Texture Diarist · 25 stories

How It Feels

I share impressions of products I’ve tried in Gyeonggi. · Writes about: Shopping · Cafés · Things to do · Restaurants · Hair & beauty salons · Beauty products · Bars · Food & snacks

PlaceNamyangju, GyeonggiCafés

Namyangju river café, raspberry Yogurt Delight: Waltz and Dr. Mahn

Waltz and Dr. Mahn (왈츠와 닥터만) is a large café overlooking the Bukhangang River on Bukhangang-ro in Joan-myeon, Namyangju, Gyeonggi. On a third visit to Waltz and Dr. Mahn, the writer ordered a Yogurt Delight Raspberry (₩16,000), a decaf Americano (₩16,000) and a seasonal fruit cheesecake (₩9,000), and took in the river view through floor-to-ceiling windows and the antique interior. For river views with a classic atmosphere near Dumulmeori, Waltz and Dr. Mahn is worth coming back to.

Written Nov 15, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGapyeong, GyeonggiShopping

Cheongpyeong butcher: wagyu & curry sausages for BBQ, Ari Chuksan

Ari Chuksan (아리축산) is a butcher shop on Gangbyeon-ro in Cheongpyeong, Gapyeong, Gyeonggi, selling hanwoo (Korean beef), Korean pork and wagyu. For a pension BBQ in Gapyeong, the writer bought 290g of Australian wagyu ribeye for 16,760 won, 328g of fresh Korean pork neck for 8,460 won, curry-flavored combo grill sausages and king oyster mushrooms, and got hanwoo sinew free. Verdict: Ari Chuksan sells both the meat and the sides, which made shopping for a Cheongpyeong pension BBQ easy.

Written Nov 13, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGapyeong, GyeonggiRestaurants

Cheongpyeong Italian restaurant: cheese & pepperoni pizza, Delssiel-ro

Delssiel-ro Gapyeong Cheongpyeong Main Branch (델씨엘로) is a wood-fired pizza Italian restaurant on Gyeongchun-ro in Cheongpyeong, Gapyeong, Gyeonggi, reportedly a Blue Ribbon and Red Ribbon winner three years in a row. The writer ordered the Italian cheese pizza (24,000 won), the black pepper pepperoni pizza (30,000 won) and the Elephant yuja (Korean citron) salad (9,000 won), alternating between the mild cheese pizza and the bold pepperoni, and named the Elephant yuja salad a favorite despite disliking yuja. Delssiel-ro is a definite return visit for anyone on a Cheongpyeong day trip who wants authentic Italian-style wood-fired pizza.

Written Nov 11, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGwangjin, SeoulCafés

Gwangjin café: fig pistachio pavlova & hot flat white, Center Coffee

Center Coffee Guui East Pole is a coffee and dessert café on basement level 1 of a building near Exit 3 of Guui Station in Gwangjin, Seoul. The writer ordered a hot flat white, an iced decaf Americano and a ₩13,000 pavlova loaded with fresh figs. The writer named the pavlova, with its crisp meringue, cream, figs and pistachios, the most memorable item. Verdict: Center Coffee Guui East Pole is a Guui Station café where even people who avoid caffeine can enjoy dessert with a decaf.

Written Nov 4, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGwangjin, SeoulRestaurants

Guui Station Korean BBQ: 4 cuts & kimchi fish cake udon, Ssamchae

Ssamchae Sotttukkeong Samgyeopsal (쌈채솥뚜껑삼겹살) is an iron-lid Korean BBQ restaurant on Jayang-ro in Gwangjin, Seoul, near Guui Station Exit 4. The writer ordered the ₩57,000 iron-lid half set of pork belly, pork neck, pork jowl and pork skin, grilled at the table by staff, with vegetables such as eggplant and sweet pumpkin, plus a kimchi fish cake udon that Ssamchae plans to serve as a winter extra. For anyone who wants to try several cuts at once without doing the grilling, the Ssamchae half set is a good fit.

Written Nov 3, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJung-gu, SeoulRestaurants

Euljiro 3-ga Korean pub, cold-day gamjatang for two: Eulji Baektan

Eulji Baektan Ppyeogui (을지백탄뼈구이) is a Korean pub specializing in grilled pork bones, right outside Exit 11 of Euljiro 3-ga Station in Jung-gu, Seoul. Instead of the bone grill, two diners ordered the gamjatang (spicy pork bone and potato stew) for 39,000 won plus two bowls of rice, and enjoyed the spicy broth loosened with a generous scoop of seasoning paste and the spine bones loaded with lean meat. Eulji Baektan Ppyeogui's gamjatang is a filling choice for two people looking for a hearty soup meal in Euljiro on a cold day.

Written Oct 31, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJung-gu, SeoulRestaurants

Euljiro 3-ga gimbap shop, keto rolls to go with tteokbokki: 29 Tamago

29 Tamago Euljiro Branch is a gimbap shop near Exit 12 of Euljiro 3-ga Station in Jung-gu, Seoul, selling a range of keto gimbap (rice-free seaweed rolls). The writer took home three rolls, keto vegetable (₩9,500), keto crab and keto tuna (₩10,500 each), and ate them with homemade tteokbokki, enjoying the colorful cross-sections, generous fillings and the fun of picking between different flavors. 29 Tamago Euljiro Branch is a good takeout pick when you want unusual gimbap or an easy meal at home.

Written Oct 29, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJongno, SeoulBars

Jongno traditional liquor bar: Songsongju in ceramic, Hibiki at Hanuk

Hanuk is a cocktail bar with a Korean-style interior at B1, 18 Samil-daero 19-gil in Jongno, Seoul, near Jonggak Station. The writer ordered the Gotgam Hansang dried persimmon platter (17,900 won), Songsongju, a 40% Korean traditional liquor served in wadang ceramic (11,000 won), and Hibiki Harmony Japanese whisky (23,000 won), enjoying traditional liquor and whisky at one table. For a calm second-round spot on a Jongno date where conversation comes easily, Hanuk is worth shortlisting.

Written Oct 27, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYeongdeungpo, SeoulBars

Open-grill izakaya at Saetgang Station: ₩40,000 skewer-oden set, Sodam

Robadayakki Sodam Yeouido Branch is a Japanese robatayaki izakaya in Yeongdeungpo, Seoul, a 5-minute walk from Saetgang Station Exit 1. Stopping by for a second round after dinner, the writer ordered the mixed skewer and oden nabe (fish cake hot pot) set for ₩40,000 and added chicken, chicken skin and ginkgo skewers, all grilled with fish on an open grill that gives Robadayakki Sodam a real Japanese feel. Robadayakki Sodam Yeouido Branch is a good second-round pick for grilled skewers and hot broth in one sitting.

Written Oct 25, 2026Sponsored
ProductBoryeongFood & snacks

Dog bronchial supplement taste test: Boryeong Daenggaksan Jeong

Boryeong Daenggaksan Jeong (Boryeong 댕각산 정) is a bronchial and immune supplement for dogs in a lickable churu-style tube, made by the Korean pharmaceutical company Boryeong. The writer received Boryeong Daenggaksan Jeong for review, fed it to their own dog, and checked the ingredients, the daily amount by body weight and the palatability, and the dog ate it without any reluctance. Boryeong Daenggaksan Jeong is a convenient format for owners who struggle to give pills or powders, but it is a supplement, not a medicine.

Written Oct 22, 2026Product provided
ProductBoryeongFood & snacks

Dog bronchial supplement for a 7kg poodle: Boryeong Daenggaksan Hwal

Boryeong Daenggaksan Hwal is a bronchial and vitality supplement for dogs from Boryeong Gyeonsu Healthcare, sold in boxes of 30 sachets of 8g each. The writer fed Boryeong Daenggaksan Hwal to a 4-year-old, 7kg Medium Poodle at the weight-based dose of 2 sachets a day for several days. The poodle ate it without any fuss and seemed a little livelier on walks. Verdict: the taste and ease of feeding were satisfying, but the writer says it is too early to judge the effect.

Written Oct 22, 2026Product provided
PlacePocheon, GyeonggiRestaurants

Hangover soup spot in Naechon, Pocheon for mixed tastes: Brothers

Brothers Yangpyeong Haejangguk Naechon Branch (형제양평해장국 내촌본점) is a hangover soup restaurant on Geumgang-ro in Naechon-myeon, Pocheon, close to Hanlim Gwangneung CC and handy for a meal before or after a round of golf. The writer ordered yanggoptang (beef tripe soup, 13,000 won), offal soup (15,000 won) and a handmade giant pork cutlet (12,000 won); the blood curd in the yanggoptang was soft with no odor, the offal soup was packed with intestines and the pork cutlet was generously sized. With soups and a pork cutlet on one menu, Brothers Yangpyeong Haejangguk is an easy pick for groups with different tastes.

Written Oct 14, 2026Sponsored