Mapo Mirror Lunch · 25 stories

Mirror, Then Lunch

I write about beauty finds and restaurant meals around Seoul. · Writes about: Hair & beauty salons · Bars · Restaurants · Cafés · Shopping

PlaceNamdong, IncheonShopping

Mansu-dong, Incheon garage: ₩68,000 Tivoli oil change at Smile Auto

Smile Auto (스마일자동차공업사) is a car repair garage on a side street in Mansu-dong, Namdong-gu, Incheon. A Tivoli engine oil change at Smile Auto cost ₩68,000 and included old oil removal, a complimentary air filter and washer fluid replacement, an underbody check on the lift, and tire pressure and battery checks. The mechanic flagged an oil leak at the front of the car, which a vehicle inspection confirmed two days later. Smile Auto recommended only what was needed with no pushy upselling, so the blogger plans to return for the next oil change.

Written Nov 7, 2026Sponsored
PlaceNamdong, IncheonRestaurants

Clay-oven fish restaurant in Namdong, Incheon: 130 seats, 4-fish grill

Sorae-san Hwadeok Saengseon Gui (소래산화덕생선구이) is a Korean restaurant serving clay-oven grilled fish on the Manuigol restaurant street by Incheon Grand Park in Namdong-gu, Incheon. The writer and her husband ordered the Sorae-san mixed clay-oven grill of 4 fish, which came with black rice stone pot rice and a pot of cheonggukjang (fermented soybean stew) for each person, an unlimited self-serve side bar, and omija and plum tea for dessert. For a filling clay-oven grilled fish meal at ₩15,000 per person, Sorae-san Hwadeok Saengseon Gui is worth a return visit.

Written Nov 4, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeo-gu, IncheonRestaurants

Japanese tonkatsu by Megabox Geomdan: last weekend lunch seat, HOKATSU

HOKATSU is a Japanese-style tonkatsu restaurant on the restaurant street right in front of Megabox Geomdan in Seo-gu, Incheon. At weekend lunch, just one seat was left, so two diners walked straight in and shared the Special Premium Loin Katsu and the Favorite Katsu (tenderloin + cheese); the meat aged in homemade yogurt and the thin, crispy batter stood out. From meat quality to aging method and fried texture, HOKATSU is a highly satisfying tonkatsu spot in Geomdan.

Written May 26, 2026Sponsored
PlaceBucheon, GyeonggiRestaurants

Pork BBQ with parents near Sinjungdong Station: 5-layer belly, Cham

Cham Dwaejitgan Bucheon Sinjung-dong Branch is a 120-seat pork belly BBQ restaurant on the Sinjungdong night-market street, right in front of Sinjungdong Station in Bucheon. For a family meal with my parents, we ordered 2 portions of black pork ogyeopsal (five-layer pork belly) and 1 portion of Boseong Nokdon pork neck, and staff grilled everything to the end on a rice-husk smoke grill so we could simply eat. Between first-time mushroom wasabi, fire-grilled minari (water dropwort) and Cham Dwaejitgan's signature potato wraps, the whole family left happy.

Written Jun 5, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeo-gu, IncheonRestaurants

Gajeong Station shabu-shabu, ₩24,900 lunch with salmon salad: Shabuway

Shabuway Ruwon City Cheongna Branch is an all-you-can-eat shabu-shabu buffet on the 2nd floor of Ruwon Top Plaza near Gajeong Station in Seo-gu, Incheon. The writer went at weekday opening time for the ₩24,900 adult lunch, cooking beef and pork neck plus thin-sliced beef brisket in a half-and-half broth (regular and spicy), and filled up at a salad bar with salmon salad, thin-crust pizza, fried shrimp and rice paper wraps. Verdict: for fresh meat and a better-than-expected salad bar in the ₩20,000s, Shabuway Ruwon City Cheongna Branch is a solid pick for family meals and gatherings in Cheongna and Ruwon City.

Written Jun 9, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSongpa, SeoulCafés

SSG away-game bingsu truck vs Munhak food at Jamsil: Bingdongdaeng

Bingdongdaeng Premium Bingsu Café is a food truck selling bingsu (Korean shaved ice) beside Ticket Booth 1 in the outfield of Jamsil Baseball Stadium in Songpa, Seoul. On an SSG vs LG away game, an SSG fan in the third-base Orange seats ate Bingdongdaeng's Nonsan strawberry bingsu, Station's cream shrimp nachos (15,000 won), and Ippeun Yeou Hotdog's bacon corn mayo hot dog and Mexican chili fries, comparing them with Munhak Stadium food. SSG lost, but all three Jamsil Stadium outfield food trucks were worth it.

Written Jun 12, 2026Sponsored
PlaceBucheon, GyeonggiCafés

Castella bakery in Bucheon for group snacks: mugwort with cream

Jinsim Castella Bucheon is a takeout-only castella (Japanese-style sponge cake) bakery in Solarium Building B, right in front of City Hall Station in Bucheon. The writer ordered the plain Jinsim castella and the mugwort castella with extra fresh cream at the kiosk; both were big enough to share among several people, moist and not too sweet. Jinsim Castella Bucheon is a solid pick in Bucheon for group snacks or castella to give as a gift.

Written Jun 16, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulRestaurants

Gangnam Station pasta after a dress tour, 50cm sauce coating: Brivit

Brivit Gangnam Station is a fresh pasta, gnocchi and steak restaurant in an alley between Sinnonhyeon Station and Gangnam Station in Seoul. After a dress tour, the writer and 2 friends arrived around 6:30 pm on a weekday, waited about 10 minutes and ordered the 50cm fresh noodle steak pasta, porcini shrimp gnocchi and spicy vongole oil pasta, and watching staff coat the fresh noodles in sauce was a show in itself. Brivit Gangnam Station is a strong pick for dates, blind dates and group dinners when you want both good food and atmosphere.

Written Jun 18, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulHair & beauty salons

Hongdae salon for half-up waves and pink makeup: Moi Hair Makeup

Moi Hair Makeup is a hair and makeup salon in the basement of the Olive Young building, right outside Exit 3 of Hongik Univ. Station in Hongdae, Seoul. Before a self-planned wedding dress tour, the writer booked Moi Hair Makeup's daily hair and makeup: half-up thick waves with lifted root volume, plus bright pink-toned makeup that defined the nose bridge and opened up inner double eyelids. The look held through the dress tour, a meal afterward and Life4Cuts photo booth shots, so Moi Hair Makeup is worth recommending for a natural but bright dress tour look.

Written Jun 19, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeocho, SeoulRestaurants

Korean BBQ for 4 near Gyodae Station: Lady Im's doenjang stew, Galgol

Galgol Yeontanjip Seocho Gyodae Branch (감골연탄집 서초교대점) is a Korean BBQ restaurant near Gyodae Station in Seocho, Seoul, next to the Seoul courthouse. It has a retro pub feel and serves jar-aged pork grilled over yeontan (charcoal briquettes). Four diners ordered 2 portions each of briquette salt pork belly, pork neck and gochujang briquette bulgogi, then finished with Lady Im Soyeong's doenjang (soybean paste) stew and briquette fried rice. The meat and the seasoning of the side dishes were both good, but the must-order at Galgol Yeontanjip Seocho Gyodae Branch is Lady Im Soyeong's doenjang stew, which the writer called the best doenjang stew of their life.

Written Jun 23, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeocho, SeoulCafés

Catch-up café at Gyodae Station, Seoul: warm butter babka — Mini Male

Mini Male Coffee Roaster Gyodae Court Branch is a specialty roastery and babka café right in front of Gyodae Station in Seocho, Seoul. The writer met friends at a window seat for a Helsinki Latte, peppermint tea, a warmed-up butter babka and a Victoria scone filled with raspberry jam and fresh cream. With chargers at the window seats and a clean restroom, Mini Male Gyodae Court Branch is a comfortable Gyodae Station café for long conversations.

Written Jun 22, 2026Sponsored
PlaceBucheon, GyeonggiRestaurants

Bucheon Korean BBQ: pork belly with 90-day aged kimchi at Mungteong

Mungteong Bucheon Sinjung-dong Branch is a retro-style pork belly BBQ restaurant near Sinjungdong Station in Bucheon, Gyeonggi. On a weekday evening visit with a reservation, the order at Mungteong was the large jumeok-gui (thick-cut grilled pork) plate, kimchi-malli guksu (cold kimchi noodles) and soju. Staff grilled the thick pork belly all the way through, and it was eaten with meljeot (salted anchovy sauce), chili, garlic, shiitake wasabi and 90-day aged kimchi. Verdict: juicy pork belly, tangy kimchi noodles and a free slush dessert made Mungteong a very satisfying Sinjungdong BBQ meal.

Written Jun 28, 2026Sponsored