Cozy Counter Guest · 8 stories

Warm Mirror, Seoul Cafes and Counters

Writes about Seoul restaurants, cafes, and beauty spots visited over casual weekend outings. · Writes about: Restaurants · Cafés · Hair & beauty salons

PlaceYangcheon, SeoulRestaurants

Mom-approved gopchang in Mokdong, restroom mouthwash: Omokgyo Gopchang

Omokgyo Gopchang Mokdong Main Branch is a gopchang (grilled beef small intestine) restaurant in Mokdong, Yangcheon, Seoul, a 3-minute walk from Omokgyo Station Exit 1. Over a weekend visit we ordered mixed gopchang for 2 and the signature garlic gopchang, and the plump, high-quality gopchang won over Mom, who isn't usually a gopchang fan. Omokgyo Gopchang pairs old-school charm with tidy upkeep and thoughtful touches like mouthwash in the restroom.

Written Jun 5, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYeongdeungpo, SeoulRestaurants

Yeouido gyukatsu restaurant, a regular since high school: Izawa

Izawa Yeouido Direct Store is a gyukatsu (breaded beef cutlet) restaurant in Yeouido, Seoul, a 1-minute walk from Exit 5 of Yeouido Station. A regular since high school returned with a friend from cram-school days, took a 2-person table and grilled 2 gyukatsu on a hot stone, finding the soy-based sauce and mild wasabi a great match for the beef. Izawa has tasted the same since the writer's school-uniform days, making it a Yeouido Japanese date spot worth coming back to again and again.

Written Jul 13, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeongdong, SeoulCafés

Seongsu soufflé café terrace on iPhone 6s flash: fresh mango at 5to7

5to7 Seongsu Main Branch is a two-floor soufflé café on Seoulsup 2-gil in Seongdong, Seoul, between Seoulsup Station and Ttukseom Station. The blogger switched between an iPhone 15 Pro and an iPhone 6s for photos while eating a fresh mango soufflé (₩23,000) with an americano and a milk tea, and finished the whole soufflé in no time despite usually tiring of sweet desserts quickly. 5to7 Seongsu Main Branch suits anyone who wants both a terrace photo spot and a mango soufflé that doesn't get too sweet.

Written Jul 15, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulCafés

Dog-friendly Hongdae café with comfy sofas and a choco roll: Noknok

Noknok (녹녹) is a two-floor café and bakery on Seongmisan-ro in Yeonnam-dong, Hongdae, Seoul, with parking, a pet-friendly policy and room for groups. The writer and a friend sat on Noknok's plush first-floor sofas over an americano (3,800 won), a matcha latte (4,400 won) and a Kkojilganadi choco roll (8,700 won), and liked the prices, which are lower than nearby cafés, and the photogenic interior. For parking, dogs and value in one stop in Yeonnam-dong, Noknok is a safe choice.

Written Jul 22, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulRestaurants

Dog-friendly Texas BBQ in Sangsu, Seoul: dog water cup at Locos BBQ

Locos BBQ Sangsu Branch is a dog-friendly Texas barbecue restaurant near Exit 4 of Sangsu Station in Mapo, Seoul. The writer visited with her mom and her dog Jjuni, ordering the Locos BBQ 2-person sampler (49,900 won) and the opening-event 1+1 Hanmac draft beer (8,000 won), and loved the tender pork ribs, the self-serve nachos and the water cup the owner brought out for Jjuni. Locos BBQ Sangsu Branch is worth a return visit for families who want a filling Texas BBQ meal with their dog.

Written Jul 30, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulRestaurants

Yeonnam-dong risotto spot with a stair waiting area: Hôtel de Couture

Hôtel de Couture is a pasta and risotto restaurant in Yeonnam-dong, Mapo, Seoul, a 6-minute walk from Exit 3 of Hongik Univ. Station. On a second visit, the writer and a friend ordered jambon truffle cream risotto (17,000 won) and honey bacon rosé pasta (17,000 won), and the waiting area up the stairs, orange curtains and photo-spot interior stood out. For its risotto alone, Hôtel de Couture is a Yeonnam-dong spot for dates and friends' meals worth returning to again and again.

Written Jul 29, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJongno, SeoulRestaurants

Jongno3-ga Korean BBQ with potato slice refills: Cham Dwaejitgan

Cham Dwaejitgan Jongno Main Branch is a Jirisan black pork belly (samgyeopsal) and skin-on pork belly (ogyeopsal) restaurant a 1-minute walk from Exit 2-1 of Jongno3-ga Station in Seoul. Two friends ordered 2 servings of skin-on black pork belly, 2 margarine soy sauce egg rice bowls and doenjang jjigae (soybean paste stew). Staff grilled the meat, and thinly sliced potatoes were grilled afterward, with an extra round on request. With the self-serve side dish bar and the grilling service, Cham Dwaejitgan earned a promise to come back.

Written Aug 10, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYongsan, SeoulRestaurants

Instant tteokbokki for two at a packed 8pm in Yongsan: Hyeonseonine

Hyeonseonine Yongsan Main Branch is a tteokbokki (spicy rice cakes) and instant tteokbokki restaurant a three-minute walk from Exit 6 of Sinyongsan Station in Yongsan, Seoul. Visiting around 8-9pm with a tteokbokki-loving friend, the writer ordered instant tteokbokki for two plus fried rice, dipped the fried mandu (dumplings) into the broth, and finished with corn-studded fried rice. The dining room was nearly full, yet there was no wait and the food was set up within 5-10 minutes.

Written Aug 18, 2026Sponsored
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