Dim Mirror Stroller · 18 stories

Dim Mirror, Seoul and Incheon Nights

Writes about bars, restaurants, and beauty spots across Seoul, Incheon, and Gyeonggi. · Writes about: Bars · Restaurants · Hair & beauty salons

PlaceGangnam, SeoulHair & beauty salons

Sinnonhyeon hair salon Shiseido reforming for perm curls: Park Jun

Park Jun Beauty Lab Gangnam Branch is a hair salon on the 2nd floor of a building a 1-minute walk from Sinnonhyeon Station in Gangnam, Seoul. To keep permed curls from getting lost in dry, frizzy hair, the writer had senior deputy director Yuni do the reforming program, the highest level of Shiseido Salon Solution's clinic treatments, followed by a blow-dry and C-curl styling, and the hair came out soft enough to run a hand through without catching. Park Jun Beauty Lab Gangnam Branch is worth considering if you want a salon near Sinnonhyeon Station for regular care of permed hair.

Written Jun 12, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeocho, SeoulBars

Jazz bar near Sinnonhyeon Station: Kim Taeseon Quintet live, Flat Nine

Flat Nine is a jazz bar on the 5th floor of a building between Gangnam Station and Sinnonhyeon Station in Seoul, serving Western-style course dinners with live jazz. At Flat Nine the writer had the classic course for two with white ragu pasta (4,000 won extra), a Gin Fizz and the signature Flat Nine cocktail, and caught the Kim Taeseon Quintet's 8pm set. With an upscale setting, a tasty course and top-notch musicians, Flat Nine works for a date or a solo night out.

Written Jun 21, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulRestaurants

Yeoksam eel restaurant: tired-day solo hitsumabushi 4 ways, Chisot

Chisot Yeoksam Main Branch is a Nagoya-style eel rice bowl (hitsumabushi) restaurant a 6-minute walk from Yeoksam Station Exit 7 in Gangnam, Seoul. After a draining day at work, the writer went alone, ate the largest size, the deluxe (teuksang) hitsumabushi, four different ways, and added a mini salmon salad from the restaurant's review event. The plump, smoky charcoal-grilled eel finished with ochazuke broth made Chisot Yeoksam Main Branch a satisfying solo comfort meal.

Written Jun 25, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulRestaurants

Yeoksam Station LA galbi: icy galbi-broth acorn jelly soup, Raviok

Raviok Yeoksam Main Branch is an LA galbi (marinated Korean short rib) restaurant near Exit 6 of Yeoksam Station in Gangnam, Seoul. On a coworker's recommendation, the writer visited Raviok on a weekend and ordered 2 servings of marinated snow-flake jingalbi, limited to 30 servings. Sides were icy acorn jelly soup topped with shaved frozen LA galbi broth, spicy doenjang sulbap (rice in soybean-paste stew) and truffle egg custard. With a subtle, not-too-sweet marinade and staff grilling at the table, Raviok Yeoksam Main Branch is worth returning to for work dinners and group gatherings near Yeoksam Station.

Written Jul 2, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulHair & beauty salons

Apgujeong Rodeo salon keratin for heat-damaged semi-curly hair: Biorn

Biorn Hair Apgujeong Rodeo (비오른헤어) is a hair salon in Gangnam, Seoul, a 1-minute walk from Apgujeongnodeo Station Exit 5. The writer's semi-curly hair had turned dry and frizzy from frequent perms and flat irons, so she booked the Inner Keratin clinic at Biorn Hair, which included moisture protein, a coating, a shampoo in a massage chair and a C-curl blow-dry. After the Inner Keratin clinic at Biorn Hair, her hair felt so soft and silky that it slipped through her fingers.

Written Jun 29, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulRestaurants

Hakdong Station Italian buyout, Kalamata focaccia: Osteria Lucia

Osteria Lucia is an Italian restaurant in Gangnam, Seoul, near Exit 3 of Hakdong Station, run by a chef with a background at a three-Michelin-star restaurant. The writer looked into Osteria Lucia's private room, group table for up to 18 and full-venue buyout for up to 56, then tried the focaccia, burrata, signature bottarga pasta and mushroom risotto. Verdict: Osteria Lucia is a strong Hakdong Station pick for special group occasions like company dinners, wedding-invitation gatherings and family get-togethers.

Written Jul 13, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeongnam, GyeonggiRestaurants

Hanwoo omakase in Pangyo with a truffle tenderloin add-on: Uhwa

Uhwa Pangyo Avenue France (우화) is a hanwoo (Korean beef) omakase restaurant on the 2nd floor of Avenue France near Exit 1 of Pangyo Station in Seongnam, Gyeonggi. At the first seating, which starts at 5:30 pm, the writer added truffle to the grilled tenderloin for 20,000 won per person. The course ran through grilled tenderloin, flat iron and hanger steak, beef brisket steamed in a cypress steamer, dried-greens pot rice, a hanwoo cheeseburger and panna cotta. With its flavor, plating and a candle surprise, Uhwa is a Pangyo hanwoo omakase worth returning to for an anniversary or a date.

Written Jul 12, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeongnam, GyeonggiRestaurants

Japanese omakase in Pangyo to celebrate a company move: Kkweda

Kkweda Pangyo Avenue France Branch is a seasonal fusion Japanese omakase restaurant on the first floor of Hoban Summit Place in Pangyo, Seongnam. To celebrate the company's move to Pangyo, the writer had the summer dinner course (75,000 won per person) with a hanwoo uni maki add-on, and even as a vegetable-hater enjoyed the grilled vegetable salad, a sign of how well Kkweda uses seasonal ingredients. With its calm, tidy atmosphere, Kkweda Pangyo Avenue France Branch is a Pangyo omakase worth recommending for anniversaries, dates and family meals.

Written Jul 16, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulRestaurants

Coworker-picked sauce sushi in Seolleung: egg shrimp, Sushi Maiu

Sushi Maiu Seolleung Station Branch (스시마이우 선릉역점) is a conveyor-belt sushi restaurant a 2-minute walk from Seolleung Station in Gangnam, Seoul. On a coworker's recommendation, the writer ate solo and focused on sauce-topped sushi, ordering 7 kinds: egg shrimp, garlic shrimp, salmon belly, wagyu, salmon aburi, salmon with onion, and aged kimchi with fresh raw fish. At Sushi Maiu Seolleung Station Branch, the garlic-sauce egg shrimp and the torch-seared salmon aburi are must-orders.

Written Jun 28, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulRestaurants

Seoul Korean BBQ near Posco Intersection: 400g black beef at Hwaseol

Hwaseol Seolleung Direct Branch (화설 선릉직영점) is a beef and pork Korean BBQ restaurant with a Grand Canyon campsite theme near Seolleung Station and the Posco Intersection in Gangnam, Seoul. The writer had the Hwaseol 1% black beef platter (400g) with the complimentary doenjang stew (soybean paste stew) and brown rice, then took a free coffee to go. With good-quality meat and free corkage, Hwaseol Seolleung Direct Branch is a strong pick for group dinners with wine.

Written Jul 23, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulRestaurants

Apgujeong party room restaurant and abalone risotto: Osteria Eden

Osteria Eden is a large Italian brunch restaurant on Seolleung-ro 152-gil in Gangnam, Seoul, a 10-minute walk from Apgujeongnodeo Station. On a holiday visit, the writer had truffle cheese wheel tagliatelle, live Wando abalone risotto and hallabong (Jeju citrus) juice, and looked around Osteria Eden's terrace with floor-to-ceiling windows, group seating, private party room and central photo zone. Osteria Eden is a good fit for birthday parties, group gatherings and special-occasion dates.

Written Jul 20, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSongpa, SeoulRestaurants

Garak Market beef offal grill, early Monday dinner: Midang Hanwoo

Midang Hanwoo Gopchang (미당한우곱창) is a Korean beef offal grill restaurant in the Garak Market food alley in Songpa, Seoul. On an early Monday evening the writer ordered the special Hanwoo gopchang grill set and kkakdugi (radish kimchi) fried rice; staff grilled all six cuts at the table, the offal was fresh with no gamy smell, and Midang Hanwoo Gopchang was nearly full by the time they left. With same-day-slaughtered Hanwoo beef, a clean dining room and friendly service, Midang Hanwoo Gopchang is a gopchang spot at Garak Market that gets everything right.

Written Jul 22, 2026Sponsored