Spine Skin Keeper · 18 stories

Spines and Skincare

I write about books I pick up and beauty products I try in everyday routines. · Writes about: Beauty products · Books & stationery · Restaurants · Shopping · Cafés · Bars

PlaceSeongdong, SeoulRestaurants

Seongsu tonkatsu for two: owner's asparagus katsu combo at Katsuryu

Katsuryu is a tonkatsu (breaded pork cutlet) restaurant on the 1.5th floor of a building on Sangwon 1-gil in Seongsu-dong, Seoul, near Exit 7 of Ttukseom Station. Instead of three full sets, a couple followed the owner's advice and ordered the loin and fillet katsu set (17,000 won), the chicken sasami and asparagus katsu set (15,000 won) and black tiger shrimp fry (8,000 won), and both the portions and the flavor were satisfying. For two people who want to try several kinds of katsu in Seongsu, the owner's recommended combo at Katsuryu is a great-value choice.

Written Oct 28, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSongpa, SeoulBars

Bangi-dong bar for pork cutlet jjamppong, brisket rice bowls: Wareureu

Wareureu Mansion Bangi Branch (와르르맨숀 방이점) is a bar in the Bangi-dong food alley in Songpa, Seoul, open every day from 2pm. The writer and her husband ordered the 1++ Hanwoo beef tartare and brisket wraps (₩29,900) and the pork cutlet jjamppong (spicy seafood noodle soup, ₩20,900); the fresh tartare and brisket piled on self-serve rice balls made a good pairing, but the pork cutlet jjamppong, ordered with no expectations, won them over with its spicy broth and chewy noodles. For day drinking through to a second round in one spot near Jamsil, the pork cutlet jjamppong at Wareureu Mansion Bangi Branch is a must-try.

Written Oct 27, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJung-gu, SeoulRestaurants

Chinese restaurant at City Hall for an out-of-town friend: Huhugwan

Huhugwan (후후관) is a Chinese restaurant on the 2nd floor right in front of City Hall Station, on Seosomun-ro in Jung-gu, Seoul. After a satisfying first visit, the writer brought back a friend visiting from far away for beef noodles (13,000 won), mapo tofu rice (12,000 won) and garlic scape fried rice (11,000 won) with Tsingtao beer, and the friend happily ate every bite. Verdict: even the dishes the writer had never tried were consistently good in taste and portion, making Huhugwan a reliable Chinese restaurant at City Hall Station.

Written Oct 24, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGwangjin, SeoulRestaurants

Jayang-dong chicken shop, ₩18,000 Han River takeout for 3: Mr. Kim's

Mr. Kim's Chicken Jayang Market Branch is a family-run dakgangjeong (sweet, sticky fried chicken bites) shop with 15 years of history inside Jayang Traditional Market in Gwangjin, Seoul. Three people shared one fried chicken and a medium mildly spicy yangnyeom dakgangjeong, bought to go for ₩18,000 and eaten by the Han River; the portions were generous and the fried chicken was crispy without being greasy. For a first visit to Mr. Kim's Chicken, ordering the fried chicken and dakgangjeong together is the most satisfying choice.

Written Oct 24, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGwangjin, SeoulBars

Gunja jazz bar for a solo Sunday and pastry pizza: Kick Ass Jazz Club

Kick Ass Jazz Club is a cocktail and jazz bar on Neungdong-ro in Gwangjin, Seoul, about a 5-minute walk from Gunja Station. The writer went alone for a second round on a Sunday with no live show and no cover charge, ordering the pastry pizza (23,000 won), the double dog plate (18,000 won) and a Kick Ass highball (9,000 won). The portions were far bigger and tastier than typical cocktail bar snacks. Kick Ass Jazz Club is easy to enjoy even on your first time drinking solo, and the writer would 100% go back.

Written Jun 8, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGwangjin, SeoulBars

Cocktail bar in Gunja, Seoul for Liar game with strangers: Woowoo

Woowoo Seoul Branch 2 is a solo-drinking bar for people in their 20s and 30s near Gunja Station in Gwangjin, Seoul, where guests sit around the bar table playing Liar game and chess together. The writer went alone for a second round on a Sunday night, got hooked on Liar game on the first try, and ordered the signature Woowoo cocktail (16,000 won) twice. Woowoo is a Gunja cocktail bar for anyone who wants easy company with strangers rather than a quiet drink alone.

Written Jun 13, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGwangjin, SeoulRestaurants

Gunja Korean pub: beef hangover soup and candle-warmed suyuk, Dimideun

Dimideun Gunja is a Korean restaurant specializing in gukbap (soup with rice) and suyuk (boiled pork), located between Gunja Station and Junggok-dong in Gwangjin, Seoul. After work, the writer and her husband shared spicy beef hangover soup (₩32,000) and a half plate of Korean pork belly suyuk (₩13,000) kept warm over a candle, with a bottle of beer. The deep but not overpowering broth, moist suyuk and tasty kkakdugi (cubed radish kimchi) all satisfied. The spicy beef hangover soup alone is reason enough to return to Dimideun Gunja for an evening drink.

Written Oct 19, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJongno, SeoulRestaurants

Korean dinner and drinks in Jonggak: ₩40,000 octopus set, Bonghyejane

Bonghyejane Jubang Jongno Tower branch (봉혜자네주방 종로타워점) is a Korean restaurant on basement level 2 of Jongno Tower, right in front of Exit 3-1 of Jonggak Station in Seoul. The writer went for after-work drinks with a manager from the office and ordered the spicy jjukkumi (webfoot octopus) stir-fry set for 40,000 won, which arrived course by course: jjukkumi stir-fry and jjolmyeon (chewy spicy noodles), then sweet pumpkin porridge, acorn jelly and rice, pork belly bossam and fried flounder. The Bonghyejane Jubang jjukkumi set is a smart pick for Jonggak office workers who want drinking snacks and dinner in one order.

Written Oct 19, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeongdong, SeoulRestaurants

Wangsimni Korean pub: 18,000 won dakbokkeumtang for three, egg toast

Hanyang Saram Moeuneungot is a newly opened gopdoritang (chicken and tripe stew) and dakbokkeumtang (spicy braised chicken) pub near Wangsimni Station in Seongdong, Seoul. The writer planned to order a medium dakbokkeumtang (29,000 won) but switched to the small (18,000 won) on staff advice, added shrimp minari jeon and sweet egg toast, and the small was generous enough for three people. For two diners at Hanyang Saram Moeuneungot, order the small dakbokkeumtang and add sides.

Written Jun 18, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGwangjin, SeoulRestaurants

Weekend couple's Korean BBQ in Jayang-dong: 200g pork belly, Ssamchae

Ssamchae Sotttukkeong Samgyeopsal (쌈채솥뚜껑삼겹살) is an iron-lid pork belly Korean BBQ restaurant behind Hyemin Hospital in Jayang-dong, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul. On a weekend, the writer and her husband ordered 2 servings of pork belly (200g per serving) and mul naengmyeon (cold noodles in broth). Free wrap greens, mushrooms, eggplant and sweet pumpkin came with the meal, followed by free minari (water dropwort) shabu kalguksu after the meat. With draft beer at ₩1,900 and soju or bottled beer at ₩2,900, Ssamchae Sotttukkeong Samgyeopsal is a great-value Jayang-dong pork belly spot worth a return visit.

Written Jun 29, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJung-gu, SeoulRestaurants

Cheonggyecheon snack bar: jjolmyeon tteokbokki for two, Hyeonseoni-ne

Hyeonseoni-ne Cheonggye Instant Branch (현선이네 청계즉석점) is an old-school instant tteokbokki snack bar on Namdaemun-ro in Jung-gu, Seoul, between Cheonggyecheon Stream, Euljiro and Myeongdong. After work, the writer and her husband cooked instant tteokbokki for two (22,000 won) at the table; the portion looked small at first but grew generous as it simmered, and the jjolmyeon (chewy noodles) soaked in the sweet-spicy sauce and the soft wheat rice cakes stood out. At 11,000 won per person, Hyeonseoni-ne seemed pricey at first, but with the portion, the ingredients and a free rice ball for a receipt review, it was a satisfying dinner.

Written Jun 29, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJongno, SeoulRestaurants

Jonggak noodle shop summer lunch: cold knife-cut noodles, Cheonghwa

Cheonghwa Uyuk Dosakmyeon (청화 우육도삭면) is a beef noodle and knife-cut noodle restaurant at 19 Jongno, Jongno-gu, Seoul, between Jonggak Station and Gwanghwamun. On a hot-day revisit, the writer skipped the hot broth and ordered cold youpo knife-cut noodles (oil-splashed noodles, 11,000 won), crystal dumplings with shrimp and meat (9,800 won) and tiger stir-fry rice (10,800 won), then took the leftovers home for the next day's lunch. The cold youpo knife-cut noodles were the top pick, and with all three dishes around 10,000 won, Cheonghwa Uyuk Dosakmyeon is a solid choice for a solo or office lunch in Jongno.

Written Jul 6, 2026Sponsored