Full Basket Hauler · 14 stories

Full Tote, Seoul and Jeju Errands

Writes about shops, beauty counters, cafes, bars, and small home finds around Seoul, Gyeonggi, and Jeju. · Writes about: Shopping · Hair & beauty salons · Restaurants · Cafés · Bars · Things to do · Home & living

PlaceGangnam, SeoulRestaurants

Yangjae Station chicken BBQ for 3 friends + crispy rice: Yanggyegok

Yanggyegok (양계옥) is a charcoal-grilled chicken BBQ and chicken restaurant on Nambusunhwan-ro near Exit 4 of Yangjae Station in Gangnam, Seoul. Three friends arrived at opening time for the Yanggyegok Hanpan platter (salt, gochujang, chicken cartilage and deodeok, a mountain root), liked it enough to add 2 more portions, then finished with cheese and flying-fish-roe fried rice pressed on the charcoal grill into crispy nurungji (scorched rice). Verdict: Yanggyegok is a great Yangjae Station chicken BBQ spot for a meal with friends.

Written Jun 18, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJung-gu, SeoulRestaurants

Lunch ramen shop at City Hall Station: anchovy tsukemen, Mentsuru

Mentsuru City Hall Branch is a Japanese ramen shop on Seosomun-ro near City Hall Station in Seoul. On this visit with a boyfriend, the order was tsukemen, abura soba, a mini chashu rice bowl and handmade karaage; the Mentsuru tsukemen dipping sauce arrives in an earthenware pot (ttukbaegi) with a rich anchovy broth, and the abura soba isn't greasy despite its five oils. Mentsuru City Hall Branch works well for a City Hall Station lunch or a dinner stop after Deoksugung's night opening.

Written Jun 24, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJongno, SeoulRestaurants

Group sushi after World Cup cheering in Gwanghwamun: Elephant Sushi

Elephant Sushi Gwanghwamun is a sushi restaurant on the first basement floor (B1) of the KT Building in Gwanghwamun, Seoul, with a spacious dining room, 2- and 4-person tables and a bar counter. At lunch the writer ordered the Elephant Sushi B set: 12 pieces, including white fish, tuna, ankimo (monkfish liver) and futomaki (thick sushi roll), plus summer soba. The thick-cut fish and well-portioned rice made for a filling meal. Verdict: Elephant Sushi Gwanghwamun is a good sushi spot for a group after World Cup street cheering in Gwanghwamun.

Written Jun 21, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJungnang, SeoulRestaurants

Weekend tonkatsu date amid a delivery rush in Myeonmok: Katsu Monster

Katsu Monster Myeonmok (카츠몬스터 면목점) is a tonkatsu restaurant on Sangbong-ro in Jungnang, Seoul, near Myeonmok Station and Seoil University, busy with takeout and delivery orders but also offering a small dine-in space with bar seating. On a weekend visit with her boyfriend, the writer ordered the Assorted Katsu (Modeum Katsu, loin and fillet) and Mix Katsu B (fillet and cheese), served with soba and kkakdugi (cubed radish kimchi) in generous portions. With its tender fillet katsu and sweet tonkatsu sauce, Katsu Monster Myeonmok is a good tonkatsu spot for eating solo or grabbing a quick meal.

Written Jun 29, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangdong, SeoulCafés

Seongnae-dong brunch café with eggplant panino, melon gelato: Damgeum

Damgeum is a brunch and gelato café with an Italian neighborhood feel in Seongnae-dong, Gangdong, Seoul, near Olympic Park. At Damgeum, the writer had the Classico panino packed with eggplant and cheese, plus rice gelato and Seongju Korean melon (chamoe) gelato, at a bar table looking outside. With a light brunch and rich Korean melon gelato, Damgeum is a café worth recommending for an Olympic Park date.

Written Jun 27, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeocho, SeoulCafés

Staffed-to-unmanned café in Sinnonhyeon: Geisha & kabocha egg, Selecto

Selecto Coffee Sinnonhyeon Branch 24 Auto Brew Cafe is a 24-hour bakery café near Sinnonhyeon Station in Seocho, Seoul, split into staffed and unmanned hours. The writer arrived during staffed hours, worked over Mocha and Geisha bean americanos and a kabocha egg sandwich, and left after Selecto Coffee had switched to an unmanned café for the night. Verdict: with roomy seating, outlets and plenty of bakery choices, Selecto Coffee Sinnonhyeon is a 24-hour café where you can stay without watching the clock.

Written Jul 1, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGwangjin, SeoulBars

Konkuk Univ. izakaya with cake candles and avocado mentaiko: Haru

Haru Konkuk Branch is an izakaya on the 2nd floor along the main street of the Konkuk Univ. food alley in Gwangjin, Seoul. The writer stopped by for the second round of a wedding invitation get-together, blew out candles on a cake, and shared grilled avocado with mentaiko (spicy pollock roe), tare-sauce grilled skewers and Cheongha (Korean rice wine). Haru Konkuk Branch is a Konkuk Univ. group-night bar with tasty skewers, free corkage and a cake-friendly policy.

Written Jul 9, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJung-gu, SeoulRestaurants

Myeongdong jokbal restaurant with free mustard salad: Miss Jokbal

Miss Jokbal Seoul Myeongdong Branch is a jokbal (braised pig's trotters) restaurant at the entrance to Myeongdong, across from Hana Bank by Euljiro 1-ga Station in Seoul. On a weekday at 6:30 p.m., booked through Naver Reservation, the writer had a medium Original Jokbal with flying fish roe rice balls and steamed egg, and the free mustard-sauce salad and kimchi kalguksu made the meal generous for two. Miss Jokbal Seoul Myeongdong Branch is nearly full at dinner, so booking ahead is a must.

Written Jul 7, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGwangjin, SeoulBars

Third-round bar at Konkuk Univ. with Starry Night cocktails: Yahwa

Yahwa Solo Drinking Bar Konkuk University Branch is a basement solo drinking bar with a U-shaped bar table near Konkuk Univ. Station in Gwangjin-gu, Seoul. On a third round with friends, the writer had the signature Starry Night cocktail, a June Bug and highballs with cheesecake, then played board games and darts with tequila shots as the bet. Yahwa Solo Drinking Bar is a good Konkuk Univ. bar for a small group who want a quiet chat over a casual drink.

Written Jul 11, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJongno, SeoulCafés

Jongno 3-ga bakery: mocha crumble mugwort bread shared, Munhwa Bakery

Munhwa Bakery (문화제빵) is a bakery on Donhwamun-ro in Jongno, Seoul, between Ikseon-dong and Jongno 3-ga, that sells only bread baked the same day. On a day of bad weather there was no wait at Munhwa Bakery, and the haul was mugwort rice cake bread (5,700 won), sweet potato bread (3,800 won) and milk cream bread (3,500 won), with the mugwort rice cake bread cut on request to share with a boyfriend. The verdict: Munhwa Bakery's chewy mugwort rice cake bread with mocha crumble and its sweet potato bread packed with filling are the breads most worth buying.

Written Jul 14, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeongdong, SeoulHair & beauty salons

Wangsimni hair salon layered cut for damaged wavy ends: Uahan Meori

Uahan Meori Wangsimni Centras Branch (우아한머리 왕십리센트라스점) is a hair salon on the 1st floor of Wangsimni Centras Building H, near Sangwangsimni Station in Seongdong, Seoul. After summer heat and humidity damaged the ends of her semi-curly hair, the writer booked a weekday-morning visit to Uahan Meori for a layered cut with fewer layers and a blow-dry, and also got a consultation on a repair straightening treatment. Verdict: the Uahan Meori layered cut is a satisfying choice for anyone who wants to trim damaged ends and feel refreshed.

Written Jul 27, 2026Sponsored
PlaceDongdaemun, SeoulRestaurants

Jang-an-dong shabu-shabu with beef brisket and pork neck: Shabu Torang

Shabu Torang Jang-an Direct Branch (샤브토랑 장안직영점) is a solo-pot shabu-shabu chain restaurant on Janghan-ro in Jang-an-dong, Dongdaemun, Seoul. The writer and her boyfriend each added extra vegetables and meat to the 7,900 won basic shabu-shabu, one choosing beef brisket and the other pork neck, dipped everything in soy, chili and peanut sauces, then finished with rosé risotto and egg porridge, all for under 12,000 won per person. Shabu Torang Jang-an is a good fit for anyone after a cheap, healthy meal in Seoul.

Written Jul 28, 2026Sponsored