Hand Mirror Traveler · 18 stories

Small Mirror, Gyeonggi and Seoul

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

PlaceDongdaemun, SeoulRestaurants

Cheongnyangni sashimi restaurant: spot prawn cold salad, Simdo Hoetjip

Simdo Hoetjip (심도횟집) is a sashimi restaurant in the Cheongnyangni and Jegidong area of Dongdaemun, Seoul, a 2-minute walk from Exit 3 of Jegidong Station. The writer booked a weekend table with her husband and ordered the summer Gujeolhoe naengchae (cold sashimi salad). Following the owner's tip, she wrapped abalone, sea cucumber, shrimp and octopus in wide flounder slices and dipped them in the aged fruit sauce. From the basic spread of seaweed soup and grilled herring to the raw spot prawns, everything at Simdo Hoetjip was fresh, making it a solid pick for a group dinner or family gathering.

Written Jun 8, 2026Sponsored
PlaceDongdaemun, SeoulRestaurants

Jangan-dong Korean BBQ: sand timer grilling & free somyeon, Donbyeorak

Donbyeorak Kimchi Samgyeopsal Jangandong Main Branch is a kimchi pork belly Korean BBQ restaurant in Jangan-dong, Dongdaemun, Seoul, about 4 minutes by car from Janghanpyeong Station. The writer and her husband grilled kimchi pork belly (₩18,000) and kimchi pork jowl (₩21,000) by the sand timer on the table, then had aged Haenam cabbage kimchi, ₩2,000 doenjang stew (soybean paste stew) and cold somyeon noodles. With a spacious renovated dining room and perks for pregnant guests, Donbyeorak is a Jangan-dong pork belly spot where even the kimchi is delicious.

Written Jun 13, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJongno, SeoulRestaurants

Gwanghwamun Chinese: jisi liangmian summer noodles at Bobo Sikdang

Bobo Sikdang Gwanghwamun is a modern Chinese restaurant from Chef Jang Bo-won of Culinary Class Wars 2, on B1 of KT Gwanghwamun Building West near Exit 2 of Gwanghwamun Station in Seoul. Arriving early with no wait, the writer ordered stir-fried pork with peanut sprouts, mapo tofu rice, jisi liangmian (Sichuan-style chicken noodles) and Bobo jakjangmyeon (Chinese-style black bean noodles). The best-selling peanut sprout pork and the summery jisi liangmian stood out. With a spacious, tidy hall, private rooms and 2 hours of free parking, Bobo Sikdang Gwanghwamun is an easy, comfortable choice for Chinese food in Gwanghwamun.

Written Jun 14, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJung-gu, IncheonRestaurants

Post-flight octopus hotpot in Eurwangni, Incheon: Eurwangni Jjanggune

Eurwangni Jjanggune (을왕리짱구네) is an octopus hotpot restaurant in Eurwangni, Jung-gu, Incheon. Straight from Incheon Airport after an overseas trip, the blogger ordered the red octopus hotpot for 2 at the slightly spicy level (30,000 won per person) and finished with fried rice; the live octopus, caught from the tank, was springy and the broth about as hot as Shin Ramyun. For a spicy, restorative broth on the way home from the airport or on a trip to Eurwangni, Eurwangni Jjanggune is a good fit.

Written Jun 18, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJung-gu, SeoulRestaurants

Beef gopchang in Sindang, Seoul, with a toy market detour: Jinseong

Jinseong Hanwoo Gopchang Sindang Direct Branch (진성한우곱창 신당직영점) is a Korean beef gopchang (small intestine) restaurant one minute from Sindang Station Exit 7 in Jung-gu, Seoul. Arriving at 6pm on a Sunday behind more than 10 teams, the writer waited about 50 minutes, spent the time at the Changsin-dong Stationery and Toy Market a 15-minute walk away, then ate one serving each of beef gopchang, daechang and makchang plus kkakdugi yangbap (tripe fried rice with radish kimchi). Staff grill everything on a timer and the pickled minari garlic sauce is the highlight, making Jinseong Hanwoo Gopchang a Sindang gopchang spot worth the weekend wait.

Written Jun 22, 2026Sponsored
PlaceDobong, SeoulCafés

Uicheon-view café in Chang-dong, Seoul: decaf vanilla latte at Uisagye

Uisagye (우이사계) is a dessert café in a renovated old house facing Uicheon stream in Chang-dong, Dobong-gu, Seoul, best known for its chimney bread. From a second-floor picture window overlooking ducks and greenery along Uicheon, the writer had the Sanghamokjang milk ice cream chimney bread switched to cinnamon (8,500 won + 300 won) and an iced vanilla latte made with decaf beans (5,200 won + 1,000 won). The crisp, chewy cinnamon chimney bread and nutty decaf coffee make Uisagye a relaxing Uicheon-view café worth recommending.

Written Jun 27, 2026Sponsored
PlacePocheon, GyeonggiRestaurants

Pocheon steak restaurant: Idong galbi-style Hanwoo steak, Eoneu Dal

Eoneu Dal (어느달) is a pasta and steak restaurant at 54 Jeongmundong-gil in Pocheon, Gyeonggi. After booking on Catch Table, the writer had the vongole pasta (19,000 won) and, because the prime-grade striploin steak was sold out, a Hanwoo grade 1 striploin steak (42,000 won) in a Pocheon Idong galbi-style marinade instead. With its flower-decorated, high-ceilinged dining room and clam-packed minari vongole, Eoneu Dal is worth recommending for dates, anniversaries and group meals.

Written Jul 4, 2026Sponsored
PlaceUijeongbu, GyeonggiRestaurants

Uijeongbu pork belly for two with brisket doenjang stew: Cheonpo

Cheonpo Hoegwan Uijeongbu Main Branch is a pork belly BBQ restaurant on Beomgol-ro in Uijeongbu, Gyeonggi, where Haenam napa cabbage kimchi and minari (water dropwort) are grilled alongside the meat. A couple shared 2 servings of pork belly (32,000 won) with pot rice, minari doenjang (soybean paste) stew with beef brisket and snow-flower makguksu (cold buckwheat noodles) topped with white wood ear mushrooms, and the thick half-lean, half-fat pork and well-ripened kimchi stood out. With a clean dining room and friendly staff, Cheonpo Hoegwan Uijeongbu Main Branch is a solid pick for family gatherings or company dinners.

Written Jul 7, 2026Sponsored
PlacePocheon, GyeonggiCafés

Pocheon lake café for couples, decaf latte & mocha bun: Geurine Oasis

Geurine Oasis is a pet-friendly bakery café facing Gomori Reservoir in Soheul-eup, Pocheon, Gyeonggi. The writer visited Geurine Oasis with her husband and had a decaf iced café latte (₩7,500 + ₩1,000 for decaf), an iced americano (₩7,000) and a warmed mocha bun (₩6,000), enjoying the reservoir-view outdoor seats and the fountain. Geurine Oasis suits an outing near Gwangneung Arboretum when you want both a lake view and good coffee.

Written Jul 5, 2026Sponsored
PlaceNowon, SeoulRestaurants

Nowon sushi buffet: thick flounder sushi and ube bubble tea, Kuu Kuu

Kuu Kuu Nowon Branch is an all-you-can-eat sushi buffet with 120 menu items on the 6th floor of the Oncheon Building on Nowon-ro, Nowon, Seoul, near Hagye Station. On a weekend (₩35,900 per adult), the writer and her husband booked on Naver, walked in with no wait and tried sushi topped with large, thick slices of fish, steamed crab, lamb chops, made-to-order jjamppong (spicy seafood noodle soup) and jjajang (black bean noodles), and an ube latte bubble tea. With 300 pyeong (about 990 m²) of space and plenty of large-group tables, Kuu Kuu Nowon Branch is a solid pick for family gatherings.

Written Jul 6, 2026Sponsored
PlacePocheon, GyeonggiRestaurants

Pocheon Italian restaurant with gratin pasta for a date: From Italy

From Italy (프롬이태리) Gomo-ri Main Branch is a wood-fired pizza and pasta restaurant on Jugyeopsan-ro in Soheul-eup, Pocheon, near Gwangneung Arboretum. The writer and her husband ordered green grape and grapefruit ades (7,000 won each), the Wansugi gratin pasta (30,000 won) and a half-and-half blueberry and arugula prosciutto pizza (34,000 won). The Italian-style interior and garden-view window seats stood out most. From Italy is a good pick near Gwangneung Arboretum for a date or an anniversary.

Written Jul 14, 2026Sponsored
PlacePaju, GyeonggiCafés

Large Paju Heyri café with a 12-seat group table: Heuksadang

Heuksadang is a large two-floor, pet-friendly dessert café at 37-10 Heirimaeul-gil in Heyri, Paju, serving donuts made in-house and bingsu (Korean shaved ice) made with 100% milk. On a hot day the writer had the honeycomb bingsu (21,000 won), an iced americano (6,000 won) and a crème brûlée donut (5,000 won), and found that the high ceilings and a 12-person table made from two 6-seat tables made it easy for groups to stay comfortably. Heuksadang is a Heyri dessert café for anyone who wants plenty of seating and cold bingsu.

Written Jul 27, 2026Sponsored