Little Cup Wanderer · 25 stories

Small Coffee Stops

I write about cafés I visit around Seoul. · Writes about: Cafés · Restaurants · Hair & beauty salons · Bars

PlaceJung-gu, SeoulRestaurants

Sindang beef gopchang ranked by cut, Thursday 6pm wait: Jinseong

Jinseong Hanwoo Gopchang Sindang Direct Branch is a Korean beef gopchang (grilled small intestine) restaurant and drinking spot right outside Exit 7 of Sindang Station in Jung-gu, Seoul. At 6pm on a Thursday there was already a wait at Jinseong Hanwoo Gopchang, and the order was 2 portions of hanwoo gopchang followed by kkakdugi yangbap (radish kimchi fried rice with tripe). Having tried the whole menu, the writer ranks hanwoo gopchang first, hanwoo makchang second and hanwoo daechang third.

Written May 28, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulHair & beauty salons

Sinsa-dong hair salon keratin clinic for frizz after volume perm

Biorn Hair Apgujeong Rodeo is a hair salon on the 3rd floor of a building in Sinsa-dong, Gangnam, Seoul, a 1-minute walk from Exit 6 of Apgujeongnodeo Station. A month after a volume perm left the blogger's hair dry and frizzy, Biorn Hair Apgujeong Rodeo's inner keratin clinic covered cleansing, protein application and steam, followed by a scalp and shoulder massage and a shampoo in a private spa room with a massage chair. Verdict: the perm-damaged hair came out smoother and glossier, and the blogger was very satisfied.

Written Jun 16, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJongno, SeoulRestaurants

Hyehwa, Seoul Korean restaurant with drinks by the glass: Goeunjeong

Goeunjeong Daehangno Main Branch is a gomtang (beef bone soup) Korean restaurant a 4-minute walk from Exit 4 of Hyehwa Station in Jongno, Seoul. On a second visit, the writer ordered the roe cheese potato pancake (13,000 won), roe perilla cream sujebi (hand-torn dough soup, 15,000 won) and monkfish yuringi (fried monkfish in a tangy soy sauce, 20,000 won), and ordered some drinks by the glass. With a café-like interior and generous portions, Goeunjeong is a solid pick for a date or group meal in Hyehwa.

Written Jun 19, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJongno, SeoulRestaurants

Jongno 3-ga Korean BBQ, packed on a Sunday afternoon: Cham Dwaejitgan

Cham Dwaejitgan Jongno Main Branch (참돼짓간 종로본점) is a Korean BBQ restaurant serving Jirisan black pork and Boseong green pork belly near Exit 1 of Jongno 3-ga Station in Jongno, Seoul. On a Sunday at 2 PM, Cham Dwaejitgan was almost full, and two adults ate their fill of black pork ogyeopsal (19,000 won), cheongyeopsal (19,000 won), naengmyeon and fried rice while staff grilled the meat; the mushroom wasabi and grilled potato wraps stood out. Cham Dwaejitgan Jongno Main Branch is an easy choice in Jongno 3-ga for black pork with no gamey smell.

Written Jun 20, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJung-gu, SeoulBars

Sindang Station bar with traditional liquor tastings: Bada Yakbang

Bada Yakbang Sindang Branch is an izakaya near Exit 6 of Sindang Station in Jung-gu, Seoul, serving seasonal aged sashimi, Korean drinking snacks and traditional Korean liquor. From a prescription-themed menu, the writer chose traditional liquor by the glass after free tastings and ordered the seasonal aged sashimi platter for two (58,000 won), mackerel bar sushi (28,000 won) and algon ramyeon (9,000 won). Bada Yakbang Sindang Branch suits a date or group night of traditional liquor and aged sashimi under warm yellow lighting.

Written Jun 26, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJung-gu, SeoulRestaurants

Sindang Korean restaurant: bone-rib soup & tripe set at Palpalneoguri

Palpalneoguri Haejang Sindang Main Branch (팔팔너구리해장 신당본점) is a Korean beef gukbap (rice soup) and hangover-soup restaurant a 1-minute walk from Exit 1 of Sindang Station in Jung-gu, Seoul. For lunch, two adults ate beef udon gukbap (11,000 won) and bone-rib soup (16,000 won) with the chilled shank set and the seasoned beef tripe set added on, and left full; the room was clean and many diners were eating alone. Palpalneoguri Haejang Sindang Main Branch suits anyone who wants a rich-broth lunch that keeps them full until dinner.

Written Jul 13, 2026Sponsored
PlaceNowon, SeoulHair & beauty salons

Eye-area contouring massage at a Nowon skin care salon: Ryeowon

Ryeowon Skin Care (려원 피부관리) is a skin and body care salon near Exit 3 of Nowon Station in Seoul that recently expanded, relocated, remodeled and launched a new head spa. Torn between arm care and facial contouring, the writer followed a consultation that recommended contouring for her facial condition, and received shoulder and collarbone work, facial muscle massage, eye-area massage, a pack and a leg massage machine. Verdict: Ryeowon Skin Care's contouring was satisfying throughout, thanks to delicate hand techniques and a private space.

Written Jul 22, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJung-gu, SeoulHair & beauty salons

Pre-photo shoot facial for under-chin puffiness in Jongno: Beautae

Beautae Esthetic is a skin and facial-contour esthetic salon on the 6th floor of a building facing Cheonggyecheon Stream, on Mugyo-ro in Jung-gu, Seoul. Bothered by how the area under her chin stood out in photos, the writer had the VT Sculpt Volume treatment at Beautae Esthetic, which includes cleansing, scalp care and bamboo therapy, and felt her jawline looked noticeably neater right afterward. One VT Sculpt Volume session won't change your face shape, but it is a good way to quickly reduce puffiness before an important event or photo shoot.

Written Jul 28, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJung-gu, SeoulCafés

Cheonggyecheon date café for nutmeg financier and latte: Lemangdoré

Lemangdoré Gwanghwamun is a three-floor bakery café on Mugyo-ro in Jung-gu, Seoul, between City Hall Station and Cheonggyecheon. On a Wednesday afternoon visit, the writer explored the different mood of each floor and ordered a café latte (₩6,300), a choco baguette (₩6,800) and a nutmeg financier (₩4,000), and liked the 3rd-floor lounge styled with Danish furniture brand Fritz Hansen best. Lemangdoré Gwanghwamun is a great café for a long, unhurried date after a walk along Cheonggyecheon.

Written Jul 28, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJung-gu, SeoulRestaurants

Sindang Korean BBQ before 6pm on a weekday, no wait: Jinseong Hanwoo

Jinseong Hanwoo Gopchang Sindang Direct Branch is a Hanwoo beef intestine restaurant one minute on foot from Exit 7 of Sindang Station in Jung-gu, Seoul. Arriving on a weekday before 6pm meant no wait, and two servings of beef gopchang (small intestine) at 19,000 won each plus an added order of makchang (abomasum) showed that gopchang was the best of the three cuts. Come before 6pm on a weekday to skip the line at Jinseong Hanwoo Gopchang entirely.

Written Aug 18, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGwangjin, SeoulCafés

Bakery café near Ttukseom Hangang Park with study seats: Stack Bakery

Stack Bakery Konkuk University Station Main Branch is a bakery café in Gwangjin, Seoul, sitting between Konkuk University Station and Jayang Station on the walk to Ttukseom Hangang Park. On a hot day the order was the staff's No. 1 pick, the Stack Croissant (4,500 won), plus pain au chocolat (5,200 won), plain kouign-amann (4,500 won) and a café latte (5,500 won), with the second floor offering air conditioning, outlets and blankets for a long stay. For a croissant-and-coffee stop before the river, Stack Bakery is an easy yes.

Written Aug 20, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeongdong, SeoulRestaurants

Seongsu budae jjigae ordered by table kiosk, with pork cutlet: Songtan

Songtan Jindaegwang Budae Jjigae Seongsu Branch is a Songtan-style budae jjigae (army stew) restaurant one minute on foot from Exit 1 of Seongsu Station in Seoul. Ordered from the table kiosk, the Jindaegwang budae jjigae with added ramen noodles arrived packed with ham even without paying for extra sausage, and the Western-style pork loin cutlet was a generous portion. Free refills of millet rice and side dishes plus a free slushie, coffee or yogurt made this a filling lunch in Seongsu.

Written Aug 20, 2026Sponsored