Mirror and Tonic — Hyoju Baek

Daeheung Station raw fish restaurant with cream draft beer: Mapo Bada

Jaecheoldameun Mapo Bada is a course-style raw fish restaurant on the main road by Exit 3 of Daeheung Station in Mapo, Seoul. After a Friday evening wait, the Mapo Bada Signature Set arrived as one full tabletop spread of salt-grilled shrimp, assorted seafood, five kinds of seasonal sashimi and live octopus, finished with opening-special cream draft beer and a spicy fish stew with free ramen noodles. For a party of two to four, the set menu at Jaecheoldameun Mapo Bada is the best value on the menu.

Written Sep 13, 2026Sponsored

PlaceMapo, SeoulHair & beauty salons

Korean lash lift on a 3-month return visit in Mapo, Seoul: Iyo Shop

Iyo Shop is a one-person lash lift and lash extension studio on the 2nd floor of Park Palace, by Exit 3 of Gongdeok Station in Mapo, Seoul. Three months after a first visit, the writer returned to Iyo Shop for a nutrition + black tinting lash lift that took about 1 hour, then waited 4 hours before washing her face to protect the hold. Even bare-faced with only lash serum on, the curl looked like mascara and an eyelash curler had been used, so Iyo Shop is an easy recommendation for a lash lift around Gongdeok or Mapo.

Written Sep 13, 2026Sponsored

PlaceMapo, SeoulBars

Sangsu open-roof bar with a four-party 8pm wait: Kkoko Land

Kkoko Land is an open-roof bar on Wausan-ro 19-gil in Sangsu, Mapo-gu, Seoul, a short walk from Sangsu Station Exit 2. Arriving at 8pm on a weekend meant waiting behind four parties before getting the last table for Seogyo-dong kalbaengi (whelk) at 20,000 won, charcoal-grilled sauced chicken barbecue at 24,000 won and an extra tortilla. Even with the signature dish sold out, the smoky sauced barbecue wrapped in tortilla made the wait at Kkoko Land worth it.

Written Sep 15, 2026Sponsored