Paper Bag Handle Carrier · 25 stories

Counter Seats, Mirror Stops

Writes about restaurants, bars, cafes and beauty shops visited around Seoul, Gyeonggi and Gangwon, one stop at a time. · Writes about: Restaurants · Bars · Cafés · Hair & beauty salons

PlaceUijeongbu, GyeonggiCafés

Open-kitchen drive café in Uijeongbu with Earl Grey Basque: Forerest

Forerest is a large forest-view café on Nogyang-ro in Uijeongbu, Gyeonggi, open daily until midnight and dog-friendly. The writer and a friend explored Forerest's outdoor space, open kitchen and 4 rooms with different themes, then had black sesame and Earl Grey Basque cheesecake, a decaf americano and a flat white. Verdict: Forerest is a night-drive café near Seoul where the Basque cheesecake is as satisfying as the forest view.

Written Apr 28, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJungnang, SeoulRestaurants

Late-night baby octopus stir-fry in Sangbong, fish roe rice: Joajukne

Joajukne Jjukkumi (조아죽네쭈꾸미) is a spicy baby octopus stir-fry (jjukkumi bokkeum) restaurant near Exit 3 of Sangbong Station in Jungnang, Seoul, with patio tables and parking out front. On a weeknight around 10–11 PM, the writer shared the baby octopus + sungnyung (scorched-rice tea) + assorted add-ons set for 2. Flying fish roe came free, and the crispy fried flat dumplings, nutty sungnyung and large, chewy baby octopus all satisfied. Verdict: if you love spicy baby octopus stir-fry, Joajukne Jjukkumi is the Sangbong Station spot you've been looking for.

Written Apr 30, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGapyeong, GyeonggiShopping

Cheongpyeong butcher, early-winter camping: charcoal ribs, Ari Chuksan

Ari Chuksan (아리축산) is a butcher shop in Cheongpyeong-myeon, Gapyeong, Gyeonggi, right next to NH Hanaro Mart Cheongpyeong. Before heading to a Cheongpyeong campsite at 2 p.m. on a Saturday, the writer bought hangjeongsal (pork jowl), kkodeul moksal (chewy pork neck) and pork back ribs at Ari Chuksan, with enoki mushrooms thrown in free, for an early-winter camping BBQ. The charcoal-grilled back ribs, a first for the writer, were the best of the day, and charcoal, grill grates, firestarters, side dishes and vegetables could all be bought at Ari Chuksan in one stop.

Written Nov 10, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGwangjin, SeoulRestaurants

Korean BBQ in Gunja, Seoul: kimchi pork belly, Musoe Kimchi Samgyeop

Musoe Kimchi Samgyeop Gunja branch is a Korean BBQ restaurant in front of Gunja Station Exits 5 and 6 in Gwangjin, Seoul, where staff grill the pork belly for you in an open-window, street-tavern atmosphere. The writer had the Musoe kimchi pork belly and a kimchi jeongol (kimchi hot pot) with kimchi mari guksu (cold kimchi noodles) and kalguksu noodles added, and the kimchi and tofu grilled on the same iron plate with garlic sauce stood out. Musoe Kimchi Samgyeop Gunja branch is a good spot near Gunja Station for pork belly and drinks with the windows open.

Written May 4, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulRestaurants

Gangnam eel bowl restaurant with parking: whole eel & sansho, Manmok

Manmok is a Japanese eel restaurant in Gangnam, Seoul, near Seolleung Station Exit 2, with 2 parking spots out front and window counter seats for solo diners. The blogger and a friend ordered Manmok's whole eel bowl: the eel was crisp outside and chewy inside, sansho berries cut its richness, and the matsutake soup and shrimp chawanmushi (steamed egg custard) were finished to the last bite. Manmok is worth recommending for anyone looking for an eel bowl spot in Gangnam with parking, or a place for a solo meal or a date.

Written May 6, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJung-gu, SeoulRestaurants

Open-door makchang pub in Euljiro 3-ga: jeotgal fried rice, Baegyeom

Baegyeom Makchang Euljiro Main Branch (백염막창) is a retro-style makchang (grilled pork intestine) pub in an alley near Euljiro 3-ga Station Exit 11 in Jung-gu, Seoul. The writer arrived 30 minutes before last order and had 2 servings of pre-grilled Daegu makchang and jeotgal (salted seafood) fried rice, with the front doors wide open for an outdoor-patio feel. Baegyeom Makchang's Daegu makchang has no gamey smell and is crispy outside and chewy inside, so it is worth recommending even to people who don't usually like makchang.

Written May 15, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJung-gu, SeoulBars

Second-round hotpot bar in Euljiro with peanut sauce: Baegyeonhonghwa

Baegyeonhonghwa Euljiro Main Branch (백연홍화) is a Chinese-style pub on the second floor of an alley building near Euljiro 3-ga Station in Jung-gu, Seoul, serving skewer mala hotpot with half red and half white broth. After a first round of drinks in Euljiro, the writer came to Baegyeonhonghwa for a late-night second round and ordered the skewer mala hotpot for 2 (10 kinds, 20 skewers), enjoying the numbing red broth, the creamy white broth with a clean finish and the peanut sauce the owner makes. Baegyeonhonghwa is a solid second-round hotpot bar in Euljiro, even with friends who can't handle spice.

Written May 16, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJongno, SeoulRestaurants

Spicy stir-fried lung at a Sinseoldong gopchang pub: Dongsin Gopchang

Dongsin Gopchang Sinseoldong Main Branch is a gopchang (beef intestine) restaurant near Exit 12 of Sinseoldong Station in Jongno, Seoul, serving gopchang hotpot, vegetable gopchang and spicy stir-fried lung, and it doubles as a budget-friendly drinking spot that is also open for lunch. After eating the vegetable gopchang and gopchang hotpot twice each, the writer ordered the spicy stir-fried lung and the pork belly fresh cabbage bossam (boiled pork wrapped in raw napa cabbage), and enjoyed the fluffy lung and the silky, tender pork belly. Dongsin Gopchang's spicy stir-fried lung is quite hot, but it is worth going back for if you are looking for a place that does stir-fried lung well.

Written May 17, 2026Sponsored
PlaceNowon, SeoulRestaurants

Tonkatsu in Gongneung: spicy jowl katsu set & soba, Jeongseong Katz

Jeongseong Katz Gongneung (정성카츠 공릉점) is a Japanese-style tonkatsu restaurant near Exit 2 of Gongneung Station in Nowon, Seoul, serving katsu, pasta and noodles. At Jeongseong Katz we had the triple mixed katsu set and the pork jowl katsu set with the spicy option, and got free cold soba through a Naver receipt review event. With 1–2 person seats, Jeongseong Katz Gongneung is a good-value set meal spot for a solo lunch or a date.

Written May 20, 2026Sponsored
PlaceDongdaemun, SeoulRestaurants

Jang-an-dong shabu-shabu, sukiyaki broth Buldak risotto: Shabu Torang

Shabu Torang Jang-an Direct Branch is a single-pot shabu-shabu restaurant on Janghan-ro in Jang-an-dong, Dongdaemun, Seoul, with shabu-shabu from the 7,000-won range and parking available. The writer shared spicy tomato shabu-shabu and sukiyaki with a friend, then cooked the Cream Buldak risotto after-dish in the sukiyaki broth and the cream risotto in the tomato broth to turn it into a rosé risotto. Shabu Torang Jang-an is a great-value Jang-an-dong shabu-shabu spot where everything from shabu-shabu to risotto comes to 10,000–20,000 won per person.

Written May 18, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJungnang, SeoulRestaurants

Meokgol Korean set meal: 16 banchan and blanched squid, Sanchaega

Sanchaega Hanjeongsik Meokgol Main Branch is a Korean restaurant specializing in cauldron rice (gamasotbap) near Exit 5 of Meokgol Station in Jungnang, Seoul. On a weekday lunch, the writer booked through Naver, pre-selected the menu and shared the deodeok (bellflower root) and shiitake cauldron rice special set for 2 with a friend; among the 16 banchan, the grilled hwangtae (dried pollack), grilled deodeok and blanched squid stood out. At around ₩10,000 per person for 16 side dishes plus sungnyung (scorched-rice tea), Sanchaega is a great-value Korean lunch spot.

Written May 20, 2026Sponsored
PlaceNamyangju, GyeonggiCafés

Namyangju river café with a friend, Sulawesi Toraja: Waltz & Dr. Mahn

Waltz and Dr. Mahn is a large Bukhan River view café on Bukhangang-ro in Joan-myeon, Namyangju, offering everything from coffee and desserts to steak, Western-style course meals and classical concerts. Two friends walked in without a reservation and had a hand-drip Sulawesi Toraja, the parfait-style Honneur et Chevalier and an Opera Cake, all brought to the table by a waiter. Waltz and Dr. Mahn is a little pricey, but the Bukhan River view and the service make it well worth a stop on a Namyangju drive.

Written May 21, 2026Sponsored