Big Shopping Bag · 16 stories

Full Errand, Incheon/Gyeonggi/Seoul and Daegu/Gyeongbuk Shopping, Beauty and Restaurants

Writes about running errands through markets, salons, cafes and evening bars across Incheon, Gyeonggi, Seoul and Daegu/Gyeongbuk. · Writes about: Hair & beauty salons · Cafés · Restaurants · Things to do · Bars · Shopping

PlaceGangseo, SeoulCafés

Balsan Station café with plush seats: plain salt bread & coffee, Byway

Byway Bakers Balsan Station is a dessert café and bakery near Balsan Station in Gangseo-gu, Seoul. Byway Bakers offers a wide range of desserts, including financiers, salt bread, egg tarts and butter tteok (buttery rice cake), plus juices, ades, tea and seasonal drinks alongside coffee. The writer ordered coffee, plain salt bread, a fig financier and an almond choco financier at the kiosk, ate in, and loved the crisp-outside, soft-inside texture and how well it paired with the coffee. With plush seats and solo tables, Byway Bakers Balsan Station is a good café for lingering over dessert.

Written Jun 14, 2026Sponsored
PlaceBucheon, GyeonggiCafés

Bucheon bakery, 10:30 weekend queue and milk cream: Chamsae Bori

Chamsae Bori Sikppang (참새보리식빵) Bucheon main branch is a bakery specializing in loaves made with Korean-grown barley, on the corner of the Simgok overpass intersection near Bucheon Station in Bucheon, Gyeonggi. After arriving at 10:30am on a weekend and waiting in line, the writer found 1 of the 3 loaf types already sold out and took home the 3 remaining loaves plus a tub of the milk cream that won them over at the tasting. Chamsae Bori Sikppang's loaves are soft and more nutty than sweet, a perfect breakfast substitute or snack for kids.

Written Jun 14, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYongsan, SeoulRestaurants

Itaewon Station brunch spot with no wait at Sunday noon: Ongfleur

Ongfleur is a French-style fusion brunch restaurant on Hoenamu-ro 44-gil near Itaewon Station in Yongsan, Seoul. The writer walked into Ongfleur at 12:00 on a Sunday with no wait and had brioche French toast and smoked salmon eggs Benedict with an iced americano; so many guests were foreigners that it felt like being on a trip abroad. Verdict: for an atmospheric brunch on a sunny weekend, Ongfleur's two signature dishes come strongly recommended.

Written Jun 21, 2026Sponsored
PlaceBupyeong, IncheonRestaurants

Garlic jokbal and nutty tray noodles to go in Bupyeong: Jangmo Jokbal

Jangmo Jokbal Bupyeong Market Station Branch is a jokbal (braised pig's trotters) restaurant on the ground floor of Buheung-ro, a short walk from Bupyeong Market Station in Bupyeong, Incheon. The writer took out garlic jokbal and jaengban guksu (tray noodles with vegetables and nuts), then wrapped the pork with the pickled radish, perilla leaves and chive salad that come with takeout; the jokbal was chewy yet tender with no gamey smell, and the noodles were spicy, tangy and sweet. Because Jangmo Jokbal stays warm even as takeout, it is a jokbal spot worth returning to for family meals or as a drinking snack.

Written Jun 23, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulThings to do

Hongdae indoor camping with radish-wrap pork belly and crickets: TAGE

TAGE Indoor Camping Hongdae Main Branch is an indoor campsite and party room on the basement floor of a building between Hongik Univ. Station and Sangsu Station in Mapo, Seoul. In a dim campsite setting with cricket sounds, the writer enjoyed Netflix, board games and open karaoke, then grilled the shop's pork belly (₩9,500 per serving) with grilled kimchi, mu-ssam (pickled radish wraps) and lettuce. TAGE Indoor Camping suits anyone wanting a taste of camping before a real trip, or a unique Hongdae date without worrying about the heat.

Written Jun 21, 2026Sponsored
PlaceBucheon, GyeonggiRestaurants

Bucheon Station monkfish spot, mini stew with squid & shrimp: Haemul

Haemul Teukbyeolsi Bucheon Station branch (해물특별시 부천역본점) is a stone-plate seafood and monkfish stew (agujjim) restaurant on the ground floor near Bucheon Station in Bucheon, Gyeonggi. On a weekday evening with no wait, the writer ordered the mini monkfish stew with boneless monkfish, added whole squid and shrimp toppings, and had corn cheese on the side, and the generous portion was very filling. The mini monkfish stew at Haemul Teukbyeolsi Bucheon Station branch is a hearty choice, with toppings and spice level you pick yourself.

Written Jun 22, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulRestaurants

Gangnam Korean BBQ with garlic-marinated beef rib and wasabi: Yuklab

Yuklab Gangnam is a beef and lamb Korean BBQ restaurant on the 2nd floor of a building between Gangnam Station and Sinnonhyeon Station in Seoul. At a partitioned table in Yuklab Gangnam's black-toned dining room, the writer grilled 3 servings of beef rib meat aged in a house garlic marinade, along with kabocha squash, potato, tomato and mushrooms, and found the meat juicy and tender. Yuklab Gangnam suits anyone looking for a stylish Gangnam Station BBQ spot serving both beef and lamb.

Written Jun 28, 2026Sponsored
PlaceBucheon, GyeonggiRestaurants

Bucheon Station bossam restaurant with chive kimchi: Kkalkkali Jokbal

Kkalkkali Jokbal Bucheon Branch (깔깔이족발 부천점) is a jokbal (braised pig's trotters) and bossam (boiled pork wraps) restaurant between Bucheon Station and Bucheon University in Bucheon, Gyeonggi. On a weekday evening the writer ordered the original bossam with chive kimchi, radish kimchi, pickled onions and lettuce wraps, plus the handmade fruit makguksu (cold buckwheat noodles) served free to every table. Moist, tender pork and a spacious dining room make Kkalkkali Jokbal Bucheon Branch a solid choice for a bossam group dinner near Bucheon Station.

Written Jun 25, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeocho, SeoulCafés

24-hour café in Sinnonhyeon on a weekend: rich choco latte, Selecto

Selecto Coffee Sinnonhyeon Branch 24 Auto Brew Cafe is a large 24-hour café near Sinnonhyeon Station in Seocho, Seoul. On a weekend after lunch, the writer had a Mocha Blend iced americano, a rich chocolate latte and a chicken sandwich at Selecto Coffee, and also looked around the solo seats, the study-room-style area, the printer and the choice of 5 coffee beans. Selecto Coffee Sinnonhyeon is a good fit when you want coffee and a light brunch in a roomy café with no time limit.

Written Jun 28, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJung-gu, SeoulCafés

Gwanghwamun café: weekend hand drip & matcha pound cake | Center

Center Coffee Gwanghwamun is a specialty coffee shop on the B1 level of SFC Mall in Gwanghwamun, Seoul. On a weekend evening I ordered an iced americano, a hand drip coffee served with an info card, and a matcha pound cake, then looked around the floor-to-ceiling windows and the bean aroma display. If you want strong, low-acidity coffee in a quiet, spacious café, Center Coffee Gwanghwamun is a good fit.

Written Jun 27, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJongno, SeoulRestaurants

Jongno 3-ga shabu-shabu mandu hot pot, no weekend wait: Jongga Mandu

Jongga Mandu (종가만두) is a handmade dumpling hot pot restaurant on the ground floor of 88 Supyo-ro in Jongno, Seoul, near Jongno 3-ga Station. On a weekend evening we walked into Jongga Mandu with no wait, had the clear-broth shabu-shabu dumpling hot pot with packed kimchi and meat dumplings, and finished with kalguksu (knife-cut noodles), and the broth was mild and clean rather than heavy. For a light but filling dumpling hot pot in Jongno 3-ga, Jongga Mandu is a good fit.

Written Jun 27, 2026Sponsored
PlaceBucheon, GyeonggiHair & beauty salons

Sinjungdong Station lash perm, natural curler look: ReBloom Beauty

ReBloom Beauty Bucheon Main Branch is a lash perm salon on the 11th floor of an office building, a 1-minute walk from Sinjungdong Station in Bucheon, Gyeonggi. The writer, who gets lash perms regularly, asked for a natural curl that looks like a lash curler instead of a sharply lifted one. The keratin ampoule perm was done in under an hour with no eye stinging. If you want a natural curl that brightens the eyes without looking overdone, exactly as discussed in the consultation, ReBloom Beauty Bucheon Main Branch is a good fit.

Written Jun 30, 2026Sponsored