Island City Eater · 120 stories

Seoul and Jeju, Served

I write about meals at restaurants I visit in Seoul and Jeju. · Writes about: Restaurants · Hair & beauty salons · Cafés · Shopping · Things to do · Bars

PlaceSeocho, SeoulThings to do

Adult ballet at Gangnam Station: Level 1 one-hand barre, Bliss Ballet

Bliss Ballet Academy (블리스발레아카데미학원) is an adult hobby ballet studio on the 4th floor of the Leaders One building on Saimdang-ro in Seocho, Seoul, right in front of Gangnam Station Exit 5. The writer, a beginner who had just started one-hand barre work, took a 60-minute Level 1 class and found it easy to follow as a first-timer, thanks to 10 minutes of mat exercises before barre and explanations of each move. With a single-class pass and a detailed level-by-level timetable, Bliss Ballet Academy is an easy place for Gangnam Station office workers to try ballet without much commitment.

Written May 22, 2026Sponsored
PlaceBupyeong, IncheonHair & beauty salons

Bupyeong facial salon for dehydrated, flushed skin: Urban Beauty

Urban Beauty is a one-on-one aesthetic salon for problem skin near Bupyeong Station Exit 7 in Incheon. After a skin analysis and consultation, the writer, whose skin had recently flared up with dehydration and redness, had Urban Beauty's Cheonbang Care: extraction, 100 Microjet shots, Air Booster and a hydration finish. Verdict: the day after Cheonbang Care, her makeup went on smoothly and she was happy with the result.

Written Nov 2, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulRestaurants

Hapjeong rib BBQ for a delivery regular: extra soy ribs, Champpoppo

Champpoppo Jjokgalbi Hapjeong Branch (참뽀뽀쪽갈비 합정점) is a pork rib chain restaurant near Exit 6 of Hapjeong Station, in the food alley between Sangsu Station and Hapjeong Station in Mapo, Seoul. A diner who had pork ribs delivered about every two weeks visited with a friend on a weekend early evening. Ribs start at 3 servings, so the pair ordered soy and spicy ribs with cheese steamed egg and doenjang stew, got free pork skin and chicken porridge, and then added another order of soy ribs. Champpoppo Jjokgalbi Hapjeong stood out for friendly staff and generous portions of meat.

Written Nov 2, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulHair & beauty salons

Gangnam barbershop: weekday lunch cut and front-back down perm, Divers

Divers Barbershop Gangnam-gu Office Station Branch is a one-on-one custom-cut barbershop in Gangnam, Seoul, on the B1 floor of a building connected to Exit 2 of Gangnam-gu Office Station. The writer's husband booked a late weekday lunch slot and got a men's cut plus a front-and-back down perm in about 1 hour 20 minutes, and he was very happy with the subtle perm and clean finish. For men looking for a good barbershop near Gangnam-gu Office Station, Divers Barbershop is worth considering.

Written May 18, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulRestaurants

Solo gyukatsu at opening in Sinnonhyeon: 2-serving tenderloin, Ichigyu

Ichigyu Gangnam Sinnonhyeon Branch is a gyukatsu (breaded beef cutlet) restaurant on the 2nd floor of Bongeunsa-ro 4-gil, near Exit 4 of Sinnonhyeon Station in Gangnam, Seoul. The writer went alone at opening time and ordered two servings: the signature tenderloin gyukatsu with extra striploin. The gyukatsu, grilled on a personal burner in melted Isigny butter and dipped in salt and wasabi, was juicy and rich. Because a crowd waits before opening, check the Catch Table remote queue before going; Ichigyu Gangnam Sinnonhyeon Branch is recommended for both solo meals and dates.

Written May 25, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulHair & beauty salons

Gangnam Station brow salon: same-day wax with a brow pack, Nu Waxing

Nu Waxing & Brow is a waxing and brow salon on Gangnam-daero in Gangnam, Seoul, between Gangnam Station Exit 11 and Sinnonhyeon Station Exit 6. The writer booked a same-day brow wax at Nu Waxing & Brow: after a consultation, 15-20 minutes of brow shaping with tips on keeping the shape, then about 10 minutes under a soothing brow pack. Nu Waxing & Brow is a good Gangnam Station waxing salon for neglected brows that need a quick fix, and for couples who want treatments at the same time.

Written May 26, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulCafés

Sinnonhyeon bakery café: butter sand set & salt coffee, Bakerist Brown

Bakerist Brown is a large bakery café near Exit 6 of Sinnonhyeon Station in Gangnam, Seoul, filling a red-brick building from basement level 1 to the 3rd floor. On a weekend midday visit after lunch, the writer tried Bakerist Brown's new butter sand set (chocolate, matcha, plain and more) with a salt coffee, and found the café busy but spacious and comfortable. Bakerist Brown is a good big Gangnam café for group meetups, dates or a dessert break.

Written May 25, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeocho, SeoulCafés

Early-opening Gyodae coffee shop: Blue Moon iced Americano, Coffee829

Coffee829 Gyodae (커피829 교대본점) is a takeaway-only coffee shop near Gyodae Station in Seocho, Seoul. The writer, now a regular, picked up two iced Americanos made with Blue Moon blend beans and was pleased with the nutty flavor and the owner's kindness. Coffee829 Gyodae has no seating, but with a ₩3,000 Americano and an 8 a.m. opening, it is a good morning-coffee stop on the commute past Gyodae Station.

Written Oct 31, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulBars

Hapjeong wine bar for baked brie and drip coffee: Salon de Solnae

Salon de Solnae (살롱 드 솔내) is a new wine bar on the 3rd floor of a building in Mapo, Seoul, about a 5-minute walk from Exit 6 of Hapjeong Station. The writer came after work with 5 friends for a birthday get-together, ordered 1 bottle of wine, drip coffee and baked brie, and shared a birthday cake from another shop, since Salon de Solnae allows outside food when you order a glass of wine. With its open windows, upper-floor atmosphere and friendly service, Salon de Solnae is a good pick for dates and group gatherings in Hapjeong.

Written May 26, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeocho, SeoulRestaurants

Nambu Terminal tonkatsu solo lunch with mini Kiso curry: Baek Sojeong

Baek Sojeong Nambu Bus Terminal is a tonkatsu and curry chain restaurant near Exit 6 of Nambu Bus Terminal Station in Seocho, Seoul. The writer came alone for a slightly late lunch, ordered the cheese combo katsu and a mini Kiso curry, and got a free ebiten (fried shrimp) for signing up for the shop's notifications. With dedicated solo seats, Baek Sojeong Nambu Bus Terminal is a good place for a filling tonkatsu meal on your own.

Written May 30, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulRestaurants

Hapjeong Thai dinner for 5: nasi goreng tops 5 dishes, Saeng Augustine

Saeng Augustine Hapjeong Branch is a Thai restaurant on basement level 1 of Mecenatpolis at Hapjeong Station in Mapo, Seoul. On a third visit, the writer booked a weekday dinner for 5 people and shared pad thai, Vietnamese pho, nasi goreng, pu pad pong curry (stir-fried crab curry) and morning glory stir-fry, just the right amount to fill all five. Saeng Augustine Hapjeong Branch is a good group dinner spot near Hapjeong Station for sharing several dishes.

Written May 29, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangseo, SeoulRestaurants

Magongnaru gopchang BBQ, hot pot instead of fried rice: Hwang Gop

Hwang Gop Magongnaru Branch (황곱 마곡나루점) is a hanwoo (Korean beef) gopchang (grilled beef intestine) and gopchang hot pot restaurant about a 5-minute walk from Exit 1 of Magongnaru Station in Gangseo, Seoul. The writer and her boyfriend shared the Hwang Gop mixed platter for 2, which came with free clam soup and yukhoe (Korean beef tartare) plus chives, rice cakes and potatoes, and they were full on just two portions before finishing with a gopchang hot pot in an earthenware pot (ttukbaegi) instead of fried rice. For couples who always find gopchang portions too small, Hwang Gop Magongnaru Branch is a filling gopchang spot with no gamey smell.

Written Oct 27, 2026Sponsored