Nonhyeon Compact Roamer · 10 stories

Small Compact, Seoul and Jeju Counters

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

PlaceGangseo, SeoulRestaurants

Magok pasta lunch with a wedding invite and photo booth: Oneul Pasta

Oneul Pasta Magok Branch is a pasta and pizza restaurant on Magokjungang-ro in Gangseo, Seoul. The writer visited for a weekend lunch to hand a friend a wedding invitation, ordering pollock roe aglio olio (₩12,900), rosé risotto (₩12,900) and margherita pizza (₩12,500), then took black-and-white shots in the restaurant's photo booth. Oneul Pasta Magok Branch is a Magok pasta spot with prices in the low ₩10,000s and an upscale feel.

Written Jun 10, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGoyang, GyeonggiRestaurants

Ilsan duck restaurant, garden wraps after the outlets: Seokgi Sidae

Seokgi Sidae (석기시대) is a duck restaurant on Songsan-ro in Ilsanseo-gu, Goyang, Gyeonggi, right in front of Gusan IC on Jayu-ro. After a weekend of shopping at the Paju Premium Outlets, the writer, her mother and her sister had one whole duck of duck jumulleok (seasoned stir-fried duck, 4 servings, 65,000 won) and seafood pajeon (scallion pancake). The wrap vegetables grown in the garden out front and the complimentary duck soup stood out. Seokgi Sidae is a satisfying choice for a family dinner or a nourishing meal.

Written Jun 21, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJung-gu, SeoulRestaurants

Namdaemun Korean BBQ with Mom: galbi bonsamgyeop dinner, Geumseong

Geumseong Hoegwan Seoul City Hall Direct Branch is a Korean BBQ restaurant in the Bukchang-dong food alley near City Hall Station in Jung-gu, Seoul. After a walk around Namdaemun Market, the writer and her mom had dinner there: 3 servings of galbi bonsamgyeop (rib-on pork belly, 19,000 won per 200g), the free kimchi stew that comes with a first order, and the breadcrumb and mustard leaf kimchi pairing, all of which she enjoyed. For a clean, satisfying meat meal near Namdaemun Market or Deoksugung, the galbi bonsamgyeop at Geumseong Hoegwan is a good choice.

Written Jun 25, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJongno, SeoulRestaurants

Jonggak Station dumpling hot pot and udon with Mom: Jongga Mandu

Jongga Mandu (종가만두) is a handmade dumpling hot pot restaurant on Supyo-ro in Jongno, Seoul, close to Jonggak Station and Jongno 3-ga Station. On a rainy Sunday after a trip to Jongno's jewelry town, the writer and Mom ordered Jongga Mandu's clear dumpling hot pot in dried pollack broth (₩13,000 per person), added mushrooms and finished with udon noodles. Generous portions for the price make Jongga Mandu's clear dumpling hot pot a good family meal with parents.

Written Jun 27, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYeongdeungpo, SeoulRestaurants

Yeouido snack bar: anchovy-broth office lunch combo, Hyeonseonine

Hyeonseonine Premium IFC Mall Branch (현선이네 프리미엄 IFC몰점) is a tteokbokki and Korean snack bar on B2 of IFC Mall in Yeouido, Seoul, along the moving walkway toward Yeouido Station. A Yeouido office worker shared the 25,000 won Hyeonseon combo set with a coworker at lunch: tteokbokki (spicy rice cakes), fritters, sundae (Korean blood sausage), gimbap and fish cake, plenty for two, with the odor-free sundae and anchovy-broth fish cake soup as standouts. For office workers in Yeouido IFC Mall after a filling snack-bar lunch, Hyeonseonine is worth a return visit.

Written Jul 3, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulRestaurants

Lunch date sushi in Apgujeong, amberjack and grunt: Sushi Sakaba

Sushi Sakaba Apgujeong is a sushi restaurant on Apgujeong-ro 22-gil in Gangnam, Seoul, where diners pick nigiri one piece at a time and order by scanning a QR code at the table. On a hot day during an Apgujeong date, the writer stopped at Sushi Sakaba Apgujeong for lunch and tried flounder, sea bream, herring, greater amberjack, horse mackerel, chicken grunt and tuna nigiri, finding the thick cuts of fish and modest portions of rice well balanced. Sushi Sakaba Apgujeong suits couples who want to work slowly through many kinds of fish to their own taste.

Written Jul 8, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulBars

Apgujeong cocktail bar with DJ sets and egg yolk pizza: Lowkey

Lowkey is a cocktail bar with a DJ booth on basement level 1 of Apgujeong-ro 46-gil in Apgujeong Rodeo, Gangnam, Seoul. After dinner in Apgujeong, the writer stopped by Lowkey for a second round and ordered a cola, the Lowkey Pizza (17,000 won) and the Artichoke Pizza (23,000 won); the red lighting and live DJ music made the time fly. Lowkey is recommended as a second stop on an Apgujeong date, more for the space and music than the food.

Written Jul 9, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSongpa, SeoulHair & beauty salons

Jamsil Saenae hair salon black brown wedding dye to cover gray: Anew

Anew Hair Songpa Jamsil Branch (어뉴헤어 송파잠실점) is a reservation-only hair salon on Ollimpik-ro 12-gil in Jamsil Saenae, Songpa-gu, Seoul. The writer, a bride about to turn 40, had her wedding hair color done at Anew Hair Songpa Jamsil Branch to cover gray hair. Because her hair was already dyed, she and the stylist chose roughly level 5 black brown instead of a light brown. The verdict: the black brown was not jet black, picked up a brown glow in the light and covered the gray naturally, making it a satisfying wedding color.

Written Jul 9, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulHair & beauty salons

Apgujeong barber shop groom's wedding cut and down perm: Coup Barber

Coup Barber & Coffee is a café and one-man men's barber shop between Apgujeong Rodeo Station and Apgujeong Station in Gangnam, Seoul. The visit was for a boyfriend's haircut ahead of his wedding, and during the consultation the owner noticed his side hair flaring out and suggested adding a down perm, his first time trying one. The finished cut at Coup Barber & Coffee is easy to manage day to day and needs only a little styling for the wedding, which made it a satisfying groom's hairstyle.

Written Aug 14, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangseo, SeoulRestaurants

Hot pot lunch set with glass noodles and tofu in Magok: J's Pot

J's Pot Magok Branch is a one-pot-per-person hot pot restaurant on basement level 2 of COEX Magok Tower A, near Magongnaru Station in Gangseo, Seoul. Two friends came for lunch, ordered the lunch set and picked different broths — tomato and beef — then added glass noodles, tofu fish cake and a tofu platter for a filling meal. The individual pots at J's Pot Magok Branch are especially handy when you and your companion want different broths.

Written Aug 19, 2026Sponsored
You've reached the end · 10 stories