Twilight Plate · 23 stories

A Dusk Plate in Mangwon

Writes about small restaurants and everyday meals around Seoul neighborhoods. · Writes about: Restaurants · Hair & beauty salons · Cafés · Bars · Things to do

PlaceGuro, SeoulRestaurants

Saturday dakgalbi buffet near Gudi Station with makguksu: Bak Jeongmi

Bak Jeongmi Dakgalbi Guro Digital branch (사계진미숯불닭갈비 구로디지털점) is an all-you-can-eat charcoal dakgalbi (grilled chicken) restaurant 5 minutes on foot from Gudi Station in Guro, Seoul. After work on a Saturday, the writer and a friend waited 10 minutes, ate salt dakgalbi, grilled chicken neck and fried chicken from the self-serve bar, then finished with mul makguksu and bibim makguksu (cold and spicy buckwheat noodles). At 20,500 won per adult for 2 hours of unlimited refills, Bak Jeongmi Dakgalbi is the writer's top pick for good-value dakgalbi near Gudi Station.

Written May 3, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSuseong, DaeguRestaurants

Jisan-dong, Daegu raw fish restaurant: lunch with Mom at Paldakpaldak

Paldakpaldak (팔딱팔딱) is a wild-caught raw fish restaurant in Jisan-dong, Suseong-gu, Daegu, said to buy its live fish directly from the Pohang fish auction market. The writer and Mom had two lunch specials, the mulhoe (cold raw fish soup) set for 15,000 won and the hoedeopbap (raw fish rice bowl) with spicy fish stew set for 12,000 won, and also received braised flatfish that appeared to be on the house. Verdict: Paldakpaldak is a great-value raw fish spot in Jisan-dong with good prices and good food.

Written May 3, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeongnam, GyeonggiHair & beauty salons

Seohyeon, Seongnam facial salon for men: V-fit symmetry, Beaute

Beaute Bundang (뷰태에스테틱 분당점) is a skin care and facial contouring salon on Hwangsaeul-ro 360beon-gil in Seohyeon-dong, Bundang, Seongnam, Gyeonggi. The writer was not treated but watched a close younger male friend have V-fit facial contouring at Beaute Bundang. Right afterward, the slight imbalance between the two sides of his face looked noticeably evened out, and his skin felt more hydrated. For men considering facial contouring, the V-fit at Beaute Bundang is worth a close look.

Written Nov 9, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulHair & beauty salons

Hongdae hair salon date: sepia brown all-over dye at Arish

Arish Hapjeong Muse Hair Salon is a Hongdae and Hapjeong hair salon in Mapo, Seoul, near Hapjeong Station Exits 4 and 5. On a Hongdae date, the writer watched his girlfriend's regrown black hair get an all-over dye in a dark level 7 sepia brown at Arish Hapjeong Muse, with dye listed at 150,000 won. The dye took a long time, but the team leader's careful attention kept it from feeling boring, and his girlfriend was very happy with the result.

Written Nov 6, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeocho, SeoulRestaurants

Gangnam Station sushi omakase and salmon sake-don weekday lunch: Ilpum

Ilpum Gangnam Branch is a Japanese restaurant specializing in kaisendon (raw fish rice bowls) and sushi, located on basement level 1 off Seocho-daero 74-gil near Gangnam Station in Seocho, Seoul. On a weekday lunch with an aunt, the writer ordered the sushi omakase (50,000 won) and the salmon sake-don (salmon rice bowl, 26,000 won), and the sets came with chawanmushi (steamed egg custard), miso soup and white kimchi, plus complimentary futomaki, tempura udon and mango panna cotta, leaving them full to bursting. Ilpum Gangnam Branch is a solid weekday lunch pick near Gangnam Station for aged salmon and premium sushi in one meal.

Written May 21, 2026Sponsored
PlaceAnyang, GyeonggiHair & beauty salons

Men's facial salon in Anyang for dehydrated skin & asymmetry: Esthetia

Esthetia Pyeongchon Branch 1 is a skin care and facial contouring salon on Simin-daero in Dongan-gu, Anyang, Gyeonggi. The writer's younger brother, who struggled with dehydrated skin and left-right facial asymmetry, had a 100% hand-done contouring session at Esthetia Pyeongchon Branch 1 after a consultation, while the writer watched every step from cleansing to the closing consultation. Men who are new to skin care shops and feel awkward about them can comfortably get treated at Esthetia Pyeongchon Branch 1, especially if they bring someone along.

Written Nov 2, 2026Sponsored
PlaceAnyang, GyeonggiRestaurants

Beomgye pasta spot, shrimp pilaf & no-seafood risotto: Two Find Peter

Two Find Peter Beomgye Branch is a pasta, risotto and pilaf restaurant on the 5th floor of Park Avenuel in Beomgye, Anyang. On a return visit with a close younger friend, the writer ordered vongole, bocconcini cheese tomato pasta, a tomato risotto with the seafood left out and shrimp pilaf for 64,000 won in total, and the shrimp pilaf was the best dish of the day. Verdict: Two Find Peter Beomgye Branch offers good food for the price and a softly lit room that suits a date or a long chat.

Written Nov 2, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulRestaurants

Hongdae pizza date night: L half-and-half too big to finish, Sunny's

Sunny's Pizza Market (써니스피자마켓) is a pizza restaurant on Donggyo-ro, between Hongik Univ. Station and Yeonnam-dong in Mapo, Seoul. On a weekend evening date, a couple ordered an L half-and-half pizza (Smooth Potato and Sweet Potato Bacon), a Classic Oven Pasta under ₩10,000 and a Coca-Cola, but the pizza was bigger than expected, so they took the leftovers home. For two people at Sunny's Pizza Market, an R half-and-half with a Classic Oven Pasta on the side is the right amount.

Written Nov 1, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulRestaurants

Weekend chuck eye shabu-shabu & fried rice, Hapjeong: Shabu in Seoul

Shabu in Seoul Hapjeong Branch is a shabu-shabu restaurant on basement level 2 of Delight Square 1, near Hapjeong Station in Mapo, Seoul. On a cold autumn weekend lunch, the writer and his girlfriend shared two Prime Angus chuck eye shabu sets in clear mushroom broth (63,000 won with a Coca-Cola), then finished with fried rice cooked by staff at the table and omija (five-flavor berry) tea. The writer's first chuck eye shabu-shabu was melt-in-your-mouth tender, making Shabu in Seoul Hapjeong Branch a Hapjeong date lunch spot worth revisiting.

Written Oct 31, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulHair & beauty salons

Sinnonhyeon hair salon top-only partial perm over an old perm: Heeol

Heeol Hair Gangnam Flagship Store is a hair salon on Bongeunsa-ro 4-gil near Sinnonhyeon Station in Gangnam, Seoul. The writer visited for the first time with her aunt, who had a consultation with Director Hogeun. Because much of the aunt's old perm was still in her hair, she got a partial perm on just the top of her head instead of a full perm. Heeol Hair Gangnam Flagship Store is worth recommending if you want a natural volume perm that targets only the parts that need it, without overdoing it.

Written May 25, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJung-gu, SeoulHair & beauty salons

Myeongdong hair salon shadow perm, down perm, first head spa: Yerideu

Yerideu Hair (예리드) is a hair salon on the 3rd floor on Myeongdong 8ga-gil in Jung-gu, Seoul, where men can get a perm and scalp care with a head spa in the same visit. The writer's close younger friend got a shadow perm and a down perm on the sides and back at Yerideu Hair. He then had his first-ever head spa, which came with a full-body massage. He was very happy with how the perm turned out, and Yerideu Hair comes across as a good Myeongdong salon for a men's perm and scalp care in one visit.

Written Oct 22, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJung-gu, DaeguRestaurants

Dongin-dong, Daegu bossam with beef doenjang stew: Uldong Bossam

Uldong Bossam (울동보쌈) is a Korean restaurant specializing in bossam (boiled pork wraps) in Dongin-dong, Jung-gu, Daegu, near Daegu City Hall. On a dinner visit, the writer's parents ordered the extra-meat bossam set and the writer had the bossam rice bowl; each came as a one-person meal with beef brisket doenjang (soybean paste) stew and rice, and the pork was tender with no gamy smell. Uldong Bossam delivers the true taste of bossam at a reasonable price and is worth a return visit.

Written Oct 20, 2026Sponsored