Pouch Cafe Hopper · 14 stories

Small Case, Seoul Beauty and Cafes

Writes about beauty counters, cafes and small restaurants around Seoul. · Writes about: Hair & beauty salons · Restaurants · Cafés

PlaceGangseo, SeoulRestaurants

LG Arts Center Italian lunch, window seat & seaweed risotto: Romaok

Romaok Magok is an Italian restaurant on the 3rd floor of LG Arts Center Seoul, near Magongnaru Station in Gangseo, Seoul. Two people booked a window seat on Naver for lunch and ordered pine nut caprese salad (17,000 won), abalone gewoo pasta made with abalone innards, and maesaengi (silky green seaweed) scallop risotto (26,000 won each); the spacious hall and terrace made for a relaxed, chatty meal. Romaok Magok is a good seafood lunch spot if you are visiting LG Arts Center or Seoul Botanic Park.

Written Jun 10, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJung-gu, SeoulRestaurants

Jung-gu kalguksu spot on a day off: 5-minute remote wait, Tanbaek

Tanbaek is a Korean beef kalguksu (knife-cut noodle soup) restaurant at 37 Jeongdong-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul, near the Deoksugung stone wall road. On a weekday off with a friend, the writer joined the Catch Table remote waitlist, got into Tanbaek in 5 minutes, and tried gom kalguksu (beef bone broth noodles, ₩14,000), yukgaejang kalguksu (spicy beef soup noodles, ₩15,000), kimchi mandu (dumplings) and mushroom rice. With clear Korean beef broth, chewy noodles and interiors made by Korean craftspeople, Tanbaek is an easy recommendation for a meal on Jeongdong-gil.

Written Jun 20, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangseo, SeoulRestaurants

Magok Station Japanese restaurant, kaisendon vs Ilpumdon: Ilpum Magok

Ilpum Magok (일품 마곡점) is a Japanese restaurant specializing in kaisendon (seafood rice bowl) and sushi on Gonghang-daero, between Magok Station and Balsan Station in Gangseo, Seoul. Two diners at the counter shared a basic kaisendon (26,000 won) and a special Ilpumdon (30,000 won), with chawanmushi, cold udon and a milk pudding with mango purée rounding out the meal. When you feel drained and want a hearty meal made with good ingredients, the kaisendon at Ilpum Magok is a great fit.

Written Jun 24, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulHair & beauty salons

Apgujeong Rodeo salon 5-step inner clinic after a care break: Biorn

Biorn Hair Apgujeong Rodeo is a hair salon on the 3rd floor of a building about a 2-minute walk from Exit 6 of Apgujeongnodeo Station in Gangnam, Seoul. After a few busy months without her regular clinic treatments left her hair dry and frizzy again, the writer had the 5-step inner clinic at Biorn Hair Apgujeong Rodeo, from shampoo to a surface coating in the spa room. Her hair felt softer and swung noticeably more freely right after the treatment, so the Biorn Hair Apgujeong Rodeo inner clinic is worth booking if dry hair is your worry.

Written Jun 22, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeongdong, SeoulCafés

Seongsu yogurt café: Granny & Nutty Day Doubles to go at Lazy Yogurt

Lazy Yogurt Seongsu is a Greek yogurt café on the first floor of Seongsu Yeonbang in Seongsu-dong, Seongdong, Seoul. On a rainy weekend afternoon, the writer used the kiosk to order a Granny D size (plain + plain, ₩12,700) and a Nutty Day D size (plain + soy milk yogurt, ₩11,100) to go. The order was ready in about 5 minutes and became an evening snack at home. Lazy Yogurt Seongsu is a good stop when you want a light Greek yogurt with fresh fruit and honey.

Written Jun 21, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeongdong, SeoulRestaurants

Seongsu-dong pasta and pork steak spot, rainy weekend: Seongsu Darak

Seongsu Darak is a Western-style restaurant on the 2nd floor of 20 Ttukseom-ro 9-gil in Seongsu-dong, Seongdong-gu, Seoul, and has been there since the early 2020s. A longtime regular arrived with one other person at opening time on a rainy weekend and ordered the chopped pork neck steak (₩24,000), the spicy cream pasta (₩19,000) and the katsu sando (₩12,000). The highlights were the pork neck topped with all three sauces and the spicy cream pasta mixed with egg yolk. For an established, original-feeling Western restaurant in Seongsu-dong, the writer recommends Seongsu Darak.

Written Jun 20, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulHair & beauty salons

Apgujeong nail salon cloud-blue gel pedicure for skin tone: Naeil Didi

Naeil Didi (내일디디) is a nail salon near Apgujeongnodeo Station in Gangnam, Seoul, with a 5th-floor Suite and a 6th floor. The writer got a summer gel pedicure at the Naeil Didi Suite and chose a white-tinged sky blue with the staff to suit her foot skin tone; it took 1 hour with no removal. Careful care and a cloud-like color that pairs perfectly with sandals made Naeil Didi a very satisfying visit.

Written Jun 21, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeongdong, SeoulRestaurants

Seongsu pasta & steak spot, Saturday opening lunch for two: Brivite

Brivite Seongsu is a pasta and steak restaurant on a side street in Seongsu-dong, Seoul, about a 5-minute walk from Exit 3 or 4 of Ttukseom Station. Two of us arrived right after opening on a Saturday and ordered the Brivite Steak (35,900 won) and the spicy vongole oil pasta (17,900 won). The Brivite Steak, topped with cheese sauce and served with a wine-based sauce, stood out most and is a must-order at Brivite Seongsu.

Written Jun 28, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeongdong, SeoulCafés

Quiet coffee shop in Bukseongsu, Seoul: tiramisu affogato at Biat

Biat Seongsu is a large second-floor café in Bukseongsu, Seoul, about a 5-minute walk from Seongsu Station Exit 1. It has a spacious, converted-factory feel with clean, wood-toned decor. Already full from lunch, the writer shared one tiramisu affogato (9,000 won) topped with vanilla ice cream, plus an iced americano, a decaf americano and an Einspänner; both the regular and decaf beans made excellent coffee, and the affogato was satisfying. In crowded Seongsu, Biat Seongsu suits anyone looking for a quiet place to rest over coffee or read a book.

Written Jun 28, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGwangjin, SeoulCafés

Konkuk Univ. café after Star City shopping: mango cake, Café Ohkam

Café Ohkam (카페 오캄) is a three-floor dessert café in Gwangjin, Seoul, about a 5-minute walk from Exit 2 of Konkuk Univ. Station. After shopping at Star City, the writer stopped at Café Ohkam alone for an iced Americano (₩4,800), a fresh mango cake (₩9,500) and a Delos cookie financier (₩3,500). The mango cake was packed with mango all the way through and the cream wasn't too sweet. With a comfortable 2nd floor and a rooftop that turns cool at night, Café Ohkam is a good spot for a short break near Konkuk Univ.

Written Jun 28, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeongdong, SeoulRestaurants

Seongsu shabu-shabu, 3 meats for a holiday lunch: Shabu in Seoul

Shabu in Seoul Seongsu is a shabu-shabu restaurant on the 1st floor of the Yuwon Knowledge Industry Center near Seongsu Station Exit 4 in Seongdong, Seoul. Over a holiday lunch, three of us tried black pork neck, Hanwoo 1++ rump cap and Prime Angus chuck flap in clear mushroom broth, then finished with egg porridge and omija (five-flavor berry) tea. With a clean, quiet setting and fast service, Shabu in Seoul Seongsu is a solid pick for group meals.

Written Jul 18, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangseo, SeoulRestaurants

Seoul Korean BBQ at Magok Station: garlic brisket at Chadol Grill

Chadol Grill Magok is a Korean BBQ restaurant near Exit 3 of Magok Station in Gangseo, Seoul, where aged chadolbaegi (thin-sliced beef brisket) is grilled over charcoal. Three colleagues from the same starting cohort met there for a spur-of-the-moment Monday get-together. They ordered Hanwoo++ brisket yukhoe ssam (39,000 won), aged brisket (18,000 won), garlic-marinated brisket (19,000 won) and perilla oil makguksu (8,000 won) with Hanmac draft beer, at seats looking outside that felt like a street-side patio. With plenty of tables, Chadol Grill Magok is a solid pick for group dinners of 10 or more.

Written Jul 22, 2026Sponsored