Course Break · 24 stories

Between Courses

Writes about restaurant meals and small dining stops across Gyeonggi. · Writes about: Restaurants · Hair & beauty salons · Bars · Cafés · Things to do

PlaceGangnam, SeoulRestaurants

Cheongdam restaurant, Pepero Day uni pasta: People the Terrace

People the Terrace is an Italian restaurant in Cheongdam-dong, Gangnam, Seoul, tucked into the Prada alley off Exit 2 of Apgujeongnodeo Station. On Pepero Day, the writer and a friend shared uni pasta (39,000 won), a pastry sweet brie cheese pizza (31,000 won) and a cabbage steak (19,000 won) with wine and draft beer. They noticed thoughtful touches like restroom amenities and hand cream on the table. The uni pasta, mixed tableside by staff, is the must-order dish at People the Terrace.

Written Nov 13, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYeongdeungpo, SeoulBars

Dangsan izakaya for fried soft-shell crab and seafood ramen: Kaken

Kaken is a small, quiet izakaya (Japanese-style pub) behind the 7-Eleven at Exits 2 and 3 of Dangsan Station in Yeongdeungpo, Seoul. After a first round of gopchang (grilled beef intestines), the writer went to Kaken right at opening for a second round and ordered seafood ramen (₩9,000), loaded with seafood and plump shrimp, and fried soft-shell crab (₩25,000), tender and juicy. Kaken is a good Dangsan Station bar for a quiet drink on a date or on your own.

Written Nov 8, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeocho, SeoulRestaurants

Dim-lit dakgalbi and beer near Sinnonhyeon Station: Dakgalbijeon

Dakgalbijeon Gangnam Branch is a dakgalbi (spicy stir-fried chicken) and potato pancake restaurant on the 2nd floor of Gangnam Dioville, by Exit 7 of Sinnonhyeon Station in Seocho, Seoul. On an evening visit for two, the writer had the Gamssachi-dak set for 2 (₩40,000) with beer, received free wheat rice cakes through the women's table event, and liked that staff stir-fried all the dakgalbi at the table. Dakgalbijeon Gangnam Branch was nearly full even early in the evening, but the atmosphere, taste and value made it a satisfying spot for a get-together.

Written Oct 30, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeocho, SeoulHair & beauty salons

Gangnam Station brow consulting: swapping eyeshadow for pencil, Minjei

Minjei Makeup Eyebrow Grooming, Gangnam Seocho Branch is a 1:1 by-appointment eyebrow grooming and consulting shop on B1 of the Acrotel building, by Exit 5 of Gangnam Station in Seoul. A writer who used to sketch her brows with eyeshadow, and whose failed semi-permanent brows had left them badly uneven, booked eyebrow grooming (brow design, ₩30,000). She had her brows evened out and learned a simple drawing formula: keep the front light and the tail darker. Minjei Makeup's brow consulting is recommended for anyone who finds waxing too harsh on the skin or struggles to get both brows symmetrical on their own.

Written Oct 31, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeongnam, GyeonggiRestaurants

Jeongja-dong lamb BBQ: truffle egg soy and seaweed-chip yukhoe, Nokji

Nokji Bundang Jeongja Branch (녹지 분당정자점) is an aged lamb and beef grill restaurant in Jeongja-dong, Bundang, Seongnam. On a cold Tuesday night, while waiting for a friend who had lost the way, the writer ordered a French rack and a shoulder rack, which staff grilled and rested at the table, paired them with truffle egg soy sauce and basil sauce, and finished with kimbugak yukhoe (beef tartare on crispy seaweed chips) for 25,000 won. Nokji Bundang Jeongja Branch is a good pick for a quiet, conversation-friendly dinner, even for people put off by the smell of lamb.

Written Oct 29, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeocho, SeoulRestaurants

Seocho Korean BBQ date while the kid's at tutoring: Ugojip couple set

Ugojip (우고집) is a Korean BBQ restaurant on basement level 1 of Building 5, Banpo Shopping Town, in Seocho, Seoul, across from Shinsegae Department Store at the Express Bus Terminal. While their child was at a tutoring session, a married couple slipped out for the 400g couple set (49,000 won) with Sunyang Oak soju. The husband grilled the tricky usamgyeop (thin-sliced beef), and they also had hanger steak, boneless short rib and brisket doenjang stew until they were full. For couples or families looking for good-value beef near the Express Bus Terminal, Ugojip's couple set is generous in both portion and flavor.

Written Oct 27, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeocho, SeoulRestaurants

Gyodae Chinese Dinner Course D with whisky corkage: Maeranbang

Maeranbang Gyodae Branch is a modern Chinese restaurant with private rooms on basement level 1 in the Gyodae Station food alley in Seocho, Seoul. The writer booked a table in the main hall for two friends, brought a bottle of Arran 18 whisky on paid corkage, and had the 50,000-won-per-person Dinner Course D: special cold appetizer platter, crab soup, a dim sum sampler, Mongolian beef, mapo chawanmushi, hand-pulled jajangmyeon and seafood jjamppong. Because Dinner Course D at Maeranbang Gyodae Branch comes with two main dishes, it is a good choice for team dinners and formal gatherings.

Written Oct 25, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeodaemun, SeoulHair & beauty salons

First Korean head spa in Ewha, Seoul for seborrheic scalp: Eco Revy

Eco Revy Hair Ewha Branch is a head spa hair salon near Exit 3 of Ewha Womans Univ. Station in Seodaemun, Seoul. At her first head spa, the blogger got a seborrheic scalp diagnosis, aroma care, steam, a water spa in an MVG room massage chair, a treatment and a blow-dry, and watched the rinse water carry out buildup left by frequent root dyeing. The verdict: anyone who dyes their hair often should get the Eco Revy Hair Ewha Branch head spa regularly.

Written Oct 20, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeocho, SeoulRestaurants

Banpo Chinese spot with corkage and crispy eggplant: Banpo Yangkkochi

Banpo Yangkkochi (반포양꼬치) is a lamb skewer and Chinese restaurant on basement level 1 of Banpo Shopping Town Building 3, right by Exit 8-1 of Express Bus Terminal Station in Seocho, Seoul. On the last day of a holiday, the writer had original lamb skewers, cumin-seasoned lamb skewers and fish-fragrant eggplant (₩19,000) with Harbin beer, and the eggplant, crispy outside and moist inside, was the standout dish. With corkage at ₩20,000 per bottle, Banpo Yangkkochi is a good-value Chinese pick near Express Bus Terminal for family gatherings and team dinners.

Written Jul 19, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulRestaurants

Sinsa Station spicy cheese roll katsu on a rainy day: Ikki Roll Katsu

Ikki Roll Katsu Garosu-gil Main Branch is a Japanese-style roll katsu (rolled pork cutlet) restaurant on the basement level of Gangnam-daero 152-gil, near Sinsa Station in Gangnam, Seoul. On a pouring Tuesday lunch, the writer and her middle-school daughter shared a salmon ricotta salad (13,000 won), a curry cheese roll katsu and a spicy cheese roll katsu (15,500 won each). Learning that this was the same Ikki that started in Sinchon in 1999 brought back the writer's college memories. With unlimited hot soup and juicy cheese roll katsu, Ikki Roll Katsu is a warm, filling choice for a rainy-day lunch.

Written Jul 22, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulRestaurants

Sinnonhyeon Korean BBQ after plogging with my middle schooler: Sansol

Sansol Sinnonhyeon is a corkage-free Korean pork BBQ restaurant steps from Sinnonhyeon Station in Gangnam, Seoul, where servers grill 1++ grade pork at your table. On a scorching Sunday, after a plogging session with a middle-school child, the writer shared the San platter (2-3 people, ₩56,000) and finished with kkakdugi fried rice (rice fried with cubed radish kimchi); downdraft ventilation kept the room free of smoke and smell, and the dim lighting set a cozy mood. When it's too hot to grill your own pork belly, Sansol Sinnonhyeon is a safe bet.

Written Jul 27, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulRestaurants

Family Korean BBQ near Gangnam Station with kids: Kkondae Kim Bujang

Kkondae Kim Bujang Gogi-jip Gangnam Station Branch is a Korean BBQ restaurant near Gangnam Station in Seoul, known for its team-dinner sets and staff grilling at the table. The writer visited with family and a child on a holiday weekend and ordered 200g of aged pork belly (₩19,800), crunchy oddol galbi (cartilage ribs), pork skin dipped in roasted soybean powder (₩9,000), a highball (₩8,000) and doenjang-jjigae (soybean paste stew). Kkondae Kim Bujang's sets suit team dinners, but it also works well for a generous family meal out.

Written Oct 7, 2026Sponsored