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, SeoulRestaurants

Pungnap-dong sashimi bar: rockfish a picky dad approved, Dowon Susan

Dowon Susan (도원수산) is a local sashimi restaurant in Pungnap-dong, Songpa, Seoul, close to Cheonho Station. On a weekend evening at Dowon Susan, the writer's family ordered the flounder and rockfish set plus sea cucumber and cleared every starter side, from seaweed soup, corn cheese, saury and steamed egg to kimchi pancake. The rockfish even won over a dad who is picky about raw fish, making Dowon Susan a solid Pungnap-dong pick for fresh live-fish sashimi with soju.

Written Oct 10, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulRestaurants

Gaepo-dong army stew Signature set for four: Uncle Budae Jjigae

Uncle Budae Jjigae Irwon Branch (엉클부대찌개 일원점) is a budae jjigae (Korean army stew) restaurant on Irwon-ro 9-gil in Gangnam, Seoul, near the border of Gaepo-dong and Irwon-dong. Four adults shared the Signature Uncle Budae Jjigae set for 4, a pot packed with special ham and sausage, then spooned the broth and ham over butter rice and mixed it in. Thanks to generous ham and a spicy broth with no fishy taste, Uncle Budae Jjigae Irwon Branch is a filling army stew spot for groups.

Written Oct 10, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSongpa, SeoulRestaurants

Chinese restaurant in Bangi Market: seafood jjamppong at Hyeon China

Hyeon China (현차이나) is a Chinese restaurant in Bangi Market in Songpa, Seoul, near Songpanaru Station, and it has held the same spot for 20 years. Our family ordered the Daega Old-Style Jajangmyeon (black bean noodles), the Daega Seafood Jjamppong (spicy seafood noodle soup) and gochujapchae-bap (stir-fried peppers and pork over rice). The jajang sauce was clean rather than sweet, and Dad especially loved the crab-and-shrimp jjamppong broth. Hyeon China is a good stop in Bangi-dong whenever you crave Chinese food that gets the basics right.

Written Oct 9, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSongpa, SeoulRestaurants

Salmon poke with grilled shrimp & steak at Munjeong Station: Olla Poke

Olla Poke Munjeong Main Branch (올라포케 문정본점) is a poke and salad restaurant on B1 of Terra Tower A, near Munjeong Station and Munjeong Legal Town in Songpa, Seoul. The writer added grilled shrimp and steak toppings to a raw salmon poke with homemade wasabi mayo sauce, and the clean-tasting salmon, springy smoky shrimp and lean steak came together well in one bowl. With parking in the building and group orders available when booked at least 2 days ahead, Olla Poke Munjeong is worth considering for a filling salad meal or a group lunch near Munjeong Station.

Written Oct 8, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangdong, SeoulRestaurants

Amsa Market chicken shop: fried gizzards worth a beer, Gimssi Chicken

Gimssi Chicken Amsa Market Branch is a dakgangjeong (sweet, crunchy glazed fried chicken) and fried chicken shop inside Amsa Market near Amsa Station in Gangdong, Seoul. Even at 8:30 pm there was a long queue, and after taking mild dakgangjeong and fried chicken gizzards home to share with family, a dad who had said he wouldn't drink tasted the gizzards and brought out a beer. Gimssi Chicken Amsa Market Branch is a market dakgangjeong shop where calling ahead to order means you can pick up without waiting.

Written Oct 9, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulCafés

Yeoksam Station café: Helsinki latte to go for my husband, Mini Male

Mini Male Coffee Roaster Yeoksam Branch is a mid-century modern café near Yeoksam Station in Gangnam, Seoul, serving house-roasted specialty coffee and handmade desserts. The blogger tried the Helsinki latte, a Dark S'mores New York cookie and a caramel pecan baton financier, and liked the Helsinki latte enough to take a second cup home for her husband. Mini Male Yeoksam is a good stop near Yeoksam Station for a nutty latte with chewy handmade desserts.

Written Oct 8, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulRestaurants

Yeoksam Japanese restaurant: after-work eel and Okinawa draft, Chisot

Chisot Yeoksam Main Branch is a Japanese restaurant in Gangnam, Seoul, specializing in hitsumabushi (Nagoya-style eel rice bowl), on Bongeunsa-ro 30-gil between Yeoksam Station and GS Arts Center. The writer left work a little early, ordered the Hitsumabushi (Sang) with an Okinawa draft beer, and ate the eel rice bowl three different ways. The sweet-salty eel sauce and the smooth Okinawa draft beer paired well, making Chisot Yeoksam Main Branch a satisfying place to unwind after work.

Written Oct 8, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSongpa, SeoulRestaurants

Garak-dong chicken soup restaurant, 11am lunch with Mom: Hanyang Dak

Hanyang Dak Kalguksu Main Branch is a chicken-broth restaurant serving restorative Korean comfort food near Police Hospital Station in Garak-dong, Songpa, Seoul. The writer and her mom arrived at the 11am opening to beat the office lunch crowd and shared three bowls: dak gomtang (chicken soup), spicy dak gomtang and chicken kalguksu (knife-cut noodle soup) with green onion topping, and both were pleased with the rich chicken broth and easy-to-digest house-made noodles. Hanyang Dak Kalguksu is a solid pick for a nourishing meal with family members who usually feel bloated after noodles.

Written Oct 7, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSongpa, SeoulRestaurants

Munjeong rice koji Japanese restaurant: 3-dish dinner at Gome Mui

Gome Mui Songpa Munjeong (고메무이 송파문정점) is a premium Japanese pot rice and udon restaurant near Tera Tower by Munjeong Station in Songpa, Seoul, and it uses rice koji in its dishes. At dinner the writer shared Gome Mui's signature abalone pot rice, maze udon and mentaiko butter udon, finishing the abalone pot rice with sungnyung (scorched rice tea) for dessert. Even after sharing all three dishes the stomach felt comfortable, making Gome Mui a good Munjeong Station pick for a neat, well-prepared Japanese meal.

Written Oct 6, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSongpa, SeoulRestaurants

Bangi-dong family meal: monkfish stew and lunch-special soup, Ttoksuni

Ttoksuni Agujjim Jamsil Direct Branch (똑순이아구찜 잠실직영점) is a Jeolla-style agujjim (spicy braised monkfish) restaurant in Bangi-dong, Songpa, Seoul, a 1-minute walk from Exit 3 of Hanseongbaekje Station. The writer's family ordered agujjim for 3 and the lunch special agutang (monkfish soup), and loved how the thick monkfish, the not-too-sweet sauce and the clear, refreshing broth went together. With adjustable spice levels and plenty of space, Ttoksuni Agujjim is a solid pick for a Songpa family gathering with grandparents and kids.

Written Oct 6, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangdong, SeoulRestaurants

Charcoal chicken galbi in Cheonho, Seoul for a family dinner: Ondogye

Ondogye (온도계) is a charcoal chicken galbi restaurant in Cheonho Station's Jjukkumi Alley in Gangdong, Seoul, where staff grill everything from start to finish and corkage is free for 1 bottle. The writer's whole family tried all 3 Ondogye flavors (garlic salt, soy sauce and spicy chicken galbi): Mom picked the soy sauce chicken galbi as her favorite, and Dad picked the spicy one. Ondogye is a Cheonho family dinner spot where 3 marinades satisfy parents with different tastes.

Written Oct 5, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSongpa, SeoulRestaurants

Bangi-dong sushi spot of 10+ years, sets with udon or soba: Susi Seon

Susi Seon Bangi Branch (스시선 방이점) is a sushi and tonkatsu restaurant in the Bangi-dong food alley in Songpa, Seoul, that has kept the same spot for more than 10 years. On a visit for two, a longtime regular at Susi Seon Bangi Branch ordered the Today's Sushi (10pcs) and the Special Sushi (10pcs), chose one udon and one soba (buckwheat noodles) as the set sides, and shared everything. Verdict: Susi Seon Bangi Branch is a solid Bangi-dong lunch pick, with fresh fish and generous sides at prices in the 10,000-won range.

Written Oct 4, 2026Sponsored