Texture Tracker · 23 stories

Traces of Texture

I write about beauty products as I use them, from texture to daily wear. · Writes about: Beauty products · Restaurants · Cafés · Bars · Things to do · Hair & beauty salons · Shopping

PlaceMapo, SeoulRestaurants

Mangwon Korean BBQ with seared, pre-cut pork belly: Dwaejibangatgan

Dwaejibangatgan (돼지방앗간) is a Korean BBQ restaurant near Exit 2 of Mangwon Station in Mapo, Seoul, where 100% Korean pork belly and neck arrive already fire-seared and cut, so they need only a quick finish on the grill. The writer and her husband ordered 2 portions of pork belly, 1 portion of pork neck, sesame oil bibimbap and perilla oil Jjapaghetti, and especially loved the aroma of the sesame and perilla oils pressed at the owner's father's oil mill. Dwaejibangatgan suits anyone who wants smoky, fire-grilled pork and good sides without the work of grilling.

Written Jun 4, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulRestaurants

Hongdae open-air sashimi restaurant: spring flounder at Yeonnam Eobu

Yeonnam Eobu (연남어부) is a live-fish sashimi restaurant on Donggyo-ro, a walk from Hongik Univ. Station toward Yeonnam-dong in Mapo, Seoul, where diners pick seafood on the 1st floor and eat on floors 2 to 4 in a casual open-air setting. The writer had the spring flounder set (68,000 won) and seafood kalguksu (knife-cut noodle soup, 17,000 won) at Gorae Seonbak on the 2nd floor, and enjoyed the firm, slightly sweet flounder and the 2–3 serving noodle pot with a whole blue crab. Yeonnam Eobu is a good Hongdae pick for a date or a night out with friends on a nice day.

Written Jun 6, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulCafés

Yangjae walnut pie shop, a gift instead of cake: Hodu Kkakki Brothers

Hodu Kkakki Brothers (호두까기형제) is a takeout-only handmade walnut pie shop in a Dogok-dong alley near Exit 4 of Yangjae Station in Gangnam, Seoul. The writer took home the Premium Assorted Pie box (₩34,900), which holds several flavors including signature, cheese and chocolate-style pies; the box arrived without the pies shifting, and the walnuts were nutty without the sweetness being overdone. If you want a gift dessert instead of a cake, the Hodu Kkakki Brothers assorted pie box is a good choice.

Written Jun 9, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulRestaurants

Hongdae chicken feet bar, ₩42,000 bone-in set for two: Cheongnyeon

Cheongnyeon Dakbal 1987 Hongdae Branch (청년닭발1987 홍대점) is a soup chicken feet bar on Donggyo-ro in Mapo, Seoul, between Hongdae and Yeonnam-dong. The writer ordered the ₩42,000 Cheongnyeon Dakbal Hansang (bone-in) with rice cakes and quail eggs added, plus jjagyechi and pineapple soju. The spread of soup chicken feet, tuna mayo rice balls, muksabal, kalguksu and fried chicken skin was a lot of food for two. The chili-powder and cheongyang-pepper heat feels clean rather than heavy and the broth is excellent, making Cheongnyeon Dakbal 1987 a great Hongdae stop for a second or third round.

Written Jun 10, 2026Sponsored
PlaceDongjak, SeoulRestaurants

Tonkatsu restaurant at Isu Station: cheese and loin katsu lunch, Kosi

Kosi Isu Branch (코시 이수점) is a tonkatsu, udon and gyudon (beef rice bowl) restaurant near Exit 10 of Isu Station in Dongjak, Seoul. The writer returned to Kosi Isu Branch for lunch with a younger sibling, ordered cheese katsu and loin katsu à la carte with a 300ml beer, and was impressed by the thick loin and the long, stretchy cheese. With bar seating for solo diners and a kiosk at every table, Kosi Isu Branch is an easy tonkatsu spot near Isu Station even when you're eating alone.

Written Jun 16, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYongsan, SeoulRestaurants

Yongsan tteokbokki after a Sunday show, medium combo: Hyeonseonine

Hyeonseonine Yongsan Main Branch is a tteokbokki and Korean snack bar on Yongridan-gil near Sinyongsan Station Exit 5 in Yongsan, Seoul. After a show in Yongsan, the writer stopped by late on a Sunday evening for the ₩25,000 Hyeonseonine Combo Set at medium spice: tteokbokki (spicy rice cakes), sundae (Korean blood sausage), mini gimbap and assorted fritters. The tteokbokki starts sweet and builds to a sharp heat, and the fritters are still crisp. For first-timers the combo set is the safest pick, and anyone who can't handle spice should choose mild.

Written Jun 16, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJung-gu, SeoulRestaurants

Bossam combo for a team dinner near Euljiro 1-ga: Miss Jokbal

Miss Jokbal Seoul Myeongdong Branch is a jokbal (braised pig's trotters) and bossam (boiled pork wraps) restaurant in Myeongdong, Jung-gu, Seoul, about a 3-minute walk from Euljiro 1-ga Station Exits 5 and 6. The writer booked ahead and came with coworkers on an early weekday evening, sharing the Combo Jokbo (jokbal and bossam platter, 66,000 won), a flying fish roe rice ball and steamed egg with beer, and named the bossam with mala sauce the best pairing of the night. The jokbal skin had a slight smell, but for a group work dinner the Miss Jokbal Seoul Myeongdong Branch combo is worth ordering.

Written Jun 17, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJongno, SeoulBars

Jonggak Station team dinner pub: so-tonic, chicken hot pot, Ari Gyegok

Ari Gyegok Jonggak (아리계곡 종각점) is a chicken-focused Korean pub about a 3-minute walk from Exit 4 of Jonggak Station in Jongno, Seoul. The writer's company holds one in every three team dinners at Ari Gyegok Jonggak, and on a Monday evening the writer went with the team lead for black sesame cucumber salad, so-tonic, the original chicken hot pot (dakjeongol) and 2 extra servings of nurungji (scorched rice). Verdict: Ari Gyegok Jonggak is a solid team dinner spot near Jonggak Station for both a first-round meal with drinks and a second round.

Written Jun 19, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJongno, SeoulBars

Hyehwa rainy-day pub: hanok view and yuja lemon makgeolli, Hyehwahwa

Hyehwahwa is a Korean pub serving Korean-style drinking food in Daehangno, near Hyehwa Station in Jongno, Seoul. On a rainy day the writer sat at a hanok-view seat and ordered the straw-fire cauldron knife-cut octopus (24,000 won), handmade crispy shrimp gangjeong (15,000 won) and seaweed-flake rice (3,000 won), with the chewy octopus and crunchy shrimp as the standouts. Hyehwahwa beat expectations as a Daehangno pub for dinner or a second round of drinks before or after a play.

Written Jun 23, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulRestaurants

Samseong Station bossam pub: early dinner, naengmyeon swap, Yangeunine

Yangeunine Samseong Station Branch (양은이네 삼성역점) is a Korean pub specializing in bossam and dongtae-tang (pollack stew) on Teheran-ro 83-gil near Samseong Station in Gangnam, Seoul. The writer and her husband had an early dinner there with the ₩48,000 Yangeunine set of original-flavor pollack stew, squid bossam and mulnaengmyeon (cold noodles in icy broth). The pollack stew was spicier than expected, so swapping the spicy bulnaengmyeon for mulnaengmyeon was a stroke of genius. Yangeunine Samseong Station Branch is a good fit for group dinners or after-work drinks near Samseong Station when you want bossam, pollack stew and naengmyeon in one meal.

Written Oct 14, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGwangjin, SeoulRestaurants

Konkuk Univ. udon restaurant: finally trying maje udon, Kosi

Kosi Konkuk University Branch is a Japanese restaurant serving house-made udon and tonkatsu near Exit 1 of Konkuk Univ. Station in Gwangjin, Seoul. Before running an errand with her husband, the writer finally tried the maje udon set (brothless mixed udon, 15,000 won), which had been sold out at another Kosi branch. She also ordered the half-and-half katsu set (16,500 won), fried chicken and a mozzarella croquette. With chewy noodles that hold the sauce and cheese-packed katsu, Kosi Konkuk University Branch is a definite place to return to.

Written Oct 12, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJongno, SeoulRestaurants

Gwanghwamun sushi before a Sejong Center show: Choe Uyeong Sushiya

Choe Uyeong Sushiya Jongno Branch is a new sushi restaurant on the first basement level of Tower8, near Jonggak Station Exit 1 in Jongno, Seoul. Before a show at Sejong Center, the writer and her husband ordered the 15-piece special sushi set, seared beef brisket sushi, mixed tempura, udon and whale sake, and packed the leftovers to go. Choe Uyeong Sushiya offers generous portions and good quality for the price, and she would return for a pre-show dinner or a Gwanghwamun date.

Written Sep 30, 2026Sponsored