Paper and Pixel · 48 stories

Paperbacks & Pixels

I write about books and the digital tools that accompany everyday reading. · Writes about: Tech & gadgets · Books & stationery · Restaurants · Cafés · Beauty products · Home & living · Hair & beauty salons · Shopping · Bars · Food & snacks

PlaceSongpa, SeoulHair & beauty salons

Munjeong hair salon C-curl bob for semi-curly hair: Artcre Artistic

Artcre Artistic Munjeong is a hair salon in Munjeong-dong, Songpa, Seoul, near Police Hospital Station. Happy with an earlier layered cut, the writer returned to have long semi-curly hair cut into a bob, with magic straightening on top and a C-curl perm at the ends (a 'magic setting'), which took about 3 hours. If you worry a C-curl bob perm will turn frizzy on semi-curly hair, the magic + C-curl combination at Artcre Artistic Munjeong is worth a consultation.

Written May 28, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSongpa, SeoulRestaurants

Pub seating 100 near Bangi Station: beef soy-cream risotto at Hope So

Hope So is a pizza and pasta pub near Bangi Station in Songpa, Seoul. A regular who has been coming to Hope So since 2013 tries the beef soy-cream risotto, cream jjamppong (creamy spicy seafood noodles) and cinnamon Kozel Dark draft beer, and describes the high ceilings and room for up to 100 people. The verdict: Hope So is a never-fail Bangi-dong favorite that also works well for group gatherings.

Written May 28, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSongpa, SeoulRestaurants

Bangi-dong motsunabe restaurant for lunch & cheese risotto: Horanggul

Horanggul Bangi Branch (호랑이굴 방이점) is a Japanese-style gopchang hot pot (motsunabe, beef intestine hot pot) restaurant in the heart of the Bangi-dong food alley in Songpa, Seoul. A regular who had come to Horanggul Bangi Branch three times for dinner and drinks visited for lunch for the first time, ordering the signature gopchang hot pot and finishing with cheese risotto cooked in the leftover broth. With parking right out front and a cozy Japanese-style interior, Horanggul Bangi Branch is satisfying for both lunch and dinner.

Written May 29, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSongpa, SeoulRestaurants

Bangi-dong raw beef restaurant and where to park: Hampyeong Yukhoe

Hampyeong Yukhoe Bangi Main Branch is a raw beef restaurant in Bangi-dong, Songpa, Seoul, between Jamsil Station and Bangi Meokja Alley, specialising in same-day-slaughtered Korean beef served as mungtigi (thick-cut raw beef) and yukhoe (Korean beef tartare). As a restorative meal for the warmer weather, the writer ordered the medium Hampyeong Set 1 and found the mungtigi pleasantly chewy and the yukhoe gently seasoned; Hampyeong Yukhoe has no parking lot of its own, so the nearby Hangil Building lot or the Songpa-gu Office public lot are the options. For a group dinner or date over fresh raw beef, Hampyeong Yukhoe Bangi Main Branch is best visited after 5 p.m. by public transport.

Written May 29, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulHair & beauty salons

Gangnam lash salon: Tangle perm instead of an under perm, Nu Waxing

Nu Waxing & Brow (누왁싱 앤 브로우) is a waxing and lash salon near Gangnam Station and Sinnonhyeon Station in Seoul, known for Brazilian waxing. The writer booked a no-glue perm and an under-lash perm, but the designer at Nu Waxing & Brow warned that an under perm can be uncomfortable on long lashes, so she switched to a Tangle Nutrition Perm. The Tangle Nutrition Perm caused no irritation, lifted the upper lashes with bouncy curl from the root, and left the writer very satisfied.

Written May 30, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeocho, SeoulRestaurants

Poke shop near Gyodae Station: extra steak, sugar-free latte, Salering

Salering Gyodae Direct Store is a salad and poke restaurant near Gyodae Station in Seocho, Seoul. The blogger ordered the flame-grilled steak bibim poke with extra steak, mentaiko wasabi mayo sauce and a sugar-free caramel latte made with zero syrup, and was happy with the smoky steak, the sauce pairing and the latte alike. With its own dedicated parking space, Salering Gyodae Direct Store is a good pick for a light but filling lunch by car near Gyodae Station.

Written May 31, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeocho, SeoulHair & beauty salons

Seocho eyebrow salon revisit: 1:1 lesson to draw even brows, Minjei

Minjei Makeup Eyebrow Grooming, Gangnam Seocho Branch is an eyebrow consulting and grooming shop on Hyoryeong-ro in Seocho, Seoul, near Gangnam Station. The writer, who has uneven brows, was happy enough with the first visit to return for a second, which included an analysis of facial muscle movement, knife-and-scissor brow grooming and a 1:1 brow makeup lesson. Verdict: after this revisit the writer can draw symmetrical brows alone and plans to stick with Minjei Makeup.

Written May 30, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSongpa, SeoulCafés

Samjeon Station date café: ube latte, gelato bungeoppang, Young Coffee

Young Coffee Jamsil Trizium is a drinks and bakery dessert café between Samjeon Station and Jamsil Saenae in Songpa, Seoul. On a weekend visit with her husband, the writer ordered an ube latte, a hot caramel macchiato, a cream cheese red bean gelato bungeoppang (fish-shaped pastry) and pastry walnut cakes. Young Coffee Jamsil Trizium suits anyone looking for unusual dessert pairings, like cold gelato on a warm bungeoppang or a pale purple ube latte.

Written Jun 1, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSongpa, SeoulRestaurants

Bib Gourmand jokbal restaurant in Jamsil Saenae: rice balls, Manjok

Manjok Ohyang Jokbal Jamsil Sincheon Branch is a five-spice jokbal (braised pig's trotters) restaurant near Saenae Station in Songpa, Seoul. It has been open since 1989 and is reportedly listed in the Michelin Guide Seoul Bib Gourmand for 9 years in a row. The writer ordered a medium jokbal and bossam set with self-made rice balls and enjoyed chewy skin, moist bossam and a complimentary rice cake dumpling soup. For this meat lover, Manjok Ohyang Jokbal set a new standard for jokbal, and it is a Jamsil Saenae pub the writer plans to visit regularly.

Written Jun 1, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGwangjin, SeoulRestaurants

Konkuk Univ. pizza pub with BBQ snake half-half pizza: Pizza E Michida

Pizza E Michida Konkuk University Branch is a pizza-and-beer pub near Konkuk Univ. Station in Gwangjin, Seoul. On a weekend night, the writer ordered a half-half pizza of arugula garlic shrimp and Philly cheese BBQ snake, crispy boneless chicken and wedge potatoes, with Terra draft beer from the opening event. With fresh and hearty halves to alternate between and icy draft beer on the side, Pizza E Michida Konkuk University Branch is a no-fail pizza-and-beer stop near Konkuk Univ.

Written Oct 26, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSongpa, SeoulRestaurants

Garak Market sashimi shop, shad in perilla & salmon: Yeongjae Susan

Yeongjae Susan is a sashimi takeout shop in unit C-10 on the 1st floor of the Panmae-dong building at Garak Mall in Songpa, Seoul. The blogger ordered Yeongjae Susan's small shad + flounder + salmon set, which came densely packed with thick slices even in the small size; the autumn shad was wrapped in perilla leaves with garlic and makjang (fermented soybean dipping paste), and the salmon became an instant favorite. For seasonal shad and salmon in one go at Garak Market, the Yeongjae Susan shad + flounder + salmon set is a satisfying choice.

Written Oct 26, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulRestaurants

Sinnonhyeon beef soup: tired-day minari bowl & dumplings, Geumnyeong

Geumnyeong Gomtang Yeoksam Branch is a Korean beef soup (gomtang) restaurant in Gangnam, Seoul, a 2-minute walk from Sinnonhyeon Station, opened in Yeoksam-dong after the original Wangsimni restaurant and specializing in 1++ Hanwoo (Korean beef) gomtang. On a chilly, tiring day the writer ordered minari gomtang (beef soup with Korean water parsley) and 3 meat dumplings, enjoying toryeom-style rice warmed in hot broth, fragrant minari and juicy dumplings. For a solo meal or a hearty Korean lunch near Sinnonhyeon Station, the minari gomtang at Geumnyeong Gomtang Yeoksam Branch is a great fit.

Written Oct 25, 2026Sponsored