Jeju Spoon Stroller · 16 stories

Quiet Spoon, Seoul and Jeju Tables

Writes about restaurants and cafes in Seoul, Busan and Gyeongnam, and Jeju. · Writes about: Cafés · Restaurants · Hair & beauty salons · Things to do · Shopping

PlaceBucheon, GyeonggiRestaurants

Bucheon Korean restaurant: mild octopus & bossam kimchi at Obongjip

Obongjip Beombak-jeom is a Korean restaurant specialising in stir-fried octopus and bossam (boiled pork wraps), in the restaurant row across from Beombak Elementary and Beombak High School in Beombak-dong, Sosa-gu, Bucheon. The writer ordered the Obongjip Special (59,000 won), which brings fire-grilled octopus, gabrisal (pork shoulder cap) bossam and jaengban makguksu (buckwheat noodles tossed on a tray) together on one round obong tray, with the octopus at the mildest spice level. The best of the day at Obongjip Beombak-jeom was the nutty, tender gabrisal bossam and the non-spicy bossam kimchi.

Written Oct 21, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGuro, SeoulHair & beauty salons

Sindorim waxing salon for a near-painless Brazilian: Waxing Lounge

Waxing Lounge Sindorim Branch is a waxing and skin care salon on the 1st floor of Sindorim Techno Mart in Guro, Seoul, connected underground to Sindorim Station exits 3 and 4. The writer's Brazilian wax at Waxing Lounge Sindorim Branch took about 40 minutes, including a consent form, shower, tweezer finish and soothing care, and was so nearly painless that the writer could look at their phone throughout. Clean hygiene and a thorough finish earned Waxing Lounge Sindorim Branch a planned return visit in 2 months.

Written Oct 20, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulRestaurants

Hongdae gomtang spot: chive suyuk + mustard tteokgalbi, Baengni

Baengni Gomtang (백리곰탕) is a Korean restaurant specializing in hanwoo beef gomtang (slow-simmered beef bone soup) in Mapo, Seoul, reached by walking along Gyeongui Line Forest Park from Exit 7 of Hongik Univ. Station. On a chilly day with a big temperature swing, the meal included hanwoo gomtang (12,000 won), hanwoo yukhoe bibimbap (raw beef rice bowl) with soy sauce (13,000 won), and mini suyuk (boiled pork slices) and handmade tteokgalbi (grilled short rib patty) at 9,000 won each. The mild broth topped with sprout ginseng and the salinity measured and posted daily stood out, making Baengni Gomtang a good choice for a filling, clean Korean meal in Hongdae.

Written Oct 22, 2026Sponsored
PlaceNam-gu, UlsanCafés

Dal-dong, Ulsan bakery café: choc financiers, sourdough, Emily Bakery

Emily Bakery is a bakery café on the second floor of 144 Wangsaeng-ro in Nam-gu, Ulsan, selling baguettes and baked sweets made fresh every morning. The writer visited early in the morning, ate white and chocolate financiers at Emily Bakery, and took home a chocolate baguette and a sourdough loaf. Emily Bakery is worth a stop for financiers that are crisp outside and moist inside and for a chewy baguette.

Written Jun 15, 2026Sponsored
PlaceNam-gu, UlsanCafés

Ulsan tteok shop, sweet vs grown-up pumpkin injeolmi: Baekho Tteokbang

Baekho Tteokbang (백호떡방) is a sweet pumpkin injeolmi (chewy rice cake) shop in Sinjeong-dong, Nam-gu, Ulsan, across from KBS Hall. Baekho Tteokbang makes only two items, Baekho tteok (castella pumpkin injeolmi, medium 8,000 won) and Heukho tteok (black sesame pumpkin injeolmi, medium 8,500 won), and the writer bought a medium of each to compare. Baekho tteok suits anyone after something soft and sweet, while Heukho tteok suits a nuttier, grown-up palate.

Written Jun 16, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulThings to do

Dessert and coffee tent picnic rental in Mangwon, Seoul: Picnic List

Picnic List Mangwon is a self-service picnic gear rental shop across from the main entrance of Mangwon Han River Park in Mapo, Seoul. The writer booked in advance on Naver and rented a tent, backrest chairs, a box table, a Bluetooth speaker and a wagon. The writer and a friend then enjoyed dessert and coffee in the Mangwon Han River Park tent zone. Picnic List Mangwon suits anyone who wants to rent all their picnic gear in one go and relax by the Han River without spending much.

Written Oct 16, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeocho, SeoulThings to do

Banpo photo studio for friendship photos in your 30s: Mieyeol Studio

Mieyeol Studio is a photo studio in Banpo, Seocho-gu, Seoul, inside Maison de ID Hair near Sapyeong Station. The writer took first-ever friendship photos at Mieyeol Studio with a longtime friend now in their 30s. Since they already had their makeup on, they added solo profile shots, and the photographer's pose directing eased the awkwardness. Natural, never-overdone retouching and fast email delivery made Mieyeol Studio a satisfying choice for friendship photos.

Written Oct 14, 2026Sponsored
PlaceBucheon, GyeonggiRestaurants

Sinjungdong tuna restaurant for soju, white kimchi wraps: Nagoya Tuna

Nagoya Tuna is an aged bluefin tuna restaurant near Sinjungdong Station in Bucheon, Gyeonggi. After booking ahead, the writer ate the Royal course in a private room overlooking Sinjungdong's outdoor drinking street, wrapping tuna in gim (roasted seaweed) with white kimchi, wasabi and braised mushrooms alongside soju, and the course continued with up to 2 tuna refills, sushi, tempura, a clear fish soup and maki. Nagoya Tuna is a place you visit for drinking snacks and leave from having eaten a generous full meal.

Written Oct 10, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulRestaurants

Hongik Univ. Station gomtang lunch by an open kitchen: Doonjeong

Doonjeong Hongdae Direct Branch is a Korean restaurant specialising in hanwoo (Korean beef) gomtang, near Exit 1 of Hongik Univ. Station in Mapo, Seoul. At lunch, the writer ordered one spicy hanwoo gomtang (15,000 won) and one clear hanwoo gomtang with beef tendon (16,000 won), plus a shrimp and minari (water dropwort) pancake (19,000 won) on the side, and found the broth clean rather than harsh. Doonjeong Hongdae Direct Branch suits anyone who wants a quiet, warm bowl of soup in Hongdae.

Written Oct 9, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeocho, SeoulRestaurants

Gyodae Japanese restaurant: first lotus root kushikatsu dinner at Kosi

Kosi Gyodae Branch (코시 교대점) is a tonkatsu and udon Japanese restaurant near Exit 14 of Gyodae Station in Seocho, Seoul, across from Cheonggiwa Town. For dinner, the order at Kosi Gyodae Branch was the half-and-half fresh pork loin tonkatsu (₩13,500), the signature tori-ten bukkake udon, a chilled udon with chicken tempura (₩11,000), and a side of lotus root kushikatsu, or fried lotus root skewers (₩4,000). The crispy tonkatsu and cold udon paired well, and the first-time lotus root kushikatsu is worth ordering again.

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

Makeup salon in Yeongdeungpo for anniversary couple photos: Charom

Charom Makeup & Hair is a hair and makeup salon near Dangsan Station in Yeongdeungpo, Seoul. For anniversary photos with her boyfriend, the writer got natural makeup with a little extra polish and curled hair with root volume; the base stayed smooth on her dry skin, and the aegyo-sal (the puffy under-eye area) shading was the highlight. Charom Makeup & Hair suits anyone who finds heavy makeup too much but still wants a special anniversary look.

Written Oct 7, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangseo, SeoulRestaurants

Balsan Station Korean restaurant for parents: yuja salad, Mikodam

Mikodam Magok-Balsan Branch is a Korean set-meal (hanjeongsik) restaurant near Balsan Station in Gangseo, Seoul. The writer ordered the set for two with beef seaweed soup, soy-sauce cockle bibimbap and beef jeon (pan-fried beef). The meal came with banchan such as mackerel, spicy stir-fried pork, japchae (glass noodles) and yuja (citron) salad, followed by sikhye (sweet rice drink), plum tea, coffee and puffed corn. With mild seasoning and private rooms, Mikodam Magok-Balsan Branch is a solid pick for a family meal with parents or a team dinner.

Written Jul 29, 2026Sponsored