Pouch Companion · 32 stories

The Makeup Bag Rail

I write about beauty products I use in everyday routines. · Writes about: Beauty products · Things to do · Restaurants · Cafés · Bars · Hair & beauty salons · Shopping

PlaceGangseo, SeoulRestaurants

Balsan Station Japanese restaurant, pre-show aburi don: Ilpum Magok

Ilpum Magok is a kaisendon (seafood rice bowl) and sushi restaurant on the ground floor of Leaders Tower Magok near Balsan Station in Gangseo, Seoul. The writer and her husband arrived at Ilpum Magok right as the break time ended, before a show, and ordered the (Special) Ilpum-don, piled with a mountain of minced tuna, and the torch-seared Aburi-don at 30,000 won each, enjoying udon and a mango sauce cream pudding like a course. The portions are generous, so the price may seem high at first, but it makes sense once you eat.

Written May 28, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulRestaurants

Burger takeout at 4:30pm near Gangnam Station: avocado, Downtowner

Downtowner Gangnam is a handmade burger shop on the ground floor of an alley building on Teheran-ro 1-gil, near Gangnam Station Exit 11 in Seoul. With no break time, the writer stopped by Downtowner Gangnam around 4:30pm and took away an Avocado Burger (12,700 won), a Downtowner Burger (9,900 won) and Kiri Cream Cheese Chicken Bites (7,300 won); it was the writer's first time having avocado in a burger, and it was so soft it felt like a whole new world of flavor. Thanks to kiosk ordering and neat packaging, Downtowner Gangnam is a good pick for burger takeout or a solo meal near Gangnam Station.

Written May 30, 2026Sponsored
ProductYunoaBeauty products

No-sting brightening serum for melasma: Yunoa Melablur Ampoule

Yunoa Melablur Melasma Ampoule is a 30ml brightening ampoule, certified as a functional whitening product, made with 5% niacinamide and 2% tranexamic acid. The writer applied Yunoa Melablur morning and night after toner and found the texture rich yet fresh, with no stinging; overall skin tone looked clearer before the melasma spots themselves changed. Yunoa Melablur is not a quick fix but a gentle melasma ampoule that suits a steady daily home-care routine.

Written May 28, 2026Product provided
PlaceGangseo, SeoulRestaurants

Solo pizza at Hwagok Station: extra-cheese shrimp pizza, Pizza Meokda

Pizza Meokda Hwagok Branch is a solo pizza and chicken shop on the ground floor right by Exit 6 of Hwagok Station in Gangseo, Seoul. At the kiosk, the writer ordered Plump Shrimp Pizza and Combination Pizza, both with extra cheese, plus 4 chicken tenders. The writer ate in at Pizza Meokda Hwagok Branch, tearing the 25 cm pizzas apart along their perforated lines, and took the leftovers home. Solo pizzas start at ₩4,500, and Pizza Meokda Hwagok Branch is an easy, affordable stop when you want pizza on your own.

Written Jun 3, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulRestaurants

Gongdeok salad shop dinner to go: chicken & steak salads, Why Starve

Why Starve Diet Gongdeok Main Branch is a salad and diet-meal shop in the basement arcade of Lotte Castle President, by Exit 2 of Gongdeok Station in Mapo, Seoul. After frequent eating out made the writer want to watch their diet, they ordered a chicken salad and a steak salad for dinner at the Why Starve kiosk right after the break time and liked the separately packed sauces, the red sticker marking the spicy one and the filling protein. Why Starve Gongdeok is a handy salad stop to grab takeout on the way through the subway.

Written Jun 4, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulRestaurants

Sangsu Station rib restaurant: soy galbi-jjim lunch set, Bongmaruji

Bongmaruji Hapjeong (봉마루집 합정점) is a newly opened galbi-jjim (braised short rib) restaurant on the 1st floor of Yanghwa-ro 6-gil in Mapo, Seoul, between Sangsu Station and Hapjeong Station. After a haircut near Sangsu Station, the writer had lunch at Bongmaruji Hapjeong: the soy galbi-jjim set with a rice ball and steamed egg (36,000 won) in the spicy soy flavor, plus fried gimmari. The ribs arrive nearly cooked from the kitchen, so they only need simmering at the table, and the meat comes off the bone easily. Bongmaruji Hapjeong's galbi-jjim set works well for lunch or as a dish to go with drinks at dinner.

Written Mar 10, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGoyang, GyeonggiCafés

Wondang bakery café, afternoon visit: chestnut streusel bun, Baedagol

Baedagol Bakery House (배다골베이커리하우스) is a bakery café with a garden in Wondang, Deogyang-gu, Goyang, that runs chestnut and sweet potato seasonal menus in autumn, plus a free sweet potato gift for spending 30,000 won or more in a day. On an afternoon visit the shelves at Baedagol Bakery House were nearly sold out, so the writer took away a chestnut-packed streusel bun, ciabatta, a sausage bread and a mocha salt bread, then enjoyed the 2nd-floor terrace view for a while. Go early for the best bread selection, but the 9,900 won morning set and many discounts make Baedagol Bakery House an easy Wondang café to revisit.

Written Oct 26, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulCafés

Sinnonhyeon bakery café on a holiday: basil twist roll, Bakerist Brown

Bakerist Brown is a large three-floor bakery café in an alley between Sinnonhyeon Station and Gangnam Station in Seoul. On a holiday visit the 2nd floor of Bakerist Brown was full, so the blogger took a seat on the 3rd floor and had the basil cream cheese twist roll, a black sesame latte, an americano and a Gangnam Sand set. Bakerist Brown is worth remembering when you need gift bread and a meeting spot in one place.

Written Jun 6, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJongno, SeoulCafés

Seochon bakery for evening takeout: pumpkin ciabatta at Respire

Respire Bakery Cafe Seochon is a salt bread and ciabatta bakery café on Hyoja-ro 13-gil in Seochon, Jongno, Seoul. On a solo evening walk toward Gyeongbokgung, the writer stopped in before closing, took home four breads (pumpkin ciabatta, pollock roe potato, garlic cream cheese and plain salt bread, ₩3,000 to ₩6,800), and reheated them in an air fryer. Respire Bakery Cafe Seochon is a good Seochon bakery for grabbing bread to go when you are short on time.

Written Jun 7, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJongno, SeoulRestaurants

Hyehwa tonkatsu with no break time: jumbo set plus curry, Maison Akai

Maison Akai Hyehwa is a tonkatsu restaurant on the 2nd floor of a food alley near Exit 4 of Hyehwa Station in Jongno, Seoul, open 11:30–21:00 every day with no break time. Before a Daehak-ro show, the blogger arrived at 4:30 pm on a weekend and ordered the Jumbo Tonkatsu Set (22,800 won) with curry added, the Karai Chicken Pasta (16,900 won) and an Akai Ade (4,500 won); the loin, tenderloin and chicken katsu were all juicy and tender. Maison Akai Hyehwa is an easy Daehak-ro tonkatsu pick for eating around showtime, including with kids.

Written Jun 7, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulRestaurants

Early-dinner tonkatsu in Yeonnam-dong, udon set & gyoza: Katsu Monster

Katsu Monster Yeonnam Main Branch is a Japanese-style tonkatsu (pork cutlet) restaurant tucked into an alley in Yeonnam-dong, Mapo, Seoul, near Exit 3 of Hongik Univ. Station. After an afternoon out in Hongdae, the writer had an early dinner of one katsu set with udon as the noodle choice, adding gyoza (dumplings) and spicy curry sauce as sides to enjoy a range of flavors. On a day when you are not very hungry, one katsu set plus a side at Katsu Monster is a satisfying Yeonnam-dong tonkatsu combination.

Written Jun 17, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJung-gu, SeoulRestaurants

Japanese set meals in Chungmuro: ramen, mazesoba, katsu at Haekbap

Haekbap Dongguk is a budget-friendly Japanese restaurant near Chungmuro Station Exit 1 in Jung-gu, Seoul, serving home-style rice bowls, ramen, soba and katsu as full set meals. The writer ordered karai ramen, mazesoba and Western-style tonkatsu to share, and enjoyed the mazesoba two ways by adding kelp vinegar. Haekbap Dongguk is a filling Chungmuro meal that suits solo diners and groups alike.

Written Jun 19, 2026Sponsored