Night Drawer · 70 stories

Side Dish Pages

I write about restaurants I visit in Seoul and the meals I have there. · Writes about: Restaurants · Food & snacks · Hair & beauty salons · Cafés · Bars · Shopping · Beauty products · Things to do · Stays · Home & living

Product흑미담Food & snacks

Black goat extract with no gamey taste: 흑미담 Black Goat Extract

흑미담 Black Goat Extract (흑미담 흑염소진액) is a Korean black goat extract sold in single-serve pouches. According to the brand, it is made by low-temperature extraction from domestic female black goat and herbal ingredients such as jujube, rehmannia root and cnidium. The writer shared the 30-pouch package with her eldest child, a middle schooler worn out by school, and found 흑미담 Black Goat Extract clean-tasting with almost no gamey flavor, so her child drank it without any fuss. Verdict: 흑미담 Black Goat Extract is a safe pick for anyone worried about the goat taste or looking for a Parents' Day health gift.

Written Apr 25, 2026Product provided
PlaceSeocho, SeoulRestaurants

Sinsa Station burger joint: fries vs onion rings, Bas Burger Jamwon

Bas Burger Jamwon Branch is a handmade burger restaurant on a side street near Sinsa Station in Jamwon-dong, Seoul, known for its free, unlimited fresh potato chip self-serve bar called 'James Gam'. The writer ordered a Double Bas Burger set and a Crunchy Chicken Burger set, then compared the default french fries with onion rings, a 1,000 won upgrade. Verdict: choose the Double Bas Burger for meaty flavor or the Crunchy Chicken Burger for crunch, and swap one set side for onion rings.

Written Nov 10, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulHair & beauty salons

Gangnam Station hair salon Mucota for split ends, Pink Age wigs: Koara

Koara Haircare Gangnam is a hair salon on basement level 1 of A Tower on Teheran-ro, right in front of Gangnam Station Exit 12 in Seoul, run together with the wig brand Pink Age Gangnam. With dry, frizzy hair and split ends from skipping home care, the writer had a hair diagnosis, a shoulder massage and a Mucota clinic at Koara Haircare Gangnam, and left with soft, silky hair that no longer snagged on the comb. Verdict: the Mucota clinic at Koara Haircare Gangnam is worth it for damaged hair, especially if you dye or perm often.

Written May 2, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulRestaurants

Kid-friendly chicken BBQ, 4 sauces, at Yangjae Station: Yanggyegok

Yanggyegok (양계옥) is a charcoal-grilled dakgalbi (chicken BBQ) and chicken restaurant near Exit 4 of Yangjae Station in Gangnam, Seoul. The writer booked through Naver and walked in as the first guest at the 11:00 opening, then ordered salt, soy and gochujang chicken BBQ. They ate it with four sauces and wraps of perilla leaves, pickled radish and flying fish roe, along with free dakgyejang (spicy chicken soup) and flying fish roe rice balls. Yanggyegok's chicken BBQ is neither too spicy nor heavily seasoned, so it is an easy choice for eating with kids.

Written May 6, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulCafés

Dogok-dong walnut pie café, signature pie & americano: Hodu Kkakki

Hodu Kkakki Brothers (호두까끼형제) is a handmade walnut pie dessert café in Dogok-dong, Gangnam, Seoul, about 100m from Yangjae Station Exit 4. On her second child's recommendation, the writer had the signature walnut pie with an americano and liked the crisp crust, gentle sweetness and nutty walnut flavor so much that she chose Hodu Kkakki Brothers for a Teachers' Day gift too. For a walnut pie that isn't too sweet, or a dessert to give as a gift, Hodu Kkakki Brothers is a safe choice.

Written May 7, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulRestaurants

Conveyor sushi with my daughter in Daechi: truffle squid, Sushi Ian N

Sushi Ian N Seolleung Station is a conveyor belt sushi restaurant near Exit 2 of Seolleung Station, on the Daechi-dong side of Gangnam, Seoul, where every plate costs ₩1,990. The writer booked through Naver for a one-on-one visit with their eldest daughter and ate egg and cheese sushi, aged kimchi with fresh fish sushi, truffle squid sushi, shrimp tempura udon, melon and yogurt pudding. Sushi Ian N is a great-value sushi spot where a child can eat freely without anyone worrying about plate prices.

Written May 5, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJongno, SeoulRestaurants

Chilly-day terrace wine bistro in Seochon: abalone pasta, Teen Seoul

Teen Seoul (틴 서울) is a two-floor European wine bistro in Seochon, Jongno, Seoul, tucked inside the food alley off Gyeongbokgung Station Exit 2. On a slightly chilly day, the writer sat on the Teen Seoul terrace under a blanket with sparkling wine, bottarga abalone maltagliati (29,000 won) and Black Angus chuck flap steak frites (39,000 won), and was happy with the fresh pasta texture, the medium-rare cook and the Café de Paris butter. Teen Seoul is a Seochon bistro well suited to daytime wine on the terrace or a small wine get-together.

Written Nov 7, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulBars

Sinsa izakaya season course at the bar with Mom: Negi Dining Lounge

Negi Dining Lounge is an izakaya on Garosu-gil near Sinsa Station in Gangnam, Seoul, known for green onion (negi) dishes and a seasonal course built on in-season ingredients. On a weekday evening, the writer and her mom sat at the Negi Dining Lounge bar facing the open kitchen and ate the season course, from kuro tamanegi to sashimi, kuromutsu iimushi and seasonal claypot rice, with highballs. For a special-occasion Japanese course dinner, Negi Dining Lounge is worth a visit after booking on the Catchtable app.

Written May 15, 2026Sponsored
PlacePaju, GyeonggiBars

Paju pizza pub with big windows & cheese oven pasta: Long Time No See

Long Time No See Yadang Branch is a pizza pub about 140m from Exit 2 of Yadang Station in Paju, Gyeonggi, where you tag a wristband, pour your own beer and pay by the 10ml. On this visit the writer ordered the Banhagesseo combination pizza, cheese oven pasta and fries, while the writer's child poured sparkling water at the self-serve bar. The writer expected little from the food at Long Time No See, was surprised by how good it was, and rates a return visit at 100%.

Written May 24, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulRestaurants

Gangnam pasta spot, four-cheese pasta & smoky pork steak: Eulji Darak

Eulji Darak Gangnam Station is a Western-style restaurant on the 2nd floor near Exit 11 of Gangnam Station in Seoul. The writer ordered the bestselling four-cheese spicy cream pasta, the chop pork neck steak and a katsu sando (pork cutlet sandwich), and especially loved alternating the spicy cream pasta, with its egg yolk mixed in, and the smoky chop pork neck steak. For a date, a blind date or a wedding invitation meetup, Eulji Darak Gangnam Station is a can't-miss choice.

Written May 23, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulRestaurants

Private-room Italian for family gatherings on Garosu-gil: Casamil

Casamil Sinsa Garosu-gil is an Italian restaurant on the ground floor of Hotel La Casa Seoul on Garosu-gil, near Sinsa Station in Gangnam, Seoul. A regular who books the large private room for family gatherings ordered the arugula prosciutto wood-fired pizza, vongole pasta and squid ink risotto, and was happy with all three. With valet parking and a spacious dining room, Casamil Sinsa Garosu-gil is a Garosu-gil Italian restaurant well suited to family and friends' get-togethers.

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

Gangnam hair salon: 4-step keratin clinic for perm-damaged hair, Anew

Anew Hair Cheongdam Main Branch is a hair salon in Cheongdam-dong, Gangnam, Seoul, near Exit 2 of Gangnam-gu Office Station. The writer's hair, wrecked by frequent perms and neglect, got a scalp check, a consultation, a 4-step custom clinic (shampoo, moisture protein, keratin steam and coating) and a cut, turning a lion's mane into hair so smooth fingers glide straight through. If home care hasn't fixed your damaged hair, the 4-step clinic at Anew Hair Cheongdam Main Branch is worth considering.

Written May 26, 2026Sponsored