Half Cup Outing · 16 stories

Half Cup, Gyeonggi and Seoul Outings

Writes about restaurants, cafes, bars, and beauty spots she visits around Gyeonggi and Seoul. · Writes about: Restaurants · Hair & beauty salons · Cafés · Bars

PlaceYeongdeungpo, SeoulRestaurants

Seoul Korean BBQ date after cherry blossoms in Yeouido: Yuk Lab

Yuk Lab Yeouido is a charcoal-grilled beef Korean BBQ restaurant with all private rooms, on the 2nd floor of Yeouido Jonghap Sangga (Yeouido Shopping Complex) right outside Exit 5 of Yeouido Station in Seoul. After cherry blossom viewing on the way home from work, the writer and her boyfriend ordered the 2-person Yuk Lab set (67,000 won) with jingalbisal (beef rib finger meat), lamb ribs, marinated galbi (short ribs), grilling cheese and stew. Yuk Lab Yeouido suits a Yeouido date or get-together for anyone wanting good-value beef in a quiet private room.

Written Jun 14, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeongnam, GyeonggiBars

Seongnam pub for drivers: beef shank hot pot & mala shrimp at Hwieol

Hwieol Migeum Branch is a Korean gastropub in Gumi-dong, Bundang, Seongnam, tucked down an alley about a 5-minute walk from Exit 4 of Migeum Station. The writer shared the signature set of arongsatae suyuk jeongol (boiled beef shank hot pot) and mala cream shrimp for two, and because they had driven, they ordered soft drinks instead of alcohol, which came ice-cold in frosted glasses. With its quiet atmosphere and well-made dishes, Hwieol Migeum Branch is a Migeum Station bar worth recommending for a date or a night out with friends.

Written Jun 14, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulRestaurants

Yeoksam eel restaurant: lunch bento, then hitsumabushi for two, Chisot

Chisot Yeoksam Main Branch is a Nagoya-style eel rice (hitsumabushi) restaurant on a hillside alley near Exit 7 of Yeoksam Station in Gangnam, Seoul. After a weekday lunch of unagi bento priced in the mid-₩10,000s, the writer returned to Chisot for dinner with her husband, ordered two sang-size hitsumabushi, tried all three ways of eating it, used the self-serve refill bar and got free marinated salmon through the review event. Smoky, chewy eel and a tare sauce that isn't too sweet made Chisot Yeoksam Main Branch a satisfying stamina dinner for the couple.

Written Jun 17, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeongnam, GyeonggiBars

Two-floor izakaya at Migeum Station for a couple's date night: Harudo

Harudo (하루도) is an aged-sashimi izakaya in the restaurant alley near Exit 2 of Migeum Station in Bundang-gu, Seongnam, Gyeonggi. On a dinner-and-drinks date with her husband, the writer ordered two highballs and the medium 48-hour aged assorted sashimi platter (10 kinds, 20 pieces, 37,000 won), and loved the chewy flounder, the melt-in-the-mouth salmon and the DIY sushi made with seaweed and vinegared rice. For a quiet bar near Migeum Station with food that delivers, Harudo is well worth recommending.

Written Jun 17, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulRestaurants

Burger and sandwich shop near Gangnam Station after work: Wit N Meat

Wit N Meat Gangnam (위트앤미트 강남점) is a handmade burger and sandwich shop on the ground floor of a side street between Sinnonhyeon Station and Gangnam Station in Seoul. After work with a friend, the writer ordered the signature Almighty Burger set and a basil arugula jambon-beurre (ham and butter baguette sandwich), and named the jambon-beurre as the favorite. With a juicy burger and chipotle fries topped with cheese sauce, the verdict on Wit N Meat Gangnam is a 200% chance of returning.

Written Jun 29, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeongnam, GyeonggiHair & beauty salons

Bundang aroma massage shop: foot check finds uneven legs at Terra

Terra is a private one-on-one aroma massage shop in the Daemyeong Zest arcade on Naejeong-ro, Bundang-gu, Seongnam, near Sunae Station. The writer, who has tried more than 10 massage shops, went through an intake form, jujube tea, an EMS foot bath and a foot check before a 90-minute, 100% hands-on dry massage at Terra, with pressure set differently on each side for uneven legs, and left with noticeably lighter shoulders. For anyone who wants thorough, tailored care, Terra is a Bundang massage shop worth trusting.

Written Jun 29, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeongnam, GyeonggiRestaurants

Seohyeon rib stew spot: owner's seaweed-sprout wraps, Gimcheongja

Gimcheongja Maeun Galbijjim Seohyeon Station Branch (김청자매운갈비찜 서현역점) is a spicy galbijjim (braised short rib stew) restaurant on the 2nd floor of a building near Exit 4 of Seohyeon Station in Seongnam, Gyeonggi. For a weekend lunch with her husband, the writer ordered 2 servings of medium-spicy beef rib stew, steamed egg and a 2,000 won flat glass noodle add-on, and especially loved the deep garlicky heat, the tender meat and the owner's recommended seaweed and bean sprout wraps. Verdict: Gimcheongja Maeun Galbijjim Seohyeon Station Branch is a satisfying pick for a hearty, spicy Korean lunch date.

Written Jun 29, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYongsan, SeoulRestaurants

Itaewon brunch restaurant before Graphic manga café opens: Ongfleur

Ongfleur Namsan (옹플뢰르 남산) is a Normandy-inspired French brunch restaurant on Hoenamu-ro in Itaewon, Yongsan, Seoul. The writer booked a 10:30am weekend table on Naver and shared a smoked salmon eggs Benedict brunch, a brioche French toast brunch and 2 iced Americanos with a friend. The pair then made it to the opening of the manga café Graphic Itaewon. Ongfleur Namsan is a filling weekend-morning brunch stop before a Graphic Itaewon opening run.

Written Jul 19, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYongin, GyeonggiRestaurants

Gogi-dong shabu-kalguksu: soy-wasabi-chili sauce ratio, Yun Ujae

Yun Ujae Shabu Kalguksu Gogidong Branch (윤우재 고기리샤브 칼국수) is a shabu-kalguksu (shabu-shabu with knife-cut noodle soup) restaurant in Gogi-dong, Suji-gu, Yongin, near Dongcheon-dong. Over a spicy shabu-kalguksu for 2 (11,500 won per person) and a crispy seafood pajeon (16,000 won), the writer mixed the house dipping sauce at 2 parts soy sauce to 1 part wasabi plus minced hot chili paste, wrapped meat and vegetables in flat kalguksu noodles and finished with fried rice. With its spicy bone broth, two kinds of house-made noodles, crunchy pajeon and a large parking lot, Yun Ujae is an easy pick for a family meal or a date.

Written Jul 26, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeongnam, GyeonggiHair & beauty salons

Pre-wedding acne facial for dehydrated skin in Bundang: Stern Clinic

Stern Clinic is a skin care clinic near Sunae Station in Bundang, Seongnam. During her pre-wedding skin care, a bride-to-be in her 20s got a skin age in the 30s from the clinic's skin diagnosis. She learned her acne came from inner dryness rather than oil, then had the Extreme Super Lipid facial in a 1:1 private room. Thanks to a consultation of nearly 30 minutes, a custom ampoule mixed into gel for her first session, and home-care samples that covered her cleansing habits, she rated Stern Clinic the most satisfying of all the skin care centers she has visited.

Written Aug 1, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeongnam, GyeonggiRestaurants

Migeum Station noodle house, sharing perilla and bibim bowls: Samiri

Samiri Makguksu Migeum Branch (삼미리막국수 미금점) is a makguksu (buckwheat noodle) restaurant on the 1st floor of The Plaza near Migeum Station in Bundang-gu, Seongnam. Two diners shared one perilla oil makguksu and one bibim makguksu at ₩12,000 each, ₩24,000 in total, and even for a fan of spicy food the nutty, non-greasy perilla oil makguksu came out on top. At Samiri Makguksu Migeum Branch, always order the perilla oil makguksu, and as a pair, adding a bibim makguksu is the most satisfying combo.

Written Oct 4, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeongnam, GyeonggiRestaurants

Mexican restaurant in Jeongja-dong for a wedding invite meetup: Elato

Elato Bundang is a Mexican restaurant on a side street in Jeongja-dong, Bundang-gu, Seongnam. The writer ordered the fajitas for two (39,000 won) and a cola, and the meat itself stood out more than the sauces; tortillas, sauces and salad (but not the meat) were refilled on request. With a relaxed atmosphere, friendly staff and parking right out front, Elato Bundang is a solid choice for a date or a wedding invitation meetup.

Written Oct 3, 2026Sponsored