Noon and Balm · 44 stories

Lunch and Lip Balm

I write about food I’ve eaten and beauty products I’ve tried. · Writes about: Food & snacks · Beauty products · Restaurants · Bars · Cafés · Things to do · Shopping

PlaceBuk-gu, GwangjuRestaurants

Gwangju pho restaurant with a kid: 4 dishes for ₩41,500, Wolmidang

Wolmidang Gwangju Chonnam National University Branch is a Vietnamese pho restaurant near the Megabox by the Chonnam National University back gate in Buk-gu, Gwangju. On a dinner visit with a child, the blogger ordered brisket pho, a soy-marinated flame-grilled bulgogi rice bowl, bún chả (grilled pork with rice noodles), a grilled rice ball and a drink for 41,500 won, and the owner served the rice bowl's spicy sauce on the side for the child. With free noodle and bean sprout refills, a 'Very Excellent' hygiene grade and 1 hour of free Megabox parking, Wolmidang was a satisfying spot for a family meal out.

Written Oct 26, 2026Sponsored
ProductHandongFood & snacks

Deer antler calcium jelly sticks for picky kids: Handong Kids Teunteun

Handong Kids Teunteun Deer Antler Calcium Stick (Handong 키즈튼튼 녹용칼슘스틱) is a yogurt-flavored jelly stick supplement for children with deer antler extract, calcium and zinc in every stick. The blogger gave the product, which Handong provided, to a child who used to refuse supplements because of their bitter taste and smell, and the child now asks for the Handong Kids Teunteun stick first. For families who battle over supplements every day, Handong Kids Teunteun is worth considering for its taste and portability.

Written Jun 6, 2026Product provided
PlaceGwangsan, GwangjuRestaurants

Gwangsan eel grill, pre-grilled eel for Mom who minds my kids: Yuil

Yuil Jangeo (유일장어) is a restaurant specializing in Korean freshwater eel on Donggok-ro in Gwangsan, Gwangju. The writer brought her mother, who looks after her two grandchildren every day, along with the kids, and enjoyed eel served already pre-grilled, eel soup to finish, a self-serve bar and coffee after the meal; 1kg of eel (600g boneless) costs 29,000 won. Verdict: Yuil Jangeo is an easy place to treat your parents to a nourishing meal while minding the kids, with no worry about burning the eel.

Written Oct 23, 2026Sponsored
PlaceBuk-gu, GwangjuRestaurants

Gwangju eel restaurant with kids, ₩2,000 preschool fee: Deokeun Jangeo

Deokeun Jangeo Main Branch (더큰장어 본점) is a charcoal-grilled eel restaurant on Haseo-ro in Yangsan-dong, Buk-gu, Gwangju, run as a direct-sales shop by the Halla Susan fishery cooperative. The writer's family visited with a young child, picked eel on the 1st floor, paid up front and grilled it over charcoal on the 2nd floor, and liked the spacious, clean dining room, plentiful high chairs and friendly staff. The table fee is ₩4,000 for adults and ₩2,000 for preschoolers, and Deokeun Jangeo Main Branch is a good fit for families looking for a hearty eel meal with kids.

Written Jun 9, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeo-gu, GwangjuRestaurants

Goat restaurant in Maewol-dong, Gwangju with rib soup for kids: Ilsang

Ilsang Heukyeomso Maewol-dong (일상흑염소 매월동 본점) is a black goat health-food restaurant on Jeonpyeong-gil in Maewol-dong, Seo-gu, Gwangju. The writer's mother had the perilla seed black goat soup, which had no gamey smell and tender meat, while the writer and a child who can't eat goat had the beef rib gomtang (beef rib soup), so mild that the picky child finished a whole bowl. Ilsang Heukyeomso Maewol-dong is a Gwangju health-food spot where three generations can eat happily together, even when someone skips goat.

Written Jun 13, 2026Sponsored
PlaceBuk-gu, GwangjuRestaurants

Katsu spot in Cheomdan, Gwangju: free ssam veggie refills, Filling

Filling Donkatsu Gwangju Cheomdan Direct Store is a pork cutlet (donkatsu) restaurant on the 2nd floor of a building in the Cheomdan district of Buk-gu, Gwangju, best known for ssam katsu, a cutlet you wrap in rice paper with fresh vegetables. The writer took her mom, who was trying ssam katsu for the first time, and they shared the ssam katsu for two (35,000 won) and a beef brisket cream pasta (19,900 won); free extra vegetables ordered by tablet kept the whole meal from ever feeling greasy. Parking is free for 1 hour on weekdays and 2 hours on weekends, and since same-day Naver reservations aren't available on weekends or at peak times, it's best to call Filling Donkatsu before you go.

Written Jun 17, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeo-gu, GwangjuRestaurants

Pasta date in Sangmu, Gwangju: basil cream & poached egg, Bueokgan

Bueokgan Sangmu Branch (부엌간 상무점) is a pasta and pizza restaurant on Seogwangju-ro in Sangmu, Seo-gu, Gwangju, designed as a vintage classic hotel inspired by the Titanic's banquet hall. On a date there, the writer ordered basil pesto cream pasta with an added poached egg, Kung Pao chicken pilaf and jambon pizza; the basil cream pasta with poached egg was the clear favorite, though the cream-and-pizza lineup felt slightly heavy toward the end. Bueokgan Sangmu Branch suits an atmospheric date, and its private lot plus the Mudeung Church parking lot make parking easy.

Written Jun 17, 2026Sponsored
PlaceNam-gu, GwangjuCafés

Gwangju hanok café: partner parking and gaeseongjuak, Hoyang Horim

Hoyang Horim is a tile-roofed hanok café on Uwolsun-gil in Yangnim-dong, Nam-gu, Gwangju, known for a large window looking onto a bamboo garden and exposed wooden rafters. Using 1 hour of free parking at one of three partner lots, the writer ordered a mugwort injeolmi waffle (9,500 won), plain and ang-butter gaeseongjuak (Kaesong-style fried honey rice cakes, 2,500 and 2,800 won), a Hoyang Blend iced Americano and a vanilla bean cream latte. Hoyang Horim is a Yangnim-dong café for enjoying hanok atmosphere and gaeseongjuak without worrying about parking.

Written Jun 23, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGwangsan, GwangjuRestaurants

Kid-friendly pasta restaurant in Gwangju Suwan: Couple Set B, Bueokgan

Bueokgan Suwan Branch (부엌간 수완점) is a kid-friendly pasta and pizza restaurant in the Suwan district of Gwangsan-gu, Gwangju. With her husband and young child, the writer ordered Couple Set B: a garden salad, carbonara topped with a poached egg, pepperoni pizza, and grapefruit and orange drinks. Staff brought a baby chair and a baby tableware set without being asked. Bueokgan Suwan Branch has no dedicated parking and weekend waits, but it is a pasta place in Suwan where families can eat out with a little one without feeling unwelcome.

Written Jun 29, 2026Sponsored
PlaceBuk-gu, GwangjuRestaurants

Gwangju jokbal pub: Jirisan charcoal jokbal & soju at Kkankkanhan

Kkankkanhan Jokbal Yongbong Branch is a charcoal-grilled jokbal (braised pig's trotters) restaurant in the Yongbong-dong food alley in Buk-gu, Gwangju. Around 7pm, two friends shared the ₩48,000 couple set (jokbal, makguksu buckwheat noodles, steamed egg and a drink) with two bottles of soju, and got a free 200g of spicy pig tail through a review event. Parking is a bit of a hassle, but the smoky Jirisan charcoal jokbal at Kkankkanhan Jokbal has no gamey smell and makes the soju taste sweet.

Written Jul 3, 2026Sponsored
ProductYunoaBeauty products

Watery, fast-absorbing PDRN firming ampoule: Yunoa PDRN Ampoule

Yunoa PDRN Ampoule is a firming ampoule made with salmon-derived sodium DNA, adenosine, panthenol and centella asiatica extract. The writer applied Yunoa PDRN Ampoule morning and night for one week, layering it twice on dry days, and found the watery texture absorbed quickly with no pilling, though the ampoule runs easily when dispensed from the dropper. Verdict: Yunoa PDRN Ampoule is a fresh, lightweight PDRN ampoule that suits anyone who found heavy, sticky firming products uncomfortable.

Written Jul 9, 2026Product provided
PlaceSeo-gu, GwangjuCafés

Gwangju café: Sweet Carnival lounge & black sesame bingsu, Maekmundong

Maekmundong is a large restaurant and café on Mareuk-ro in Mareuk-dong, Seo-gu, Gwangju, whose 2nd-floor lounge was decorated with a 'Sweet Carnival' pop-up theme. On a hot weekday afternoon at Maekmundong, the order was black sesame bingsu (shaved ice) for 15,500 won, kiwi yogurt cake for 8,000 won and a black Americano for 5,200 won, and the nutty bingsu, tangy cake and bitter coffee paired well. The 2nd-floor stairs are steep and peak hours bring waits and noise, but for the space and dessert quality Maekmundong is well worth a return visit.

Written Jul 5, 2026Sponsored