Blue Mirror Traveler · 10 stories

Blue Compact, Seoul, Gangwon, Jeju and Busan/Gyeongnam

Notes on beauty counters, cafes, bars, and small shops around Seoul, Gangwon, Jeju, and Busan/Gyeongnam. · Writes about: Hair & beauty salons · Restaurants · Shopping · Cafés · Bars

PlaceMapo, SeoulCafés

Hongdae rooftop exhibition café, non-coffee ades: Naemyeonui Balgyeon

Naemyeonui Balgyeon (내면의 발견) is a large 3-story café in Seogyo-dong, Mapo, Seoul, near Hongdae and Mangwon Station, with a minimalist space built around the concept of "emptying, filling, pausing and immersing." Having already had coffee, the writer ordered a Lychee Orange Fizz and an Elderflower Hibiscus Tea Ade at Naemyeonui Balgyeon, then toured the ground-floor exhibit and terrace, the second-floor gathering space and the third-floor rooftop exhibition. Naemyeonui Balgyeon is a satisfying Hongdae date spot for non-coffee drinks paired with a rooftop exhibition.

Written Jun 7, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulRestaurants

Spicy beef broth shabu-shabu and prime chuck flap in Gongdeok: Okjoban

Okjoban Gongdeok Station Branch is a shabu-shabu and sukiyaki restaurant on the 1st floor of Hyosung Harrington Square Building B, by Gongdeok Station in Mapo, Seoul. The writer ordered the spicy beef broth shabu-shabu with the prime chuck flap set, refilled the vegetables twice, and finished with kalguksu (knife-cut noodles) and a glass of hongcho (red vinegar drink). With a broth that is zesty without being too spicy and vegetable refills that stay generous, Okjoban Gongdeok Station Branch is worth recommending for a date or group meal.

Written Jun 7, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulHair & beauty salons

Hongdae makeup salon, muted pink bouquet catcher look: Today Makeup

Today Makeup (오늘메이크업) is a hair and makeup salon on the 2nd floor of a building between Hongdae and Hapjeong in Mapo, Seoul. On her third visit to Today Makeup, the writer, who was catching the bouquet at a friend's wedding, got a soft muted pink makeup look and S-curl waves styled into a thorn-bun half-up, and both the hair and makeup held for over 12 hours. For an elegant, photogenic bouquet catcher look, book Today Makeup and allow at least 1 hour 40 minutes.

Written Jun 12, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulRestaurants

Daeheung burger joint: Chipotle Spicy and P.B.B at Bored & Hungry

Bored & Hungry Mapo is an American-style handmade burger restaurant near Exit 3 of Daeheung Station and the Gyeongui Line Forest Park in Mapo, Seoul. Two grad-school friends ordered the Chipotle Spicy, the Peanut Bacon P.B.B, corn ribs and a Zero Cola for ₩36,200 in total, and the crisp-edged, juicy patties and seasoned corn ribs stood out. Verdict: Bored & Hungry Mapo is worth a visit for anyone who loves authentic American-style burgers, and the corn ribs are worth adding.

Written Jun 23, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJongno, SeoulRestaurants

Gwanghwamun sushi restaurant, flounder-salmon set: Elephant Sushi

Elephant Sushi Gwanghwamun is a sushi restaurant on basement level 1 of KT Gwanghwamun Building West in Jongno, Seoul. For lunch the writer ordered the Elephant B set (₩28,000), the flounder and salmon half-and-half set and potato croquettes, and the glossy aged sushi, crispy croquettes and cold soba were all satisfying. Elephant Sushi Gwanghwamun suits diners who want a range of fish with the B set, and those who avoid certain fish with the flounder and salmon half-and-half set.

Written Jun 26, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGwangjin, SeoulCafés

Konkuk Univ. café with in-store ripened mango bingsu: Café Ohkam

Café Ohkam (카페 오캄) is a large dessert café on floors 1 to 3 near Konkuk Univ. Station in Gwangjin, Seoul. On a rainy day the writer spotted boxes of fresh mangoes ripening in a corner of Café Ohkam and ordered the fresh mango bingsu (shaved ice dessert, ₩23,000), topped with a whole mango over milk ice. With sweet, non-sour mango and finely shaved milk ice, Café Ohkam's fresh mango bingsu is a great mango bingsu near Konkuk Univ. to share between two.

Written Jul 9, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJung-gu, SeoulShopping

Hoehyeon optician: same-day birthday gift glasses, 007 Optical

007 Optical (007안경원) is an optician on the ground floor of Sangdong Church on Namdaemun-ro, Jung-gu, Seoul, in Namdaemun Market in front of Hoehyeon Station on Line 4. The writer went to 007 Optical after work, 30 minutes before closing, to buy new glasses as a birthday gift for a friend whose glasses were over 5 years old, and everything from the free eye exam to the finished blue-light-blocking glasses took 30 minutes. With fixed-price sticker frames from ₩30,000 to the ₩70,000 range, 007 Optical left both the gift giver and the birthday friend happy.

Written Jul 22, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJung-gu, SeoulRestaurants

Seoul Station sandwich shop's matcha tofu baguette, reheated: Dance

Dance Dance Dance Seoul Station is a baguette sandwich and brunch shop on basement level 3 of Grand Central at Seoul Station in Jung-gu, Seoul. The writer took out a chicken breast sandwich (11,900 won) and a matcha tofu cream cheese baguette (9,400 won), kept the matcha baguette in the fridge, then reheated it in an air fryer for 5 minutes. Verdict: the Dance Dance Dance baguette stays crisp even reheated, and the writer, who paid for part of the order personally, was happy with it.

Written Jul 22, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGwangjin, SeoulBars

Highball set and mac & cheese at a Gunja jazz bar: Kick Ass Jazz Club

Kick Ass Jazz Club is a jazz bar near Gunja Station in Gwangjin, Seoul, playing LPs and live jazz. Three grad school friends skipped the busy Friday and Saturday nights, booked a 7:30 p.m. slot on Catch Table, and sat in the second row from the stage for Lee Yunjae & Friends while sharing the Kick Ass Highball set with a fruit and cheese plate and bacon mac and cheese. With welcome drinks, free popcorn refills and high-quality live music, Kick Ass Jazz Club is worth booking ahead.

Written Jul 31, 2026Partially sponsored
PlaceJongno, SeoulRestaurants

Dongdaemun chicken hot pot with self-serve cucumber soup bar: Sunhuine

Sunhuine Bindaetteok Dak Hanmari Dongdaemun is a dak hanmari (whole chicken hot pot) and bindaetteok (mung bean pancake) restaurant in Dongdaemun Market, Jongno-gu, Seoul. Two friends had the 33,000-won chicken hot pot with a seafood bindaetteok added for lunch, refilled side dishes and cold cucumber soup at the self-serve bar, then took the leftover pancake home. With a wide, airy dining room and baby chairs, Sunhuine Bindaetteok works just as well for group and family meals.

Written Aug 13, 2026Sponsored
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