Jung-gu Door Pusher · 84 stories

Through the Restaurant Door

I write about meals and visits to restaurants in Gyeonggi. · Writes about: Restaurants · Bars · Cafés · Hair & beauty salons · Shopping · Things to do

PlaceSeongdong, SeoulHair & beauty salons

Sangwangsimni salon: rainy-day iron root perm for limp hair, Oreudeubi

Oreudeubi Sangwangsimni Station Branch is a hair salon on the ground floor of the Centras shopping arcade, between Sindang Station and Sangwangsimni Station in Seongdong, Seoul. With rain in the forecast and hair falling flat, the writer got an iron root perm from designer Haru at Oreudeubi, which took about 1 hour 30 minutes from shampoo to neutralizing. Designer Haru shaped the volume to the writer's head shape, and the flat hair came back full and lifted.

Written Oct 13, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYangju, GyeonggiRestaurants

Okjeong, Yangju army stew lunch with sausage & ham add-on: Choi Budae

Choi Budae Jjigae (최부대찌개) is a Korean restaurant on Okjeong-ro 10-gil in Yangju, Gyeonggi, specializing in budae jjigae (army stew) and stir-fried army stew. The writer arrived a little early to beat the full lunch crowd, added a sausage & ham topping to the army stew, and enjoyed unlimited rice with one dish per person, self-serve side dishes and plum tea for dessert. At 11,000–12,000 won per person, Choi Budae Jjigae is a good-value army stew spot in Okjeong with plenty of ham and a rich broth.

Written Jun 30, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeocho, SeoulRestaurants

Sadang Station Western spot for honey cheese balls: Two Find Peter

Two Find Peter Seoul Sadang Branch is a Western restaurant with floor-to-ceiling windows on the 3rd floor near Exit 14 of Sadang Station in Seocho, Seoul. On the day the rainy season began, the blogger had the review-event Caesar salad, chicken tenders, cheese balls with honey and shrimp basil pasta at Two Find Peter, and every dish, sides included, was delicious. With wine, group seating and baby chairs, Two Find Peter Seoul Sadang Branch is a good choice for a wedding-invitation get-together.

Written Jul 6, 2026Sponsored
PlaceHwaseong, GyeonggiRestaurants

Quiet pho bar at Dongtan Station with free noodle refills: Mibundang

Mibundang Dongtan Station Branch is a pho restaurant on the first floor of the Dongtan Station Richian Arcade in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi, across from Lotte Department Store. The writer, who eats pho once a week, tried the signature brisket, flank and tendon pho, potato-wrapped shrimp and buffalo wings, and found that the deep broth, chewy tendon, quiet-dining rule and self-service system suit a solo meal. With reasonable prices and free extra noodles, Mibundang Dongtan Station Branch is a solo-friendly pho spot worth coming back to whenever hunger strikes.

Written Oct 10, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYeongdeungpo, SeoulRestaurants

Yeouido tteokbokki shop: rainy-date kiosk takeout, Hyeonseonine

Hyeonseonine Premium IFC Mall Branch is a tteokbokki (spicy rice cake) and Korean street-snack shop on the B2 level of IFC Mall in Yeouido, Seoul. During an indoor date on a weekend with rain in the forecast, the writer ordered the Hyeonseonine Set in medium spice at the kiosk and ate it at home. The careful packing kept the broth from leaking, and the set came loaded with crisp fritters and sundae (Korean blood sausage) with liver and lung. Verdict: Hyeonseonine Premium is a good tteokbokki stop when a Yeouido date starts to wear you out.

Written Jul 17, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJung-gu, SeoulRestaurants

Euljiro snack bar after overtime: natural chili combo, Hyeonseoni-ne

Hyeonseoni-ne Cheonggye Instant Branch (현선이네 청계즉석점) is an instant tteokbokki (spicy rice cake) and Korean snack bar on Namdaemun-ro, near Exit 3 of Euljiro 1-ga Station in Seoul. After working late, the writer ordered the Hyeonseoni-ne Combo Set at medium spice. The set was more than enough for 2 people, and its mild natural-chili heat and crisp fritters stood out. For after-work tteokbokki or snack takeout in Euljiro, Hyeonseoni-ne Cheonggye Instant Branch is a filling, reliable pick.

Written Jul 20, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSuwon, GyeonggiCafés

Suwon bagel café after a Gangnam pop-up: Bigbird ade, Orange Bagel

Orange Bagel is a large, three-story standalone bakery café on Omokcheon-ro in Gwonseon-gu, Suwon. Remembering the bagels from Orange Bagel's Gangnam pop-up, the writer visited the Suwon store, took a 2nd-floor seat with outlets and ordered potato, pepperoni and garlic bagels plus a ₩7,000 Bigbird ade that tastes like a Ppongta ice cream bar. Orange Bagel is a Suwon bagel café that delivers on taste, portions and price, from early-morning brunch to 4-bagel takeout boxes.

Written Oct 8, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulRestaurants

Yeonnam-dong tonkatsu with fist-sized chicken karaage: Katsu Monster

Katsu Monster Yeonnam Main Branch is a tonkatsu (Japanese pork cutlet) restaurant in an alley in Yeonnam-dong, Mapo, Seoul, near Exit 3 of Hongik Univ. Station. It was formerly Wooae Tonkatsu. After the lunch rush, the writer ate alone at a single seat, ordering Mix Katsu A (loin + cheese, ₩19,000) and a 3-piece side of chicken karaage, and the fist-sized chicken thigh karaage was the standout. Katsu Monster Yeonnam Main Branch is a good pick for crisp katsu and karaage with no break time.

Written Oct 8, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYongsan, SeoulHair & beauty salons

Hannam hair salon Milbon Repair Care for split ends: ONLY FOR YOU

ONLY FOR YOU Hannam Main Branch is a late-night hair salon on the 3rd floor of 70 Dokseodang-ro, Yongsan, Seoul, right in front of the Hannam-dong bus stop and open year-round. The writer arrived at opening time with dry, frizzy, split-ended autumn hair and got the Milbon Repair Care 7-step clinic, including two rounds of steam and acupressure at the shampoo station. The result was glossy hair that combs through without tangling. If oil alone can't stop your damaged hair from splitting, Milbon Repair Care at ONLY FOR YOU Hannam Main Branch is worth considering.

Written Oct 7, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYongsan, SeoulRestaurants

Yongridan-gil snack bar, review-event size-up tteokbokki: Hyeonseonine

Hyeonseonine Yongsan Main Branch (현선이네 용산본점) is an instant tteokbokki and Korean snack bar on Yongridan-gil in Yongsan, Seoul, near Sinyongsan Station Exit 6. The blogger ordered 2 portions of medium-spicy instant tteokbokki at ₩11,000 per person plus yakimandu (fried dumplings), and the review-event size-up roughly doubled the tteokbokki, which came with 2 eggs. Verdict: Hyeonseonine Yongsan Main Branch serves a generous meal worth a return visit, especially if you grab the tempura flakes from the self-serve bar.

Written Aug 1, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJung-gu, SeoulRestaurants

Euljiro ramen shop: poached-egg abura soba and motsu ramen, Mentsuru

Mentsuru Euljiro Branch is a Japanese ramen restaurant in Jung-gu, Seoul, between Euljiro 3-ga and Chungmuro stations. The writer prepaid at the kiosk, then had motsu ramen, abura soba (brothless oil noodles) topped with a poached egg and 2 pieces of handmade karaage, and was pleased with the yuzu-scented pickled radish, free rice and friendly service. Verdict: if you want ramen without broth, the abura soba at Mentsuru Euljiro Branch is the answer, and the writer is keen to return.

Written Oct 4, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJung-gu, SeoulCafés

Peanut cake shop in Namdaemun Market, Seoul: 45 for ₩6,000 at Daesin

Daesin Ttangkong-ppang (대신땅콩빵) Namdaemun Market branch is a takeaway-only shop for ttangkong-ppang (peanut-shaped cakes) and gyeran-ppang (egg bread) in Namdaemun Market, Jung-gu, Seoul, near Hoehyeon Station Exit 5. The writer tried a free sample in front of Daesin, then took home 45 peanut cakes for ₩6,000 and kept reaching for more, drawn by the whole peanuts and soft texture. Daesin Ttangkong-ppang is a good-value autumn and winter snack stop for a generous bag to take away while browsing Namdaemun Market.

Written Oct 2, 2026Sponsored