Pouch Wanderer · 13 stories

Soft Pouch, Busan-Gyeongnam/Gwangju-Jeolla Shopping, Beauty and Stays

Writes about shopping streets, beauty counters, and small stays across Busan-Gyeongnam and Gwangju-Jeolla, with occasional notes on cafes and restaurants. · Writes about: Restaurants · Cafés · Stays · Hair & beauty salons · Shopping

PlaceNam-gu, UlsanRestaurants

Ulsan shabu-shabu buffet in former Kkotmareum, porridge finish: Wabom

Wabom Ulsan Mugeo Branch is a shabu-shabu buffet on the 10th floor of Hansol Apple Tower on Ulmil-ro in Nam-gu, Ulsan, opened after renovating the former Kkotmareum (꽃마름) space. After a visit to a clinic in the same building, the writer went up on a whim at lunchtime for brisket, chuck and round shabu-shabu, seafood, sushi, fried dishes and a chocolate fountain, then turned the leftover broth into porridge. With good meat, a full buffet spread and amenities like high chairs and a nursing room, Wabom Ulsan Mugeo Branch is a great-value shabu-shabu buffet for a family meal.

Written Jun 9, 2026Sponsored
PlaceNam-gu, UlsanCafés

Ulsan tteok shop found on Reels, black sesame tteok: Baekho Tteokbang

Baekho Tteokbang (백호떡방) is a rice cake (tteok) shop on Beonyeong-ro in Sinjeong-dong, Nam-gu, Ulsan, that specializes in sweet pumpkin injeolmi (chewy rice cake). After spotting its black sesame pumpkin injeolmi on Instagram Reels, the writer tried medium Baekho tteok (₩8,000) and Heukho tteok (₩8,500) with sweet pumpkin milk and sweet pumpkin sikhye (₩4,500 each), and Baekho Tteokbang's origin sign was reassuring enough to serve the rice cakes to kids. For black sesame lovers, Baekho Tteokbang's Heukho tteok is the one to get.

Written Jun 10, 2026Sponsored
PlaceChangwon, GyeongnamThings to do

Car detailing in Changwon: 5-hour new Palisade polish, CW Detailing

CW Detailing Changwon Main Branch is a car detailing shop in Dong-eup, Uichang-gu, Changwon, that offers washing, polishing, PPF and wrapping. The writer drove a Palisade delivered new in January from Ulsan to Changwon for an exterior wash and polish that took about 5 hours. Before starting, the CW Detailing staff photographed the scratches and explained honestly which would come out and which would not. Verdict: for a new car's first proper detailing, CW Detailing was worth the long drive.

Written Jun 22, 2026Sponsored
PlaceNam-gu, UlsanRestaurants

Ulsan loach soup restaurant: ₩25,000 couple's lunch, Jeontong Sigol

Jeontong Sigol Chueotang Ulsan Mugeo Branch is a budget-friendly Korean restaurant on Sinbok-ro in Nam-gu, Ulsan, near the back gate of Ulsan University, where every dish costs ₩10,000 or less. A couple had lunch there: chueotang (loach soup) made with domestic loach for ₩9,000 and stir-fried pork duruchigi for two for ₩16,000. The husband called it the best chueotang he had ever eaten out and ordered an extra bowl of rice. Verdict: ordering chueotang and duruchigi together at Jeontong Sigol makes a lunch as filling as two meals.

Written Jun 24, 2026Sponsored
PlaceChangwon, GyeongnamRestaurants

Family Chinese spot in Sangnam-dong: wok-fired jjamppong, Hwaryong

Hwaryong Restaurant Changwon-Sangnam branch is a newly opened Chinese restaurant in Sangnam-dong, Changwon, that focuses on three dishes: jajangmyeon (black bean noodles), jjamppong (spicy seafood noodle soup) and tangsuyuk (sweet and sour pork). The writer and her husband shared a set for two of ganjjajangmyeon with a meat-packed sauce, a smoky wok-fired seafood bomb jjamppong and crispy mini tangsuyuk, all of them satisfying. With baby chairs and unlimited rice refills, Hwaryong Restaurant ranked as the best Chinese restaurant she had visited recently.

Written Jun 21, 2026Sponsored
PlaceDong-gu, UlsanHair & beauty salons

Ulsan facial salon: summer dryness and PDRN mask at Healing House

Healing House is a facial, contouring, body and hair-loss care salon on Jinseong 12-gil in Jeonha-dong, Dong-gu, Ulsan. Dealing with summer dehydration, breakouts and a sagging jawline, the writer had a skin check followed by a 1.5-hour session at Healing House: scalp massage, exosome ampoule with gua sha bar contouring, device-assisted ampoule absorption, and a PDRN mask with décolleté massage. The building is old but clean, and single sessions are available, so Healing House is an easy first visit.

Written Jul 2, 2026Sponsored
PlaceNam-gu, UlsanRestaurants

Ulsan shabu buffet, Thursday retry after a full lot: Shabre Garden

Shabre Garden Ulsan Nam-gu Branch is a shabu-shabu buffet from the premium "The Black" line on Suam-ro in Nam-gu, Ulsan. After giving up on a Saturday lunch because the parking lot was full, the writer returned on a Thursday just after 11am for shabu-shabu, chef-made sushi, about 50 sides and desserts, with weekday lunch at ₩24,900. The salmon sushi was the standout, and Shabre Garden proved a genuinely premium buffet despite modest expectations.

Written Jul 3, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGoheung, GwangjuStays

Baby-friendly glamping in Goheung: Cabin F tips at Synth Pet & Kids

Synth Pet & Kids Glamping is a pet- and kid-themed glamping site in Gwayeok-myeon, Goheung, Jeollanam-do. The writer stayed one night in Cabin F with a baby and enjoyed the frame-guard family bed, the free indoor warm-water pool and kids' playground, pork belly BBQ from the on-site shop (500g for ₩20,000) and an evening by the fire pit. For families with a baby, Synth Pet & Kids Glamping is an easy Goheung pick where you can play all day whatever the weather.

Written Jul 15, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGimhae, GyeongnamRestaurants

Road-trip clam kalguksu in Gimhae a 24-month-old ate: Seosan Dongjuk

Seosan Dongjuk Kalguksu (서산동죽칼국수) is a clam kalguksu (knife-cut noodle soup) restaurant near Yulha Café Street in Gimhae, Gyeongnam. On a gloomy weekday lunch the day after glamping in Goheung, on the way to Lotte Hotel Resort Gimhae, the family ordered two bowls of clam kalguksu (₩9,000 each, one without and one with Cheongyang chili) and a seafood pancake (₩15,000), and their 24-month-old, usually a broth-only eater, ate the noodles well. With a spacious hall, its own parking lot and baby chairs, Seosan Dongjuk Kalguksu is an easy lunch stop when travelling with a small child.

Written Jul 16, 2026Sponsored
PlaceDong-gu, UlsanRestaurants

Korean BBQ near Daewangam Park, Ulsan: ₩17,800 lunch, Deungdae Galbi

Taewangam Deungdae Galbi Main Branch (대왕암등대갈비 본점) is a pork rib and beef rib-finger BBQ restaurant on Deungdae 2-gil in Dong-gu, Ulsan, near Daewangam Park. Arriving for brunch right at the 11:00 opening, the writer ordered the lunch special (two servings of pork ribs, one of beef rib-finger meat). The ₩17,800 set brings 300g of ribs with doenjang stew and rice or naengmyeon (cold noodles) and was filling. For lunch near Daewangam Park, the Taewangam Deungdae Galbi lunch special is well worth recommending.

Written Jul 24, 2026Sponsored
PlaceNam-gu, UlsanRestaurants

Gyukatsu restaurant in Samsan, Ulsan: friends first at 11am, Izawa

Izawa Ulsan The Terrace Garden branch is a gyukatsu (beef cutlet) restaurant on the 2nd floor of Samsan The Terrace Garden in Nam-gu, Ulsan. After a weekday lunch queue once turned the writer away, the writer and friends arrived for the 11am opening, became the first customers, and ate two gyukatsu sets and a pan-momil (chilled buckwheat soba) for ₩46,500. To eat at Izawa The Terrace Garden without waiting, arriving right at opening time is the surest bet.

Written Jul 27, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSokcho, GangwonRestaurants

Sokcho sashimi takeout with Spanish mackerel and ray: Daeilho Bangeo

Sokcho Daeilho Bangeo (속초대일호방어) is a sashimi and sushi takeout shop at Stall 6, Dakjeon Alley, in Sokcho Tourist & Fish Market (Sokcho Central Market) in Sokcho, Gangwon. On the first evening of a Sokcho family trip, the writer brought a Sokcho-caught assorted sashimi platter with large Spanish mackerel and ray (₩45,000) and a futomaki roll (₩15,000) back to the lodging for a sashimi-loving father-in-law, and the thick, fresh slices pleased the whole family. Sokcho Daeilho Bangeo is a reliable Sokcho takeout spot for thick-cut seasonal sashimi in a single pack.

Written Oct 2, 2026Sponsored