Fresh Seal Opener · 61 stories

After the Lid Opens

I write about beauty products I use, from first impressions to the details that stand out over time. · Writes about: Beauty products · Restaurants · Hair & beauty salons · Cafés · Bars · Things to do

PlacePyeongchang, GangwonRestaurants

Bongpyeong noodle house, 40-min wait despite Naver booking: Migayeon

Bongpyeong Memil Migayeon (봉평메밀미가연) is a buckwheat makguksu restaurant on Gipung-ro in Bongpyeong-myeon, Pyeongchang, Gangwon. The writer booked through Naver Reservation for a weekend lunch peak but still had to take a number on site at Bongpyeong Memil Migayeon, then waited about 40 minutes with 15 teams ahead before eating yukhoe (seasoned raw beef), mul makguksu (cold buckwheat noodles in broth), bibim makguksu (spicy mixed buckwheat noodles) and rice. Bongpyeong Memil Migayeon has a long wait, but tables turn over fast, making it a Pyeongchang makguksu spot worth waiting for.

Written May 25, 2026Sponsored
PlaceNamdong, IncheonRestaurants

Guwol-dong sashimi restaurant: yellowtail for two, Donghae Eojang

Donghae Eojang Incheon Guwol is a raw fish and seafood restaurant in Guwol-dong, Namdong-gu, Incheon, serving winter-season large yellowtail (daebangeo) in small, medium and large sizes. The writer and a companion had the small large-yellowtail plate for 53,000 won plus one extra order of sushi rice for dinner, and the thick-cut yellowtail was rich and firm even in late October. For two people, the small size at Donghae Eojang Incheon Guwol is plenty.

Written Oct 29, 2026Sponsored
PlaceNamdong, IncheonRestaurants

Japanese spot in Nonhyeon, Incheon: aburi-don and two-tier soba set

Hongdae Gureume Incheon Nonhyeon Branch (홍대구루메 인천논현점) is a Fukuoka-style Japanese restaurant on the 2nd floor of a building in Nonhyeon-dong, Namdong-gu, Incheon. The writer has tried the ramen, sake-don (salmon rice bowl), scoop sushi, sushi and soba there, and the favorites are the sake-don and aburi-don (torched salmon rice bowl). The double sake-don comes with so much salmon it barely seems to shrink, and the soba set brings two plates of soba stacked in two tiers with karaage and fried shrimp. Verdict: with dishes at ₩10,000–20,000 and a prepaid top-up bonus, Hongdae Gureume Incheon Nonhyeon Branch is worth topping up for regulars.

Written Jun 2, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeo-gu, IncheonRestaurants

Potato egg mayo dakgalbi and tuna rice ball in Geomdan: Cheolpanjeong

Cheolpanjeong Dakgalbi & Iron-Plate Fried Rice Geomdan Sinhyeongdan Branch is a fusion dakgalbi (spicy stir-fried chicken) and iron-plate fried rice restaurant in Geomdan New Town, Incheon. At Cheolpanjeong, the potato egg mayo dakgalbi with added udon noodles and a tuna rice ball came with tender chicken, a spicy sauce mellowed by the egg mayo, and plenty of perilla leaves at the self-serve bar. Cheolpanjeong is small, but it has a wide menu and does a lot of delivery orders, making it a good dakgalbi spot for Geomdan New Town families with kids.

Written Jun 4, 2026Sponsored
PlaceAnsan, GyeonggiBars

Ansan Korean pub on a holiday: hanwoo sashimi & draft beer, Banwolga

Banwolga (반월가) is a Korean pub in Gojan-dong, Ansan, near Jungang Station, known for mungtigi (thick-cut raw beef) and hanwoo sashimi. On a public holiday, mungtigi wasn't available, so the 39,000-won hanwoo sashimi came with minari (water dropwort) and white kimchi, along with draft beer from hoses Banwolga says it cleans daily and a tomato hangover pasta. With 2000s songs and thoughtful service, Banwolga is a bar worth recommending in Ansan for a date or a company dinner.

Written Jun 4, 2026Sponsored
PlaceAnsan, GyeonggiRestaurants

Ansan spicy chicken stew for two & ₩2,500 fried rice: Wongok Mokjang

Wongok Mokjang Ansan (원곡목장 안산점) is a duck and chicken grill and stew restaurant on Raseong-ro in Danwon-gu, Ansan. Two diners came for the boneless spicy chicken stew (₩28,000) and also ate steamed egg, ₩2,000 janchi guksu (banquet noodles) and ₩2,500 fried rice, and the owner brought out sweet potato and sikhye (sweet rice drink) too. With its refreshing, spicy broth and generous owner, Wongok Mokjang Ansan is a chicken stew spot worth coming back to.

Written Oct 26, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYeonsu, IncheonCafés

Café at Songdo outlet: affogato retry after coffee sold out, Wunder

Wunder Coffee Bar is an ice cream and coffee café in the B1 Food Square of Hyundai Premium Outlet Songdo in Yeonsu, Incheon. Having missed the affogato on an earlier visit because coffee had ended for the day, the writer returned and ordered a Wunder Gato (hojicha and classic vanilla mix) and a Wunder Coffee, finding the ice cream portion generous and the cream rich and heavy. Verdict: Wunder Coffee Bar is a Songdo outlet café whose ice cream and affogato are strongly recommended.

Written Oct 25, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSiheung, GyeonggiRestaurants

Oido seafood kalguksu turned crab party with 2 extra crabs: 52 Degree

52 Degree Kalguksu Oido Main Branch (오십이도칼국수 오이도본점) is a seafood kalguksu (knife-cut noodle soup) restaurant on Oido-ro in Siheung, Gyeonggi. On a second visit, the writer ordered seafood kalguksu for 2 at a 2nd-floor sea-view table and added 2 crabs for 50,000 won total, not knowing crab was already in the pot. The result was a crab party, and the crab innards made the broth rich and deep. In crab season, 52 Degree Kalguksu's seafood kalguksu is a great pick for a generous seafood meal.

Written Jun 7, 2026Sponsored
PlacePaju, GyeonggiRestaurants

Paju lamb skewer pub after Heyri: mala skewers & onmyeon, Sannaemaeul

Sannaemaeul Yang Kkochi & Qingdao (산내마을양꼬치앤칭따오) is a lamb skewer and Chinese-style pub on Chaekhyanggi-ro in Unjeong, Paju. After a weekend evening exploring Heyri, the writer ordered lamb skewers, lamb ribs, mala lamb skewers and onmyeon (warm noodle soup), and Paju FC players sat down at the next table after their match. Mala skewers seasoned all the way through and a tangy onmyeon reminiscent of kimchi stew make Sannaemaeul Yang Kkochi & Qingdao worth a return visit.

Written Oct 23, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSiheung, GyeonggiRestaurants

Siheung Korean BBQ: aged pork belly and yukhoe naengmyeon at Hamdon

Hamdon Jeongwang Main Branch (함돈 정왕본점) is a Korean BBQ restaurant in Jeongwang-dong, Siheung, Gyeonggi, where staff grill aged pork at your table. The writer ordered aged five-layer pork belly (ojeopsal) for 2 and got complimentary bone soup. The pork belly came with eggplant and minari (water dropwort) grilled alongside, and the meal ended with a first taste of yukhoe naengmyeon (cold noodles with beef tartare). Verdict: Hamdon Jeongwang Main Branch is recommended if you want aged pork grilled for you without the effort.

Written Jun 11, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSiheung, GyeonggiRestaurants

Korean BBQ in Jeongwang-dong: cross-aged Jeju pork belly at Hamdon

Hamdon Jeongwang Main Branch (함돈 정왕본점) is an aged-meat Korean BBQ restaurant in the Jeongwang-dong central shopping district of Siheung, Gyeonggi. For dinner, the writer and their partner ordered 3 portions of cross-aged Jeju pork belly (₩17,000 per portion) and a mul naengmyeon (₩8,000) on its own, and were pleased with the free minari and bone soup, staff grilling the meat almost to the end, and the blanched king oyster mushrooms. Hamdon is a Jeongwang-dong Korean BBQ worth recommending if you want pork belly with dongchimi-broth cold noodles.

Written Oct 21, 2026Sponsored
PlaceWonju, GangwonRestaurants

Wonju octopus restaurant: buckwheat jelly broth, perilla self-bar

Singi Arrowroot Naengmyeon & Jjukkumi (신기칡냉면&쭈꾸미) is a spicy stir-fried octopus (jjukkumi) and kodari naengmyeon (semi-dried pollock cold noodles) restaurant right behind the Munmak bus stop in Wonju, Gangwon. The writer ordered jjusamsae (octopus, pork belly and shrimp) and half-and-half galbi and shrimp dumplings, and especially liked the buckwheat jelly broth served with the jjukkumi, the self-bar stocked with perilla leaves and the big shrimp. Sesame oil for mixing rice is available on request, making Singi Arrowroot Naengmyeon & Jjukkumi an easy place for a jjukkumi meal in Munmak.

Written May 25, 2026Sponsored