Outing Calendar Keeper · 40 stories

The Outing Calendar

I write about places I visit and things I try in Gyeonggi. · Writes about: Restaurants · Things to do · Stays · Hair & beauty salons · Bars · Cafés

PlaceSuwon, GyeonggiRestaurants

Mangpo Station katsu spot: double cheddar katsu & wasabi, Myeonsikdang

Myeonsikdang Mangpo Station (면식당 망포역점) is a ramen and katsu restaurant on the ground floor of Golden Square, right outside Exit 3 of Mangpo Station in Suwon. Two people shared double cheddar katsu, premium tonkotsu ramen and fried shrimp for under 30,000 won in total, and the double cheddar katsu paired especially well with wasabi. Myeonsikdang Mangpo Station is an easy lunch pick near Mangpo Station for anyone from solo diners to families with kids.

Written Oct 23, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeocho, SeoulRestaurants

Bangbae butcher restaurant: yukhoe bibimbap and naengmyeon with Dad

Seogyeong Hanwoo Plaza Arts Center branch is a hanwoo (Korean beef) butcher restaurant on Myeongdal-ro in Bangbae, Seocho, Seoul, where diners pick beef at the in-house shop to grill in the dining room and can also order from a wide range of meal dishes. On a weekday lunch with her father, the writer had yukhoe bibimbap (rice bowl with beef tartare), perilla oil makguksu (buckwheat noodles) and bibim naengmyeon (spicy cold noodles); her picky father finished every bite of the yukhoe bibimbap, and she rated the perilla oil makguksu the best. With high chairs, private rooms and 3 hours of free parking, Seogyeong Hanwoo Plaza Arts Center branch is a good fit for a family lunch out.

Written Oct 22, 2026Sponsored
PlaceCheonan, ChungnamRestaurants

Rainy-day jjamppong restaurant in Cheonan: chewy noodles at Bultina

Bultina Kkomak Jjamppong Sinbang Branch is a cockle jjamppong (spicy seafood noodle soup) restaurant in the Ilsong Building in Sinbang-dong, Dongnam-gu, Cheonan. On a rainy day, the writer, her husband and their elementary-school son shared level 1 and level 2 cockle jjamppong and dip-style sweet-and-sour pork; Bultina's slightly thinner, chewy noodles and thin, crispy pork batter stood out from other Chinese restaurants. The whole family loved both the jjamppong and the sweet-and-sour pork at Bultina and will definitely go back.

Written Oct 21, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGyeongju, GyeongbukCafés

Gyeongju walnut pastry shop: fresh walnuts, affogato, Buja Hodu

Buja Hodu (부자호두) is a walnut pastry (hodu-gwaja) shop at the entrance of Hwangnidan-gil in Gyeongju, making every pastry with 100% rice batter. The writer had a 24-piece mix of pea cream cheese, red bean and matcha with an iced americano at Buja Hodu's outdoor tables and found the pastries mild, not overly sweet and packed with chewy, freshly harvested walnuts. With elegant boxes and holiday bojagi cloth wrapping, Buja Hodu is a dessert shop worth recommending for Gyeongju travel souvenirs.

Written Oct 21, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGyeongju, GyeongbukCafés

Bali-style Gyeongju café with a plate wall and matcha latte: Yard

Yard is a brunch and bakery café on the main road by Gyeongju World in Bomun, Gyeongju. With her son and husband, the writer had a croissant, a custard pretzel, a matcha latte and a handmade vanilla bean latte in Yard's palm-tree first-floor space, then went up alone to the no-kids second floor to see its large plate-covered wall and beanbag window seats. Yard's matcha latte was the best she has ever had, and each floor has its own mood, so this Gyeongju café suits families and couples alike.

Written Oct 21, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGyeongju, GyeongbukCafés

Gyeongju mochi shop: chewy skin vs Hanjeongseon's soft, Tareudang

Tareudang is a takeout-only dessert shop on Hwangridan-gil (49 Sajeong-ro) in Gyeongju, Gyeongbuk, selling fruit mochi, sando and tarts. On a Gyeongju trip, the writer bought four Tareudang fruit mochi (blueberry, mandarin, kiwi and fig). The writer then compared Tareudang's chewy gyeongdan-style (rice-cake ball) skin with the soft glutinous rice skin of Hanjeongseon's fruit mochi. Verdict: the fruit mochi at Tareudang and Hanjeongseon each have their own charm, and neither one clearly wins.

Written Oct 20, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGyeongju, GyeongbukRestaurants

Mild bone hot pot near Hanwha Resort Gyeongju with my son: Hyoeunok

Hyoeunok Gyeongju Branch (효은옥 경주분점) is a Korean restaurant in a tiled-roof hanok in Gyeongju, about 2 minutes by car from Hanwha Resort in the Bomun area. On a marathon day when Hyoeunok was nearly full, the writer and their son ate the signature Bone-verest, a towering beef bone hot pot, in its non-spicy version, then finished every bit of the kalguksu (knife-cut noodles) and gondre porridge. With a large parking lot, baby chairs and a self-serve broth bar, Hyoeunok Gyeongju Branch was a satisfying meal for a Gyeongju trip with kids.

Written Oct 19, 2026Sponsored
PlacePyeongtaek, GyeonggiRestaurants

Pyeongtaek Korean restaurant: soy-marinated crab set for two, Mikkodam

Mikkodam Sosabeol (미꼬담 소사벌점) is a Korean set-meal restaurant on Manse-ro in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi, built around seaweed soup and tangy cockle salad. The writer and her son ordered the Hangsang Gadeuk set for two (seaweed soup, cockle salad, soy-marinated crab and mackerel), which came with 10 extra side dishes, and the soy-marinated crab side was not salty, with firm, chewy meat. Mikkodam Sosabeol is a Pyeongtaek Korean restaurant where the whole family, from kids to grandparents, can share a generous table spread.

Written Oct 13, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeongnam, GyeonggiRestaurants

Late-night pho in Jeongja-dong: spicy pho and chicken neck at Kkamon

Kkamon Bundang Jeongja Direct Store is a Vietnamese restaurant on the first floor of The Sharp Star Park in Jeongja-dong, Bundang, Seongnam. It is open until 11pm with no break time. A family with an elementary-school son visited at 9pm on a weekday and ordered spicy pho, brisket pho and fried chicken neck. The punchy, spicy broth and the crispy, egg-rich fried chicken neck stood out. Kkamon Bundang Jeongja Direct Store is a solid choice for a late family dinner in Jeongja.

Written Oct 11, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSuwon, GyeonggiRestaurants

Suwon katsu spot, hangover chicken soup & mild curry: Gyewondang

Gyewondang Ingye Branch (계원당 인계점) is a pork and chicken katsu restaurant in Ingye-dong, near Suwon City Hall Station in Suwon. For lunch with her son and husband, the writer had dakgomtang (chicken soup), curry and chicken katsu. The dakgomtang had chili peppers for a spicy, hangover-curing kick, and the curry was mild like Japanese hayashi rice, so it was easy for a child to eat. With a varied menu, Gyewondang Ingye Branch lets everyone in the family order to their own taste.

Written Oct 7, 2026Sponsored
PlaceHwaseong, GyeonggiRestaurants

Dongtan North Plaza izakaya with non-alcoholic beer: Susanjang

Susanjang Dongtan Branch (수산장 동탄점) is an izakaya specializing in aged sashimi and seasonal seafood at Dongtan North Plaza in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi. At 6:30 pm on a fully booked Sunday, a couple shared chicken nanban (Japanese fried chicken with tartar sauce) and the Mixed Seafood Platter Special with non-alcoholic beer; the platter took 30–40 minutes but came generously loaded with sashimi, sea squirt, sea cucumber, abalone, scallops and live octopus. Susanjang Dongtan Branch is a seafood pub for a Dongtan date night that is worth the wait.

Written Oct 7, 2026Sponsored
PlaceOngjin, IncheonStays

Dog-friendly family pension on Sido Island, Incheon: Poolside Pension

Poolside Pension is a dog-friendly, ocean-view pension (Korean-style holiday guesthouse) right in front of Sugi Beach on Sido Island, Bukdo-myeon, Ongjin-gun, Incheon. The writer, her husband and her son packed no food and instead ordered takeout chicken and spicy chicken feet tteokbokki from Jadam Chicken and Haepaedang on the ground floor, then enjoyed the sea through the picture windows and the stars over the night sea. With kiosk check-in, ground-floor restaurants and a tidal flat right outside, Poolside Pension proved an easy base for a family island trip near Seoul.

Written Oct 6, 2026Sponsored