Yeoksam Vanity Outing Goer · 20 stories

The Makeup Pouch

I write about my first-hand beauty experiences in Seoul. · Writes about: Hair & beauty salons · Restaurants · Things to do · Cafés · Bars

PlacePyeongtaek, GyeonggiRestaurants

Pyeongtaek cockle house, perilla-roe wraps & plum tea: Kkomak Manse

Kkomak Manse Pyeongtaek Manse-ro Main Branch (꼬막만세 평택만세로본점) is a Korean restaurant specializing in cockle dishes on Manse-ro in Jukbaek-dong, Pyeongtaek. The family set for 2 (₩52,000) brought Manse seasoned cockles, cockle jeon (savory pancake) and cockle bibimbap. Seasoned cockles wrapped in perilla leaves with dried seaweed and flying fish roe were a highlight, and plum tea was served for dessert. For a family meal with cockles cooked several ways, Kkomak Manse is a good fit.

Written Oct 26, 2026Sponsored
PlacePyeongtaek, GyeonggiRestaurants

Spicy beef & octopus kalguksu, free corn bread, Pyeongtaek: Songdam

Songdam Kalguksu is a hot pot kalguksu (knife-cut noodle soup) and shabu-shabu restaurant on Gangbyeon-ro in Anjung-eup, Pyeongtaek. The writer ordered one serving each of spicy beef hot pot kalguksu and spicy octopus shabu-shabu kalguksu, added 140g of beef for ₩7,000, and got free barley rice and corn steamed bread for each person with the kalguksu. With a rich, spicy broth and generous free sides, Songdam Kalguksu made a satisfying meal on a trip around Pyeongtaek Lake and Anjung.

Written Oct 25, 2026Sponsored
PlacePyeongtaek, GyeonggiRestaurants

Sushi and beer near Pyeongtaek Station: aged kimchi fish, Mikado Sushi

Mikado Sushi Pyeongtaek Station Branch is a sushi train restaurant in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi, about a 5-minute walk from Exit 1 of Pyeongtaek Station, where every plate costs the same. The writer picked close to 20 kinds of sushi, from salmon sushi and flounder fin sushi to aged kimchi raw fish sushi, and added bottled Cass beer with buffalo wings and fried squid legs. The verdict: the aged kimchi raw fish sushi at Mikado Sushi was good enough to order three times.

Written Jun 18, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulHair & beauty salons

Mapo hair salon: brown tone-down before wedding photos, JUNO Hair

JUNO Hair Sangam DMC is a hair salon on Woldeukeopbuk-ro in Mapo, Seoul, near Digital Media City Station. Before her wedding photo shoot, the writer had faded dye that had turned red and orange toned down to a natural brown by designer Taeyeon, with a color chart consultation, scalp protector and an S-curl blow-dry timed to her plans. JUNO Hair Sangam DMC is a dye salon in Sangam-dong worth recommending to anyone struggling with red tones or preparing for an important shoot.

Written Jun 29, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSuwon, GyeonggiBars

Hanok pub near Suwon Station with autumn cocktails: Maesan Yakbang

Maesan Yakbang is a hanok-style Korean pub in Suwon, tucked into an alley off Rodeo Street about a 10-minute walk from Suwon Station Exit 8. Visiting with a friend, the writer tried two autumn cocktails from Maesan Yakbang's four-seasons-of-Korea menu, Baekseolgi and Omija, plus a cheese-loaded potato pancake (gamjachae-jeon); the music was low enough to talk, and a birthday fire show at the next table added some fun. Maesan Yakbang is a good fit for quiet drinks and conversation on a blind date, a date or an anniversary.

Written Jul 3, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSuwon, GyeonggiRestaurants

Sashimi bar in Ingye-dong, Suwon: aged fish platter, Taebaek Sanghoe

Taebaek Sanghoe Ingye Main Branch (태백상회 인계본점) is a pojangmacha-style (Korean street tent bar) raw fish restaurant at the start of the Na Hye-seok Street food alley in Ingye-dong, Suwon, with an aged sashimi counter alongside a butcher-style meat section. On an early Sunday evening the writer ordered the medium aged sashimi platter for 49,000 won with draft beer, which included flatfish, rockfish, salmon, sweet shrimp, squid and yukhoe (seasoned raw beef), and the outdoor tables set a relaxed mood. Taebaek Sanghoe Ingye Main Branch suits groups split between fish and meat, or anyone looking for an outdoor drinking night in Suwon.

Written Jul 1, 2026Sponsored
PlaceCheonan, ChungnamCafés

Cheonan dessert café: pistachio canelé & sparkling peach tea, Brewers

Brewers Coffee Cheonan Sinbu Branch (브루어스커피 천안신부점) is a baked-goods café in Sinbu-dong, Cheonan, about a 3-minute walk from Shinsegae Department Store. The writer ordered a vanilla canelé (₩3,500), a pistachio canelé (₩4,000), a salted chocolate financier (₩3,200), an iced americano and a flat peach iced tea made with sparkling water, and the pistachio canelé was the favorite. Brewers Coffee Cheonan Sinbu Branch is a good Cheonan café for enjoying coffee with baked goods.

Written Jul 6, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSuwon, GyeonggiRestaurants

Renovated Jeongja, Suwon mushroom shabu with a kids' cinema: Sodamchon

Sodamchon Suwon Jeongja Branch is a shabu-shabu restaurant specializing in Vietnamese-style spring rolls, on the 4th floor of Gyeongseong Building on Jeongjacheon-ro in Jangan-gu, Suwon. After the renovation, the blogger ordered the spring roll mushroom shabu for 2 with half mild, half spicy broth and half brisket, half chuck, then looked around the kids' cinema and the expanded self-bar. With 6 kinds of mushrooms, fresh vegetables and a space that works well with children, Sodamchon Suwon Jeongja Branch was a satisfying spot for a family meal.

Written Jul 13, 2026Sponsored
PlacePyeongtaek, GyeonggiRestaurants

Pyongyang naengmyeon with mung bean pancake in Pyeongtaek: Seoul

Seoul Myeonok is a Korean restaurant specializing in Pyongyang naengmyeon (cold buckwheat noodles), near Exit 1 of Pyeongtaek Station in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi, run by the same family for three generations since 1973. At Seoul Myeonok the writer ordered 2 bowls of Pyongyang naengmyeon, a mung bean pancake (nokdu bindaetteok) and a giant meat dumpling; the clear broth made with beef and dongchimi (radish water kimchi) and the house-made buckwheat noodles tasted clean, and the pancake and dumpling paired well with the noodles. For mild Pyongyang naengmyeon with hearty sides, Seoul Myeonok is a solid recommendation.

Written Jul 15, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJongno, SeoulRestaurants

Gwanghwamun noodle shop weekend lunch: smoky tiger rice, Cheonghwa

Cheonghwa Uyuk Dosakmyeon (청화 우육도삭면) is a beef noodle and dim sum restaurant on the first floor of Le Meilleur Jongno Town in Pimatgol, near Exit 1 of Jonggak Station in Jongno, Seoul. At a weekend lunch the writer ordered knife-cut beef noodles (₩11,000), shumai (₩9,800) and tiger stir-fry rice (₩10,800): rich beef broth with chewy knife-cut noodles, juicy shumai and a spicy, smoky rice bowl, all of them satisfying. Cheonghwa Uyuk Dosakmyeon is a Gwanghwamun Chinese restaurant made for sharing noodles, dim sum and rice.

Written Jul 18, 2026Sponsored
PlacePyeongtaek, GyeonggiRestaurants

Pyeongtaek noodle house galbitang with 4 big ribs: Seoul Myeonok

Seoul Myeonok (서울면옥) is a naengmyeon (cold noodle) restaurant about 140m from Exit 1 of Pyeongtaek Station, introduced as a third-generation business running since 1973. On a day of changeable weather, the writer skipped the Pyongyang naengmyeon for the large galbitang (beef short rib soup, 18,000 won) and 4 giant meat dumplings (7,500 won); the large galbitang held 4 big rib bones with tender, not-tough meat. Seoul Myeonok is a long-running Pyeongtaek Station restaurant worth remembering for a hot, filling bowl of galbitang as well as its Pyongyang naengmyeon.

Written Oct 9, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulHair & beauty salons

Cheongdam hair salon root volume for flat, thin hair in monsoon: Beorn

Beorn Hair Cheongdam (비오른헤어 청담점) is a hair salon in Cheongdam-dong, Gangnam, Seoul, about a 2-minute walk from Gangnam-gu Office Station Exit 3-1. The writer came in planning a full perm because her thin hair loses volume every monsoon season, but after a hair damage consultation she got root volume instead and also learned how to blow-dry her growing-out bangs. For a crown that goes flat in humid weather, root volume at Beorn Hair Cheongdam was a satisfying choice.

Written Jul 20, 2026Sponsored