Seocho Seconds · 15 stories

Second Serving, Seoul

I write about restaurants I visit around Seoul. · Writes about: Restaurants · Cafés · Hair & beauty salons · Bars · Shopping · Things to do · Stays

PlaceGwangmyeong, GyeonggiHair & beauty salons

Gwangmyeong salon setting perm, not waves, for thin hair: Maple Hair

Maple Hair Gwangmyeong Sageori Station Branch is an eco-friendly hair salon in Gwangmyeong, Gyeonggi, a 3-minute walk from Exit 3 of Gwangmyeong Sageori Station. The writer's mom, whose gray roots were showing, got a premium root dye there. Because her hair is thin and damaged, she also got the setting perm the designer recommended instead of the wave perm she had wanted. First visits get 40% off, and mom was delighted that Maple Hair fixed both her crown volume and her gray coverage.

Written Nov 10, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYongsan, SeoulRestaurants

Haebangchon Italian from Reels: cheese-pour lasagna at Villa de Blue

Villa de Blue Haebangchon is an Amalfi-inspired Italian brunch bar and wine dining restaurant in Haebangchon, Yongsan, Seoul. During a day out in Haebangchon with a friend, the writer remembered the cheese waterfall lasagna from social media and stopped in at Villa de Blue for the aligot cheese lasagna (₩22,000) and the pulpo mambo octopus dish (₩25,000). The writer also tried the olive oil ice cream offered for a Naver receipt review. With its blue-and-white interior, cheese-pour show and tender octopus, Villa de Blue is a solid pick for a date or a Western-style meal in Haebangchon.

Written May 7, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGwangmyeong, GyeonggiBars

Gwangmyeong izakaya: solo beef tartare and rice soju at Hitosara Anan

Hitosara Anan (히토사라 안안) is a cozy, wood-toned izakaya at Haan intersection in Gwangmyeong, Gyeonggi. Blogger Ssurog ordered the single-serving fire-torched beef tartare, Oneul rice soju and Anan egg soup as a set-style solo meal, and was most impressed by the smoky Korean beef tartare and the egg soup, which is fluffy like a fried tofu pouch. Hitosara Anan is a quiet Gwangmyeong izakaya for a solo drink after work or a small get-together.

Written May 14, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulRestaurants

Private-room Korean beef lunch in Gongdeok for Parents' Day: Usu

Usu is a hanwoo (Korean beef) course restaurant in the Lotte Castle President arcade, basement level 2, near Gongdeok Station Exit 2 in Seoul, where every seat is a private room. For Family Month, the writer took both parents to Usu for Lunch Course C, which came out neatly from U, Gye, Jinjuk porridge to 1++ hanwoo striploin and sirloin grilled on a personal brazier, sea bream pot rice and Korean melon sorbet, and the parents were very satisfied. For a quiet family meal in a private room, the lunch course at Usu in Gongdeok is a great fit.

Written May 20, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYongsan, SeoulRestaurants

Itaewon brunch café with bacon cream pasta and blue lemonade: Ongfleur

Ongfleur is a French-style brunch café on Hoenamu-ro 44-gil in Itaewon, Seoul, near the Grand Hyatt Seoul. We ordered the classic eggs Benedict, bacon cream pasta, an Americano and a blue lemonade, and both dishes were textbook versions that never felt greasy or got tiresome to the last bite. Thanks to roomy table spacing, floor-to-ceiling window seats and private rooms, Ongfleur is an easygoing Itaewon brunch café for a long, unhurried conversation.

Written May 28, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGwangjin, SeoulRestaurants

Salad shop near Konkuk Univ.: teriyaki beef & Greek yogurt, Y-Stave

Y-Stave Diet Konkuk is a high-protein salad and poke restaurant on Neungdong-ro in Gwangjin, Seoul, between Konkuk Univ. Station and Children's Grand Park Station. A regular who has visited many times ate a side set in the shop for 18,300 won: a beef cauliflower rice protein box with teriyaki sauce plus Greek yogurt. The regular was happy with the sous vide beef and the thick Greek yogurt. Y-Stave Diet Konkuk is a healthy meal near Konkuk Univ. worth recommending, one that breaks the idea that salad doesn't taste good.

Written Oct 12, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeocho, SeoulBars

Solo drinking bar in Sadang, Seoul: beef tartare at Dophan

Dophan is a European-style dining bar on Bangbaecheon-ro 6-gil in Seocho, Seoul, a 5-minute walk from Sadang Station Exit 11. Sitting alone at the counter seat, the writer ordered house wine (11,0), Korean beef tartare (34,9) and a charcuterie cheese platter M (17,9), and found tartare piled on potato chips the best combination of the night. With 10% off all bottles for solo drinkers and an M-size platter, Dophan makes a quiet drink on your own feel easy.

Written Sep 20, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeocho, SeoulHair & beauty salons

Damaged-hair premium heat perm at Abidasun, a Jamwon-dong hair salon

Abidasun Salon Jamwon is a cut-focused private hair salon in Seocho, Seoul, a one-minute walk from Jamwon Station Exit 1 in Unit 304, East Wing, Maple Zai Plaza. A premium heat perm (240,000 won) plus a cut brought root volume back to hair damaged by repeated coloring and perms and set the curls naturally, with one designer handling the service from start to finish. Even sensitive, damaged hair came through the perm without irritation.

Written Sep 17, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulHair & beauty salons

Hongdae hair and makeup salon for profile photos: Moi Hair Makeup

Moi Hair Makeup is a hair and makeup studio one minute from Exit 3 of Hongik University Station in Mapo, Seoul. Before a profile photo shoot, the writer booked the Daily Hair Makeup service for 143,000 won, ending up with a bright base that holds up under studio lighting and natural waves with volume at the roots. It was a repeat visit, and the tailored consultation and finish at Moi Hair Makeup made it worth returning.

Written Sep 16, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGuro, SeoulBars

Gaebong Station bar: kimchi udon and Jeju shrimp sashimi, Apgujeong

Apgujeong Sinpocha is a second-floor bar a minute's walk from Exit 1 of Gaebong Station in Guro, Seoul. After dinner nearby, the writer brought their parents here for a second round and ordered kimchi udon (₩13,000) and Jeju-caught ddakisaebi (raw shrimp, ₩25,000), with soju at ₩3,000 and beer at ₩4,000 when ordering two dishes. The spicy, refreshing kimchi udon broth and plump raw shrimp made it a great spot for one more round.

Written Sep 9, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeocho, SeoulRestaurants

Solo lunch at a Sadang Station eel restaurant: Bunko Dining Sadang

Bunko Dining Sadang is a Japanese dining restaurant in Seocho, Seoul, a 4-minute walk from Sadang Station Exit 11, known for aged sashimi and eel rice bowls. At a window seat for lunch, hitsumabushi (45,000 won) and a drink (2,000 won) were eaten three ways: eel and rice on its own, topped with garnishes, and finished as sea bream broth ochazuke. With no stray bones in the eel plus cream cheese-wrapped dried persimmon and fried shrimp on the side, Bunko Dining Sadang makes a filling solo lunch near Sadang.

Written Sep 6, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeocho, SeoulRestaurants

Diet gimbap cooked in olive oil near Gyodae Station, Seocho: Halls

Halls Gimbap Main Branch is a gimbap (seaweed rice roll) restaurant a 4-minute walk from Gyodae Station Exit 1 in Seocho, Seoul, that cooks with olive oil and unrefined cane sugar. Ordering the green onion tuna + cheese egg gimbap and the spam fried chicken set while on a diet, the rice portion was light and the fillings generous, so each ingredient's flavor came through clearly. With MSG-free bonito broth and a topping removal option, it was a gimbap spot that felt easy on a diet.

Written Sep 6, 2026Sponsored