Mirror and Meal · 34 stories

Between Mirrors and Meals

I write about beauty stops and restaurant meals around Seoul. · Writes about: Hair & beauty salons · Restaurants · Things to do · Cafés · Bars

PlaceNowon, SeoulThings to do

Nowon board game café date: YouTube, Nintendo, red bean bingsu at Hero

Hero Board Game Cafe Nowon Branch is a board game café on the 3rd floor of a building on Sanggye-ro 3-gil near Nowon Station in Seoul, offering board games, Nintendo games and YouTube viewing. On a weekend date, the writer competed at Nintendo games and shared a red bean rice cake snow bingsu (shaved ice) and a Jaws Bar. Hero Board Game Cafe Nowon Branch is an indoor date spot in Nowon that makes for a full day out whatever the weather.

Written Nov 14, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJung-gu, SeoulCafés

Namdaemun peanut bread shop: orange sign, friendly staff, Daesin

Daesin Ttangkong-ppang Namdaemun Market branch is a snack shop in an alley of Namdaemun Market in Jung-gu, Seoul, selling ttangkong-ppang (peanut-shaped bread), egg bread, roasted peanuts, peanut butter and peanut smoothies. While browsing the market, the writer had 80 peanut buns packed in a box for 10,000 won, liked the staff's friendly help and the nutty, sweet flavor, and reheated the buns in an air fryer at home. For a generous snack to share or a gift from Namdaemun Market, the 80-bun box from Daesin Ttangkong-ppang is a safe choice.

Written Nov 7, 2026Sponsored
PlaceNowon, SeoulRestaurants

Sushi buffet in Nowon for family gatherings & work dinners: Kuu Kuu

Kuu Kuu Nowon Branch (쿠우쿠우 노원점) is a sushi buffet on the 6th floor of a building at 247 Nowon-ro, Nowon, Seoul. On a busy weekend with plenty of people waiting, the writer chose from sushi and rolls, Western dishes like pasta and pizza, Chinese dishes, salads, and cake and fruit desserts, and ate comfortably thanks to the large hall and well-spaced tables. Because diners of every age can pick what they like, Kuu Kuu Nowon Branch is a good fit for a family gathering or work dinner in Nowon.

Written Nov 5, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulRestaurants

24-hour Hongdae gukbap spot popular with foreign visitors: Yukjeon

Yukjeon Gukbap Seogyo Branch is a gukbap (Korean rice soup) restaurant in Seogyo-dong, near Hongik Univ. Station in Mapo, Seoul, open 24 hours every day. The writer ordered the beef gukbap set with a side of yukjeon (pan-fried beef) for ₩17,000 and was happy with the hot broth, the savory beef jeon, the self-serve side dish bar, and the mix of solo seats and 4-person tables. Yukjeon Gukbap Seogyo Branch is a good stop near Hongik Univ. Station whenever you need a filling meal, at any hour.

Written Oct 24, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeongdong, SeoulRestaurants

Tonkatsu spot in Seongsu, Seoul: gyudon and katsu sets at Kosi

Kosi Seongsu Branch is a Japanese tonkatsu (breaded pork cutlet) restaurant at 31 Sangwon 1-gil, Seongdong-gu, Seoul, near Ttukseom Station. The restaurant was full on a weekend evening, so the writer waited about 10 minutes, then ordered the gyudon (beef rice bowl) set, the tonkatsu set and a sweet potato cheese croquette on the side. With a crispy tonkatsu set and a sweet-savory gyudon set, Kosi Seongsu Branch is a good Seongsu spot for a filling meal.

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

Hongdae nail salon gel removal + brown fall art in under 1 hr: Byuazeu

Byuazeu (뷰아즈) is a nail, lash and skincare salon within a 10-minute walk of Exit 1 of Hongik Univ. Station in Hongdae, Mapo, Seoul. At Byuazeu, the writer had old gel nails removed and chose a brown-toned fall design from the October monthly art, and the whole visit from removal to finished art took under an hour. For fast but careful nail work in Hongdae, Byuazeu's October monthly art is a solid choice.

Written Oct 19, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulRestaurants

Gangnam Station pasta spot with hand-bell ordering: Eulji Darak

Eulji Darak Gangnam Station is a Western-style restaurant with a stylish, cozy interior on the 2nd floor of a building on Gangnam-daero 96-gil, near Gangnam Station in Seoul. The writer tried the Darak omurice (omelette over fried rice), the Darak rose pasta and a katsu sando, and the way you shake a hand bell to call staff and order stood out most. Eulji Darak Gangnam Station is a Gangnam Station pasta spot that suits occasions where atmosphere matters, such as dates, blind dates and wedding-invitation get-togethers.

Written Oct 14, 2026Sponsored
PlaceNamyangju, GyeonggiRestaurants

Pork belly and jowl BBQ in Jinjeop, Namyangju: Dwaeji Ohyeongje

Dwaeji Ohyeongje Namyangju Jinjeop Branch (돼지오형제) is a Korean pork belly BBQ restaurant serving Handon (Korean-raised) pork on Geumgang-ro in Jinjeop, Namyangju, Gyeonggi. On a weekday evening the blogger ordered the kkotjjitang (blue crab stew) + fresh pork belly (380g) set for two and one portion of pork jowl (130g), and both the meat and the crab-filled kkotjjitang broth were satisfying. With a large parking lot, a kids' play room and a self-serve bar, Dwaeji Ohyeongje Jinjeop is a Namyangju pork belly spot worth returning to for family dinners.

Written Jul 1, 2026Sponsored
PlacePocheon, GyeonggiRestaurants

Hangover soup spot in Pocheon with parking, seonji refills: Brothers

Brothers Yangpyeong Haejangguk Naechon Branch (형제양평해장국 내촌본점) is a haejangguk (Korean hangover soup) restaurant on Geumgang-ro in Naechon-myeon, Pocheon, Gyeonggi. The blogger ordered the Boyang Yangpyeong Haejangguk and the Boyang Hanwoo Beef Haejangguk, got refills of seonji (congealed ox blood), and enjoyed the dipping sauce diners mix themselves. With parking outside, Brothers Yangpyeong Haejangguk Naechon Branch is an easy stop for a hearty bowl of soup in Naechon, Pocheon if you are driving.

Written Oct 11, 2026Sponsored
PlaceNowon, SeoulRestaurants

Nowon eel restaurant, 5,000 won corkage and mosquito spray: Cheonsanga

Cheonsanga Jangeoga Hagye Branch is a grilled eel restaurant in Hagye-dong, Nowon-gu, Seoul. For a summer stamina meal, the writer booked ahead with their parents and ordered the set for 3 (104,000 won), with staff grilling the eel at the table and even bringing mosquito repellent. Cheonsanga Jangeoga Hagye Branch got the taste, service and atmosphere right, making it a family restaurant worth revisiting.

Written Jul 16, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulRestaurants

Hongdae pasta restaurant, bacon rosé & egg in hell: Hôtel de Couture

Hôtel de Couture is a Western-style restaurant in a red-brick house on a Yeonnam-dong side street in Mapo, Seoul, within walking distance of Hongik Univ. Station Exit 3. On a weekend visit around 2pm, the honey whole bacon rosé pasta (18,000 won) paired sweet-and-salty bacon with a gently spicy rosé sauce, and the egg in hell (18,000 won) came in a rich tomato sauce made for dipping bread. With its cozy wood-toned dining room and well-spaced tables, Hôtel de Couture is an easy pick for a Yeonnam-dong date meal.

Written Oct 7, 2026Sponsored
PlaceNowon, SeoulRestaurants

Nowon sushi buffet weekend lunch: botan shrimp, lemon sorbet, Kuu Kuu

Kuu Kuu Nowon Branch is a sushi buffet on the 6th floor of the Seoul Oncheon Building at 247 Nowon-ro, Nowon, Seoul. On a weekend lunch visit at 12:30 pm, booked through Naver Reservation, 35,900 won per person covered botan shrimp sushi, Norwegian fresh salmon sashimi, ganjang gejang (soy-marinated raw crab), lamb chops, a Chinese food corner, gold kiwi slush and lemon sorbet. Kuu Kuu Nowon Branch is spacious enough to draw plenty of birthday parties and family gatherings, and it is a good pick for enjoying sushi, meat and desserts in equal measure.

Written Jul 29, 2026Sponsored