Pencil Carrier · 20 stories

A Pencil and Coffee

I write about visits to cafes in Gangwon and the small details I notice there. · Writes about: Cafés · Bars · Restaurants · Stays

PlaceGangnam, SeoulCafés

Apgujeong wine café for a wedding invite meetup: Mild High Club

Mild High Club Apgujeong Branch is a brunch café and wine bar on Eonju-ro 170-gil near Apgujeongnodeo Station in Gangnam, Seoul. The writer visited around 1 p.m., paired a glass of Sauvignon Blanc with a chicken sandwich, chili ragu pasta and a seasonal salad, and named the chili ragu pasta the best dish. With its open wall of windows and brunch, coffee and wine in one space, Mild High Club is a good fit for a wedding-invitation meetup in Apgujeong.

Written May 31, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulRestaurants

Gangnam Station Chinese spot for wedding invite dinners: Namsogwan

Namsogwan U Yuk Dosakmyeon (남소관 우육도삭면) is a two-floor Chinese restaurant a 2–3 minute walk from Exit 11 of Gangnam Station in Seoul. Looking for a venue for a wedding invitation meetup (a dinner where a couple hands out invitations to friends) and a company dinner, the writer ordered beef knife-cut noodles (11,000 won), shrimp fried rice (10,500 won) and xiaolongbao (9,800 won), and enjoyed the rich beefy broth, chewy knife-cut noodles and juicy xiaolongbao. With a spacious dining room and plenty of group seating, Namsogwan U Yuk Dosakmyeon is a good choice for wedding invitation meetups or company dinners in Gangnam.

Written Jun 4, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulCafés

Café behind Gangnam CGV, mango cake revisit: Something About Coffee

Something About Coffee is a three-floor handmade dessert café on a side street behind Gangnam CGV in Gangnam, Seoul. After trying the mango sando on a first visit, the writer returned to Something About Coffee and ordered mango cake, a Dubai scone, a matcha cold brew latte and apple tea. Verdict: with generously fruit-filled mango desserts and a spacious, stylish interior, Something About Coffee is a dessert café near Gangnam Station worth coming back to.

Written Jun 4, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulCafés

Hongdae date café: smell 10+ beans & 2 Geisha brews, Central Site

Central Site Yeonnam is a specialty roastery café on the main street of Yeonnam-dong, near Hongik Univ. Station in Mapo, Seoul. On a date at Central Site Yeonnam, we smelled more than 10 specialty beans, Geisha among them, while the staff explained each one. We then tried brewed Ecuador and Ethiopia Geisha coffees and an 8,500-won classic tiramisu. Verdict: Central Site Yeonnam is a genuinely satisfying, hands-on Yeonnam-dong date spot for discovering your coffee taste.

Written Jun 13, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulRestaurants

Hongdae Chinese spot: tangsuyuk in 1:1 mala-vinegar sauce, Seodamheon

Seodamheon Hongdae Main Branch is a hanok-style Chinese dining restaurant within walking distance of Hongik Univ. Station in Seoul. Lunch at Seodamheon was cotton-puff tangsuyuk (sweet and sour pork, 15,000 won), Sichuan mapo tofu with rice (11,000 won), minari and beef-belly jjamppong (spicy noodle soup, 12,000 won) and a Yantai highball. The tangsuyuk was most memorable dipped in the table's mala oil and vinegar mixed 1:1 and eaten with the fried lotus root served alongside. With both solo-diner seats and group tables, Seodamheon is a Hongdae Chinese restaurant that works whether you come alone or in a group.

Written Jun 13, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJung-gu, SeoulRestaurants

Myeongdong BBQ after sightseeing: black pork belly, Yuktongnyeong

Yuktongnyeong Myeongdong Main Branch is a black pork belly Korean BBQ restaurant on a side street in central Myeongdong, Seoul. After a day of exploring Myeongdong, the writer ordered 2 servings of black pork belly and somaek (soju mixed with beer), and staff grilled the thick cuts over charcoal, to be eaten with perilla leaves, wasabi and the house special sauce. Yuktongnyeong Myeongdong Main Branch suits Myeongdong visitors who want pork at its best without grilling it themselves.

Written Jun 12, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJung-gu, DaeguRestaurants

Dongseong-ro Korean lunch with a mini-buffet self-bar: Cafe Dongi

Cafe Dongi Dongseong-ro Main Branch is a Korean set-meal restaurant on the 2nd floor on Dongseong-ro 3-gil in Jung-gu, Daegu. The writer had the charcoal-grilled spicy pork (jeyuk bokkeum) set, the charcoal-grilled bulgogi set and nuruk-aged tangsuyuk (sweet and sour pork), with unlimited Gimpo multigrain rice, fried eggs and barley crisps from the self-bar, finished with omija (schisandra) tea. Cafe Dongi is not a Korean buffet, but it feels like a mini buffet, making it a solid Dongseong-ro pick for lunch or eating alone.

Written Jun 17, 2026Sponsored
PlaceDong-gu, DaeguRestaurants

Dongdaegu lamb restaurant: ribs and ice-chilled kaoliang, Yangbokjeom

Yangbokjeom Dongdaegu Station Branch (양복점 동대구역점) is a lamb skewer and lamb rib restaurant in Dong-gu, Daegu, about a 5-minute walk from Shinsegae Department Store and within walking distance of Dongdaegu Station. The writer ordered 1 serving of lamb ribs, 1 serving of jumbo lamb skewers and a 250ml bottle of Yantai kaoliang, and named the crispy-outside, juicy-inside lamb ribs with kaoliang that staff chilled in an ice box as the pick of the night. With lamb that has no gamey smell and a spacious, well-ventilated dining room, Yangbokjeom Dongdaegu Station Branch is worth a return visit.

Written Jun 17, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJung-gu, DaeguRestaurants

Daegu Korean restaurant: smoky squid & Donggok makgeolli, Bujasikdang

Banwoldang Bujasikdang (반월당부자식당) is a Korean restaurant specializing in fire-grilled dishes on Gwandeokjeong-gil in Jung-gu, Daegu. For a weekday lunch, the writer ordered the fire-grilled squid stir-fry for 2 and Donggok makgeolli (rice wine), and enjoyed the tender, smoky squid along with the country cheonggukjang (fermented soybean) stew that comes with it and the burdock fritter side dish. For a hearty Korean lunch in Banwoldang, Banwoldang Bujasikdang is a thoroughly satisfying choice.

Written Jul 8, 2026Sponsored
PlaceDong-gu, DaeguRestaurants

Dongdaegu Station BBQ with cinnamon dark beer and mushroom soup: Modak

Modak Texas Barbecue Dongdaegu Branch is a Texas-style barbecue restaurant tucked inside the food alley near Dongdaegu Station in Daegu. The Memphis Platter set for two (75,000 won) came with mushroom soup and a cinnamon dark beer; the brisket, pulled pork and spare ribs all carried a gentle smoky flavor, and the marshmallow self-bar added extra fun. For a meal near Dongdaegu Station that's different from the usual Korean BBQ spot, Modak Texas Barbecue is a satisfying choice.

Written Jul 6, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangseo, SeoulRestaurants

Magok Korean BBQ lunch for two near Ewha Seoul Hospital: Ihwajeong

Ihwajeong Galbi Myeongga Magok-Balsan Branch is a hanok-style galbi (marinated grilled ribs) restaurant near Balsan Station and Ewha Womans University Seoul Hospital in Gangseo, Seoul. For a lunch for two, the writer ordered 1 serving of marinated beef king galbi, 1 serving of marinated pork neck galbi and 1 mul-naengmyeon (cold buckwheat noodles); the 144-hour aged galbi, grilled by staff, was tender with a gently sweet marinade. With free surface parking and spacious private rooms, Ihwajeong Galbi Myeongga is worth recommending for family gatherings or an important lunch.

Written Jul 28, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulRestaurants

Hanwoo beef restaurant in Apgujeong with free corkage: Woo Salon

Woo Salon Apgujeong is a hanwoo (Korean beef) restaurant with private rooms near Apgujeong Station Exit 3 and the Andaz hotel in Gangnam, Seoul. At Woo Salon Apgujeong the writer ordered 2 servings of hanwoo striploin with the sea urchin, caviar and truffle topping, snow shrimp, cold noodles and hanwoo doenjang (soybean paste) stew, and drank a red wine brought from home with no corkage fee. Woo Salon Apgujeong is worth shortlisting for a day when you want hanwoo and wine together in a quiet private room.

Written Oct 2, 2026Sponsored