Jina Baum · 46 stories

Paper Tote, Incheon-Gyeonggi-Seoul

Writes about shopping stops, beauty counters, cafes and small restaurants around Incheon, Gyeonggi and Seoul. · Writes about: Restaurants · Cafés · Shopping · Hair & beauty salons

PlaceSiheung, GyeonggiRestaurants

Baegot, Siheung red dumpling hot pot, kalguksu and kimchi: Myeongseong

Myeongseong Handmade Dumpling Hot Pot Baegot Branch is a handmade dumpling hot pot restaurant on the 1st floor of Baegot Jungang Plaza in Baegot-dong, Siheung, Gyeonggi. At lunch, the writer had the signature red hot pot with meat and kimchi dumplings, then finished with kalguksu (knife-cut noodles) and nurungji (crispy rice) fried rice. The spicy broth, the yeolmu (young radish) kimchi and geotjeori (fresh kimchi), and the owner's friendliness stood out. In Baegot, the red hot pot is the one to order for a full, spicy dumpling hot pot meal.

Written Jun 30, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeo-gu, IncheonShopping

Cheongna optician: lenses-only swap for blurry glasses, Hwangseonsaeng

Hwangseonsaeng Angyeong Lensme Ruwon City Branch (황선생안경 렌즈미 루원시티점) is an optician on Gajeong-ro in Seo-gu, Incheon, specializing in consultations for high myopia and progressive lenses. The writer booked a visit with her husband, who said distant things looked blurry when he was driving; a detailed eye exam showed his vision had dropped a lot since his last glasses, so this time he replaced only the lenses. In Cheongna, Hwangseonsaeng Lensme is worth considering if you value careful consultation and accuracy over price.

Written Jun 23, 2026Sponsored
PlaceBupyeong, IncheonRestaurants

Bupyeong Korean BBQ lunch special: galbi set for 3, Nocheongol

Nocheongol Bupyeong Main Branch (노천골 부평본점) is a Korean BBQ restaurant near Bupyeong Market Station in Incheon. The writer ordered the lunch special marinated Korean pork (Handon) galbi set for 3 and naengmyeon (cold noodles) for dessert; staff grilled the meat at the table, and a generous spread of sides came out, including marinated raw crab, a green seaweed-wasabi-flying fish roe dipping sauce and doenjang jjigae (soybean paste stew). Nocheongol Bupyeong Main Branch is a good fit for families and groups who want a hearty, relaxed lunch.

Written Jul 7, 2026Sponsored
PlaceNamdong, IncheonRestaurants

Korean lunch by Nonhyeon Station, Incheon: mild pork bones for a kid

Cheongchun Bulppyeojjim Gamjatang Incheon Nonhyeon Branch is a Korean restaurant specializing in gamjatang (pork bone stew) and braised pork bones, in the food alley near Nonhyeon Station in Incheon. On a second visit, the writer ordered Cheongchun Bulppyeojjim (spicy braised pork bones) at the "slightly spicy" level for lunch with a son who can't handle spicy food. With sweet potato, rice cakes and glass noodles, it was enough for 3 people, and the son ate it without finding it too spicy. With no break time and opening hours from Tuesday to Sunday, Cheongchun Bulppyeojjim Gamjatang is worth a return visit for a family lunch.

Written Jul 9, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSiheung, GyeonggiRestaurants

Jeongwang Station Korean BBQ: charcoal pork belly lunch for 2, Hamdon

Hamdon Jeongwang Main Branch (함돈 정왕본점) is a Korean BBQ restaurant in the central shopping district of Jeongwang-dong, Siheung, Gyeonggi, where staff grill aged pork belly and pork neck at your table. At lunch, the pork belly set for 2 came with doenjang jjigae (soybean paste stew), fresh minari (water dropwort), rice, seven side dishes and charcoal-grilled pork belly. For a filling meal without the work of grilling, the Hamdon Jeongwang Main Branch pork belly set is a solid pick.

Written Jul 8, 2026Sponsored
PlaceNamdong, IncheonRestaurants

Hot shrimp garlic pasta at Incheon Nonhyeon restaurant Two Find Peter

Two Find Peter Incheon Nonhyeon Branch is a pasta and pizza restaurant on the 3rd floor of the La Fiesta building near Nonhyeon Station in Incheon. After booking ahead, the blogger arrived around 11:30 a.m. on a weekday, sat by the big windows and shared corn pizza, seafood rosé pasta and hot shrimp garlic pasta, with the corn pizza the clear favorite. With its bright white-and-blue interior and well-spaced tables, Two Find Peter Incheon Nonhyeon Branch is an easy recommendation for a date or a family meal.

Written Jul 9, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSiheung, GyeonggiRestaurants

Eel buffet in Siheung's Baegot food alley, duck neck sold out: Songnim

Songnim Bok Jangeo Unlimited Freshwater Eel Siheung Baegot Direct Branch is an all-you-can-eat restaurant serving domestic Japonica freshwater eel in the Baegot food alley in Siheung, Gyeonggi. For 29,900 won per adult, the blogger grilled eel, pork belly and duck neck at the table, though the duck neck ran out early that day and the blogger got only a little. Thanks to the roomy, well-ventilated dining room with no fishy smell and eel paired with green onion kimchi, Songnim Bok Jangeo was a satisfying choice for a family meal or group get-together.

Written Jul 7, 2026Sponsored
PlaceBupyeong, IncheonRestaurants

Bupyeong monkfish jjim restaurant, mildly spicy small for two: Donghae

Haemulmyeongga Donghae Haemultang is a seafood jjim (braised seafood), seafood stew and monkfish jjim restaurant on Bupyeongmunhwa-ro in Bupyeong, Incheon. Two diners shared a small monkfish jjim ordered mildly spicy and were surprised by the generous portion, then enjoyed the monkfish meat with bean sprouts and minari (water dropwort), the banchan (side dishes), the mussel soup and the fried rice stir-fried at the table. Haemulmyeongga Donghae Haemultang's monkfish jjim suits days when you want a hearty, filling meal.

Written Jul 8, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYeongjong, IncheonRestaurants

Yeongjong burger spot with an AC patio: Masian 300 truffle mushroom

Masian 300 is an American-style handmade burger restaurant near Masian Beach in Yeongjong, Incheon. The writer stopped by Masian 300 at lunchtime with a college-age child home on break, shared a spicy Masian Shrimp burger and a Truffle Mushroom burger with cola, and explored the rooftop and the air-conditioned outdoor area. Two burgers with distinct flavors plus sea views make Masian 300 a solid stop on a Yeongjong drive.

Written Jul 14, 2026Sponsored
PlaceDo, IncheonCafés

Bakery café in Yeongjongdo: garlic salt bread and Sosi set, 5PM

5PM sunset hour is a salt bread, bagel and scone bakery café on the ground floor of the KCC Switzen commercial building (Sangga-dong) in Yeongjong Haneul City, Incheon. The writer took home the Sosi set of 4 salt breads (11,000 won) along with garlic salt bread and ate salt bread ice cream in the café. With its stylish interior and wide range of salt breads, 5PM sunset hour is well worth a return visit.

Written Jul 14, 2026Sponsored
PlaceNamdong, IncheonRestaurants

Self-serve kimchi and spicy sundaeguk in Incheon: Yennal Gyeongseong

Yennal Gyeongseong Sundaeguk Guwol Moraenae Market Station Branch is a newly opened sundaeguk (Korean blood sausage soup) restaurant in front of Moraenae Market in Namdong-gu, Incheon. At lunch the writer had the Yennal Gyeongseong spicy sundaeguk and the Yennal Gyeongseong sundaeguk, with a rich beef bone broth, generous sundae, head meat and offal, and self-serve kimchi and kkakdugi (radish kimchi). Yennal Gyeongseong Sundaeguk is a clean, wood-toned spot for a filling bowl of gukbap (rice soup).

Written Jul 13, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSiheung, GyeonggiRestaurants

Jeongwang-dong chicken stew for 2 that fed 3, Siheung: Jeongjeong-a

Jeongjeong-a Sikdang Jeongwang Branch (정정아식당 정왕점) is a Korean restaurant specializing in dakbokkeumtang (spicy braised chicken stew) and cockles, on the ground floor of a commercial building in Jeongwang-dong, Siheung, Gyeonggi. At lunch the blogger ordered chicken stew for 2 and seasoned cockles; the 2-person chicken stew was big enough for three people, and the broth grew deeper the longer it simmered. For a hearty chicken stew with springy seasoned cockles in Jeongwang-dong, Jeongjeong-a Sikdang Jeongwang Branch is a great fit.

Written Jul 10, 2026Sponsored