Folder Foodie · 124 stories

The Receipt Folder

I write about restaurants and cafes I visit in Incheon and Gangwon. · Writes about: Restaurants · Cafés · Bars · Things to do · Hair & beauty salons · Shopping

PlaceSeongnam, GyeonggiBars

Pangyo oden bar with gochujang chicken and squid: Ilpyeondaengsim

Ilpyeondaengsim Pangyo Main Branch is a handmade oden izakaya on the first floor of the Yemiji Building near Pangyo Station in Seongnam, Gyeonggi, and the second brand from Ilpyeondaksim, a restaurant featured on the TV show Wednesday Food Talk (Suyo Misikhoe). On a Sunday evening at a window seat, the writer had oden in a personal broth pot, gochujang chicken thigh (₩22,000), komochi yari-ika, spear squid filled with roe (₩16,000), and grilled pen shell scallops with cheese (₩21,000). During the 1 hour 25 minute stay, every seat filled and a waiting line formed. For a moody atmosphere, unusual bar snacks and 2 hours of free parking, Ilpyeondaengsim is a Pangyo oden bar worth arriving at right at opening time.

Written May 29, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeocho, SeoulRestaurants

Gangnam Station Japanese spot: whole-eel unagi-don after boxing, Ilpum

Ilpum Gangnam Branch (일품 강남점) is a kaisendon (raw seafood rice bowl) restaurant on basement level 1 of a building on Seocho-daero 74-gil, near the Shinbundang Line side of Gangnam Station in Seocho, Seoul. After a morning boxing session on a day off, the writer came to Ilpum Gangnam Branch to recharge with the unagi-don (eel rice bowl, 40,000 won) topped with a whole eel, adding abalone and tuna sashimi on the side. The sashimi had no fishy taste, the egg roll was soft like pudding, and the set udon was satisfying. For office workers near Gangnam Station who want a hearty, polished stamina lunch, Ilpum Gangnam Branch's unagi-don is a fitting choice.

Written Jun 1, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulHair & beauty salons

Gangnam hair salon men's side down perm, sensitive scalp care: Koara

Koara Haircare Gangnam (고아라헤어케어 강남점) is a hair salon on basement level 1 of A Tower, right in front of Exit 12 of Gangnam Station in Seoul. The writer took a day off and travelled from Gunpo for a men's cut and a side down perm, and was impressed by the scalp protector sprayed onto a sensitive scalp, the shampoo chair with a massage function and a sideburn line as neat as if measured with a ruler. Ahead of an important event in June, Koara Haircare Gangnam delivered the best hair of the writer's life.

Written Jun 1, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulCafés

Pre-gym Gangnam café, strawberry & carrot tiramisu: Selected Nicks

Selected Nicks is a large dessert café and tiramisu specialist at 37 Teheran-ro 4-gil in Gangnam, Seoul, about a 5-minute walk from Gangnam Station. Before an evening gym session, the writer and the gym's head coach skipped coffee and shared Selected Nicks' strawberry tiramisu (₩9,800) and carrot tiramisu, toured the 8th-floor hidden room and took some home for family. With its gallery-like space and high-quality desserts, Selected Nicks is a definite place to return to.

Written Jun 2, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulRestaurants

Gangnam Station burger dinner after wrestling sparring: Downtowner

Downtowner Gangnam is a handmade burger shop near Exits 11 and 12 of Gangnam Station in Seoul. After wrestling sparring, the writer stopped by Downtowner Gangnam around 9pm and ate a Shrimp Deluxe Burger (11,800 won) and garlic butter fries in the shop. The onion rings and jumbo mozzarella sticks were packed to go and eaten for lunch the next day. Downtowner Gangnam delivered a filling post-workout meal and neat takeout packaging, a satisfying burger stop at Gangnam Station.

Written Jun 2, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeongnam, GyeonggiRestaurants

Pangyo Korean restaurant open on Buddha's Birthday: Bulgogi On Soban

Bulgogi On Soban (불고기온소반) is a sizzling iron-plate bulgogi restaurant on basement level B1 of Samhwan Hi-Pex Building A in Pangyo, Seongnam. The writer visited the Pangyo flagship around 1 p.m. on the Buddha's Birthday holiday, when many nearby restaurants were closed. The writer ordered the most popular dish, mixed bulgogi (gochujang pork and squid), plus a plate of webfoot octopus bulgogi. For a filling holiday meal of iron-plate bulgogi and hot soup in Pangyo, Bulgogi On Soban is a good choice.

Written May 31, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeongnam, GyeonggiRestaurants

Holiday tonkatsu dinner in Pangyo after studying: Katsu Shokudo

Katsu Shokudo Pangyo Main Branch is a tonkatsu restaurant on B1 of Alpha Dome Tower, right outside Exit 3 of Pangyo Station in Seongnam, Gyeonggi. On a Buddha's Birthday holiday evening after a day of certification-exam study, the blogger ate alone at a single seat and ordered the yuzu slow-aged fillet katsu set with cold soba, a jumbo shrimp katsu and 4 pieces of chicken karaage (Japanese-style fried chicken). Crispy frying, friendly refills and up to 3 hours of free parking make Katsu Shokudo Pangyo Main Branch a solo-dining tonkatsu spot the blogger will definitely revisit.

Written Jun 1, 2026Sponsored
PlaceAnyang, GyeonggiBars

Beomgye Friday pub: sea snail salad & spicy chicken, Bueongi Sanjang

Bueongi Sanjang Beomgye Branch is a mountain cabin-style Korean pub about a 5-minute walk from Beomgye Station in Anyang, Gyeonggi. On a Friday evening with friends, the writer ordered fire-grilled spicy chicken, chamsora chomuchim (tangy sea snail salad) and an icy muksabal (chilled jelly in cold broth), and hand-rolled tuna mayo rice balls at the table. Bueongi Sanjang Beomgye Branch won the writer over with its menu, friendly service and cozy cabin interior, earning a promise to return.

Written Jun 4, 2026Sponsored
PlaceAnyang, GyeonggiThings to do

Pyeongchon gym for back and chest after foot surgery: Excel Fitness

Excel Fitness PT Pyeongchon Branch is a personal training gym on basement level 1 of Daemyeong Global Biz Square, near Exit 3 of Pyeongchon Station in Anyang. A boxing coach taking a break from combat sports after foot surgery trained back and chest at Excel Fitness for about 1 hour 40 minutes, with a trainer checking his posture and coaching him through the bench press and chest fly. With about 80 high-end machines, a zone-by-zone layout and up to 3 hours of free parking, Excel Fitness PT Pyeongchon Branch is an easy Pyeongchon Station gym to stick with, morning or evening.

Written Oct 25, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeocho, SeoulRestaurants

Seocho burger restaurant: prawn burger & fish and chips at Soulbucket

Soulbucket Seocho Gyodae is a handmade burger restaurant near Gyodae Station in Seocho, Seoul, where the staff make the bun dough from scratch in the shop. The writer ordered the signature King Prawn Burger (₩13,000) and a 6-piece fried fish plate (₩12,000) as a set with cola and corn salad, and loved the springy prawn patty and the fish that was crisp outside and tender inside. For a prawn burger or homemade fish and chips near Gyodae Station, Soulbucket is a good choice.

Written Jun 5, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeocho, SeoulRestaurants

Gyodae Station noodle house after boxing: kalnakji, bossam, Daseon

Daseon Kalguksu (참다선칼국수 교대점) is a 25-year-old kalguksu (knife-cut noodle soup) and bossam (boiled pork wrap) restaurant on Banpo-daero 26-gil near Gyodae Station in Seocho, Seoul, spread over the first and second floors of its building. After a weekend boxing study session, the writer arrived at 6 PM, ordered kalnakji (spicy knife-cut noodle soup with a whole octopus) for 2 and a large suyuk bossam boiled with herbal ingredients, and ate in near silence for an hour, praising the tender octopus, the spicy broth and the odor-free pork. Verdict: Daseon Kalguksu is a hearty, protein-packed, warming dinner near Gyodae Station after a workout.

Written Jun 6, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYeongdeungpo, SeoulThings to do

Seonyudo Park picnic rental with an American friend: Picnic List

Picnic List Seonyudo is a 24-hour, unmanned picnic rental shop on the way from Seonyudo Station (Line 9) to Seonyudo Park in Yeongdeungpo, Seoul. A boxing coach and an American friend rented the ₩33,000 camping set, added 2 power banks, a fan, a pillow cushion and 2 packs of wet wipes for ₩45,000 in total, and picnicked in the tree shade overlooking the river. For a stylish picnic date without carrying any gear, the Picnic List Seonyudo camping set is an easy choice.

Written Oct 25, 2026Sponsored