Sangsu Worn Umbrella · 16 stories

Worn Umbrella, Seoul Rounds

Writes about Seoul's bars, cafes, shopping streets, and small restaurants found on evening walks through the city. · Writes about: Bars · Cafés · Things to do · Restaurants · Hair & beauty salons · Shopping

PlaceSeongdong, SeoulHair & beauty salons

Ttukseom hair salon: men's Ivy League cut + down perm, Onzon Hair

Onzon Hair Seongsu is a hair salon in Seongdong, Seoul, a 1-minute walk from Exit 5 of Ttukseom Station. After a consultation, the writer's husband, who needs to keep his hair short, got a men's Ivy League cut and a down perm at Onzon Hair Seongsu, and his puffy sides and back were left neat and tidy. Thanks to the meticulous cut and staff who are considerate even toward customers with a baby, Onzon Hair Seongsu is well worth a return visit.

Written Jun 12, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSongpa, SeoulShopping

Munjeong florist: pink rose-hydrangea M bouquet for Mom's 60th, Habio

Habio Flower by Su is a florist on the 1st floor of Park Habio Building 110 in Munjeong-dong, Songpa, Seoul. For Mom's 60th birthday, the writer ordered the 80,000 won M bouquet without choosing colors, and Habio Flower by Su made a full bouquet of light pink roses and hydrangeas in Mom's favorite pink. With clear prices and easy parking, Habio Flower by Su is a good choice for a parent's birthday bouquet.

Written Jun 13, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSongpa, SeoulRestaurants

Cheonho Station sashimi bar for a rainy-day reunion: Dowon Susan

Dowon Susan (도원수산) is a neighborhood sashimi restaurant on Pungseong-ro 25-gil in Songpa, Seoul, about a 5-minute walk from Cheonho Station Exit 9. On a rainy day, the writer and a former coworker shared Dowon Susan's live fish set of large flounder and rockfish (small, ₩45,000) with spicy fish stew, and the clean fish tanks, generous side dishes and chewy sujebi (hand-torn dough flakes) in the spicy stew stood out most. Dowon Susan suits anyone who wants fresh sashimi in a relaxed, homey, old-school local setting.

Written Jun 23, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulHair & beauty salons

Hongdae hair salon: stain-free root tone-down dye at Juno Hair

Juno Hair Hongdae Entrance Branch is a hair salon about a 2-minute walk from Exit 2 of Hongik Univ. Station in Mapo, Seoul. The writer urgently needed a root touch-up after the whole head had grown lighter, and after a consultation got a tone-down dye that ear protection caps and careful application kept free of skin staining or stinging, all finished in about 2 hours. Juno Hair Hongdae Entrance Branch suits anyone who wants root or tone-down color done comfortably, with a thorough consultation and careful work.

Written Jun 28, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulRestaurants

Yeonnam-dong ochazuke spot: 3 p.m. late lunch with my sister, Ochaya

Ochaya Yeonnam is an ochazuke (rice in tea or broth) restaurant in Yeonnam-dong, Seoul, near Exit 3 of Hongik Univ. Station. With no break time to worry about, the writer went with her older sister around 3 p.m. for sake chazuke (salmon, ₩15,000), butanokakuni (braised pork belly, ₩14,000) and shiitake tempura (₩5,000) with bottled Kirin beer, and the ochazuke made with nutritious mixed rice was filling yet easy on the stomach. When you need a neat, tidy meal at an in-between hour, Ochaya Yeonnam is a satisfying choice.

Written Jun 29, 2026Sponsored
PlaceDongdaemun, SeoulRestaurants

Hwigyeong-dong Korean restaurant for braised short ribs: Hoegi Wang

Hoegi Wang Galbitang (회기왕갈비탕) is a Korean restaurant serving galbitang (short rib soup) and galbijjim (braised short ribs) in Hwigyeong-dong, Dongdaemun, Seoul, near Hoegi Station Exit 1. The writer came for galbitang at lunch with her mom in her 60s, her husband and their baby, but switched to the Sweet-Spicy Hanjjak So Galbijjim (58,000 won) after seeing the next table's. The big ribs and the skin-on deodeok salad from the self-serve bar pleased the whole family. Hoegi Wang Galbitang is a good choice not just for galbitang but for a family meal over braised short ribs.

Written Jul 2, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulCafés

Yeonnam-dong café: Ecuador Sidra vs Panama Geisha, Central Site

Central Site Yeonnam is a three-floor hand-drip café in Yeonnam-dong, Mapo, Seoul, about a 6-minute walk from Hongik Univ. Station Exit 3. After a meal with her older sister, a longtime iced Americano drinker swapped two hand drips at Central Site Yeonnam, an Ecuador Sidra natural and a Panama Geisha washed, and shared a tiramisu. Central Site Yeonnam is an easy after-meal café in Yeonnam-dong where even first-time hand-drip drinkers can start by smelling the beans.

Written Jun 30, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulCafés

Hapjeong café calmer than Yeonnam: Cherry Velvet brew at Central Site

Central Site Hapjeong is a roastery café specialising in brewed coffee in Hapjeong, Mapo, Seoul, near Hapjeong Station Exit 10 and right in front of Mecenatpolis. On a return visit after the Yeonnam branch, the writer tried the Colombia Las Flores Duo Cherry Velvet Java Hydro Honey, the Ethiopia Gesha Village Oma #39 Gesha 1931 Natural and the tiramisu, and found the coffee quality as good as at the Yeonnam branch but the atmosphere much calmer. If you want to focus quietly on a cup of brewed coffee, Central Site Hapjeong is a good fit.

Written Jul 7, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulRestaurants

Hongdae sushi with a two-player arcade machine: Yu Iksang Sushi

Yu Iksang Sushi (유익상스시) is a long-tail sushi restaurant in Hongdae, Mapo, Seoul, about a 6-minute walk from Exit 9 of Hongik Univ. Station. Two of us shared the 26-piece Couple A Plus set around 5 p.m. on a weekday, got grilled eggplant sushi and a cola on the house, and brushed on soy sauce with a silicone brush in a room decorated with shonen manga posters and a two-player arcade machine. Yu Iksang Sushi pairs generous long-tail sushi with thoughtful touches and warm service, making it a Hongdae sushi spot worth seeking out.

Written Jul 5, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeongdong, SeoulThings to do

Seongsu LP listening room for an indoor date: John Lennon at Wanita

Wanita Music Listening Room Seongsu is an LP music listening room on Yeonmujang-gil near Seongsu Station in Seoul. On a weekday afternoon, the 16,500 won per-person cultural fee covered a butter cream latte, records played on the turntable (staff-recommended jazz, John Lennon and Lee Moon-sae), a vintage-speaker listening room and a guestbook to read. If Seongsu café dates that end with just coffee feel a little flat, Wanita Music Listening Room Seongsu makes a refreshing indoor date.

Written Jul 11, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeongdong, SeoulRestaurants

Seongsu gyukatsu with a dieting friend and zero cola: Gyuen Dang

Gyuen Dang Seongsu Main Branch is a Japanese gyukatsu (breaded beef cutlet) restaurant on the second floor of a building on Yeonmujang-gil, near Exits 3 and 4 of Seongsu Station in Seoul. Looking for a protein-focused meal with a friend on a diet, the writer visited on a weekday Thursday and ordered striploin gyukatsu, tenderloin gyukatsu, zero cola and zero cider. The coating burned slightly when too many pieces went onto the buttered stone grill plate at once. Thanks to fresh meat and friendly service, Gyuen Dang Seongsu Main Branch is worth a visit for anyone looking for gyukatsu in Seongsu.

Written Jul 10, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulRestaurants

Hongdae pasta dinner with a friend, Seoul: 5-team Friday wait at Omil

Omil Hongdae is a pasta and omurice restaurant on the 2nd floor of a building on Yanghwa-ro in Mapo, Seoul, about a 2-minute walk from Exit 8 of Hongik Univ. Station. At 6pm on a Friday, the writer and a friend waited behind 5 teams, then shared the 47,800 won OH! SET: K-butter pasta, Rubber Duck omurice and whole corn fritters. Each of the three Omil Hongdae dishes had its own clear character, making it a satisfying dinner even for someone who doesn't usually enjoy pasta.

Written Jul 28, 2026Sponsored