Hand Mirror Traveler · 19 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

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
PlaceJongno, SeoulRestaurants

Summer sushi in Gwanghwamun, plump fried shrimp: Elephant Sushi

Elephant Sushi Gwanghwamun is a sushi restaurant specialising in low-temperature-aged nigiri platters, a 1-minute walk from Exit 2 of Gwanghwamun Station in Jongno, Seoul. On a sweltering summer day, the writer ordered two Elephant B sets (12 pieces plus cold soba, ₩28,000 each) and the plump fried shrimp (6 pieces, ₩12,000). The aged white fish, fatty tuna belly, anglerfish liver gunkan and iced cold soba were all satisfying. With 2 hours of parking support and an easy station location, Elephant Sushi Gwanghwamun is a sushi spot worth recommending.

Written Jul 28, 2026Sponsored
PlacePaju, GyeonggiRestaurants

Paju dumpling spot near Lotte Outlet: mandu workshop, Bubyeokjeong

Bubyeokjeong Pyeongyang Mandu (Paju Book City Heyri Village Unjeong Ilsan main branch) is a Korean restaurant specializing in Pyeongyang-style mandu (dumplings) and makguksu (buckwheat noodles) in Paju, Gyeonggi, a 4-minute drive from Paju Lotte Outlets. During a 30-minute wait at weekend lunch peak, the writer snacked on old-fashioned sweets and misutgaru (roasted grain drink) in the dessert zone and watched dumplings being made in the mandu workshop, then ate mung bean pancake, Pyeongyang mul makguksu (cold-broth noodles) and spicy Pyeongyang mandu hot pot for two, finished with kalguksu (knife-cut noodles). Bubyeokjeong Pyeongyang Mandu tastes mild and true to its ingredients, a meal people of all ages will enjoy.

Written Jul 26, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeongdong, SeoulRestaurants

Seongsu Italian restaurant: black risotto and lemon candy at Sedici

Sedici is an Italian restaurant with a wood interior in Seongsu, Seoul, a 7-minute walk from Seongsu Station Exit 2. A writer who has been to Italy twice ordered the beef tartare with brioche, the fried potato gnocchi with sweet corn and the black risotto, and found Sedici's black risotto tastier than the squid ink risotto they had in Italy. Sedici is a Seongsu Italian restaurant worth recommending for a date or a dinner to hand out wedding invitations.

Written Aug 1, 2026Sponsored
PlaceDongdaemun, SeoulRestaurants

Hoegi burger restaurant for a cheese-pull date: 1986 Shibuya Burger

1986 Shibuya Burger is a Japanese Shibuya-themed handmade burger restaurant between Hoegi Station and Kyung Hee University in Dongdaemun, Seoul. On a date, the writer and her husband ordered a Golden Jambon Wagyu Burger set (₩14,300) and a Kuro Sakura Shrimp Burger set (₩15,200), both with a whole mozzarella cheese bar as the side, then added fries (₩3,000) and cheese sticks (₩2,300) for stretchy cheese pulls. With its spacious dining room and well-stocked self-serve bar, 1986 Shibuya Burger is a solid Hoegi pick for solo meals, groups of friends or dates.

Written Jul 6, 2026Sponsored
PlacePocheon, GyeonggiRestaurants

Pocheon pasta revisit after Chuseok: salmon salad at Eoneu Dal

Eoneu Dal is a casual Italian restaurant on Jeongmun-dong-gil in Pocheon, Gyeonggi Province. On a second visit, for a weekend lunch just after the Chuseok holiday, a CatchTable reservation meant an immediate table, and the order was the kelp-cured salmon salad (M) for 14,000 won, garlic shrimp pasta for 21,000 won and blue crab risotto for 23,000 won. With a large parking lot and baby chairs, Eoneu Dal is a solid choice for both a date and a family meal.

Written Sep 28, 2026Sponsored
PlaceUijeongbu, GyeonggiHair & beauty salons

Uijeongbu hair salon haircut and Ayunche protein clinic: Chaper Hair

Chaper Hair Uijeongbu is a hair salon specializing in special color and special perms, a 5-minute walk from Exit 4 of Uijeongbu Station in Gyeonggi. Summer sun had left this hair dry and frizzy, so the visit combined a women's haircut with the Ayunche protein hair clinic over about 2 hours, running through a residue-removing shampoo, a scalp heat-calming shampoo, the PRO PPT protein ampoule, heat treatment and steam. The hair came out calmer and glossier, making Chaper Hair Uijeongbu an easy recommendation for anyone who wants a cut and a hair clinic in one sitting.

Written Aug 11, 2026Sponsored
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