Cheonan Tote Diary · 51 stories

Gyeonggi Plate Ledger

I write about restaurant meals and small dining stops around Gyeonggi. · Writes about: Restaurants · Cafés · Things to do · Fashion · Hair & beauty salons · Kids & baby · Bars

PlaceMapo, SeoulHair & beauty salons

Gongdeok lash salon: 45-min nourishing black tint perm, Iyo Shop

Iyo Shop is a one-person lash perm and extension salon on the 2nd floor of Park Palace 2, near Gongdeok Station Exit 3 in Mapo, Seoul. A self-described lash-perm nomad who had tried many salons came back to Iyo Shop for the hydrating nourishing + black tint perm she loved last time; it took about 45 minutes in a setting relaxing enough to doze off in, and turned a dull, sleepy look into defined eyes. With the owner's quick, 1:1 custom curl and free parking, Iyo Shop is a good place to settle on as your regular lash perm salon at Gongdeok Station.

Written Apr 20, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYongin, GyeonggiRestaurants

Yongin BBQ: single portions of gabrisal & pork belly, Sukseonghwangga

Sukseonghwangga Yongin (숙성육관 용인둔전점) is a Korean BBQ restaurant specializing in aged meat near Dunjeon Station in Cheoin-gu, Yongin, where staff grill the meat for you. On a Friday evening with a friend, the writer ordered gabrisal (pork skirt meat) and pork belly as separate single portions, then had Hanmac draft beer, mul naengmyeon (cold buckwheat noodles in broth), iron-plate fried rice and olive oil vanilla ice cream. With good value and good meat quality, Sukseonghwangga Yongin is worth recommending if you want Korean BBQ near Everland.

Written Apr 20, 2026Sponsored
PlaceDongjak, SeoulRestaurants

Korean restaurant by Boramae Station: gukbap set too big for two

Byeongcheon Cheongnyeon Sundae-guk Daebang Branch (병천청년순대국 대방점) is a sundae gukbap (Korean sausage soup with rice) restaurant on Sangdo-ro in Dongjak, Seoul, near Sindaebang Junction and Boramae Station. On a chilly evening, a couple each ordered the gukbap set (₩12,000). The set came with a spicy broth free of any gamey smell, three kinds of sundae, sliced pork and pickled scallions, and both of them left food behind. The writer, who is from Cheonan, says Byeongcheon Cheongnyeon Sundae-guk compares well with the sundae soup of Byeongcheon itself, and it is a generous meal for the price.

Written Apr 21, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJung-gu, SeoulRestaurants

Euljiro bone grill pub, no drinks, with my sibling: Eulji Baektan

Eulji Baektan Ppyeogui (을지백탄뼈구이) is a Korean pub near Euljiro 3-ga Station in Jung-gu, Seoul, serving spicy pork bone grill (ppyeogui). With a younger sibling, the writer skipped the drinks and ordered the small Baektan bone grill for 2 (38,000 won) at level 2, which is spicier than Shin Ramyun, plus a rice ball shaped by hand in plastic gloves; the portion was generous and the sauce soaked right into the bones. Eulji Baektan Ppyeogui gets it right on taste, atmosphere and space, making it an easy Euljiro pick for a date or a group dinner.

Written Apr 20, 2026Sponsored
ProductChildlifeKids & baby

Kids' liquid multivitamin for changing seasons: Childlife Multivitamin

Childlife Multivitamin & Minerals is a mango-orange liquid multivitamin from Childlife, a US children's supplement brand. The writer gives her eldest daughter, whose runny-nose colds lingered at every change of season, about 7ml a day from a medicine bottle after daycare, and says the daughter drinks it like juice. For kids who have trouble swallowing capsules, Childlife's liquid multivitamin is an easy option.

Written Apr 23, 2026Product provided
ProductRadiusKids & baby

Kids toothbrush stages by age, tested at 5: Radius Big Kids Forever

Radius children's toothbrushes come from a US oral-care brand and are split into 4 age-based stages: Pure Baby, Totz, Totz Plus and Big Kids Forever. The writer looked at each stage and gave a 5-year-old the Big Kids Forever, a replaceable-head toothbrush meant for ages 6 and up, and the child held it easily and brushed comfortably all the way back to the molars. Verdict: with soft bristles and a replaceable head, Radius toothbrushes are an easy, good-value choice for building a child's first brushing habit.

Written Apr 23, 2026Product provided
PlaceMapo, SeoulRestaurants

Mapo gyukatsu date in my old neighborhood: two smoked sets, Gyudo

Premium Gyukatsu Gyudo Mapo Gongdeok Main Branch is a beef cutlet (gyukatsu) restaurant in the basement of the Obelisk shopping arcade at Mapo Station in Seoul. The writer, who lived in Mapo for 2 years, returned with her husband and ordered two smoked gyukatsu sets at ₩21,000 each (₩42,000 total). They grilled the cutlets on a brass brazier and enjoyed unlimited refills of pot rice, finishing with dunggulle (Solomon's seal) tea nurungji (scorched rice). Verdict: Gyudo is the best date spot in Mapo for a special day.

Written Apr 23, 2026Sponsored
PlaceCheonan, ChungnamRestaurants

Cheonan Shinsegae burger menu & prices, avocado pick: Downtown Burger

Downtown Burger Shinsegae Department Store Cheonan-Asan is a handmade burger shop in the food street next to CGV on the 4th floor of Building B at Shinsegae Department Store in Cheonan, Chungnam, run as a combined store with Clap Pizza. The writer ordered the Downtown Burger (10,300 won) and their favorite Avocado Burger (12,700 won) at the kiosk and was happy with the classic Downtown Burger, the Avocado Burger packed with avocado and the well-fried fries. With unlimited drink refills for dine-in, the verdict is that the Avocado Burger at Downtown Burger is the answer for a handmade burger in Cheonan.

Written Apr 22, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulHair & beauty salons

Hongdae lash lift salon: tight re-curl of a faded perm at Lashkimi

Lashkimi is a lash lift salon on B1 of the LG Palace Building, connected directly to Hongik Univ. Station in Hongdae, Mapo, Seoul. The writer arrived with a lash perm from February that had faded unevenly, and Lashkimi redid it with a curl lifted high enough not to touch the eyelid, with about 30 minutes lying down. Lashkimi is a good fit in Hongdae for anyone who wants defined eyes without mascara.

Written Apr 22, 2026Sponsored
ProductViolanKids & baby

Baby oil spray for scalp flakes and dry skin: Violan Sweet Almond Oil

Violan Sweet Almond Oil is a 75ml spray-type baby oil from the French brand Violan, described by the brand as suitable from age 0. The writer used Violan Sweet Almond Oil to soften a baby's yellow scalp flakes, mixed it into lotion and sprayed it into bath water as an oil spa, and found the spray much easier than a pump while caring for a baby. For parents dealing with dry baby skin and scalp flakes, Violan Sweet Almond Oil is a convenient spray-type almond oil option.

Written Apr 26, 2026Product provided
PlaceCheonan, ChungnamRestaurants

Yuryang-dong, Cheonan crab restaurant with stroller room: Huni Gejang

Huni Gejang Cheonan Main Branch is a gejang (raw marinated crab) restaurant on Taejosan-gil in Yuryang-dong, Cheonan, serving blue crabs from Yeonpyeongdo island. The writer had the crab set (₩25,000 per person) with a child, ordered the ₩100 baby meal of seaweed soup, rice, gim (seasoned seaweed) and a banana, and found the tables spaced widely enough to fit a stroller. Huni Gejang is a good-value choice for families with kids who want a full spread of soy-marinated and spicy marinated crab.

Written Apr 29, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYongsan, SeoulHair & beauty salons

Yongsan hair salon hush cut for damaged long hair: ONLY FOR YOU

ONLY FOR YOU Hannam Main Branch is a hair salon on the 3rd floor of Hyundai Liberty House at Hannam Five-way Intersection in Yongsan, Seoul. The writer's long hair was damaged by frequent dyeing and perms. At ONLY FOR YOU, only about 5cm was trimmed for a high-layered hush cut, and the writer also learned how to style it at home. With a discounted design cut at 29,750 won and 3 hours of free underground parking, ONLY FOR YOU Hannam Main Branch suits anyone who wants to keep long hair while tidying up damage.

Written Apr 30, 2026Sponsored