Stool Collector · 32 stories

The Cafe Stool

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

PlaceJeonju, JeonbukRestaurants

Jeonju Korean restaurant with medium spicy galbi-jjim lunch: Mujinjang

Mujinjang Sogalbitang Jeonju Main Branch (무진장소갈비탕 전주본점) is a Korean restaurant on Paengnamu 4-gil in Deokjin-gu, Jeonju, specialising in beef short rib soup (galbitang), spicy braised short ribs (maeun galbi-jjim) and grilled meats. On a trip to Jeonju, the writer ordered the medium-size spicy braised short ribs, piled with bean sprouts; the ribs were tender enough that the bones slipped right out, pleasantly spicy, and came with free steamed egg and short rib soup broth. With generous, tasty spicy braised short ribs and a clean self-serve bar, Mujinjang Sogalbitang is a Jeonju local favourite worth returning to.

Written May 26, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJongno, SeoulRestaurants

Pimatgol beef noodle shop: mala solo lunch upstairs, Cheonghwa

Cheonghwa Uyuk Dosakmyeon is a Taiwanese beef noodle and dim sum restaurant in Pimatgol, the alley between Jonggak Station and Gwanghwamun in Jongno, Seoul. The writer, who has been to Cheonghwa Uyuk Dosakmyeon several times for team dinners and solo meals, walked in without a wait on a weekday lunch and ate alone on the 2nd floor, ordering Sichuan-style knife-cut beef noodles and shumai dim sum. For office workers who love mala spice, the Sichuan-style knife-cut beef noodles with shumai at Cheonghwa Uyuk Dosakmyeon make a hearty lunch.

Written Oct 25, 2026Sponsored
PlaceBucheon, GyeonggiRestaurants

Bucheon Korean BBQ, last seat at 7:30pm after work: Dwaeji Gongbang

Dwaeji Gongbang Bucheon Okgil-dong Main Branch is a Korean BBQ restaurant in Okgil-dong, Bucheon, that grills Iberico black thick-cut pork neck, pork belly and Handon (Korean pork) special cuts over charcoal. Around 7:30pm on a weekday after work, a party of three took the last open table in the nearly full Dwaeji Gongbang and shared the mixed half platter set (thick pork neck, kkodeul-sal, gabrisal and rib fingers) with a complimentary soft tofu stew. The grilled white kimchi and chive wrap with pork neck was the best bite, and both the special cuts and the pork neck make Dwaeji Gongbang a BBQ spot worth queuing for again.

Written Oct 24, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYongsan, SeoulRestaurants

Sinyongsan tteokbokki shop, solo medium-spice combo: Hyeonseonine

Hyeonseonine Yongsan Main Branch is a popular tteokbokki (spicy rice cake) and instant tteokbokki shop with queues, tucked into the Yongridan-gil alleys near Sinyongsan Station in Yongsan, Seoul. Dining solo, the writer ordered the Hyeonseonine Combo Set of medium-spicy original tteokbokki, assorted fritters, mini gimbap (seaweed rice rolls), sundae (Korean blood sausage) and Kkobul fish cake skewers, and enjoyed the medium heat, pitched between Shin Ramyun and Buldak, along with the freshly fried fritters and the nutty mini gimbap. Verdict: even spice-shy eaters will sweat but finish every bite, and the friendly Hyeonseonine Yongsan Main Branch is worth a return visit.

Written Oct 20, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSongpa, SeoulShopping

Jamsil piercing shop for silver and star piercings: Like It Piercing

Like It Piercing is a piercing and accessory shop in the Jamsil Station underground shopping center in Songpa, Seoul, offering ear piercing alongside surgical steel, 92.5 silver and 14K piercings. The writer replaced a lost piercing with a similar silver one and picked a star-shaped piercing too, and Like It Piercing's spacious floor, large mirrors and separate waiting area made browsing comfortable even when busy. Like It Piercing is a handy stop when you need a piercing or accessory in a hurry while passing through Jamsil Station.

Written Jun 11, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGwanak, SeoulRestaurants

Sillim Station gukbap spot for a solo lunch with makgeolli: Sinjuokmi

Sinjuokmi Sillim Station branch (신주옥미 신림역점) is a sundaeguk and gukbap (pork and rice soup) restaurant 5 minutes from Sillim Station in Gwanak, Seoul, open 24 hours a day, every day of the year. For a solo lunch, the writer ordered the spicy fern mixed offal gukbap with extra suyuk (boiled pork slices, 3,900 won) and paired it with Jangsu makgeolli for some daytime drinking; the offal portion was generous and the spice level comfortable. Sinjuokmi Sillim Station branch is a solid Sillim gukbap spot for a filling meal alone or a drink with your food.

Written Jun 24, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSongpa, SeoulCafés

Solo café in Jamsil Saenae: red bean walnut cake, Young Coffee

Young Coffee Jamsil Trizium is a ground-floor specialty coffee café in Songpa, Seoul, between Saenae Station and Jamsil Station, near Samjeon Station. On a solo trip to Jamsil, the writer waited there for an evening meetup with a friend over a strawberry latte and a freshly made red bean walnut cake (hodu-gwaja, a small walnut-shaped pastry), then took a cheese bagel to go. Young Coffee Jamsil Trizium is roomy, clean and good value, a café where you can sit alone for hours without feeling watched.

Written Jun 24, 2026Sponsored
PlaceBucheon, GyeonggiRestaurants

Bucheon BBQ for three: 6 servings of brisket & pork belly at Sundoli

Sundoli Sikdang Sosabon-dong (순돌이식당 소사본동점) is a new Korean BBQ restaurant near Sosa Station in Bucheon, Gyeonggi, serving frozen pork belly and beef brisket. Three diners ordered the Doli Set (2 servings frozen pork belly, 2 servings brisket, a garnish set, marinated crab and doenjang stew), added more meat and finished 6 servings, 2 stews and 2 bowls of rice; the homemade pickled mustard greens, snail ssamjang and spicy, savory doenjang stew stood out. With good meat, homemade sides and a range of regional sojus, Sundoli Sikdang is a Sosa neighborhood spot worth revisiting for a work dinner or family meal.

Written Jun 25, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSongpa, SeoulHair & beauty salons

Jamsil hair salon ash brown root dye for very red hair: Only For You

Only For You Jamsilsaenae Branch is a one-on-one, appointment-only hair salon about 5 minutes from Saenae Station in Songpa, Seoul. Three to four months after a wedding dye, the writer's roots had grown out and red tones had come through, so the salon did a 1st, 2nd and 3rd stage ash brown dye with three different dyes applied by hair length. The redness a previous salon had called hard to fix was gone, leaving a clean ash brown.

Written Jun 29, 2026Sponsored
PlaceBupyeong, IncheonRestaurants

Bupyeong sushi buffet with free beer and a kids' playroom: KuuKuu Gold

KuuKuu Gold Bupyeong Branch (쿠우쿠우 부평점) is an all-you-can-eat sushi buffet on the 9th floor of Dong-A Wellbeing Town, 264 Buheung-ro, Bupyeong-gu, Incheon. On a weekday evening visit (₩31,900 per adult), KuuKuu Gold Bupyeong served sushi, rolls, hot dishes and ice cream, plus free Filite beer, private rooms for groups of 8 or more, a kids' playroom and a grill-your-own-meat corner. With a huge spread and a spacious dining room, KuuKuu Gold Bupyeong is a sushi buffet worth returning to for company dinners or meals with kids.

Written Jun 29, 2026Sponsored
PlaceNam-gu, UlsanRestaurants

Korean BBQ open till 1 AM near Ulsan Express Bus Terminal: Odumak

Odumak Hangari Makchang (오두막항아리막창) is a Korean BBQ restaurant specializing in makchang (grilled pork intestine), pork belly and pork skin on Dalsam-ro in Nam-gu, Ulsan, near Ulsan Express Bus Terminal, and it stays open until 1 AM. Arriving late on a trip to Ulsan, two people shared the Odumak set (makchang, pork belly and pork skin), and the free dessert kalguksu (knife-cut noodle soup) served with any main menu order beat expectations. For late-night meat and soju in Ulsan, Odumak Hangari Makchang is a satisfying choice.

Written Jul 1, 2026Sponsored
PlaceNam-gu, UlsanRestaurants

Dal-dong, Ulsan milmyeon spot, solo meal on a car-free trip: Samsam

Samsam Milmyeon Main Branch (삼삼밀면 본점) is a 25-year-old milmyeon (Busan-style wheat noodle) restaurant in Dal-dong, Nam-gu, Ulsan, near the Ulsan Express Bus Terminal. On day two of a 2-day Ulsan trip, before touring Jangsaengpo and Daewangam Park, the writer ate alone at Samsam Milmyeon Main Branch, ordering mul milmyeon (noodles in cold broth) and dumplings. The warm broth was good enough to cure a hangover, and the owner and staff were friendly. Samsam Milmyeon Main Branch is a milmyeon spot worth returning to for lunch or a solo meal on an Ulsan trip.

Written Jul 2, 2026Sponsored