Morning Mirror Habit · 49 stories

Mirror Before Noon

I write about everyday fashion details and outfits I notice. · Writes about: Beauty products · Fashion · Restaurants · Cafés · Hair & beauty salons · Shopping · Food & snacks · Things to do · Home & living · Bars · Tech & gadgets

PlaceGangdong, SeoulCafés

Rice bread bakery café in Gangdong: a week of bread at Stay Bread

Stay Bread Myeongil branch is a rice bread bakery café near Myeongil Station in Gangdong, Seoul. On a third visit around 2 p.m., the writer filled up on a week's worth of rice bread to share with family, including rice loaves, olive ciabatta, sandwiches and red bean buns, and also checked out the 2nd-floor seating, tastings and bread-warming service at Stay Bread. If you want chewy rice bread that is easy on the stomach, start with the olive ciabatta at Stay Bread Myeongil branch.

Written Jun 4, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeongnam, GyeonggiShopping

Wirye florist: next-morning award ceremony bouquet, Kkocheuldamda Lime

Kkocheuldamda Lime (꽃을담다 라임) is a florist on the main road next to Starbucks at Wirye Central Plaza in Seongnam, Gyeonggi. The writer booked a bouquet for a child's award ceremony 30 minutes before closing, for pickup the next morning, gave only a price range and a color mood, and got exactly the bouquet they wanted, which was called the prettiest at the Seongnam City Hall ceremony. Verdict: if you want a well-made bouquet in Wirye, Kkocheuldamda Lime is the florist to choose.

Written Oct 24, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGoyang, GyeonggiRestaurants

Korean BBQ near Kintex before the bakery fair: pork belly at Auseong

Auseong Gaeseong Sonmandu (아우성 개성손만두) is a 24-hour kalguksu (knife-cut noodle soup) and dumpling hot pot restaurant on Jeongbalsan-ro in Ilsandong-gu, Goyang, that also serves pork belly. On the way to the cafe and bakery fair at Kintex, the writer, her mom and her sister skipped the dumpling kalguksu for 3 servings of pork belly at 17,000 won each, grilled kimchi, bean sprouts and scallion salad on the same grill, and finished with fried rice. For a filling Korean BBQ lunch near Kintex, Auseong Gaeseong Sonmandu is a safe choice.

Written Jun 5, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGoyang, GyeonggiCafés

Ilsan KINTEX bakery after the Cafe & Bakery Fair: Boulangerie Tan

Boulangerie Tan, Hyundai Department Store KINTEX is a bakery on the B1 floor of Hyundai Department Store KINTEX in Ilsan, Goyang. After visiting the KINTEX Cafe & Bakery Fair, the writer stopped by Boulangerie Tan with her mom and sister and bought three bags of cornet pies, baguettes, ciabatta and salt bread. She also covers the 1st-anniversary event, which gives a free bread bag with purchases of 30,000 won or more. Made with Fritz coffee beans and Lescure butter, Boulangerie Tan KINTEX suits bread lovers who like to stock up and freeze bread in portions.

Written Jun 6, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSokcho, GangwonRestaurants

Sokcho market stall's pancakes & sundae for a seaside picnic: Ddogi-ne

Ddogi-ne Twigim (서민갑부 똑이네 튀김) is a stall selling Korean pancakes, squid sundae (stuffed squid) and twigim (Korean tempura) at the far end of the dakgangjeong (sweet fried chicken) alley in Sokcho Jungang Market (Sokcho Tourist & Fish Market) in Sokcho, Gangwon. The writer ordered two sets to go: Sundae Set 3 (squid sundae and Abai sundae, 17,000 won) and Pancake Set 3 (potato pancake and buckwheat cabbage pancake, 13,000 won). They ate them on folding chairs by the sea. The potato pancake, made from potatoes grated on the spot, was crisp outside, and the squid sundae had glutinous rice inside. Ddogi-ne Twigim suits anyone who wants an easy, freshly grated potato pancake inside the market.

Written Oct 24, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSongpa, SeoulRestaurants

Handmade burgers in Seokchon: Naver pre-order pickup, Maple Burger DT

Maple Burger DT is a takeout-focused handmade burger shop right beside the gas station in front of Seokchon Station in Songpa, Seoul. After a day out in Jamsil, the writer and her mom took home the Maple Burger, a cheeseburger, the Shubi Burger (shrimp and beef), fries and meat chili cheese fries, and loved the thick patties, the generous lettuce and the separately packed sauce that keeps the fries from going soggy. Maple Burger DT is a handy Jamsil and Seokchon burger spot for ordering ahead and picking up right away.

Written Jun 9, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSokcho, GangwonRestaurants

Sokcho mulhoe shop: Daepo Port beach picnic, squid sundae, Hwanggeum

Sokcho Hwanggeum Mulhoe Hoetjip (속초황금물회횟집) is a mulhoe (cold raw fish soup) and sashimi restaurant in Sokcho Jungang Market, Gangwon. The writer drove to Sokcho in a PV5, pre-ordered the basic mulhoe (20,000 won per serving) for pickup, and ate it with squid sundae (stuffed squid) on the beach in front of the Ramada hotel at Daepo Port. With the broth packed separately and cold and buckwheat noodles that suit it well, the writer rated this seaside mulhoe picnic 200% satisfying.

Written Oct 23, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSongpa, SeoulHair & beauty salons

Songpa massage shop with foot callus care: The Hanoi Foot & Body

The Hanoi Foot & Body Songpa Garak Branch is a foot and body massage shop in Songpa, Seoul, a 2-minute walk from Garak Market Station. The writer returned after about six months, booked through Naver, and had a foot bath, foot callus removal and 60 minutes of body care in a private room; the 60-minute dry course costs ₩90,000 for non-members. The Hanoi Foot & Body worked precisely on the areas the writer asked for, and the clean private room made it a satisfying, long-awaited bit of relaxation.

Written Jun 9, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeongnam, GyeonggiRestaurants

Seongnam bossam restaurant: 3-serving bossam and beer for two

Bossam Ae Kalguksu Seongnam Sangdaewon Branch is a bossam (boiled pork wraps) and kalguksu (knife-cut noodle soup) restaurant next to Sangdaewon Market and behind Grand Maison in Jungwon-gu, Seongnam. Two people shared a 3-serving medium gabrisal bossam (pork shoulder-loin cut) for 45,000 won with extra kalguksu noodles and beer. They ate chewy noodles, tender pork and not-too-salty kimchi until stuffed, then still ordered more noodles. With generous portions and unlimited rice at the self-bar, Bossam Ae Kalguksu is a Sangdaewon-dong bossam spot that suits two big eaters.

Written Oct 19, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGoyang, GyeonggiRestaurants

Goyang dumpling spot near KINTEX: hot pot with kalguksu, Arirang

Arirang Gaeseong Son Mandu Siksa Branch is a Korean restaurant serving handmade mandu (dumpling) hot pot and kalguksu (knife-cut noodles) in Siksa-dong, Ilsan, Goyang, not far from KINTEX. After a KINTEX event, the blogger came for a late lunch past 3pm and ordered the half-and-half mandu hot pot (₩12,000) with extra kalguksu noodles (₩2,000): 8 big mandu with plenty of bean sprouts, bok choy, mushrooms, kabocha squash and rice cakes, finished with noodles. For a filling meal after an expo or event at KINTEX, Arirang Gaeseong Son Mandu Siksa Branch is a good choice.

Written Jun 12, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJeju, JejuCafés

Jeju bakery café, third visit with Mom: latte and mont blanc, Gluttony

Gluttony Coffee is a bakery café on Gunam-ro 2-gil in Jeju City, near Jeju Airport. On a weekend third visit, the writer and Mom took the last free seat and had a mont blanc, a white macadamia levain cookie, an americano and a latte, and Mom raved about both the latte and the mont blanc. Verdict: Gluttony Coffee is a café worth returning to on every Jeju trip, with desserts and lattes that both satisfy.

Written Jun 14, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGwangju, GyeonggiCafés

Gwangju bakery café bread lunch with Mom and sister: jujube tea, Sum

Sum (카페 숨) is a large bakery café on Ojeon-gil in Namhansanseong-myeon, Gwangju, Gyeonggi, with two floors and outdoor seating. The writer, her mom and her sister swapped a weekday lunch for two salt breads, a garlic baguette, a sausage bread and a scone at Sum, with two Americanos at 6,500 won each and Sum's homemade jujube tea. With a wide bread selection, tidy displays and a fairly relaxed weekday mood, Sum is well worth a visit if you want a bakery café with a view near Namhansanseong.

Written Jun 13, 2026Sponsored