurants · Hair & beauty salons · Cafés
Brick Rouge (브릭루즈) is a four-story bakery and brunch café on Jimok-ro near Paju Book City in Paju, Gyeonggi. On a weekend drive, the writer and her husband shared the Meat Big Brunch set with 2 Americanos (₩42,000) at the low floor tables on Brick Rouge's 3rd floor and took their time over it. With a hearty brunch for two and a different feel on every floor, Brick Rouge made a satisfying date spot for a couple in Paju.
Hair Onsae is a hair salon right in front of Pungsan Station in Ilsandong-gu, Goyang, Gyeonggi. The writer's husband got a men's part perm (gareuma perm) at Hair Onsae to tidy up his long, messy-looking hair, and the designer set the part direction to suit his head shape and fringe flow for a natural, voluminous finish. For a men's part perm near Pungsan Station, Hair Onsae delivers both easy access and careful consultation.
Guil Baeksuk Haengju Fortress Branch (구일백숙 행주산성점) is a baeksuk (whole bird boiled in broth) restaurant on a main road near Haengju Fortress in Deogyang-gu, Goyang, Gyeonggi. Just before Chobok, the first of Korea's hottest summer days, the writer and her husband ordered duck baeksuk for two (₩45,000) for a weekend lunch, enjoyed the herbal broth and lean meat, then finished by cooking sticky rice into porridge in the leftover broth. For the writer, the sticky rice porridge at Guil Baeksuk was even more memorable than the duck baeksuk itself.
Deodeo Ganjanggejang Muhalliripil (더더간장게장무한리필) is a soy-marinated and spicy marinated crab restaurant in Wondang, Deogyang-gu, Goyang, offering an all-you-can-eat set and a one-crab set at 15,000 won per person. A couple who don't eat much skipped the all-you-can-eat option and ordered two one-crab sets plus an extra plate of spicy marinated crab for 6,000 won. They enjoyed crab that wasn't fishy or too salty, paired with steamed egg. If you have a small appetite, the Deodeo one-crab set with an extra plate of your favorite crab is a smart choice.
Hwangje Sushi Ilsan Main Branch is an aged-sushi restaurant in the M-CITY Sangga-dong building, across from Goyang Flower Hall at Ilsan Lake Park in Goyang. On a return visit, the writer had the weekday-only udon tonkatsu set (12,000 won) while a friend had the VIP sushi, and complimentary sides such as grilled flounder, black sesame porridge and pickles filled out the meal. For sushi with generous toppings and well-portioned rice plus a good-value weekday set, Hwangje Sushi Ilsan Main Branch is a solid choice.
Kim Myeongju Tteuranchae Bapsang Wondang Station Branch (김명주뜰안채밥상 원당점) is a Korean set meal (hanjeongsik) restaurant serving pot rice right in front of Wondang Station in Deogyang-gu, Goyang. A married couple ordered the Tteuranchae Bapsang set (₩13,000 per person) with a ₩18,000 charcoal-grilled pork side order, and the writer, who normally avoids cheonggukjang (pungent fermented soybean stew), enjoyed its nutty, clean flavor. Kim Myeongju Tteuranchae Bapsang is a neat, filling Wondang choice that also works well for a meal with parents.
Baekseok Kkogijip (백석꼬기집) is a Korean BBQ restaurant near Exit 6 of Baekseok Station in Ilsandong-gu, Goyang, where the meat is grilled for you and served ready to eat. The writer and her husband ordered the set for two with 360g of mixed fresh pork (pork belly and neck) and kimchi stew. Because the yukhoe (Korean beef tartare) had sold out that day, they got a generous portion of extra meat instead. Wraps with pickled wild garlic leaves and a tangy spring onion salad paired especially well with the pork. With no smoke or grill heat to deal with, Baekseok Kkogijip is a good pick for a summer meal out or a group dinner.
