Shelf Swatcher · 14 stories

Swatches by the Shelf

I write about beauty products I try in everyday routines. · Writes about: Beauty products · Restaurants · Hair & beauty salons · Cafés

PlaceGwangjin, SeoulCafés

Post-shabu café at Guui Station: cherry yogurt smoothie, Center Coffee

Center Coffee Guui East Pole is a café and dessert shop inside NC East Pole by Guui Station in Gwangjin-gu, Seoul. After a solo shabu-shabu (hot pot) meal nearby left time to spare, the writer and a friend ordered the seasonal cherry yogurt smoothie and a decaf iced Americano, and especially recommend stirring the smoothie into the Greek yogurt lining the cup. With roomy seating and a wide range of desserts, Center Coffee Guui East Pole is a café worth a return visit.

Written Apr 20, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGuri, GyeonggiRestaurants

Guri chicken restaurant for a hot wing lunch: BBQ Chicken Village

BBQ Chicken Village Guri Gyomun Utop branch (BBQ치킨 빌리지 구리교문유탑점) is a BBQ chicken restaurant on the 4th floor of a building on Gyeongchun-ro in Guri, Gyeonggi, with high ceilings, roomy seating and open window views. The writer ordered Golden Olive Chicken hot wings with two dipping sauces for lunch, had them brought over by a serving robot, and found the freshly fried wings far hotter and tastier than delivery. BBQ Chicken Village Guri Gyomun Utop branch suits anyone in Guri looking for a family gathering spot, a group dinner venue or a chicken restaurant with real atmosphere.

Written May 2, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeocho, SeoulRestaurants

Seocho pork bone stew after a run: small pot we couldn't finish, Chomu

Chomu Gamjatang (초무 감자탕) is a gamjatang (pork bone stew) and hangover soup restaurant on Nonhyeon-ro in Yangjae-dong, Seocho, Seoul, with parking in front and handmade pork cutlet on the menu. The writer and a big-eater friend ordered a small gamjatang, a Jeju handmade pork cutlet and 2 extra bowls of rice, and the portion was so generous that 1 of the 5 large bones went untouched. Chomu Gamjatang is a good-value restaurant for a hearty meal after a run along Yangjaecheon, with taste, portions and atmosphere all on point.

Written May 4, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeodaemun, SeoulRestaurants

Gajwa Korean restaurant: royal galbitang and bulgogi, Iseol Myeonok

Iseol Myeonok Namgajwa branch is a Korean restaurant in the DMC Geumho Richensia shopping arcade in Namgajwa-dong, Seodaemun, Seoul, carried on from Korean master chef Lee Chun-geun's original Suyu restaurant. In Gajwa for the Seoul Half Marathon, the writer ordered Seoul old-style bulgogi for 2 (3 servings with the 2+1 deal) and royal galbitang (beef short rib soup), and was surprised that raw fish salad, japchae and seaweed soup come free. Verdict: the writer came to Iseol Myeonok for the galbitang, fell for the Seoul old-style bulgogi and plans to go back.

Written May 21, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYangpyeong, GyeonggiRestaurants

Yangpyeong burger stop on the way to Ocean World marathon: Burger924

Burger924 (수제버거924) Yangpyeong main branch is a handmade burger restaurant on Jungangno 167beon-gil in Yangpyeong-eup, Gyeonggi, with more than 36 burgers on the menu. On the way to the Ocean World marathon in Hongcheon, the writer ordered the Yangpyeong Hanwoo Hawaiian Corn Burger set (23,000 won) and the Black Chipotle Burger set, and the juicy patties, soft buns and bottled Coca-Cola set drink stood out. Burger924 is a Yangpyeong burger spot you can reach without a big detour when driving from Seoul toward Hongcheon and Ocean World.

Written Jul 10, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeongdong, SeoulHair & beauty salons

Waist-length hair layered cut at Uahan Meori, a Wangsimni hair salon

Uahan Meori Wangsimni Centras Branch (우아한머리 왕십리센트라스점) is a hair salon on the 1st floor of Building H at Wangsimni Centras, near Sangwangsimni Station in Seongdong, Seoul. A 174cm-tall customer with waist-length hair got a layered cut and a Milbon clinic treatment there: the length stayed mostly intact, the silhouette became lighter, and the designer set the amount of layering based on whether the hair is usually worn up or down. For anyone who finds it hard to decide on a cut, Uahan Meori Wangsimni Centras Branch is worth visiting for a relaxed consultation first.

Written Jul 25, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSongpa, SeoulRestaurants

Sundaeguk spot near Olympic Park: post-run set on a burner, Boseung

Boseung Hoegwan Bangi Branch is a sundaeguk (Korean blood sausage soup) restaurant on Ogeum-ro in Songpa, Seoul, near Seokchon Lake and Olympic Park, open 24 hours a day, every day of the year. After a run in Olympic Park on a scorching heatwave day, the writer ordered two sundaeguk sets (one of them the special), served hotpot-style with suyuk (boiled pork) and sundae on a gas burner so they stayed hot to the last bite. With a clean broth free of any gamey smell and a generous set, Boseung Hoegwan Bangi Branch is worth a return visit for sundaeguk in Bangi-dong.

Written Jul 26, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulRestaurants

Striped pufferfish soup and Häagen-Dazs in Cheongdam: Bogi-o Boguk

Bogi-o Boguk (복이오복국) is a pufferfish restaurant on Dosan-daero in Cheongdam, Gangnam, Seoul. A writer who started looking for healthy food through exercise and running tried fresh striped pufferfish soup (saeng-kkachi-bokguk) at Bogi-o Boguk for the first time near closing. The clean, refreshing broth, springy pufferfish meat and chewy skin were good enough that the writer finished a whole bowl of rice too. Verdict: Bogi-o Boguk is a nourishing Cheongdam restaurant where even first-timers can enjoy pufferfish soup without worry.

Written Jul 18, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJung-gu, SeoulRestaurants

Myeongdong jokbal restaurant for lunch after a Namsan run: Miss Jokbal

Miss Jokbal Seoul Myeongdong Branch is a jokbal (braised pig's trotters) restaurant on Myeongdong 3-gil in Jung-gu, Seoul, open daily from 11am to 3am. After a run on Namsan, the writer and her boyfriend arrived at opening time and ordered the Original Jokbal, anchovy rice balls and Miss Steamed Egg, with free kimchi kalguksu (noodle soup) and salad on the side. Even as a picky jokbal eater, the writer was won over by the subtly seasoned, tender meat, making Miss Jokbal a filling post-workout lunch in Myeongdong.

Written Jul 29, 2026Sponsored
PlaceNamyangju, GyeonggiRestaurants

Dasan lamb restaurant with a separate grilling area: Jin 1926

Jin 1926 Dasan Branch is a premium lamb restaurant on the 2nd floor of Sinhae Central Tower 4 in Dasan-dong, Namyangju. The writer, a regular lamb eater, ordered 2 servings of French rack, 3 servings of lamb, stir-fried bean sprouts and bibim guksu (spicy mixed noodles), and skipped alcohol because of laryngitis. Still, the separate grilling area and the staff's tips on how to eat the lamb made both the atmosphere and the meat a hit. Verdict: Jin 1926 Dasan Branch is worth a return visit even for diners with high standards for lamb.

Written Aug 2, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYongsan, SeoulRestaurants

Yongsan tteokbokki spot after a CGV movie, extra broth: Hyeonseonine

Hyeonseonine Yongsan Main Branch is a tteokbokki and Korean snack bar on Hangang-daero 39-gil, right in front of Yongsan Station in Seoul. After a movie at Yongsan CGV, two people shared the mild Hyeonseon Combo (Kkomul-i fish cake) set for 26,000 won and asked staff for extra broth when it ran low. Even spice-shy eaters can enjoy Hyeonseonine at the mild level, but the sauce is so good that the regular heat is the order for next time.

Written Aug 2, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeocho, SeoulRestaurants

Gyodae gimbap restaurant late lunch for two: scallion tuna roll, Halls

Halls Gimbap Main Branch (홀스김밥본점) is a gimbap and Korean snack restaurant on Seocho-jungang-ro 22-gil near Gyodae Station in Seocho, Seoul. Arriving around 1:30pm with her boyfriend, the writer ordered dakgangjeong S (sweet crispy fried chicken bites) topped with cheongyang chili, a double cheese egg gimbap (seaweed rice roll) and a Jindo scallion tuna gimbap, plus MSG-free bonito broth from the self-serve bar. Verdict: two rolls of gimbap and a small dakgangjeong at Halls Gimbap make a filling lunch for two.

Written Aug 8, 2026Sponsored