Mesh Bag Lunches, Gyeonggi Cafes — Mesh Bag Wanderer

Pangyo brunch café before the baby: avocado open sandwich, Meolmeol

Meolmeol Pangyo is a Nordic-style brunch café on Pangyoyeok-ro 2beon-gil in Bundang-gu, Seongnam, Gyeonggi, that takes reservations and allows dogs, with paid corkage. A couple in the final month of pregnancy booked through Naver and ordered truffle baby potato fries (9,000 won), an avocado chili egg open sandwich (18,000 won) and Grandma's lasagna (23,000 won), and the staff added a complimentary yuja (Korean citron) bingsu. The food, atmosphere and service at Meolmeol Pangyo were all satisfying enough that the couple wants to return after the baby is born.

Written Jul 11, 2026Sponsored

PlaceGwangju, GyeonggiRestaurants

Chowol Station Korean restaurant, owner's pick for two: Oneuldo Utja

Oneuldo Utja (오늘도웃자) Chowol is a Korean restaurant near Chowol Station in Gwangju, Gyeonggi, serving duruchigi (spicy stir-fry), kimchi jjigae (kimchi stew) and freshly cooked sotbap (pot rice). Two diners planned to order both kimchi jjigae and duruchigi, but on the owner's advice they ordered only pork duruchigi for 2 (₩25,000), a cheese egg roll (₩12,000) and two pots of rice, and the portions were generous and the ingredients fresh. The verdict: spicy pork duruchigi with a stretchy, cheese-filled giant egg roll makes Oneuldo Utja Chowol a place worth returning to.

Written Jul 12, 2026Sponsored

PlaceGwangju, GyeonggiCafés

Gonjiam brunch café for parents-to-be: spicy oil pasta at La Cuesta

La Cuesta Gwangju is a large bakery brunch café in Gonjiam-eup, Gwangju, Gyeonggi, 10 minutes from Hwadam Forest. A couple expecting a baby ordered spicy oil pasta for weekend brunch, with a fresh cream and custard cream bun and a La Cuesta latte on the side. With a wide range of reasonably priced breads, a spacious layout, a kids' drawing area and a terrace, La Cuesta is a good stop when passing through Gonjiam.

Written Jul 20, 2026Sponsored