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Meals Near Home

I write about restaurants I visit around Seoul and Gyeonggi. · Writes about: Restaurants · Cafés · Hair & beauty salons

PlaceGangnam, SeoulCafés

Yangjae pie shop, 4-nut whole pie for spring cleaning: Hodu Kkakki

Hodu Kkakki Brothers (호두까끼형제) is a takeout-only handmade pie shop in a residential area between Yangjae Station Exit 4 and Dogok-dong in Gangnam, Seoul. The writer picked up the whole Premium Mix Pie (34,900 won), with signature walnut, original pecan, hazelnut cacao and macadamia cheese pies, as a snack for a spring cleaning day at their parents' house. Hodu Kkakki Brothers' hefty, nut-loaded pies in a sturdy box make a solid Parents' Day or Teachers' Day gift.

Written Apr 23, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeongnam, GyeonggiRestaurants

Square makchang and window seats in Pangyo: Pangyo Insaeng Gopchang

Pangyo Insaeng Gopchang is a beef intestine BBQ restaurant in Pangyo, Seongnam, a 5-minute walk from Exit 1 of Pangyo Station and across from Hwarang Park. Two friends booked ahead and ordered the Insaeng Hanpan platter of gopchang (small intestine), daechang (large intestine), makchang (abomasum) and heart for 63,000 won; staff grilled it at the table, which left plenty of time for catching up. With a spacious dining room and sliding-door window seats, Pangyo Insaeng Gopchang is a solid pick for company dinners and nights out with friends.

Written May 7, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeongnam, GyeonggiRestaurants

Gyukatsu in Pangyo: birthday revisit, chili-sauce tenderloin, Ichigyu

Ichigyu Avenuefrance Pangyo (이치규 아브뉴프랑 판교점) is a gyukatsu (breaded beef cutlet) restaurant on the 2nd floor of Avenuefrance in Pangyo, Seongnam, where diners sear the cutlet themselves on a mini brazier at the table. Unable to forget the meal shared with a partner on last year's birthday, the writer returned around 1 p.m. on a weekend, walked straight in and had tenderloin gyukatsu, mini curry and potato croquette with salt and chili sauce. With crispy-outside, juicy-inside tenderloin and the fun of grilling it yourself, Ichigyu is a worthy date meal in Pangyo.

Written May 21, 2026Sponsored
PlaceChungju, ChungbukRestaurants

Chungju pheasant restaurant for first-timers: Suanbo Daejanggun

Suanbo Daejanggun (수안보대장군) is a pheasant restaurant in Suanbo-myeon, Chungju, that serves no à la carte dishes, only 2 set courses. An engaged couple trying pheasant for the first time ordered the Emperor Tonic Course (황제보양코스) for two and Janggunju (장군주), a traditional home-brewed liquor, and worked through nine courses, from dongchimi (radish water kimchi), pheasant sashimi and shabu-shabu to pheasant dumplings, three-color sujebi (hand-torn noodle soup) and plum tea. Their verdict: Suanbo Daejanggun was a big success as a first taste of pheasant.

Written May 25, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGwangju, GyeonggiRestaurants

Taejeon-dong briquette BBQ with a six-cut 600g pork set: Sangnok

Sangnok Hoegwan Yeontan-gui Taejeon Branch is a briquette-grilled pork restaurant on Hoean-daero in Taejeon-dong, Gwangju, Gyeonggi. After work on a weekday, two people shared the 600g pork set (34,000 won) with doenjang-jjigae (soybean paste stew) and mul naengmyeon (cold noodles), grilled jjondeugi (a chewy retro snack) over the coals, and finished with wraps of icy radish salad and pork skin dipped in soybean powder. Sangnok Hoegwan Taejeon Branch is a good-value spot for tasting many cuts at once at a company dinner or group gathering, and the writer would return 100%.

Written May 30, 2026Sponsored
PlaceHanam, GyeonggiRestaurants

Hanam pollock restaurant for a Starfield lunch date: Appa Jjim

Appa Jjim Hanam Main Branch is a braised and steamed pollock restaurant on the eatery street across from Misa Gyeongjeong Park in Hanam, Gyeonggi. On a weekday lunch during a Starfield Hanam date, the writer and their partner ordered a small siraegi (dried radish greens) braised pollock with a rice cake add-on for ₩38,000 and fragrant pot rice for 2 at ₩5,000, and enjoyed the moist pollock, sweet-and-spicy sauce and well-seasoned siraegi. For a date or family meal of braised pollock, Appa Jjim Hanam Main Branch is a satisfying choice.

Written May 30, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSongpa, SeoulHair & beauty salons

Jamsil Saenae hair salon red brown dye for brassy ash hair: Anew Hair

Anew Hair Songpa Jamsil Branch is a hair salon in Songpa, Seoul, close to Saenae Station. After an ash color turned brassy and yellow, the blogger had a color consultation at Anew Hair Songpa Jamsil Branch and went red brown, with the top and the ends matched so the shade came out even. Anew Hair Songpa Jamsil Branch's red brown dye is worth recommending as a summer change for anyone who wants a brighter-looking skin tone.

Written Jun 7, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGwangju, GyeonggiRestaurants

Gwangju pork galbi house: private rooms and kids' playroom, Jeongwon

Jeongwon Galbi Gyeonggi Gwangju Branch is a charcoal-grilled pork galbi restaurant on Gyeongancheon-ro in Gwangju, Gyeonggi, with a large private parking lot, 2nd-floor private rooms and a kids' playroom. The meal was Korean-raised pork galbi, followed by doenjang jjigae (soybean paste stew), gyeran-jjim (steamed egg) and mul naengmyeon (cold noodle soup). After one charcoal change, the marinated pork galbi came out crisp outside and juicy inside, neither too sweet nor too salty, making Jeongwon Galbi a satisfying choice for family and group gatherings.

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

Cheongdam hair salon khaki matte brown over faded red hair: Beorn

Beorn Hair Cheongdam is a hair salon on the 2nd floor of a building on Seolleung-ro in Gangnam, Seoul, a short walk from Gangnam-gu Office Station. After a one-on-one consultation with the head manager, the writer had hair that had turned patchy and reddish over the summer toned down with matte brown dye, plus partial care and a clinic treatment. Beorn Hair Cheongdam removed the red and left a matte brown with a khaki tint under the lights, making it a satisfying visit.

Written Oct 14, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGwangju, GyeonggiRestaurants

Taejeon-dong lamb skewer spot, 3rd visit with whole garlic: Sinbaegok

Sinbaegok Lamb Skewers Taejeon Branch (신백옥양꼬치 태전점) is a late-night lamb skewer restaurant on Taebong-ro in Taejeon-dong, Gwangju, Gyeonggi. On the writer's third visit, two people came on a weekday evening and ordered the Couple Set with the fried rice swap: salt-grilled and seasoned lamb skewers, guobaorou (crispy sweet-and-sour pork in sticky-rice batter) and egg fried rice. They also enjoyed whole garlic, a cilantro self-bar that is now free, and free coffee and ice cream for dessert. Because the lamb has no gamey smell, Sinbaegok Lamb Skewers is a solid pick for lamb beginners and family meals out in Taejeon-dong.

Written Jul 6, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGwangju, GyeonggiRestaurants

Date-night Korean restaurant in Chowol, Gwangju: soy crab at Bomseol

Bomseol (봄설) is a Korean restaurant in Chowol-eup, Gwangju, Gyeonggi, specialising in set meals of bori gulbi (barley-dried yellow croaker) and ganjang gejang (soy sauce marinated crab). On a dinner date we ordered one soy sauce crab set (25,000 won) and one dried croaker set (27,000 won). The crab had no fishy taste and the croaker is eaten with rice in green tea water, so the two of us finished three pots of stone-pot rice. With a large car park, an unlimited self-serve bar and a mini café for after the meal, Bomseol is a safe choice for both dates and family gatherings.

Written Jul 14, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangneung, GangwonCafés

Chodang-dong morning café: fresh bakes & cone latte at Coffee Dripper

Coffee Dripper is a café inside Gangmun Chodang Sundubu (soft tofu) Village on Nanseolheon-ro in Chodang-dong, Gangneung. Two people visited Coffee Dripper around 10:30 AM and ordered the Cone Choco Latte (8,000 won), where the cone becomes the cup, an iced Americano made with drip coffee ice cubes, and a Vanilla Croffin (5,500 won). Verdict: Coffee Dripper is a Gangneung café worth visiting for its unusual cone choco latte, freshly baked pastries and roomy wood-toned space.

Written Jul 19, 2026Sponsored