Compact Lunch Goer · 5 stories

A Thin Mirror Through Mangwon

Writes about small restaurants and beauty shops tucked into Seoul's quieter blocks. · Writes about: Restaurants · Hair & beauty salons

PlaceSeongdong, SeoulHair & beauty salons

Sangwangsimni salon: patchy hair to level 11 light brown, Oreudeubi

Oreudeubi Sangwangsimni Station Branch (오르드비 상왕십리역점) is a hair salon in the Centras shopping complex near Sangwangsimni Station in Seongdong, Seoul, specializing in one-on-one hair consultations and personalized color. The writer's damaged hair was patchy in 3 to 4 color layers from grown-out roots, uneven layers and damaged ends, so Oreudeubi dyed it all over in a light brown for spring and summer, applying separate colors to the roots and mid-lengths to match the lighter ends, for a Milbon level 11 shade at the roots. Thanks to a careful color consultation at Oreudeubi, the mismatched hair came out as one bright, even tone.

Written Apr 23, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGwangjin, SeoulRestaurants

Terrace Italian near Sejong Univ.: duck breast steak, Osteria Hyeon

Osteria Hyeon is an Italian restaurant with a terrace in Gwangjin, Seoul, near the main gate of Children's Grand Park and Sejong University. Over dinner with a friend, the writer tried two new dishes, the melanzane (eggplant) pizza at ₩34,000 and the duck breast steak at ₩49,000, from an indoor table where the floor-to-ceiling windows were open to the terrace. With chewy wood-fired pizza dough and friendly staff, Osteria Hyeon is a date spot worth recommending before or after a walk in Children's Grand Park.

Written May 19, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJongno, SeoulRestaurants

Quiet Jonggak Korean BBQ: jingalbisal with just salt, Yukrab Jongno

Yukrab Jongno (육랩 종로점) is a beef and lamb Korean BBQ restaurant on the 3rd floor of a building on the bar street near Jonggak Station in Jongno, Seoul. The writer booked a window seat through Naver and shared 2 portions of jingalbisal (boneless beef rib meat), doenjang stew (soybean paste stew), a bowl of rice and kimchi cheese fried rice with a friend; the jingalbisal melted in the mouth with nothing but a dip of salt. Yukrab Jongno is a recommended Jonggak Station dinner spot for grilling meat over a quiet conversation.

Written May 23, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGwangjin, SeoulBars

Gunja jazz bar for tangy wings and a dry highball: Kick Ass Jazz Club

Kick Ass Jazz Club is a jazz bar serving cocktails, whisky and highballs on Neungdong-ro near Gunja Station in Gwangjin, Seoul. After a first visit during the soft opening, the writer returned with a friend after work on a weeknight and ordered Red Hot Buffalo Wings, chili cheese fries and two Kick Ass Highballs. Kick Ass Jazz Club suits a light drink after dinner, and the tangy, fiery wings paired with the unsweet Japanese-style highball were the standout.

Written Jul 18, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulHair & beauty salons

Sinnonhyeon hair salon junior stylist Shiseido Reforming: Park Jun

Park Jun Beauty Lab Gangnam Branch is a hair salon by Exits 4 and 5 of Sinnonhyeon Station on Line 9 and Exit 6 of the Sinbundang Line in Gangnam, Seoul. To tidy up hair damaged by repeated root-only dyeing, junior stylist Yeonjae did the Shiseido Reforming program: ₩180,000 plus a ₩33,000 length surcharge, ₩213,000 in total. Thanks to a clinic explained step by step and a C-curl blow-dry, the hair still sits smooth two weeks on and the flattened curls have come back a little.

Written Aug 20, 2026Sponsored
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