Hapjeong Mirror Rounds · 6 stories

Three Mirrors, Seoul Rounds

Writes about Seoul restaurants, cafes, and beauty spots visited on ordinary weekday rounds. · Writes about: Restaurants · Cafés · Hair & beauty salons

PlaceNowon, SeoulRestaurants

Gongneung-dong tuna sashimi shop open 30+ years: Kim Yonghui Tuna

Kim Yonghui Tuna is a tuna sashimi specialist near Taereung Station in Gongneung-dong, Nowon, Seoul, and has served only tuna sashimi for over 30 years. The writer reserved a pickup time by phone and took home tuna sashimi (simple anju, a light drinking-snack plate) for ₩22,000 and tuna sashimi (Jin) for ₩37,000 to share with family. The writer enjoyed the thick, firm tuna and the generous seaweed, hoe-muchim (spicy raw fish salad) and house sauce. Kim Yonghui Tuna is not fancy, but its tuna quality and generous portions make it worth a special trip to Gongneung-dong.

Written Jun 16, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulRestaurants

Yeonnam-dong ochazuke restaurant: solo salmon tray lunch, Ochaya

Ochaya Yeonnam (오차야 연남점) is an ochazuke (rice in hot broth) restaurant in Yeonnam-dong, near Hongik Univ. Station in Seoul. Missing the ochazuke from past Japan trips, the writer had sake chazuke (salmon, 15,000 won) for a solo lunch. It came as a neat one-person tray of salmon that wasn't fishy, nutritious mixed-grain rice and warm broth, and the rice, side dishes and broth can be refilled. Ochaya Yeonnam is open daily with no break time, making it an easy place for a light, comforting meal any time.

Written Jun 18, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeodaemun, SeoulCafés

Hongdae bakery pickup booking & cappuccino bread: Mandong Jegwa

Mandong Jegwa Yeonnam Branch is a popular Hongdae and Yeonnam-dong bakery on Yeonhui-ro in Seodaemun, Seoul. The writer visited around 12:30 pm on a weekday with no wait, tried the free samples and took home a garlic baguette (7,000 won), a cappuccino bread (5,600 won) and an eongdeongi ('butt') bun (3,500 won). If you worry about sellouts, book pickup at Mandong Jegwa by phone, Instagram DM or Naver Reservation, or order delivery through its Naver Smart Store.

Written Jun 17, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJongno, SeoulRestaurants

Sunday family sushi in Gwanghwamun, sets & kaisendon: Elephant Sushi

Elephant Sushi Gwanghwamun is a sushi restaurant on the first basement floor of the KT building in Jongno, Seoul, linked by an underground passage to Gwanghwamun Station Exit 2. A sushi-loving family visited Elephant Sushi on a Sunday and ordered the A set (₩18,000) and B set (₩28,000), both served with cold soba, plus the kaisendon (raw fish rice bowl, ₩23,000), and found the fish thick and fresh. Open every day with no closing day, Elephant Sushi Gwanghwamun is an easy sushi stop on a weekend outing in Gwanghwamun.

Written Jun 25, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulRestaurants

Hongdae brunch restaurant opening at 9am for basil gnocchi: MELA

MELA Hongdae is a brunch restaurant on the 1st floor of Nudite Hongdae in Seogyo-dong, Mapo, Seoul, open daily from 9am. An early-morning visit to MELA Hongdae brought basil cream gnocchi with baby potatoes (22,000 won), Victoria French toast (21,000 won) and lemonade (7,500 won), with thick basil sauce, chewy gnocchi and French toast served with a not-too-sweet cream all satisfying. For a relaxed early brunch in a spacious, calm room, MELA Hongdae is a good fit.

Written Sep 30, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulRestaurants

Stroll-date pasta at Hey Joji, a big-window Yeonnam-dong restaurant

Hey Joji is a vintage-style pasta and risotto restaurant in an alley off Donggyo-ro 46-gil in Yeonnam-dong, Seoul, open daily from 12:00 to 21:00 with no break time. In Hey Joji's semi-basement dining room, with a big window facing the alley, the garlic squid oil pasta (16,000 won) came with tender squid, and the jambalaya risotto (17,000 won) was just as generously portioned. For a date meal on a good day for walking around Yeonnam-dong, Hey Joji is an easy recommendation.

Written Sep 29, 2026Sponsored
You've reached the end · 6 stories