Pocket Mirror Road · 26 stories

The Hand Mirror

I write about my visits to beauty spots in Busan and Gyeongnam. · Writes about: Hair & beauty salons · Restaurants · Cafés

PlaceDongnae, BusanHair & beauty salons

Volume-curl lash perm clear of the eyelid fold, Dongnae, Busan: Imin

Imin Beauty Dongnae Main Branch (아이민뷰티 동래본점) is a reservation-only lash and eyebrow salon on the ground floor of the Hanjin Town shopping arcade in Dongnae-gu, Busan. The writer's lashes always got caught in her double-eyelid fold and bent. After six months without a lash perm, she had the moisture nutrient perm (40,000 won) with nutrient care and black tinting at Imin Beauty. The natural curl stayed clear of the fold with her eyes open and still held two days later. Verdict: Imin Beauty Dongnae Main Branch's consultation-based lash perm is a strong pick for anyone whose lashes disappear into a double eyelid.

Written Apr 26, 2026Sponsored
PlaceBusanjin, BusanRestaurants

Quiet weekday pasta lunch near Jeonpo Station, Busan: Friends Club

Friends Club is a Western-style pasta restaurant on Dongseong-ro 87beon-gil in Jeonpo-dong, Busanjin, Busan. On a return visit for weekday lunch, the writer had the daily-limited Classic Bolognese fresh-pasta lasagna (16,000 won) and the pollock roe & shrimp cream spaghetti (17,000 won), and the lasagna's mild ragu and dense fresh pasta were the highlight. Friends Club is a good Jeonpo pasta spot for an unhurried meal on a quiet weekday afternoon.

Written Apr 30, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYangsan, GyeongnamRestaurants

Yangsan crab restaurant: 2 spicy, 1 soy, takeout for my brother, Deodo

Deodo Gejang (더도게장) is a Korean marinated crab restaurant near Tongdosa Temple in Habuk-myeon, Yangsan, Gyeongnam. After touring Tongdosa with their parents, the writer arrived around 5 pm on a weekend and ordered the grilled fish + yellow crab pot rice set for 2 (₩48,000) and a single set (₩18,000), choosing 2 portions of spicy crab and 1 of soy sauce crab. Everyone loved the meaty crab and the soy crab with no fishy taste, and Deodo Gejang earned a definite return visit, with spicy crab packed to go for the brother who couldn't come.

Written Nov 10, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGyeongsan, GyeongbukCafés

Gyeongsan bakery for pumpkin butter tteok to go: Jeongnamhyang

Bakery Jeongnamhyang (베이커리 정남향) is a small bakery on Daehak-ro in Jeongpyeong-dong, Gyeongsan, Gyeongbuk. On a weekend afternoon before going to see canola flowers, the writer picked up a Gongju chestnut red bean campagne (6,300 won), a Choco Mondi (4,500 won), plain and pumpkin butter tteok (buttery rice cakes, 2,300 and 2,800 won), a milk bun (3,900 won) and an iced Americano (3,500 won) to go. The crisp, chewy plain and pumpkin butter tteok stood out most, so anyone visiting Bakery Jeongnamhyang should make sure to grab butter tteok.

Written May 5, 2026Sponsored
PlaceBusanjin, BusanRestaurants

First-in-line tonkatsu in Jeonpo, Busan: oolong & Jeju pork, Hets

Hets Jeonpo Branch (헷츠 전포점) is a tonkatsu restaurant in Jeonpo-dong, Busanjin-gu, Busan, a new branch of Hets, whose main shop is in Gwangalli. On a weekday the writer was first through the door at opening and ate solo at the bar: the Jeju black pork mixed katsu (₩18,000) with Sangaria oolong tea, a juicy fillet katsu, a loin katsu topped with truffle oil and wasabi, and a spicy doenjang (soybean paste) soup, finished without leaving a bite. Hets Jeonpo Branch got someone who always leaves katsu behind to clean the plate, and a return visit is certain.

Written May 15, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYangsan, GyeongnamCafés

River-view bakery café in Hopo, Yangsan with chocolate baguette: Choi

Choi Main Branch (초이) is a bakery café in Hopo, Dong-myeon, Yangsan, Gyeongnam, that reopened under a new name after operating as Hopo's Haewoldang. On a weekday afternoon the writer had a chocolate baguette and a twisted donut with iced Americanos (₩5,000) and took a crookie to go; the chocolate custard in Choi's chocolate baguette was the best they had ever had, and the second-floor window looks out over the river. With a wide range of breads, a big parking lot and plenty of group seating, Choi is a Hopo café made for a slow, relaxed visit.

Written May 19, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGyeongju, GyeongbukRestaurants

Gyeongju Korean restaurant, couple's date & sweet corn jeon: Hwangnam

Hwangnam Dukkebi Restaurant Hwangnam Main Branch is a Korean restaurant on Hwangridan-gil in Gyeongju, known for its long waits. On a rainy day, the writer and her boyfriend got in with a Naver reservation and ordered aged jar kimchi braised ribs for 2 (₩33,800), cauldron-cooked gondeure (Korean thistle) rice with fresh perilla oil, and golden corn jeon (savory pancake). The ribs came off the bone easily and were pleasantly spicy without being hot. Verdict: if you order the braised ribs at Hwangnam Dukkebi, get the gondeure rice and the condensed-milk corn jeon with them.

Written May 27, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYangsan, GyeongnamRestaurants

Chinese restaurant in Yangsan for a rainy weekend lunch: Rohwa

Rohwa is a new Chinese restaurant near Seoksan in Dong-myeon, Yangsan, Gyeongnam. On a rainy weekend lunch, a couple ordered Rohwa's tangsuyuk (sweet and sour pork) set for two, adding a double portion of fried rice and a cream jjamppong (seafood noodle soup). The thin-battered tangsuyuk, smoky fried rice and thick, non-fishy cream jjamppong all came in generous portions. Rohwa is a go-to Chinese restaurant in Seoksan, Yangsan, and it fills up fast on weekends, so arrive early.

Written Oct 27, 2026Sponsored
PlaceBusanjin, BusanRestaurants

Korean pot rice restaurant in Jeonpo, Busan: solo lunch at Hyangtaek

Hyangtaek Jeonpo Branch is a Korean restaurant serving pot rice and rice bowls on Seojeon-ro in Jeonpo, Busanjin-gu, Busan. On a public-holiday lunch, the writer dined alone on Spanish mackerel gondre rice (14,000 won) and a mushroom platter (5,000 won) with gopchang gim seaweed, spicy seasoned jeotgal and gungchae, and found the boneless mackerel and the crispy-edged mushrooms especially satisfying. Hyangtaek is a comfortable, filling choice for a solo lunch in Jeonpo.

Written Jun 6, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYangsan, GyeongnamRestaurants

Yangsan pollack restaurant for a rainy-day date: Yongdeokjang Kodari

Yongdeokjang Kodari Tongdosa Branch is a kodari (semi-dried braised pollack) restaurant near Tongdosa Temple in Habuk-myeon, Yangsan, Gyeongnam. On a rainy weekend, the blogger and her boyfriend shared the small siraegi kodari for 2 at the regular spice level for 40,000 won. It came piled with 3 pollack, dried radish greens from Haenam and chewy mill-made garaetteok (rice cake). With a regular spice level that is not too hot and generous portions, Yongdeokjang Kodari is a filling pollack spot for two.

Written Oct 24, 2026Sponsored
PlaceBusanjin, BusanRestaurants

Tonkatsu lunch with Mom and sister in Jeonpo, Busan: Katsu Kitchen

Katsu Kitchen Premium Jeonpo Main Branch is a tonkatsu (pork cutlet) restaurant on the first floor of the Oksan Tea House building in Jeonpo, Busan. Over a weekend lunch with Mom and sister, the writer shared two Mix Katsu 3 (14,500 won each), one Mix Katsu 4 (15,500 won) and a cold soba (7,500 won), and loved the clean-tasting cheese katsu, the rosy pink tenderloin and the refreshing noodles. For a family lunch where you want to try several cuts at once, Katsu Kitchen's Mix Katsu is a great choice.

Written Jun 13, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSuseong, DaeguRestaurants

Suseong pizzeria, Daegu: pepperoni & cheddar potato halves, Clap Pizza

Clap Pizza Daegu Believe Heritage is a pizzeria on Deuran-ro in Suseong, Daegu, that shares its dining space with Downtowner. Dining in, the writer had a Regular pepperoni and cheddar potato half-and-half for ₩22,100, ragu pasta for ₩9,000, a corn salad and a soda, and especially enjoyed the generously topped pizza and the rich oven-baked ragu pasta. For the low price, Clap Pizza tastes better than expected and is worth recommending to anyone looking for pizza in Suseong, Daegu.

Written Jun 17, 2026Sponsored