Weekend Notebook Keeper · 14 stories

Loose Notebook, Gyeonggi and Seoul Days Out

She covers cafes, restaurants, beauty spots, and things to do around Gyeonggi and Seoul. · Writes about: Restaurants · Things to do · Cafés · Hair & beauty salons

PlaceYangju, GyeonggiRestaurants

Yangju Korean BBQ, pork galbi a Sikgaek-fan son approved: Manpo Galbi

Manpo Galbi Yangju Main Branch is a galbi restaurant at 65 Songnang-ro in Yangju, Gyeonggi, specialising in handmade marinated galbi, LA galbi, galbitang (beef short rib soup) and Hamheung naengmyeon (cold noodles). On a return visit with her husband and son, the writer ordered 3 servings of pork galbi and also had the house-made naengmyeon that comes free with meat orders (2 mul naengmyeon, 1 bibim naengmyeon), yukhoe (seasoned raw beef) and yukjeon (beef pancake) side dishes, and brisket doenjang stew. Her son, who has read Heo Young-man's food comic Sikgaek three times, called it proper pork galbi, which makes Manpo Galbi Yangju Main Branch a Yangju galbi restaurant worth recommending for both family dinners and work gatherings.

Written Jun 9, 2026Sponsored
PlaceUijeongbu, GyeonggiRestaurants

Uijeongbu Station beef BBQ with perilla gopchang hot pot: Supsok Oki

Supsok Oki Jip (숲속 옥이집) is a beef and soup restaurant on Sinheung-ro 258beon-gil near Uijeongbu Station in Uijeongbu, Gyeonggi, and its name is said to mean "Soup & Beef House." On a married couple's date, they ordered 3 servings of emperor rib finger meat plus a 10,000 won add-on set of beef curry rice and perilla gopchang (beef intestine) hot pot, and the hot pot broth was so good they added a bowl of rice. Supsok Oki Jip suits couples who want grilled beef and a soup dish in one meal amid forest-style decor near Uijeongbu Station.

Written Jun 11, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJung-gu, SeoulBars

Euljiro 3-ga pub after an exhibition: two Taktak drafts, Eulsam Hof

Eulsam Hof Euljiro Main Branch is a retro standing pub near Exit 11 of Euljiro 3-ga Station in Jung-gu, Seoul, serving four draft beers named for how they are poured: Sulsul, Foam Foam, Toktok and Taktak. After an exhibition, the writer returned to Euljiro with her husband for the first time in 27 years, paired Sulsul and Taktak drafts with dried pollack (hwangtae), and liked the crisp Taktak so much that she ordered it again for her second glass. Eulsam Hof is worth remembering if you want old Euljiro alley charm and a fresh take on draft beer.

Written Oct 17, 2026Sponsored
PlaceNamyangju, GyeonggiRestaurants

Frozen pork belly BBQ by an open window at Dasan Station: Eungbongjip

Eungbongjip Dasan Station Branch (응봉집 다산역점) is a Korean BBQ restaurant specialising in frozen Handon (Korean-raised) pork belly near Exit 4 of Dasan Station in Namyangju, Gyeonggi. The writer's daughters were craving naengsam (thin frozen pork belly), so the family sat at an open window seat, ordered the frozen pork belly set for 3 plus 1 extra portion with scallion salad, minari and kimchi, and finished with 2 portions of kkakdugi (cubed radish kimchi) fried rice. The cool autumn breeze and friendly service made Eungbongjip Dasan Station Branch a lovely family dinner out.

Written Oct 17, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJung-gu, SeoulRestaurants

Kalguksu spot by Seoul Museum of Art: pre-exhibition lunch, Tanbaek

Tanbaek (탄백) is a Korean restaurant specialising in Hanwoo beef kalguksu (knife-cut noodle soup), on the second floor of a building across from Jeongdong Church on Jeongdong-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul. Before seeing the Yu Youngkuk exhibition at the Seoul Museum of Art, the writer and her husband waited about 40 minutes for a weekend lunch via Catch Table, then ate Hanwoo gom kalguksu (clear beef bone broth noodles), yukgaejang kalguksu (spicy beef noodle soup) and kimchi mandu (kimchi dumplings), refilling the house kimchi twice. Tanbaek is a hearty lunch worth recommending on a day that pairs a Jeongdong-gil stroll with an exhibition.

Written Oct 15, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSongpa, SeoulRestaurants

Gukbap restaurant near Jamsil Station: jowl set with 2 soups, Boseung

Boseung Hoegwan Bangi Branch (보승회관 방이점) is a gukbap (rice soup) restaurant on Ogeum-ro in Songpa, Seoul, near Exit 10 of Jamsil Station. During a Seokchon Lake outing, the writer and her husband had lunch there, ordering the jowl suyuk (boiled pork jowl) set for two at ₩32,000, choosing one sundae gukbap (Korean sausage soup) and one pork bone hangover soup, with Jipyeong makgeolli on the side. With tender pork jowl, two kinds of sundae and two different soups in one order, the Boseung Hoegwan set for two is a great pick for a pair.

Written Oct 15, 2026Sponsored
PlaceNamyangju, GyeonggiRestaurants

Dumpling hot pot dinner for 3 with daughters in Byeollae: Onjeongban

Onjeongban Shabu Kalguksu Namyangju Byeollae Main Branch is a shabu-shabu and kalguksu (knife-cut noodle soup) restaurant on Siksong 1-ro in Byeollae, Namyangju, Gyeonggi. The writer took her daughters out for dinner and ordered the handmade rolled dumpling hot pot for 3 (₩13,000 per person); her daughters mixed the free gondeure (Korean thistle) rice from the self-serve bar twice, and everyone finished with blue ade and mango slushies. With free parking and friendly service, Onjeongban made for a satisfying family dinner out in Byeollae.

Written Oct 10, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJongno, SeoulCafés

Jongno choco pie shop: kids pick strawberry, husband red bean, Ssuk's

Ssuk's Choco Pie Seoul is a chilled fresh-cream mugwort choco pie shop near Jongno 5-ga Station, on the south gate side of Gwangjang Market in Jongno, Seoul. The writer pre-ordered a 6-pie set (24,800 won) through Naver booking and compared all six flavors at home: the writer liked Geomundo Sea-Breeze Mugwort best, the kids chose Nonsan Strawberry and the husband picked Sea-Breeze Mugwort Whole Red Bean. Even when a family's tastes differ, Ssuk's Choco Pie Seoul has a flavor for everyone, making it a solid Gwangjang Market gift dessert.

Written Oct 9, 2026Sponsored
PlaceNamyangju, GyeonggiRestaurants

4-flavor pizza and beer near Jeong Yak-yong Library: It's Pizza Dasan

It's Pizza Dasan is a pub-style pizza restaurant in Dasan, Namyangju, near the Jeong Yak-yong Library and within easy reach of Donong Station. The writer and friends shared the Quattro Premium L set (four-flavor pizza, half-moon potato wedges and a chicken tender salad) with draft beer, and loved the sweet-and-salty balance of the four flavors and the sweet potato mousse edge. With roomy, separated seating, It's Pizza Dasan is an easy pick for dates, family gatherings and group pizza-and-beer nights.

Written Jul 21, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangdong, SeoulHair & beauty salons

Cheonho Station hair salon gray root dye, no scalp sting: Juno Hair

Juno Hair Cheonho Rodeo Branch is a hair salon in a 3-story standalone building on Rodeo Street near Exit 5 of Cheonho Station in Gangdong, Seoul. With more and more gray hairs, the writer had her roots dyed by Senior Director Chaerim at Juno Hair Cheonho Rodeo Branch, who matched the tone to her natural hair color and applied a scalp protector first, so there was no stinging during the dye and her scalp still felt comfortable the next day. Juno Hair Cheonho Rodeo Branch is a solid pick for anyone who wants natural-looking gray root coverage without damage.

Written Jul 26, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJongno, SeoulRestaurants

Jongno Jeolla-style restaurant: skate salad and gulbi set, Gu Table

Gu Table Korean Restaurant (구테이블 한정식) is a Jeolla-style hanjeongsik (Korean set-course) restaurant in an alley across from Gwangjang Market, near Jongno 5-ga Station in Jongno, Seoul. The writer and her husband had the lunch barley gulbi (dried yellow corvina) set at 40,000 won per person, a full table with three-color namul (seasoned vegetables), sweet and sour skate salad, mussel and shrimp seaweed soup, steamed abalone and whelk, braised sea bream head, and aged flounder sashimi salad. The most memorable taste at Gu Table was millet rice in green tea water topped with barley gulbi.

Written Oct 8, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJongno, SeoulRestaurants

Jongno burger spot at 1pm: black pepper Cajun fries at Reel Burger

Reel Burger Gwanghwamun is a handmade burger restaurant on the ground floor of Shilla Stay on Sambong-ro in Jongno, Seoul, reportedly consulted on by chef Lee Won-il for a YouTube show. The writer and her husband arrived around 1pm to avoid the office lunch rush and ordered the Egg Benedict Burger, an El Taco Burger set, crispy onion rings, black pepper Cajun fries and an original Coke. Both the burgers and the sides at Reel Burger Gwanghwamun were good enough that the couple plans to return.

Written Aug 2, 2026Sponsored