Cup and Plate Wanderer · 40 stories

Cup & Plate by the Harbor

Writes about restaurants and cafés visited around Busan and Gyeongnam. · Writes about: Restaurants · Cafés · Bars · Things to do · Hair & beauty salons · Stays

PlaceSeocho, SeoulRestaurants

Seocho Station burgers with outlets: medium hanwoo patty at Daily Fix

Daily Fix Seocho Gyodae Branch is a handmade burger restaurant between Seocho Station and Gyodae Station in Seoul, with bar seating for solo diners and a power outlet at every seat. The writer visited Daily Fix alone around 2 p.m. and ordered a hanwoo (Korean beef) patty burger cooked medium, with onion rings and a grapefruit ade, and was very happy with the juicy, satisfyingly chewy patty. When you want a proper beef patty burger on your own at a relaxed pace, Daily Fix Seocho Gyodae Branch is a good choice.

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

Seocho hair salon: thick hippie perm redo and cut at Labree Hair

Labree Hair Seocho National University of Education Branch (라브리헤어 서초교대점) is a hair salon on Seocho-daero 46-gil, near Seocho Station and Gyodae Station in Seoul. The writer's hippie perm had loosened and puffed into a triangular rice-ball shape when blow-dried. After a questionnaire consultation, the head stylist at Labree Hair redid it as a thick hippie perm with a cut, gave a refreshing shampoo, and explained a styling routine that only needs a rough dry at home. Labree Hair Seocho is a satisfying choice for anyone who wants a loose hippie perm reset into thick, tidy curls.

Written Apr 22, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJongno, SeoulRestaurants

Late-night Chinese restaurant in Daehangno, 9pm dim sum: Cheonghwawon

Cheonghwawon Daehangno Branch (청화원 대학로점) is a Chinese restaurant specializing in Taiwanese food on Daemyeong-gil near Hyehwa Station Exit 4 in Jongno, Seoul. Visiting around 9pm and eating on the 1st floor, the writer ordered crystal dumplings (dim sum), yuringi (crispy fried chicken in tangy soy sauce) and beef fried noodles, all cooked to order and still crisp and chewy despite the late hour, with each dish under 20,000 won. For a proper late meal after a play in Daehangno, Cheonghwawon Daehangno Branch is a dependable choice.

Written Apr 22, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeo-gu, BusanCafés

Gelato café by Songdo Cable Car, Busan: croffle & gelato, Gelatosong

Gelatosong Busan Songdo is a gelato café on the Songdo Beach seafront in Seo-gu, Busan, right in front of the Songdo Marine Cable Car ticket office. After a grilled clam dinner in Songdo, the writer had strawberry and rice gelato with a croffle (croissant waffle) and was impressed by the lidded gelato tubs, the chewy texture and the wide drink menu. Gelatosong is an easy dessert stop to pair with a Songdo seaside walk or a cable car ride.

Written Apr 22, 2026Sponsored
PlaceBusanjin, BusanRestaurants

Weekend Jeonpo pasta: white ragù & pistachio jambon, Odd Bird Oliver

Odd Bird Oliver is a pasta and wine restaurant with brown-toned decor on Dongseong-ro 15beon-gil in Jeonpo-dong, Seomyeon, Busan. The writer stopped in with a friend on a weekend when the cafés were all full and had white ragù pasta, pistachio jambon pasta and a 6,000-won fresh-pressed juice; the chewy, wide noodles held the sauce well. Odd Bird Oliver is a solid pick for a date or blind date in Jeonpo when you want good food and atmosphere together.

Written May 12, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeongdong, SeoulCafés

Ttukseom café with big windows: Maska Berry & iced decaf, Notldun

Notldun is a cake and dessert café on Seoulsup 2-gil in Seongdong, Seoul, right in the middle of the Ttukseom and Seoulsup café streets. The writer, a regular, stopped by with friends on a weekend afternoon after a walk in Seoulsup and had the Maska Berry cake topped with blueberries and an iced decaf Americano. The cream was not heavy and the decaf coffee still tasted nutty, so Notldun is worth recommending for dessert and coffee in a calm, classic setting.

Written May 19, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeongdong, SeoulRestaurants

Solo lunch at a Seongsu Station burger joint: wasabi shrimp, bd Burger

bd Burger Seongsu (bd버거 성수) is a handmade burger shop on the 2nd floor of Seongsui-ro 14-gil in Seongdong-gu, Seoul, near Seongsu Station. On a solo Friday lunch, the writer ordered bd Burger's signature wasabi shrimp burger and swapped the regular fries for butter garlic fries; the shrimp kept its bite and the sauce was generous. Verdict: bd Burger Seongsu is a calm handmade burger spot near Seongsu Station that works well for eating alone.

Written May 19, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGyeongju, GyeongbukRestaurants

Gyeongju pot rice near Hwangnidan-gil: freshwater eel lunch, Handa Sot

Handa Sot Gyeongju (한다솥 경주점) is a Korean restaurant specializing in pot rice (sotbap) and kiln-grilled dishes on Cheomseong-ro, near Hwangnidan-gil in Gyeongju. The writer stopped for a freshwater eel pot rice lunch during a Hwangnidan-gil walk and ordered an extra bowl of rice without realizing that pot rice comes with every main dish; the extra bowl arrived mixed with black rice. For eel lovers, Handa Sot Gyeongju's freshwater eel pot rice is a filling Hwangnidan-gil lunch with no fishy smell.

Written May 21, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGyeongju, GyeongbukCafés

Gyeongju takeout mochi: kalahyang & red kiwi souvenir set, Tareudang

Tareudang (타르당) is a takeout-only fruit mochi and tart dessert shop on Hwangridan-gil in Gyeongju, Gyeongbuk. The writer took home a 4-piece set of the day's mochi (kalahyang, a Korean mandarin, plus pineapple, red kiwi and strawberry) for 20,000 won and ate it back at the lodging. The whole fruit, lightly sweet and nutty cream, and chewy mochi brought from the rice mill that morning made Tareudang's fruit mochi the most satisfying Gyeongju souvenir the writer has bought so far.

Written May 20, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJung-gu, BusanRestaurants

Salt-grilled beef tripe in Nampo, Busan, no gamy smell: Hongganae

Hongganae Yanggopchang (홍가네양곱창) is a beef tripe (yanggopchang) restaurant in the Jagalchi and Nampo area of Jung-gu, Busan. On a weekday evening, two people shared 2 portions of salt-grilled tripe and snowflake cheese fried rice (12,000 won), with staff grilling the tripe to the end, refillable side dishes and a stone-pot fried rice loaded with cheese. Even a friend with a sensitive nose agreed that Hongganae Yanggopchang's tripe has no gamy smell.

Written May 26, 2026Sponsored
PlaceBusanjin, BusanRestaurants

Candle-warmed beef shank suyuk for one in Seomyeon: Gang Galbitang

Gang Galbitang Seomyeon (강갈비탕 서면) is a beef rib soup restaurant on Saessak-ro in Seomyeon, Busan, with bar seating that makes eating alone easy. On a weekday visit after the lunch rush, the writer ordered the arongsatae suyuk (boiled beef shank) at Gang Galbitang, set over a candle that kept it warm to the last bite, with tender meat and no gamey smell. For a hearty solo meat meal in Seomyeon, Gang Galbitang Seomyeon is a place worth returning to.

Written May 28, 2026Sponsored
PlaceBusanjin, BusanRestaurants

Beef house in Seomyeon, Busan: chive oxtail stew for two at Sojay

Sojay Busan Seomyeon (소제이 부산서면점) is a retro-style beef restaurant on Seomyeon 1-beon-ga in Busan, just behind the back gate of Lotte Department Store. Visiting as a pair, the writer ordered the taster-size chive oxtail stew with extra noodles, doenjang sul-bap (soybean-paste soup with rice) and 2 servings of beef, and especially liked the yukhoe (seasoned raw beef) and radish salad that come as standard sides, plus staff grilling the meat from start to finish. Thanks to friendly service even when busy, Sojay Busan Seomyeon is the Seomyeon beef spot the writer keeps returning to with friends.

Written Jun 1, 2026Sponsored