Stopover Menu Diarist · 71 stories

Menus Between Stops

I write about restaurant meals I find while moving around Seoul. · Writes about: Restaurants · Cafés · Hair & beauty salons · Things to do · Bars · Shopping

PlaceEunpyeong, SeoulRestaurants

Half-and-half jokbal on makguksu by Yeonsinnae Station: Gwihanjokbal

Gwihanjokbal Yeonsinnae (귀한족발 연신내점) is a jokbal (braised pig's trotters) restaurant near Yeonsinnae Station in Eunpyeong, Seoul. The blogger ordered half-and-half jokbal (half spicy fire jokbal, half original) with makguksu (chilled buckwheat noodles). They ate the jokbal in lettuce wraps, as a topping on the makguksu and dipped in garlic sauce, and the white kimchi and bean sprout soup also stood out. Verdict: Gwihanjokbal Yeonsinnae's half-and-half jokbal with makguksu suits anyone who wants spicy and mild flavors in one meal.

Written Jun 6, 2026Sponsored
PlaceEunpyeong, SeoulRestaurants

Nokbeon sundaeguk restaurant with a self-serve side dish bar: Samo

Samo Sundaeguk Nokbeon is a sundaeguk (Korean blood sausage soup) restaurant on Eunpyeong-ro near Eunpyeong District Office in Eunpyeong, Seoul. The writer ordered a regular assorted sundaeguk and a spicy lean-meat sundaeguk topped with plenty of perilla seed powder, then filled up on kkakdugi, kimchi, onion, garlic and chili peppers from the self-serve bar. Verdict: Samo Sundaeguk Nokbeon is a good stop whenever you crave a hot bowl of sundaeguk near Nokbeon.

Written Jun 5, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulHair & beauty salons

Gongdeok lash salon: black tint lift for no-mascara mornings, Iyo Shop

Iyo Shop is a 100% reservation-only lash lift salon at Unit 211, 2nd floor, 143 Mapo-daero, near Gongdeok Station in Mapo, Seoul. The writer, bothered by limp, faint lashes, was recommended a nourishing + black tint lift after a 1:1 consultation. The treatment was comfortable enough to fall asleep with no eye stinging, and it left dark, defined curls without mascara. For anyone who wants to cut morning prep time and still have defined eyes on a bare face, the Iyo Shop nourishing + black tint lift was a satisfying choice.

Written Jun 7, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYongsan, SeoulRestaurants

Sinyongsan hot pot for two: finishing the Mama Set at Mamalala Hotpot

Mamalala Hotpot (마마라라 훠궈) is a Chongqing-style hot pot restaurant at 37 Hangang-daero, 2nd floor, in Yongsan, Seoul, near Sinyongsan Station. Two people ordered the Mama Set with half spicy red broth and half cream white broth, mixed their own sauces at the 2,500 won-per-person sauce bar, and finished the generous set down to the bottom of the pot. Mamalala Hotpot suits anyone in Yongsan who wants spicy and mild broth in one pot and enjoys building their own dipping sauce.

Written Oct 24, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulRestaurants

Gongdeok salad shop: mustard-dipped chicken tofu noodles, Why Starve

Why Starve Diet Gongdeok Main Branch is a protein box and salad shop on basement level 1 of Lotte Castle President by Gongdeok Station in Mapo, Seoul. The chicken tofu noodle protein box and a mustard sauce were ordered at the kiosk, and the chicken breast, tofu noodles, broccoli and chickpeas were dipped in the mustard sauce, which made it feel more like a filling meal than a salad. The Why Starve chicken tofu noodle protein box is an easy, guilt-free pick when you crave noodles on a diet.

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

Gongdeok lash salon: lift that looks softer the next day, Iyo Shop

Iyo Shop is a lash salon on the second floor of a building near Exit 3 of Gongdeok Station in Mapo, Seoul. A nourishing + black tinting lash lift on droopy lashes gave a crisp, sharply lifted curl right after the treatment, and by the next day the curl had softened into a natural look that needed no mascara. With a cozy white-toned space where you lie back comfortably during the treatment, Iyo Shop is an easy lash lift pick near Gongdeok Station.

Written Oct 23, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJongno, SeoulRestaurants

Corkage-free Korean course in Gwanghwamun: 1++ bulgogi hot pot, Modam

Modam Dining Gwanghwamun (모담다이닝 광화문점) is a corkage-free Korean dining restaurant on basement level 1 of Deoksugung The Palace in Gwanghwamun, Jongno, Seoul. The Hanwoo 1++ bulgogi hot pot course at Modam Dining Gwanghwamun runs in order from pumpkin porridge and three starters to seasonal raw fish ceviche, Modam fritters, perilla oil capellini, the bulgogi hot pot meal and plum tea. The hidden star of the Modam Dining course was the perilla oil capellini topped with shrimp.

Written Oct 19, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJongno, SeoulRestaurants

Protein box shop in Gwanghwamun arcade: chicken pasta & beef, Wystab

Wystab Diet Gwanghwamun is a protein box shop in the underground shopping arcade near Exit 1 of Jonggak Station in Jongno, Seoul. The writer ate in with a friend, ordering a chicken protein box on a pasta base and a beef protein box topped with 150g of top blade beef, and was happy with the juicy chicken breast, the springy pasta and the nutrition chart on the wall. For Gwanghwamun office workers after a filling high-protein lunch, solo or as a pair, Wystab Diet Gwanghwamun is worth recommending.

Written Oct 22, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulHair & beauty salons

Gangnam wax salon, sensitive-skin face line design: Super Waxing

Super Waxing Gangnam (슈퍼왁싱 강남점) is a reservation-only waxing and face design salon on the 3rd floor of a building on Teheran-ro 1-gil, near Exit 11 of Gangnam Station in Seoul. After work, the writer, who has sensitive skin, had a forehead, hairline and eyebrow wax in one visit at Super Waxing Gangnam; the owner drew lines matched to her face shape in white liner, talked them through, then tidied stray baby hairs, peach fuzz and dead skin. Verdict: Super Waxing Gangnam is a satisfying choice for anyone with sensitive skin who wants precisely designed face lines.

Written Oct 21, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulHair & beauty salons

Gongdeok Station posture studio for lower back pain: Wellkairomotion

Wellkairomotion is a private 1:1 posture correction studio in SK Hub Green near Gongdeok Station in Mapo, Seoul, running the Wellmotion Code program, which blends chiropractic principles with yoga, stretching and qigong. The writer came to Wellkairomotion with lower back pain, a rounded right shoulder and a twisted pelvis; after a consultation and session, the writer's leg lengths evened out, the back pain eased, and a complimentary face contour treatment reduced puffiness. Wellkairomotion is recommended for anyone whose body has stiffened from long hours at a monitor and who wants a reset from the root.

Written Jun 10, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJongno, SeoulRestaurants

Tablet-order sushi in Gwanghwamun, B set & cold soba: Elephant Sushi

Elephant Sushi Gwanghwamun is a sushi restaurant on B1 of 178 Sejong-daero, by Gwanghwamun Station in Jongno, Seoul. The writer ordered the Elephant Sushi B set and a half-and-half akami (lean tuna) and toro (fatty tuna) plate on the table tablet, had them with salad, miso soup and cold soba, and received a croquette through the Naver review event. With a clean dining room, easy tablet ordering and a good range of sets, Elephant Sushi Gwanghwamun is a handy stop when you're craving sushi near Gwanghwamun Station.

Written Jun 14, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulRestaurants

Yeonnam-dong steak & pasta spot, smiley fries, Cajun rosé: Hey Joji

Hey Joji (헤이죠지) is a green-fronted Western restaurant on Donggyo-ro 46-gil in Yeonnam-dong, Mapo, Seoul. At Hey Joji the house steak and the Cajun shrimp rosé pasta were ordered by QR code: the rosé sauce was thick and pleasantly spicy, and the steak was juicy inside, served with smiley and star-shaped fries. Hey Joji is a good Yeonnam-dong pick for a date or a meetup with friends when you want steak and pasta together.

Written Jun 13, 2026Sponsored