Pocket Wanderer · 6 stories

A Small Pocket Through Nogsapyeong and Gyeonggi

Writes about restaurants, cafes, bars, and beauty spots she visits around Seoul and Gyeonggi. · Writes about: Restaurants · Cafés · Bars · Hair & beauty salons

PlaceGangseo, SeoulRestaurants

Diet-friendly shabu-shabu lunch in Magok, Seoul: Yangcheon Shabu

Yangcheon Shabu Son Kalguksu, Magok Main Branch is a shabu kalguksu (shabu-shabu with hand-cut noodles) restaurant near Yangcheon Hyanggyo Station and Seoul Botanic Park in Gangseo, Seoul. The writer ordered the Special Black Garlic Shabu Kalguksu for three at 12,000 won each, added shabu meat (10,000 won) and noodles (3,900 won), and ate the full course of minari (water dropwort) and mushroom shabu-shabu, black garlic hand-cut noodles and perilla oil five-color rice porridge. The drinking water was hutgae (oriental raisin tree) tea and the kimchi was refilled twice from the self-serve bar. Lightly seasoned and clean-tasting, Yangcheon Shabu Son Kalguksu made an easy lunch even while dieting.

Written Aug 10, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYangcheon, SeoulRestaurants

Tteokbokki restaurant near Yeomchang Station, Seoul: Deokbokhui-jip

Deokbokhui-jip is a tteokbokki (spicy rice cakes) and handmade fried snack restaurant near Yeomchang Station in Yangcheon-gu, Seoul. At lunch, two servings of tabletop instant tteokbokki with a fried snack set and seaweed-flake rice came to 40,000 won, and the extra noodles and toppings made two servings feel like plenty. The fried snacks are made one by one to order, and the salty-sweet gimmari (fried seaweed and noodle roll) is a flavor worth the trip to Deokbokhui-jip.

Written Aug 13, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGwangmyeong, GyeonggiRestaurants

24-hour Korean BBQ with free corkage in Gwangmyeong: Sammokjip

Sammokjip Gwangmyeong Sageori Station Branch is a 24-hour charcoal Korean BBQ restaurant in the Gwangmyeong Sageori food alley in Gwangmyeong, Gyeonggi. The writer ordered two servings of Sammok teukmoksal (premium pork neck, 16,900 won per 180g), one serving of samgyeopsal (pork belly) and chadol doenjang jjigae (beef brisket soybean paste stew, 7,000 won), all grilled tableside by staff, with meljeot (fermented anchovy dipping sauce) and a separate pot of oil sauce for grilling kimchi, then added one more serving of pork neck. Corkage is free, which makes Sammokjip an easy pick for wedding invitation gatherings and company dinners.

Written Aug 17, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGwangmyeong, GyeonggiRestaurants

Gwangmyeong barbecue joint packed on a summer weeknight: Seoseo Galbi

Gwangmyeong Seoseo Galbi is a beef and pork galbi (grilled ribs) restaurant at Gwangmyeong Sageori, near Gwangmyeong Market in Gwangmyeong, Gyeonggi. Arriving at 8pm on a midsummer weekday, the writer found Gwangmyeong Seoseo Galbi already full and ordered two servings of seoseo galbi for 44,000 won, one serving of pork galbi for 16,000 won and cold noodles, comparing the thin, tender beef ribs with the thicker, less salty pork ribs. With marinated crab refilled freely at the self-serve bar, it makes a satisfying Korean BBQ meal even on a hot night.

Written Aug 14, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangseo, SeoulRestaurants

Balsan Korean restaurant with individually wrapped utensils: Mikodam

Mikodam Magok-Balsan Branch is a hanjeongsik (Korean set-course) restaurant near Balsan Station in Gangseo, Seoul. A family of three ordered the Hansang Gadeuk 3-person set for 62,000 won, and at Mikodam each set of utensils arrived individually wrapped, water came as personal bottles, and every side dish except the grilled mackerel and beef jeon was refillable. The seasoning runs strong overall, but with a private room and a separate parking lot next door, Mikodam is an easy choice for a family meal.

Written Aug 17, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulCafés

Pet-friendly Gangnam café with a Noir Single to go: Lazy Yogurt

Lazy Yogurt Gangnam is a Greek yogurt café on the corner of the Sinbundang Line side of Gangnam Station in Seoul, and pets are welcome inside. The writer came alone after a skincare appointment, ordered a Behr Single with nectarine and a cold brew, and took a Noir Single home. Lazy Yogurt Gangnam was full by 1pm on a Saturday and busy with foreign visitors, but three or four bar seats made eating alone easy.

Written Aug 20, 2026Sponsored
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