Balm Reader · 19 stories

Lip Balm, Open Book

I write about books I pick up and beauty products I try in everyday life. · Writes about: Books & stationery · Beauty products · Restaurants · Hair & beauty salons · Bars

PlaceSeocho, SeoulBars

Sadang Korean bar, Children's Day lunch for grown-ups: Sadang Heonsang

Sadang Heonsang is a Korean bar (hansik jujeom) on the 2nd floor of a building near Exit 11 of Sadang Station in Seocho, Seoul, styled with dancheong temple patterns and fusion gugak (Korean traditional) music. On Children's Day, two friends ordered the Sadang Heonsang set for 2 and Horangi makgeolli at lunch, and the dishes arrived one after another like an imo-kase (auntie's omakase): amberjack sashimi, bossam, namul pot rice, kimchi jjim, doenjang noodles and scallion pancake. The Sadang Heonsang course suits a long-awaited catch-up when you want a hearty, generous spread.

Written May 6, 2026Sponsored
PlaceDongdaemun, SeoulRestaurants

Separate-burner shabu-shabu for two in Jang-an-dong: Shabu Torang

Shabu Torang Jang-an Direct Branch is a shabu-shabu restaurant on Janghan-ro in Jang-an-dong, Dongdaemun, Seoul, with plenty of solo seats and a menu that also includes risotto and pasta. On a dinner visit for two, each diner had their own burner: spicy beef brisket shabu-shabu and tomato beef chuck shabu-shabu, both with extra meat (180g total), followed by a cream risotto made in the spicy broth. The spicy yet creamy risotto after the shabu-shabu makes Shabu Torang Jang-an Direct Branch a Jang-an-dong spot worth returning to.

Written May 17, 2026Sponsored
PlaceNowon, SeoulRestaurants

Election holiday dinner at a Nowon sushi buffet: mango bingsu, Kuu Kuu

Kuu Kuu Nowon Branch (쿠우쿠우 노원점) is a sushi buffet on the 6th floor of the Seoul Onchun Building near Hagye Station in Nowon, Seoul. After early voting, the writer and their partner visited Kuu Kuu Nowon Branch on the election day public holiday evening, paying the weekend and holiday price of 35,900 won each. They had sushi, mulhoe (cold raw fish soup), steamed algon-i (spicy cod roe and milt), garlic cheese potatoes and a mango bingsu they made themselves. With Korean dishes, barbecue and desserts alongside the sushi, Kuu Kuu Nowon Branch suits family gatherings where everyone likes different food.

Written Jun 4, 2026Sponsored
PlaceNowon, SeoulHair & beauty salons

Dress line care instead of arm InMode at a Nowon bridal salon: Ryeowon

Ryeowon Skin Care (려원 피부관리) is a contouring and bridal skin care salon near Exit 3 of Nowon Station in Seoul. After noticing arm and back fat at a dress fitting, the writer considered arm InMode but chose Ryeowon Skin Care's dress line care instead, which treats the neck line, arms, back and sides in one session for ₩120,000 at the member price; afterward the collarbone line looked sharper and the arms and back felt noticeably lighter. Ryeowon Skin Care is worth recommending for brides-to-be looking for upper body line care in Nowon before the wedding.

Written Jun 14, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeocho, SeoulRestaurants

Korean BBQ near Gyodae Station for out-of-town friends: Sodangkkae

Sodangkkae O-gyeopjip Gyodae Main Branch is a Seoul Korean BBQ restaurant near Gyodae Station in Seocho, where staff grill five-layer pork belly (o-gyeopsal) for you on a cauldron lid. Over the Sodangkkae combo set for two (81,500 won), a group of friends who had traveled from far away sat in a partitioned booth and, thanks to the grilling service, spent the meal catching up and talking about wedding plans instead of tending the meat. For a long-overdue get-together where conversation matters most, Sodangkkae O-gyeopjip is an easy, comfortable choice.

Written Jun 15, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeocho, SeoulRestaurants

Seocho Station burger date: pastrami dipped in corn soup at Daily Fix

Daily Fix Seocho Gyodae Branch is a handmade burger restaurant serving hanwoo (Korean beef) patties, located between Seocho Station and Gyodae Station in Seoul. On a date there, we ordered the pastrami sandwich, the bacon cheeseburger and the roasted corn soup, and dipping the pastrami sandwich bread into the corn soup tasted like a hotel breakfast. With its hip atmosphere and a group curtain room available by reservation, Daily Fix Seocho Gyodae Branch is worth recommending for a date or a meetup near Seocho Station.

Written Jun 22, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulRestaurants

Gangnam pufferfish restaurant: clear soup, perilla porridge, Bokdeurim

Bokdeurim Bokguk (복드림) is a pufferfish soup and bean sprout rice soup restaurant on Samseong-ro 100-gil in Gangnam, Seoul, near Samseongjungang Station and COEX. Ordering by kiosk, the writer had milbok pufferfish soup (bokguk) for 11,000 won, pufferfish porridge in perilla broth served as fish noodle soup for 12,000 won, and one boneless pufferfish cutlet for 3,000 won. The clear, spicy broth, rich porridge and cutlet were all satisfying. Bokdeurim Bokguk is a fairly priced Gangnam pick for a gentle office lunch or a summer boknal health meal.

Written Jun 28, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeongnam, GyeonggiRestaurants

Gyukatsu dinner in Pangyo: steki striploin and free karaage, Ichigyu

Ichigyu Avenuefrance Pangyo is a gyukatsu (breaded beef cutlet) and steak restaurant on the 2nd floor of Avenuefrance in Pangyo, Seongnam. The writer came for dinner with a partner, ordered the unfried steki striploin and the gyukatsu striploin, grilled each piece in Isigny butter on a tabletop brazier, and got 4 pieces of karaage free for writing a Naver review. With thicker beef than the thin gyukatsu around university areas and well-matched sauces, Ichigyu Avenuefrance Pangyo is a place worth coming back to often.

Written Jul 26, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJungnang, SeoulRestaurants

Tonkatsu date near Dongwon Market with triple katsu: Katsu Monster

Katsu Monster Myeonmok is a tonkatsu (breaded pork cutlet) restaurant in Myeonmok, Jungnang, Seoul, right by Myeonmok Station Exit 2 and Dongwon Market. On a date, the writer and their partner ordered the triple katsu set, which brings loin, fillet and cheese katsu on one plate, plus cold soba (naengmomil). Katsu Monster Myeonmok sets out pink salt, wasabi and tonkatsu sauce, so each cut can be eaten a different way. Verdict: Katsu Monster Myeonmok followed by a stroll through Dongwon Market makes a good Myeonmok date route.

Written Aug 2, 2026Sponsored
PlaceNowon, SeoulRestaurants

Date-night cordyceps dinner set at a Nowon shabu-shabu: Hana Shabu

Hana Shabu Shabu Junggye Main Branch is a broth shabu-shabu (hot pot) and pyeonbaek-jjim (cypress-steamed) restaurant on the first floor of the Junggye Brownstone commercial building in Nowon, Seoul. On an evening date the writer took a datchi counter seat and ordered the dinner shabu-shabu, which came with 170g of black Angus brisket and sirloin per person plus cordyceps mushroom, fish balls, green salad, three sauces and a finishing udon course. The thick-cut beef and the Japan-trip mood at Hana Shabu Shabu made it a place worth returning to with parents.

Written Sep 19, 2026Sponsored
ProductHEEDABeauty products

Hydrating facial cleanser for normal to dry skin: HEEDA makeup test

HEEDA Moist Forest Hydrating Cleansing Foam is a low-pH hydrating facial cleanser for normal to dry skin, formulated with aqua ceramide, 7 types of hyaluronic acid and 5,000ppm Jirisan charcoal, and it was used here both as a morning wash and as a makeup cleanser. With cushion foundation, eyeliner, pearl eyeshadow and lipstick swatched on the back of the hand, the cushion, shadow and lip colour mostly faded on the first rolling pass, while the eyeliner cleared on the second. For anyone who wants little tightness after washing, HEEDA Moist Forest Hydrating Cleansing Foam strikes a decent balance between cleansing power and comfort.

Written Sep 13, 2026Product provided
PlaceSeongnam, GyeonggiRestaurants

Pangyo restaurant with burrata salad and non-alcoholic cidre: Andover

Andover is a pasta and Western restaurant with outdoor seating on the Baekhyeon-dong café street in Pangyo, Seongnam. For dinner Andover served burrata tomato salad, shrimp bisque pasta and flounder steak, paired with a non-alcoholic cidre at 12,000 won, and both the dark-toned interior and the menu lineup delivered. For a Pangyo date that needs atmosphere and good food in equal measure, Andover is a safe pick.

Written Sep 15, 2026Sponsored