Windowsill Hand Cream · 15 stories

By the Hand Cream Window

I write about beauty products I use and notice in everyday life. · Writes about: Beauty products · Restaurants · Cafés · Hair & beauty salons

PlaceMapo, SeoulHair & beauty salons

Hapjeong hair salon bleached-hair bangs + root volume perm: Pieum Hair

Pieum Hair Hapjeong Main Branch is a long-established hair salon with many regulars, right outside Exit 7 of Hapjeong Station in Mapo, Seoul. Because her hair was damaged from bleaching and dyeing, the writer was honestly told that a layered perm would do a lot of damage, so Pieum Hair gave her an iron root volume perm and a bangs perm instead, taking about 3 hours 30 minutes. The perm still looked good after she washed and styled it herself the next day, so Pieum Hair Hapjeong Main Branch is recommended if you want hair you like even at home.

Written Apr 22, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulRestaurants

Sangam gyukatsu solo lunch: onsen egg then curry dip, Izawa Sangam

Izawa Sangam is a two-floor gyukatsu (breaded beef cutlet) restaurant near Digital Media City Station in Sangam-dong, Mapo, Seoul. The writer went alone at 12:50 on a weekday, sat on the second floor and ordered one gyukatsu set with onsen tamago (soft-cooked egg) and curry as sides. The cutlet tasted best dipped in the onsen egg and then the curry rather than in the basic sauces. Verdict: Izawa Sangam is easy for a solo lunch once the peak has passed, and the onsen egg and curry combination is well worth ordering.

Written Apr 25, 2026Sponsored
PlaceBupyeong, IncheonRestaurants

Pho restaurant in Bupyeong: eye of round pho & combo set, Viet Table

Viet Table Incheon Samsan Flagship is a Vietnamese restaurant on Gilju-ro in Bupyeong, Incheon, on the 3rd floor of the Lotte Mart building (Richiano), open since 2016. On a solo weekday lunch, the writer had a regular bowl of Viet pho with hongdudkkae (beef eye of round) and the Viet combo set of shrimp rolls and chicken drumettes (10 pieces, 16,000 won). The pho was clean-tasting with tender beef, and the drumettes had no gamey smell. With roomy group seating and toddler seats, Viet Table is a Bupyeong pho spot that suits dates, company dinners and family gatherings alike.

Written Apr 26, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJung-gu, SeoulRestaurants

Gyukatsu at Seoul Station: two cuts dipped in mini curry, Ichigyu

Ichigyu Seoul Station Branch (이치규 서울역점) is a Japanese gyukatsu (breaded beef cutlet) restaurant on B1 of the LG Seoul Station Building, right outside Seoul Station Exit 10 in Jung-gu, Seoul. The writer ordered the restaurant's recommended tenderloin gyukatsu and striploin gyukatsu with a side of mini curry and a Coke Zero. The tenderloin was tender and the striploin had a deeper beef flavor, so the two cuts were clearly different. For a filling, easygoing lunch or a quiet date meal near Seoul Station, the tenderloin-and-striploin combo at Ichigyu Seoul Station Branch is a good fit.

Written Apr 29, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangseo, SeoulRestaurants

Deungchon tofu restaurant solo lunch: rich cheonggukjang, Maetdolroman

Maetdolroman Deungchon Branch is a tofu-focused Korean restaurant in Gangseo, Seoul, near Yangcheonhyanggyo Station and Seoul Botanic Garden. A tofu lover went back for a solo lunch of rich, not-watery cheonggukjang (fermented soybean stew) and braised tofu packed with filling. The meal came with unlimited self-serve sundubu (soft tofu), dessert coffee and free biji (soy pulp). For mild, homestyle Korean food, Maetdolroman Deungchon Branch is a good-value lunch pick.

Written May 15, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGimpo, GyeonggiRestaurants

Gimpo Korean restaurant with cheonggukjang set for two: Bomseol Gimpo

Bomseol Gimpo (formerly Hansik Gonggan On, 한식공간 온) is a Korean set-meal restaurant on Geomdan-ro in Gimpo, Gyeonggi, right next to Positive Space 566 Bakery. On a late weekday lunch the blogger ordered the health set for 2 plus stone pot rice, which came with cheonggukjang (fermented soybean stew), braised fish and neat, lightly seasoned side dishes that sat easy on the stomach. Bomseol Gimpo is a good pick for anyone after a mild, clean Korean meal and for family gatherings with older relatives.

Written May 16, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJung-gu, SeoulRestaurants

Deoksugung kalguksu: mild gom broth and melon bean bibim, Tanbaek

Tanbaek is a kalguksu (knife-cut noodle) restaurant on Jeongdong-gil by Deoksugung Palace in Jung-gu, Seoul. The order was Tanbaek's signature gom kalguksu with its subtle, deep and mild broth, a summer-only bean bibim kalguksu topped with Sangju Korean melon and black sesame, palm-sized spicy Seoul-style kimchi dumplings (2 for ₩5,000) and mushroom rice. If you love the mild taste of Pyongyang naengmyeon, Tanbaek's gom kalguksu is well worth ordering.

Written May 18, 2026Sponsored
PlacePaju, GyeonggiRestaurants

Paju ssambap restaurant, mild sides and melt-soft squid: Simhaksan

Simhaksan Deulkkot Ssambap (심학산 들꽃쌈밥) is a ssambap (leaf-wrap rice) and hanjeongsik (Korean set meal) restaurant on Dolgoji-gil at the foot of Simhaksan in Paju, Gyeonggi. The writer visited Simhaksan Deulkkot Ssambap without high expectations and ate doenjang stew kept warm on an induction burner to the last spoonful, mild side dishes, tender spicy pork and squid stir-fries, and stone pot rice finished as sungnyung (scorched rice tea), with sets at 20,000 and 26,000 won. For mild side dishes and easy parking near Simhaksan, Simhaksan Deulkkot Ssambap is better than expected.

Written Oct 31, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYangcheon, SeoulCafés

Mokdong bakery with milk jam salt bread, carrot rapée: Yours Bake Shop

Yours Bake Shop Mokdong Main Branch is a bakery in a back alley behind Mokdong Apartment Complex 1 in Yangcheon-gu, Seoul, known for egg tarts that reportedly sell about 10,000 a month. The blogger visited around 2 p.m. on a weekday, bought a carrot rapée sandwich, milk jam salt bread, plain salt bread, chewy olive bread and an egg tart gift box, and found every item well balanced. Yours Bake Shop Mokdong Main Branch does both pastry and bread well and became the blogger's all-time favorite bakery in Seoul.

Written May 26, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGimpo, GyeonggiRestaurants

Gimpo hanwoo restaurant: 3-person set with my parents at Grand Hanwoo

Grand Hanwoo Gimpo Main Branch (그랑한우 김포본점) is a premium aged hanwoo (Korean beef) restaurant on the 2nd floor of the Pine Star building in Geolpo-dong, Gimpo. After an earlier visit she enjoyed, the writer returned with her parents in a private room. They ordered the Grand Hanwoo 3-person set (tenderloin, sirloin and skirt steak, with sea urchin yukhoe), plus extra sirloin, doenjang jjigae (soybean paste stew), mul-naengmyeon (cold noodles) and gyeran-jjim (steamed egg). The beef and side dishes such as radish, japchae (glass noodles) and mul-kimchi were all tasty, and 3 hours of parking is provided, making Grand Hanwoo Gimpo Main Branch a place worth recommending for treating your parents to a meal.

Written May 20, 2026Sponsored
PlaceDongjak, SeoulRestaurants

Noryangjin rice bowl spot: overflowing salmon bowl set, Gyudongjip

Gyudongjip Noryangjin Main Branch (규동집 노량진본점) is a Japanese rice bowl (donburi) restaurant on Manyang-ro 14ga-gil in Noryangjin, Dongjak-gu, Seoul. On a weekday visit after 6 p.m., the writer ordered a salmon bowl set with mini cold soba and a chashu-don set, added extra chashu and a poached egg, and found the toppings overflowing, with the salmon and the chashu tasting clean, free of any fishiness or greasiness. Gyudongjip Noryangjin Main Branch offers generous portions and real care for the price, making it good value for money and a satisfying meal.

Written May 29, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangseo, SeoulCafés

Seoul Botanic Park café: floral americano & brûlée French toast, Pict

Pict Roastery Magongnaru Branch is a specialty coffee shop that roasts its own beans, on the 2nd floor of the Castle Park building at Magongnaru Station near Seoul Botanic Park in Gangseo, Seoul. The order was aged French toast, a floral iced americano and an iced Wedding Imperial tea, and dine-in customers get one americano refill that can switch between the floral and choconut beans. Pict Roastery Magongnaru Branch is a strong pick if you want bright, flower-scented coffee with a sugar-crusted French toast.

Written Jun 3, 2026Sponsored