Loose Stool at the Bar, Nationwide Eats and Beauty

Mid-century Hapjeong café for maple-syrup fruit soufflé: Petrico

Petrico is a soufflé dessert café on Jandari-ro in Mapo, Seoul, near Hapjeong Station. The writer ordered Petrico's fruit soufflé (18.0) and a lemon Earl Grey tea (7.0), poured maple syrup over the soufflé, and took note of the mid-century mix of wood and metal chairs plus thoughtful touches like seat cushions and blankets. Even someone who isn't fond of bananas happily finished every bite, so Petrico near Hapjeong Station suits anyone looking for a soufflé that melts like a cloud.

Written Oct 7, 2026Sponsored

PlacePaju, GyeonggiCafés

Paju bakery noon sellouts, flan and fig baguette: Boulangerie Tan

Boulangerie Tan Unjeong Main Branch is a takeout-only bakery on the ground floor of Farm Tower in Dongpae-dong, Paju, Gyeonggi, that says it bakes with natural sourdough starter, organic and French flour, and Lescure AOP butter. Just after noon some breads at Boulangerie Tan were already sold out, but a takeout of four held up: flan (5,600 won), milk cream salt bread (4,200 won), hazelnut choco cornet pie (4,200 won) and fig cream cheese baguette (5,900 won). Boulangerie Tan Unjeong Main Branch is a Paju Unjeong bakery with quality ingredients that is worth the queue.

Written Oct 6, 2026Sponsored

PlaceYongsan, SeoulRestaurants

Yongsan instant tteokbokki, ₩22,000 all-in summer set: Hyeonseonine

Hyeonseonine Yongsan Main Branch (현선이네 용산본점) is an instant tteokbokki (spicy rice cakes cooked at your table) restaurant on Yongridan-gil in Yongsan, Seoul, tucked in a narrow alley with a yellow chimney, a 3-minute walk from Sinyongsan Station Exits 5 and 6. On a midsummer weekday, the ₩22,000 instant tteokbokki for two came with rice cakes, fish cakes, 2 eggs, vegetables, ramyeon, jjolmyeon (chewy noodles) and 4 yakimandu (fried dumplings) at no extra charge, plus fish cake broth. Hyeonseonine will make you sweat, but the wheat rice cakes, jjolmyeon and closing fried rice add up to a great-value meal.

Written Aug 5, 2026Sponsored