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At the Side Table

Personal notes on beauty products used in everyday routines. · Writes about: Beauty products · Cafés · Shopping · Restaurants · Bars

PlaceAnsan, GyeonggiShopping

Ansan butcher near Jungang Station: ₩8,400 giant galbi, Morakmorak

Morakmorak Home & Cook (모락모락홈앤쿡) is a butcher shop in the basement level of Star Plaza in Sangnok-gu, Ansan, selling hanwoo (Korean beef), pork, marinated meats and soup meal kits. The writer came to spend local-currency relief funds and bought handmade marinated wang-pogalbi (giant marinated pork ribs) to go at ₩8,400 per geun (600g), received shredded green onion salad free, and grilled the ribs at home for the family. Verdict: Morakmorak Home & Cook is a satisfying butcher for Ansan locals who want affordable marinated galbi while prices are high.

Written Jun 3, 2026Sponsored
PlaceAnsan, GyeonggiRestaurants

Ansan Italian restaurant year-end wine deal, 4-sauce lamb: That Man's

That Man's Italian Restaurant & Lounge is an Italian restaurant on the 6th floor of the Dongwon Building near Jungang Station in Ansan, known as a spot for dates, group gatherings and first-birthday parties. The writer had ciabatta as the bread course, squid ink risotto with whole Ulleungdo squid, garlic-packed aglio e olio and a medium-well lamb chop steak grilled with vegetables, and received an ice cream egg tart for leaving a receipt review. With a year-end wine promotion running, That Man's is an easy-going Ansan steak restaurant for a year-end date.

Written Oct 19, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGeumcheon, SeoulRestaurants

American burgers in Gasan: avocado & truffle at Downtown Gasan Public

Downtown Gasan Public (다운타우너 가산퍼블릭) is an American-style handmade burger restaurant on the first floor of Building A at Public Gasan in Gasan Digital Complex, Geumcheon, Seoul. The writer ordered Downtowner's signature avocado burger and, for the first time, the double cheese truffle burger, and was pleased with the ripe avocado and the aroma of the truffle sauce. As long as you avoid the 15:00–17:00 break time, Downtown Gasan Public is a solid pick for a handmade burger lunch in Gasan.

Written Jun 13, 2026Sponsored
PlaceAnsan, GyeonggiRestaurants

Ansan Jungang Station solo Korean BBQ: 10-minute pork neck at Jiglab

Jiglab is a solo-dining Korean BBQ restaurant right outside Exit 1 of Jungang Station in Ansan, Gyeonggi, where one person can order a full set of Handon (Korean-raised pork) belly or neck. The writer ordered Jiglab's premium Handon pork neck and cold soba set, which arrived fully grilled on a solid-fuel brazier within 10 minutes and stayed warm to the last bite. For people living alone and busy office workers put off by Korean BBQ places that require two servings, Jiglab is a fast, quiet place to eat Korean BBQ solo.

Written Oct 13, 2026Sponsored
PlaceAnsan, GyeonggiRestaurants

Handaeap Station fish grill: mackerel-pizza set for 2, Hwadeogeuro

Hwadeogeuro Gan Godeungeo Bansang Handaeap Station Branch (화덕으로간고등어반상 한대앞역점) is a grilled fish restaurant in the Handaeap Station food alley in Ansan that cooks fish in a 500-degree hearth oven and serves each person a single-tray set meal. The writer shared the mackerel set for 2 with pizza with her mom and loved the plump, non-fishy hearth-grilled mackerel, the hearth pizza dipped in honey and the black sesame lotus root from the self-serve side dish bar. Verdict: Hwadeogeuro Gan Godeungeo Bansang Handaeap Station Branch is a clean, tidy fish grill that suits a weekend meal out with parents.

Written Oct 11, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGanghwa, IncheonRestaurants

Ganghwa duck restaurant after Manisan: roast duck fried rice, Deok Ori

Deok Ori Jumulleok Ganghwa Main Branch (덕오리주물럭 강화도본점) is a duck restaurant on Manisan-ro in Ganghwa, Incheon, that pre-grills its duck over coal briquettes. After hiking Manisan, the writer booked on Naver, ordered 2 servings of duck roast with extra perilla leaves, and finished with 2 portions of fried rice crisped in the duck fat. Deok Ori Jumulleok makes fried rice even with the duck roast, not just the marinated jumulleok, and the goguma mattang (candied sweet potato) side is delicious, making it a satisfying post-hike meal.

Written Jun 2, 2026Sponsored
PlaceDongjak, SeoulRestaurants

Udon spot near Isu Station: bukkake lunch plus sirloin katsu, Kosi

Kosi Isu Branch is a Japanese restaurant specializing in handmade udon and tonkatsu on Sadang-ro near Isu Station in Dongjak, Seoul. While looking for good bukkake udon, the writer ordered bukkake udon at lunch and added a sirloin tonkatsu as an option. The writer loved the springy, chilled noodles with aged tsuyu and the tender, slightly pink katsu. If you want bukkake udon and tonkatsu in one meal, adding the katsu as an option when ordering at Kosi Isu Branch is the way to go.

Written Oct 10, 2026Sponsored
PlaceAnsan, GyeonggiCafés

Tomato olive focaccia at a Gojan-dong café in Ansan: Degree Gojan

Degree Gojan Branch is a bakery café on Gwangdeok-daero in Gojan-dong, Ansan, open from 7am to midnight. Arriving at 11:30am, the writer drank an iced Americano made with the nutty 'Hosu' bean the staff recommended, alongside tomato olive focaccia, a chocolate baguette and watermelon juice. Both the focaccia and the chocolate baguette were crisp outside and moist inside at Degree Gojan Branch, good enough to eat without coffee.

Written Sep 6, 2026Sponsored
PlaceAnsan, GyeonggiShopping

Ansan meat shop marinated galbi, ₩30,000: Morakmorak Home & Cook

Morakmorak Home & Cook is an aged- and marinated-meat butcher shop on the basement level of Star Plaza in Sangnok-gu, Ansan. The shop stocks 14-day water-aged beef, a Korean pork (handon) omakase mixed grill, gomtang (beef bone soup) meal kits and marinated cuts, and this visit was for ₩30,000 of marinated wang-po galbi (large-cut marinated short rib) grilled at home with parents. Morakmorak Home & Cook threw in scallion strips and sesame dipping sauce for free, making galbi far cheaper here than at a barbecue restaurant.

Written Sep 5, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSuwon, GyeonggiCafés

Lamington cake at a Suwon roastery café rooftop: Jeong Ji-young

Jeong Ji-young Coffee Roasters Haenggung Main Branch is a coffee roastery café in Haenggung-dong, Suwon, that has filled an entire building for more than 10 years, from the basement order counter to the cafés on the 2nd and 4th floors and the rooftop on the 5th. The dark-bean iced Americano tasted nutty and the Lamington cake was light rather than sweet, and both were satisfying. On a cool day, Jeong Ji-young Coffee Roasters is the Haenggung-dong coffee spot to pick for a rooftop cup.

Written Sep 5, 2026Sponsored
PlaceAnsan, GyeonggiCafés

Ansan bakery café with just-baked walnut bread and garlic baguette

Flowerpot Cafe Gojan Branch is a bakery café in Gojan-dong, Ansan, standing next to AW Wedding Hall near Lotte Cinema Gojan, run by the team behind a well-known bakery café by Mulwang Reservoir. On a visit around 11:30 am, the signature walnut bread, maron campagne, garlic baguette and basil tomato campagne were all still warm from the oven. With wide seating, power outlets, an indoor restroom and a self-packing station, Flowerpot Cafe is an easy bakery café to bring your mom to.

Written Sep 5, 2026Sponsored
ProductHEEDABeauty products

Cleansing balm for oily, dehydrated skin: HEEDA Jirisan Moist

HEEDA Jirisan Moist Cleansing Balm is a Korean cleansing balm the writer tried for skin that looks shiny but still feels short on moisture. The writer spread the balm over the face, then added water and rolled it off before rinsing, and says skin felt moist rather than tight afterward. HEEDA Jirisan Moist Cleansing Balm can be found by searching 'HEEDA cleansing balm' on Naver.

Written Jul 22, 2024Product provided
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