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

PlaceYongsan, SeoulRestaurants

Budget Chinese restaurant in Samgakji: ₩30,000 lunch for two, Monkok

Imsabu Jungwha Yori Monkok (임사부중화요리몽콕) is an affordable Chinese restaurant right outside Exit 3 of Samgakji Station in Yongsan, Seoul. With a menu grouped by price from ₩5,900 to ₩13,900, two people had samseon seafood jjamppong, fried eggplant in yuxiang sauce (₩9,900) and half-and-half dim sum for lunch for about ₩30,000. Imsabu Jungwha Yori Monkok tastes good despite the low prices and is worth a return visit whenever you crave Chinese food in Samgakji.

Written May 3, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYongsan, SeoulRestaurants

Hannam sandwich shop, pre-salon tofu cream cheese: Dance Dance Dance

Dance Dance Dance Hannam is a sandwich and baguette shop on the ground floor of a building at the Hannam Five-Way Intersection in Yongsan, Seoul. Before a hair salon appointment, the writer ate a plain tofu cream cheese baguette alone in the shop, then took a chicken breast sandwich home, switched to ciabatta, for dinner that evening. The soft baguette, generously spread with cream cheese, and the finely shredded chicken breast sandwich were both satisfying, making Dance Dance Dance Hannam a place worth a return visit.

Written Apr 30, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYongsan, SeoulBars

Itaewon jazz bar, birthday drinks by the glass: Au Passage Jimmy's Bar

Au Passage Jimmy's Bar is a whisky and wine jazz bar near Itaewon Station Exit 1 in Yongsan, Seoul. On a second stop after a friend's birthday get-together, the writer watched the Jo Yongchan Quartet's 8pm set from a close seat, with sparkling white wine by the glass and myeongnan (pollock roe) spread snacks. The show was free as an opening celebration. Au Passage Jimmy's Bar is a good Itaewon jazz bar for live jazz on a special night or a solo drink.

Written May 4, 2026Sponsored
ProductBohemian BlueFashion

Hotel staycation one-piece swimsuit with tie-up bust: Bohemian Blue

The Bohemian Blue Gingham Shirring Tie-Up One-Piece Swimsuit is a women's one-piece swimsuit with a square neckline and ribbon tie-up shirring at the bust. The writer packed the Bohemian Blue swimsuit for a hotel staycation and was happy with the bust fit adjusted by how tightly the ribbon is tied, the 4-way stretch fabric and the pad-hole construction. It's a body-flattering one-piece for anyone who wants both style and practicality.

Written May 3, 2026Product provided
PlaceGangnam, SeoulRestaurants

Apgujeongnodeo pasta restaurant after Supreme shopping: Eulji Darak

Eulji Darak Apgujeong Dosan Park is a pasta and risotto restaurant on the 2nd floor of a building near Exit 5 of Apgujeongnodeo Station in Gangnam, Seoul. After shopping at Stussy, Supreme and Groove Store, the blogger walked into Eulji Darak with no wait just after the lunch rush, ordered the spicy crab risotto, brisket perilla pasta and cream onion fries, and got free drinks by joining both the Naver receipt review and Google Maps review events. Verdict: Eulji Darak Apgujeong Dosan Park serves generous portions for the price in a cute room, making it a solid pick for an Apgujeong shopping day or a date meal.

Written May 6, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJung-gu, SeoulRestaurants

Euljiro pork soup restaurant: quiet late QR order, Buan rice, Baekok

Baekok Myeongdong is a Korean restaurant specializing in dwaeji gomtang (clear pork soup), tucked in an alley between Euljiro and Myeongdong in Jung-gu, Seoul. On a quiet late visit, the writer ordered 2 pork gomtang and 1 cabbage dumpling by QR code and was struck by the clear, deep broth, generous Korean pork shoulder, chewy rice from Buan and light dumplings wrapped in cabbage leaves. For a clean, mild Korean meal, Baekok Myeongdong is a gomtang spot worth returning to.

Written May 13, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJung-gu, SeoulRestaurants

Euljiro 1-ga burger spot with wide tables: onion rings at Daily Fix

Daily Fix Euljiro is a handmade burger restaurant using Hanwoo (Korean beef) patties, tucked in an alley between Mugyo-dong and Da-dong near Euljiro 1-ga Station in Jung-gu, Seoul. The writer had the Bacon Cheese Burger (12,900 won), the Chicken Burger (11,900 won) and onion rings (7,400 won) with a drink, and found that the spacious room, wide tables and bar seating at Daily Fix Euljiro suit everything from solo meals to get-togethers with colleagues. Verdict: the patty is so good that Daily Fix Euljiro makes you insist on one burger per person.

Written May 14, 2026Sponsored
PlaceHwaseong, GyeonggiThings to do

Dongtan indoor zoo: live feed for rays and seals, free drinks at Artis

Artis Theme Park is an indoor zoo and eco-education theme park on the 9th floor of Sinyu Medi Plaza in Dongtan, Hwaseong, Gyeonggi. On a weekend visit, the writer used the full feeding experience set to feed rays and seals at Artis Theme Park; the live food came as a shock, but the child loved it. With hand-washing spots along the route, free drinks for adults and a small playground by the exit, Artis Theme Park is a great weekend outing with kids in Dongtan.

Written May 15, 2026Sponsored
PlaceCheonan, ChungnamCafés

Wheelchair-friendly Cheonan café for big families: Steel Green Bakery

Steel Green Bakery is a four-story bakery café in Seonggeo-eup, Cheonan, with a large parking lot, an elevator and a kids-welcome policy. The writer visited on a weekend, tried the black sesame latte and the fruit sando bagel (mochi bagel sando, 8,000 won), and toured the 2nd-floor indoor garden, the 3rd-floor projector space and the 4th-floor rooftop. Strollers and wheelchairs move easily between floors at Steel Green Bakery, making it a café worth returning to for big family gatherings.

Written May 14, 2026Sponsored
PlaceHwaseong, GyeonggiRestaurants

Dongtan Japanese restaurant: brisket bowl at 11:30 opening, Hurato

Hurato Sikdang Dongtan Lake Commo is a casual Japanese restaurant specializing in gyukatsu (breaded beef cutlet) on the 2nd floor of Songdong-gil at Dongtan Lake Commo, by Dongtan Lake Park in Hwaseong. Arriving right at the 11:30 weekend opening, the blogger got in with no wait, ordered by phone at the table, and had gyukatsu and a usamgyeop deopbap (sliced beef brisket rice bowl) as a set with two drinks, praising the fresh ingredients, generous portions and fair prices. Weekend waits start after 12:00, so Hurato Sikdang is best visited right at opening time.

Written May 15, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulRestaurants

Hanwoo room restaurant by Gongdeok Station: birthday seaweed soup, Usu

Usu (우수) is an all-private-room hanwoo (Korean beef) course restaurant on B2 of the Lotte Castle President arcade, connected to Gongdeok Station Exit 2 in Mapo, Seoul. The writer booked a birthday dinner on Catch Table and had the Dinner B course with her boyfriend at Usu. The birthday extras were celebratory sparkling wine, hanwoo seaweed soup, a lettered dessert and a Polaroid photo. For a private birthday meal, Usu in Gongdeok is a well-suited choice.

Written May 11, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJongno, SeoulRestaurants

Gwanghwamun beef noodle shop, no break time: 3 PM solo meal, Cheonghwa

Cheonghwa Uyuk Dosakmyeon (청화 우육도삭면) is a Taiwanese beef knife-cut noodle restaurant on the ground floor of the Le Meilleur building in Gwanghwamun, Seoul. A monthly regular visited Cheonghwa Uyuk Dosakmyeon alone around 3 PM and ordered the Taiwanese beef knife-cut noodles and fried eggplant, each in the 10,000-won range. The broth at Cheonghwa Uyuk Dosakmyeon isn't heavy on spices, making it an easy recommendation for anyone trying beef noodle soup for the first time.

Written May 26, 2026Sponsored