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Mirror and Mug

I write about beauty finds and café visits around Seoul. · Writes about: Hair & beauty salons · Cafés · Restaurants · Bars · Things to do

PlaceBupyeong, IncheonRestaurants

Bone hangover soup & garlicky pyeonyuk in Bupyeong: Bupyeong Jungang

Bupyeong Jungang Haejangguk (부평중앙해장국) is a newly opened haejangguk (hangover soup) restaurant near Exit 6 of Bupyeong Station in Incheon. The writer ordered a regular bone hangover soup (10,000 won), Yangpyeong hangover soup without ox blood (12,000 won) and a plate of pyeonyuk (sliced boiled meat, 12,000 won), and was happy with the chewy pyeonyuk, its garlic-packed sauce and the clean yet deep broth. With a spacious, clean dining room and a self-serve side dish bar, Bupyeong Jungang Haejangguk is a solid hangover soup spot in Bupyeong, even for a solo meal.

Written Apr 24, 2026Sponsored
PlaceDongjak, SeoulBars

After-work soju pub in Sadang: baseball & scallops, Jindallae Silbi

Jindallae Silbi Sadang Branch (진달래실비 사당점) is a retro, old-school Korean pub near Exit 7 of Sadang Station in Dongjak, Seoul, with a big screen showing baseball and soccer games. After work, the writer stopped in for soju and ordered the 15-dish Samchon-kase (uncle's omakase) Jindallae Course at 39,000 won per person: the seafood steam with scallops was the top pick, and the soy-marinated crab, bossam, pork cutlet, spicy fish stew and jeon stayed good to the end. Jindallae Silbi Sadang Branch is a good fit for Sadang office workers looking for a good-value Samchon-kase course.

Written Apr 23, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJungnang, SeoulRestaurants

Aged sashimi bar in Sangbong for day drinks and spicy stew: Hoepanjang

Hoepanjang Sangbong is an aged sashimi restaurant in the Sangbong Station food alley in Jungnang, Seoul, with outdoor seating. On a daytime drinking visit, the writer ordered the small 8-kind aged sashimi platter set for 2, served with corn cheese, silkworm pupa soup, tempura, mussel soup, mulhoe (cold raw fish soup), grilled fish and a spicy fish stew to finish. Hoepanjang Sangbong stood out for thick aged sashimi with no fishy taste and a rich spicy fish stew finish.

Written Apr 27, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeocho, SeoulBars

Yangjae Korean pub with big-screen baseball: Hanu tartare at Onyangjae

Onyangjae (온양재) is a Korean pub in Yangjae-dong, Seocho, Seoul, near Yangjae Stream, where baseball games play on a big screen. On a second-round stop, the writer had 1++ Hanu (Korean beef) tartare with gamtae (thin seaweed) and gangdoenjang gamtae ssambap (rice wrapped in gamtae with thick soybean paste) alongside Saero soju, and was impressed by how well the fresh tartare paired with gamtae and by the quality of the complimentary side snacks. Verdict: Onyangjae is a good-value spot in Yangjae for drinks while watching baseball.

Written May 1, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeocho, SeoulRestaurants

Seoul Korean BBQ in Yangjae, packed at 6:30pm: salt pork belly, Gamdol

Gamdol Yeontan Jip Yangjae Citizen's Forest Branch (감골연탄집 양재시민의숲점) is a retro Korean BBQ restaurant grilling over coal briquettes near Exit 3 of Yangjaesiminuisup Station in Seocho, Seoul. At around 6:30pm, with the room nearly full, the meal was jul-jul-i special pork neck, briquette-grilled big-salt pork belly and onggi-aged gochujang briquette bulgogi, plus draft beer and yeolmu kimchi noodles. The pork neck was the best dish of the night, and Gamdol Yeontan Jip is a Yangjae Korean BBQ spot worth coming back to.

Written May 1, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeo-gu, IncheonRestaurants

Shabu-shabu with Mom in Cheongna, chili sauce & egg porridge: Shabuway

Shabuway Ruwon City Cheongna Branch is an all-you-can-eat shabu-shabu buffet on the 2nd floor of Ruwon Top Plaza in Seo-gu, Incheon. On a public holiday lunch with Mom (₩29,900 per adult on weekends and public holidays), the writer cooked US prime-grade beef chuck and thin-sliced beef brisket in signature and spicy broths, dipped them in chili sauce, and added the hotel-style salad bar, rice paper rolls, egg porridge and ice cream. With a spacious, upscale dining room and high-quality meat, Shabuway Ruwon City Cheongna Branch is a strong pick for a family meal out.

Written May 2, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJung-gu, IncheonRestaurants

Eulwangni seafood restaurant, holiday wait for octopus stir-fry: 300°C

300°C Seafood Galbi Main Branch (300도씨해물갈비 본점) is a seafood stew and seafood galbi restaurant on Masiran-ro in Jung-gu, Incheon, near Eulwangni and Inspire. After waiting in line on a holiday, the writer ordered the medium-spicy stir-fried octopus (nakji-bokkeum) and seafood kalguksu (knife-cut noodle soup). The chewy whole octopus and savory sauce paired well with the rich, refreshing kalguksu broth. 300°C Seafood Galbi Main Branch is an Eulwangni seafood spot worth the holiday wait.

Written May 1, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYeonsu, IncheonCafés

Decaf latte café at Songdo outlet: kaimak retry with mom, Wunder

Wunder Coffee Bar Hyundai Premium Outlet Songdo Branch is an open-plan coffee and dessert café on the B1 floor of Hyundai Premium Outlet Songdo in Yeonsu, Incheon. On a return visit with her mom, the writer ordered a hot decaf café latte (₩6,500), choco shell soft ice cream (₩6,500 plus ₩1,000) and the kaimak (Turkish-style clotted cream) with honey and white ciabatta (₩9,500) that had sold out last time; the coffee was smooth and the kaimak rich and nutty. Wunder Coffee Bar is a solid pick for Hyundai Premium Outlet Songdo shoppers who want good coffee alongside ice cream and kaimak desserts.

Written May 12, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJung-gu, SeoulRestaurants

Sindang Station Exit 7 beef gopchang, Thursday revisit: Jinseong

Jinseong Hanwoo Gopchang Sindang Direct Branch is a hanwoo (Korean beef) gopchang (grilled small intestine) restaurant 26m from Exit 7 of Sindang Station in Jung-gu, Seoul. The writer came back on a Thursday at 6:30pm, waited behind 4 groups, and shared 2 portions of hanwoo gopchang (₩19,000 per 220g) with mijeolma sauce and a trio of house-made kimchi. The meal ended with kkakdugi yangbap (tripe fried rice with radish kimchi). Jinseong Hanwoo Gopchang's packed gopchang and homemade kimchi make it a Sindang spot worth returning to.

Written Nov 6, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSongpa, SeoulRestaurants

Garak Market fish shop, yellowtail trio & tteokbokki: Yeongjae Susan

Yeongjae Susan (영재수산) is a sashimi shop on the first floor of the Panmae-dong building at Garak Mall in Songpa, Seoul. On a return visit, the writer took home the small Banggwangyeon set (방광연회, ₩75,000) of in-season winter yellowtail, large flounder and salmon and ate it with the family alongside tteokbokki, pleased by the cold-pack packaging, the thick slices and the tightly packed tray. For a reliable sashimi takeout at Garak Mall during yellowtail season, Yeongjae Susan's Banggwangyeon set is the recommendation.

Written Nov 3, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSiheung, GyeonggiRestaurants

Large spicy dumpling hot pot for 4 in Baegot, Siheung: Myeongseong

Myeongseong Handmade Dumpling Hot Pot Baegot Branch is a handmade dumpling hot pot restaurant on Seouldaehak-ro 264beon-gil in Baegot-dong, Siheung, Gyeonggi. On a return visit, the writer ordered the large red hot pot for 4 (56,000 won) with the spicy broth, along with meat dumplings said to be hand-folded daily, kalguksu noodles, geotjeori (fresh kimchi) and self-serve ice cream. Myeongseong Handmade Dumpling Hot Pot is a generous Baegot spot where the basic order alone fills you up, and both the spicy and mild broths satisfy.

Written May 18, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSongpa, SeoulRestaurants

Garak Market fish shop, labeled spring sashimi for two: Yeongjae Susan

Yeongjae Susan (영재수산) is a live-fish sashimi takeout shop on the 1st floor of Garak Mall's Panmae-dong sales building in Songpa, Seoul. On a return visit in spring flounder season, the writer ordered a small Dogwangchamhoe (a platter of flounder, large olive flounder and large sea bream) for two. Yeongjae Susan packed it with ice packs, labeled each fish, and added plenty of fish parts for spicy stew plus sauces. Thanks to the firm, springy texture of the in-season flounder, Yeongjae Susan is worth recommending for mixed sashimi takeout at Garak Market in spring.

Written May 20, 2026Sponsored