Slim Vanity Hopper · 19 stories

Thin Pouch, Seoul/Jeju/Gyeonggi Cafes, Restaurants and Beauty

Writes about cafes, restaurants, beauty spots and shopping stops across Seoul, Jeju and Gyeonggi. · Writes about: Restaurants · Cafés · Hair & beauty salons · Shopping

PlaceJung-gu, SeoulRestaurants

Flash-frozen pork belly BBQ in Chungjeongno: Yeonseone Cheolmunjip

Yeonseone Cheolmunjip (연서네 철문집) is a Korean BBQ restaurant specializing in flash-frozen pork belly on Cheongpa-ro in Jung-gu, Seoul, between Chungjeongno Station and Seoul Station. On a Friday evening with a friend, the writer had 2 portions of flash-frozen pork belly at ₩15,000 each, cheese steamed egg and jjagyechi (black-bean instant noodles with egg and cheese), then finished with fried rice; the pork belly, dipped in soy sauce instead of seasoned with pepper before grilling, was tender with no gamey smell. Yeonseone Cheolmunjip is a Chungjeongno BBQ spot worth returning to whenever a frozen pork belly craving hits, though it gets crowded at mealtimes.

Written Jun 10, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJung-gu, SeoulRestaurants

Ramen shop at City Hall Station: gyudon with soft-boiled egg, Mentsuru

Mentsuru City Hall Branch (멘츠루 시청점) is a ramen and Japanese restaurant near City Hall Station and Deoksugung Palace in Jung-gu, Seoul. After work, the writer sat at the bar table with a friend and ordered gyudon (beef rice bowl, 11,000 won), motsu ramen (beef intestine ramen, 15,000 won) and chicken-skin gyoza (5,000 won), then stirred free rice into the motsu ramen broth. Mentsuru's gyudon is so easy to keep eating that the writer had it three days in a row while working late, and it is best with an added soft-boiled egg.

Written Jun 13, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJongno, SeoulRestaurants

Hyehwa steak restaurant after an OB-GYN checkup: roe pasta at Omil

Omil Hyehwa Daehangno is a Western restaurant on the second floor at 35 Daemyeong-gil, near Hyehwa Station and Daehangno in Jongno, Seoul, serving pasta, omurice, gnocchi and steak. After a regular OB-GYN checkup at Seoul National University Hospital, the writer had the sous vide flat iron Omil Steak (37,900 won) and the spicy pollock roe oil pasta (18,900 won) for dinner, and was happy with both the pre-sliced steak and the pollock roe pasta with whole garlic cloves. For a Western meal after an appointment at Seoul National University Hospital or before or after a Daehangno show, Omil Hyehwa Daehangno is a safe choice.

Written Oct 19, 2026Sponsored
PlaceNam-gu, BusanCafés

Kyungsung café with a friend: shovel-spoon melon bingsu, Taerae Queen

Taerae Queen Kyungsung University Branch (타래퀸 경성대점) is a dessert café near Kyungsung University in Nam-gu, Busan, serving taerae bingsu, shaved milk ice that falls in separate, thread-like strands like kkultarae (Korean honey thread candy). After lunch on day 2 of a Busan trip, the writer and a friend shared the new Fresh Melon Taerae Bingsu (17,500 won), made with 100% milk and no water, which tasted rich and nutty, and the late-season melon was still sweet. If regular bingsu has started to bore you, the Fresh Melon Taerae Bingsu at Taerae Queen Kyungsung University Branch offers a different texture and look.

Written Oct 17, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSuyeong, BusanRestaurants

White-charcoal pork BBQ in Gwangalli on a last Busan night: Jukrim

Jukrim Sutbul Dwaeji Gui (죽림숯불돼지구이) is a charcoal pork BBQ restaurant on Gwangnam-ro in Suyeong, Busan, near Geumnyeonsan Station, where staff grill the meat for you from start to finish. On the last night of a 3-day Busan trip, the writer ordered the Jukrim Handon set (255g pork belly + 200g pork neck) grilled over white charcoal, ate it with crab doenjang stew (Korean soybean paste stew), and then took in the Gwangan Bridge night view. Jukrim Sutbul Dwaeji Gui suits a relaxed last night in Gwangalli when you want easy conversation over BBQ and the bridge view afterwards.

Written Oct 16, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJongno, SeoulRestaurants

Jonggak fried jokbal for a 200-day wedding anniversary: Yeonnam Jokbal

Yeonnam Jokbal 1987 Jonggak Branch (연남족발1987 종각점) is a jokbal (braised pork trotter) restaurant near Exit 4 of Jonggak Station in Jongno, Seoul, known for its fried jokbal. A married couple marked their 200-day wedding anniversary there with the fried jokbal set (49,000 won) and a flying fish roe rice ball (5,000 won). The crispy-outside, tender-inside trotters, rotating table and 10-plus side dishes kept the meal interesting to the last bite. Yeonnam Jokbal 1987 is worth a visit in Jonggak when ordinary jokbal starts to feel boring.

Written Jun 21, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSaha, BusanCafés

Hadan, Busan rice cake shop: less-mess bite-size injeolmi, Hohobak

Hohobak is a handmade rice cake shop near Hadan Station in Saha, Busan, specializing in pumpkin injeolmi (chewy rice cake coated in powder). On a Busan trip, the writer found Hohobak while searching for injeolmi and took away a large rice castella pumpkin injeolmi for 25,000 won; the pieces are cut bite-size, so less of the rice castella coating falls off, and the sweetness is not overpowering. Even for long-time pumpkin injeolmi fans, Hohobak's bite-size pumpkin injeolmi makes a satisfying gift.

Written Oct 15, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGwangjin, SeoulCafés

Konkuk Univ. bingsu café after Seoulsup: mango bingsu at Café Ohkam

Café Ohkam is a handmade dessert café in a converted three-story house on a residential alley near Exit 2 of Konkuk Univ. Station in Gwangjin, Seoul. After a scorching walk around Ttukseom Hangang Park and Seoulsup, the writer ordered Café Ohkam's signature fresh mango bingsu (23,000 won at the time) and a financier (3,500 won), and both delivered: fresh mango over milk ice, and a dense financier, crisp outside and moist inside. Café Ohkam's mango bingsu isn't cheap, but it's worth every won and a definite return visit.

Written Jun 29, 2026Sponsored
PlaceBusanjin, BusanRestaurants

Italian weekend lunch in Jeonpo, Busan: lemon aglio e olio, Brassway

Brassway (Seomyeon-Jeonpo branch) is a Western-style Italian restaurant down an alley in Jeonpo, Busan, run by a Le Cordon Bleu-trained chef. On day 2 of a Busan trip, two friends shared a weekend lunch of garlic confit aglio e olio (17,000 won), finished with a squeeze of roasted lemon, and the Brassway pepperoni pizza (19,000 won), a thin crust topped with housemade ranch. Both dishes felt familiar but with distinctive details, and Brassway was full even at weekend midday, so book ahead.

Written Oct 14, 2026Sponsored
PlaceHaeundae, BusanCafés

Songjeong ocean-view café after lunch: gabae coffee, Suwolgyeonghwa

Suwolgyeonghwa (수월경화) is a traditional tea and Korean dessert café with ocean views, right in front of Songjeong Beach in Haeundae, Busan. After lunch, the writer stopped by Suwolgyeonghwa for an American gabae (Americano-style coffee, ₩6,000), the Lemon Sunset hibiscus tea (₩8,500) and the Dalbodeure Box of Korean desserts (₩13,000), taking in the wooden interior and the sea and Beach Train through the floor-to-ceiling windows. Suwolgyeonghwa is a good spot in Songjeong for a relaxed cup of tea while watching the sea.

Written Oct 13, 2026Sponsored
PlaceHaeundae, BusanRestaurants

Songjeong jjamppong restaurant for jjamppong lovers: Songjeong Dol

Songjeong Dol Jjamppong (송정돌짬뽕) is a stone-plate jjamppong (spicy seafood noodle soup) restaurant near Songjeong Beach in Haeundae, Busan. After a wait, the writer and a jjamppong-loving companion ordered the whole squid dol jjamppong (medium, 31,000 won), handmade gyoza and macaron menbosha (shrimp toast), enjoying everything from the noodles to nurungji (scorched rice) made with the free bowl of rice. Songjeong Dol Jjamppong ranks among the best jjamppong the writer has ever had, and is a must-revisit on any return to Busan.

Written Oct 11, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeongdong, SeoulHair & beauty salons

Seongsu hair salon: C-curl magic setting for frizzy hair, Toni&Guy

Toni&Guy Seongsu is a hair salon on the 2nd and 3rd floors of a building on Sangwon 1-gil in Seongsu, Seoul. At 19 weeks pregnant and past the first trimester, the writer had a consultation and then about 2 hours of magic setting (Korean straightening with curled ends) plus a cut and nourishing treatment to tame frizz from semi-curly hair and a grown-out perm in rainy season. The verdict: natural volume that doesn't fall flat and C-curl ends made this the most satisfying magic straightening she has ever had.

Written Jul 10, 2026Sponsored