Vanity Traveler · 20 stories

Beauty in Seoul

I write about personal beauty experiences in Seoul. · Writes about: Hair & beauty salons · Restaurants · Cafés · Stays · Shopping

PlaceSokcho, GangwonRestaurants

Sokcho ramen shop: a cold ramen convert, karai and butadon at Ichiba

Ichiba Ramen is a Japanese-style ramen shop on Jungangno in Sokcho, Gangwon, close to Sokcho Market. Craving a warm broth on a Sokcho trip, the writer shared karai ramen (spicy), hiyashi chuka (cold ramen) and butadon (pork rice bowl) at Ichiba Ramen, and the pork-bone broth, said to simmer for 30 hours, stood out most. Ichiba Ramen suits Sokcho travelers and solo diners who want a filling meal instead of sashimi or grilled fish.

Written Oct 27, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGoseong, GangwonRestaurants

Shabu-shabu style hanwoo hot pot in Ganseong: Goseong Hanwoo Suyuk

Goseong Hanwoo Suyuk (고성한우수육) is a restaurant specializing in boiled hanwoo (Korean beef), tucked in an alley near Ganseong Traditional Market in Ganseong-eup, Goseong, Gangwon. The writer ordered the hanwoo suyuk hot pot, stirred spicy silbi kimchi into the broth, added extra vegetables to cook it again shabu-shabu style, and finished with kalguksu noodles that arrive pre-cooked. Goseong Hanwoo Suyuk is a good stop on a Goseong trip when you want a warm, filling hanwoo broth.

Written Oct 27, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSokcho, GangwonRestaurants

Sokcho market snack bar: nurungji squid sundae on the beach, Ddogi-ne

Ddogi-ne Twigim (서민갑부 똑이네튀김) is a Korean snack bar on the dakgangjeong (sweet crispy fried chicken) alley of Sokcho Jungang Market in Sokcho, Gangwon, selling nurungji squid sundae (stuffed squid with a crispy scorched-rice crust) alongside fritters and jeon (savory pancakes). On a Sokcho trip with her husband, the writer took Ddogi-ne Twigim's nurungji squid sundae, first spotted on social media, to Sokcho Beach and ate it to the sound of the waves: crunchy like scorched rice outside, moist inside and not greasy. If you are choosing a squid sundae shop in Sokcho, Ddogi-ne Twigim's nurungji squid sundae is well worth it.

Written Jun 5, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSokcho, GangwonRestaurants

Sokcho market deodeok dakgangjeong couple's beach picnic: Seomin Gapbu

Seomin Gapbu Sijang Dakjip is a dakgangjeong (sweet-spicy glazed fried chicken) shop at stalls 4 and 5 of Chicken Alley in Sokcho Jungang Market, Gangwon, featured in 2015 on the TV show 'Dokhan Insaeng Seomin Gapbu'. On a weekend trip to Gangwon, a couple took deodeok (bonnet bellflower root) dakgangjeong to Sokcho Beach, a few minutes away by car, for a seaside picnic, and both loved how the sweet-spicy glaze paired with the slightly bitter deodeok. Seomin Gapbu Sijang Dakjip's dakgangjeong tastes just as good cold, making it an ideal Sokcho takeout to bring to the beach or your lodging.

Written Jun 5, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSokcho, GangwonCafés

Sokcho bakery: giant sulppang eaten warm by the sea, Sokcho Sulppang

Sokcho Sulppang is a makgeolli bread (sulppang) shop in Sokcho Jungang Market in Sokcho, Gangwon, on the left side of the passage toward the Nonghyup bank. After a long wait in line at Sokcho Sulppang, the writer bought a giant makgeolli bread studded with green peas and black beans and tore into it while still warm on an East Sea beach with her husband, also browsing the honeycomb ice cream and chewy potato snacks. For anyone traveling with a sulppang lover, Sokcho Sulppang is worth stocking up at, both as a Sokcho travel snack and as a gift.

Written Jun 5, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSokcho, GangwonRestaurants

Sokcho market mulhoe restaurant: roomy, clean hall for two, Hwanggeum

Sokcho Hwanggeum Mulhoe Hoetjip (속초황금물회횟집) is a mulhoe (cold spicy raw fish soup) and sashimi restaurant inside Sokcho Jungang Market in Sokcho, Gangwon. A food-loving couple stopped by on a market tour right after arriving in Sokcho and shared Hwanggeum Mulhoe for 2 in the spacious, clean hall, enjoying chewy fresh fish, icy sweet-and-sour broth and buckwheat makguksu noodles. If you want a comfortable seat for mulhoe even inside a market, Sokcho Hwanggeum Mulhoe Hoetjip is a great fit.

Written Jun 5, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSokcho, GangwonCafés

Sokcho market croquettes, taste-before-you-buy samples: Samsam Goroke

Samsam Goroke (삼삼고로케) is a croquette bakery at No. 42 Chicken Alley in Sokcho Central Market, Gangwon, across from the Manseok Dakgangjeong main store. At Samsam Goroke you can sample all 6 croquettes before choosing: red crab, gochu japchae (stir-fried peppers and pork), potato, pollock roe cream, sweet red bean and jjamppong (spicy seafood noodle). The writer tried every kind, and the clean kitchen, visible from outside, made it easier to trust. For an unusual bread to bring home from a Sokcho trip, Samsam Goroke is a good choice.

Written Jun 6, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSokcho, GangwonCafés

Sokcho egg tart bakery: booking by text via Naver's News tab, Doris

Doris Patisserie is an egg tart and baked-goods bakery on the main-road side of Sokcho Central Market in Sokcho, Gangwon. The writer followed the notice on the Naver Place News tab to reserve by text message, picked up a 6-piece box and opened it in the car on the way home to try the original, walnut and cream cheese egg tarts. Because Doris Patisserie bakes the tarts fresh for each pickup time, they stayed crisp outside and soft inside, making it a Sokcho Central Market dessert stop worth booking again.

Written Jun 6, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSokcho, GangwonCafés

Nohak-dong bakery café in Sokcho: ceramic Mustoy dolls, Bultan Gamja

Sokcho Bultan Gamja Bread Main Store is a large, plant-filled bakery café on Haksapyeong-gil in Nohak-dong, Sokcho. The writer toured the café, where Ulsanbawi Rock is visible through the floor-to-ceiling windows, browsed Mustoy ceramic art toys you paint yourself, and took squid ink Bultan potato bread plus red crab, squid and chicken gangjeong (sweet fried chicken) flavored jjondeugi (chewy snack) to Sokcho Beach. Thanks to its soft potato bread made daily from roasted Gangwon potatoes, Sokcho Bultan Gamja Bread is a stop worth repeating on the next Sokcho trip.

Written Jun 5, 2026Sponsored
PlacePocheon, GyeonggiRestaurants

Stone-pot latte risotto at a Pocheon Italian restaurant: From Italy

From Italy is a European-style Western restaurant near Gomori Reservoir in Soheul-eup, Pocheon, Gyeonggi, on the road to Gwangneung Arboretum. On an autumn weekend drive, the writer and her husband stopped at From Italy for zucca dolce pasta, a stone-pot latte risotto and a half-blueberry, half-margherita pizza. The stone pot kept the risotto warm to the last bite, and the mild seasoning left them feeling comfortable afterward. From Italy is a good fit for anyone looking for an atmospheric Western restaurant on a Gomori or Gwangneung Arboretum outing.

Written Oct 18, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYangju, GyeonggiRestaurants

Yangju Hoeam-dong octopus restaurant: weekday spicy pizza set, Jjusan

Jjusan Yangju Main Branch is a new fire-grilled webfoot octopus (jjukkumi) Korean restaurant in Yangju, Gyeonggi, near Okjeong. The writer and her husband visited on a weekday afternoon after the lunch rush and ordered the signature fire-grilled octopus stir-fry pizza set, spicy, enjoying chilled acorn jelly soup (muk-sabal), pickled perilla leaves, barley rice and gorgonzola pizza. With a large car park, a kids' play room and a 15-seater pickup service, Jjusan Yangju Main Branch is an easy pick for couples, families and groups.

Written Oct 17, 2026Sponsored
PlacePocheon, GyeonggiRestaurants

Pocheon pasta restaurant: 2kg mussel Pasta of the Month, Eoneu Dal

Eoneu Dal (어느달) is a Western restaurant in a standalone building on Jeongmundong-gil in Pocheon, Gyeonggi, serving pasta, risotto, steak and wine. On a Friday lunch with her husband and no reservation, the writer ordered truffle mushroom cream pasta, the Pasta of the Month topped with 2kg of chopped mussels, and a crab risotto crowned with a whole fresh blue crab. With wide table spacing and soft daylight, Eoneu Dal is an easy recommendation for a Pocheon date or a family meal with kids.

Written Oct 16, 2026Sponsored