Loose Stitch Roamer · 6 stories

Loose Thread, Around Korea

Writes about bars, cafes, restaurants, stays, beauty spots and shopping streets across Seoul, Busan/Gyeongnam, Daejeon/Chungcheong, Gyeonggi, Incheon and Gangwon. · Writes about: Bars · Restaurants · Cafés · Stays · Hair & beauty salons · Things to do · Shopping

PlaceSuyeong, BusanRestaurants

Busan shellfish grill in Gwangalli with Gwangan Bridge views: Josaeho

Josaeho Gwangalli Main Branch (조새호 광안리본점) is a grilled shellfish restaurant on the 2nd floor of a building right in front of Gwangalli Beach in Suyeong, Busan. Two people ordered the 4-tier grilled shellfish set (80,000 won) and grilled scallops, hard clams, pen shells and abalone at a window seat overlooking Gwangan Bridge at night, with rabokki (ramen and rice cakes in spicy sauce), clam soup, fried flounder and corn cheese included. Josaeho is worth recommending in Gwangalli if you want the Gwangan Bridge view, good flavor and good value together.

Written Jul 3, 2026Sponsored
PlaceHaeundae, BusanCafés

Rainy-day tea café in Songjeong, Busan: Dalbodeure box, Suwolgyeonghwa

Suwolgyeonghwa is an ocean-view traditional tea café on the 4th floor of a building facing Songjeong Beach in Haeundae, Busan, near the Songjeong station of the Beach Train. On a rainy, overcast day the writer explored Suwolgyeonghwa's mirror-staircase photo spot, a tea-leaf sniffing corner and a gift-set display room. The writer then ordered the Dalbodeure box (13,000 won), chestnut sikhye, a sweet rice drink (8,000 won), and Hyeonwol Hoji tea (8,500 won). With the Beach Train passing the windows and Korean-style desserts on the table, Suwolgyeonghwa was a satisfying café even in gloomy weather.

Written Jul 4, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulHair & beauty salons

Apgujeong Rodeo salon root dye + toning to blend a reddish join: Biorn

Biorn Hair Apgujeong Rodeo (비오른헤어 압구정로데오점) is a hair salon on the 3rd floor of a building, a 5-minute walk from Apgujeongnodeo Station in Gangnam, Seoul. With badly damaged hair, the writer chose a root dye at Biorn Hair instead of a full dye, and the reddish section where new and old color meet was toned to match. Biorn Hair's root dye plus toning suits anyone who wants to limit damage while keeping the color looking natural and continuous.

Written Jul 16, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeocho, SeoulRestaurants

Korean BBQ lunch by Sinsa Station, fresh pork kimchi stew: Sansol

Sansol Sinsa Main Branch (산솔 신사본점) is an aged-pork Korean BBQ restaurant in Seocho, Seoul, a 3-minute walk from Sinsa Station, with free corkage. Two of us arrived as the first customers at lunch opening and shared the San Assortment for 2–3 people (56,000 won) and the limited fresh pork kimchi stew (9,000 won), while staff grilled the pork belly, pork neck and kkodeulsal (a chewy pork cut) for us. Thanks to downdraft ducts, the smell doesn't cling to your clothes, making Sansol Sinsa Main Branch an easy stop whenever you're craving pork belly.

Written Jul 31, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulRestaurants

Neon-lit basement tteokbokki and fritters in Sinsa: Mil Tteok Factory

Mil Tteok Factory Main Branch (밀떡팩토리 본점) is an instant tteokbokki restaurant on basement level 1 of the Seongmi Building on Garosu-gil in Gangnam, Seoul, a 7-minute walk from Sinsa Station. At Mil Tteok Factory, the writer ordered brisket tteokbokki (M) for ₩20,000, handmade crispy fritters for ₩10,000 and 3 fritters as a topping, and ate the smoky brisket with the jjolmyeon (chewy wheat noodles) and ramen that come included. With concrete walls and neon signs that feel more like a bar than a snack shop, Mil Tteok Factory is a good choice for instant tteokbokki with atmosphere.

Written Aug 3, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJung-gu, SeoulRestaurants

Euljiro 3-ga Daegu makchang, Friday 6pm booking, no wait: Baegyeom

Baegyeom Makchang Euljiro Main Branch (백염막창 을지로본점) is a Daegu-style makchang (grilled pork intestine) restaurant a 5-minute walk from Euljiro 3-ga Station in Jung-gu, Seoul. A Friday 6pm reservation got three of us in with no wait, and we had 3 servings of Daegu makchang for ₩51,000, jeotgal (salted seafood) fried rice for ₩9,000 and 1 serving of seasoned makchang for ₩18,000. The plump makchang dipped in homemade makjang (soybean dipping sauce), paired with the sweet-and-spicy jeotgal fried rice, made Baegyeom Makchang a standout.

Written Aug 7, 2026Sponsored
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