Pocket Comb Roamer · 13 stories

Thin Comb, Seoul/Gyeonggi and Daegu-Gyeongbuk Beauty and Restaurants

Writes about salons, cafes, bars, restaurants, and small outings across Seoul, Gyeonggi, Daegu-Gyeongbuk, and Gangwon. · Writes about: Hair & beauty salons · Bars · Restaurants · Cafés · Things to do

PlaceJongno, SeoulRestaurants

Jongno 3-ga dumpling hot pot for a Cheonggyecheon outing: Jongga Mandu

Jongga Mandu (종가만두) is a Korean restaurant specializing in handmade dumpling hot pot on Supyo-ro in Jongno, Seoul, near Jongno 3-ga Station. A self-described dumpling lover ordered the half-and-half broth dumpling hot pot at ₩14,000 per person and ate its 8 daily-made mandu shabu-shabu style with beef and vegetables, enjoying the thin, silky wrappers and clean, mild broth. For a filling meal before or after an Ikseon-dong or Cheonggyecheon outing, Jongga Mandu's half-and-half dumpling hot pot is a great fit.

Written Jun 8, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulRestaurants

Nonhyeon patio Korean BBQ: thin pork stir-fried, then crispy, Daepae

Daepae Market Gangnam Nonhyeon Branch (대패마켙 강남논현점) is a 24-hour Korean BBQ restaurant specializing in thin-sliced pork belly on Hakdong-ro 2-gil in Gangnam, Seoul. On a nice day the blogger came for the outdoor patio vibe, stir-fried the first round of pork belly with mixed vegetables until tender, grilled the second round thin and crispy to eat with naengmyeon (cold noodles), and was happy with the wrap greens and many kinds of kimchi at the ₩2,000-per-person self-bar. At ₩4,900 per serving, Daepae Market Gangnam Nonhyeon Branch is a patio BBQ spot in Nonhyeon for eating plenty of pork belly.

Written Jun 10, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSongpa, SeoulBars

Seokchon Station izakaya for 3 friends: abalone pasta, Motokurashi

Motokurashi is a Japanese-style izakaya on the 2nd floor in Songni-dan-gil, near Seokchon Station in Jamsil, Seoul. Three friends met at Motokurashi to hand out wedding invitations and ordered abalone innards pasta (21,000 won), akakara spicy champon (23,500 won) and salmon jang, soy-marinated salmon (32,000 won). The rich abalone innards cream pasta and the salmon jang, served with 2 bowls of rice, were the standouts. Motokurashi is a Jamsil izakaya full of seafood flavor and a good pick for a get-together with friends.

Written Jun 17, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYangju, GyeonggiRestaurants

Okjeong, Yangju Korean BBQ to refuel after Tokyo: Mat Chandeul

Mat Chandeul Wang Sogeum Gui Yangju Branch is a Korean BBQ restaurant on the first floor of Bujaro Tower in Okjeong, Yangju, serving pork belly and pork neck aged for 14 days. After a tiring Tokyo trip, the writer and her husband ordered 2 servings of pork belly, 1 serving of pork neck, beef brisket doenjang stew (soybean paste stew) and stone pot rice, and the staff grilled all the meat and even made them a grilled salted shrimp combo. With nutty aged pork belly and friendly service, Mat Chandeul was a satisfying meal to get their energy back.

Written Oct 16, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJongno, SeoulRestaurants

Hyehwa Korean pub for a group of three: shared gopdori-tang, Hyehwahwa

Hyehwahwa (혜화화) is a Korean pub specializing in straw-fire cooking, on the second floor on Daemyeong-gil near Hyehwa Station in Daehangno, Seoul. Three friends ordered Hyehwahwa's straw-fire spicy gopdori-tang (spicy chicken and beef tripe stew, 26,000 won) with added kalguksu noodles, the 1++ hanwoo yukhoe aged kimchi egg gimbap (26,000 won) and the egg-loaded straw-fire pollock roe pot rice (10,000 won), with beer. One gopdori-tang was plenty for three, the dishes balanced well through to the pot rice, and Hyehwahwa is worth recommending for a group get-together.

Written Jun 29, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYangju, GyeonggiRestaurants

Yangju galbi restaurant, family dinner after wedding prep: Manpo Galbi

Manpo Galbi Yangju Main Branch (만포갈비 양주본점) is a marinated galbi (Korean BBQ ribs) restaurant on Songnang-ro in Yangju, Gyeonggi, about 10 minutes from Millak-dong in Uijeongbu. After wedding preparations wore them out, a family of 4 ate their fill on a weekday evening at Manpo Galbi: 5 servings of handmade marinated galbi, free naengmyeon (cold noodles) for each person, and side dishes that include yukhoe (beef tartare) and yukjeon (pan-fried beef). Manpo Galbi is a go-to galbi spot to take parents who care about the quality of the side dishes.

Written Jul 3, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSongpa, SeoulRestaurants

Jamsil hot pot restaurant: daechang hot pot with extra rice, Horanggul

Horanggul Bangi Branch (호랑이굴 방이점) is a daechang hot pot (beef large intestine stew) and motsunabe restaurant in the Bangi-dong food alley in Songpa, Seoul. On a chilly autumn night the writer met her older sister at Horanggul Bangi Branch for regular-spice daechang hot pot and chicken skin gyoza, and a review event added an extra portion of meat, so the daechang lasted to the end and they ordered extra rice. Horanggul Bangi Branch is a warm, filling daechang hot pot dinner in Jamsil even if you don't drink.

Written Oct 13, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJung-gu, SeoulRestaurants

Gyukatsu restaurant at Seoul Station: Friday dinner for three, Ichigyu

Ichigyu Seoul Station Branch is a gyukatsu (breaded beef cutlet) restaurant on the first basement floor of the LG Seoul Station Building, right outside Exit 10 of Seoul Station in Jung-gu, Seoul. On a Friday evening with friends, the tenderloin was sold out, so the group ordered three striploin gyukatsu at ₩19,000 each, seared them with butter on personal braziers to their preferred doneness and dipped them in wasabi, salt and the house sauce. Ichigyu Seoul Station Branch stays busy even on Friday nights in an office-lunch area, making it a good gyukatsu spot for a friends' get-together or a date.

Written Jul 1, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulBars

Gyeongui Line Forest Park bar for groups: Napolitan pasta at Koma

Koma Yeonnam is a Japanese-style izakaya in a basement off a Yeonnam-dong alley in Mapo, Seoul, near Gyeongui Line Forest Park and Exit 3 of Hongik Univ. Station. A group shared the Koma Signature Set for 2 (59,000 won: sashimi cake, charcoal-grilled tori momoyaki (chicken thigh) and matcha cheese tofu), plus tori karaage, truffle cream pasta and Napolitan pasta. Koma Yeonnam's roomy inner space makes it an easier pick for group gatherings than bar-seat-only izakayas.

Written Jun 22, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYeoju, GyeonggiRestaurants

Yeoju Korean restaurant with fiancé: peppery japchae, Nadeulmok

Nadeulmok Yeoju Ssalbap is a Korean set-meal restaurant on Sejong-ro in Yeoju, Gyeonggi, known for stone-pot rice made with Yeoju rice. After shopping at Yeoju Premium Outlets, the writer and her fiancé shared the braised cutlassfish set for two (25,000 won per person) and were pleased with a generous spread of peppery japchae, dried mountain greens (mook namul), stir-fried pork and doenjang (soybean paste) stew. Verdict: for a filling meal after outlet shopping, the braised cutlassfish set at Nadeulmok Yeoju Ssalbap is a good choice.

Written Jul 14, 2026Sponsored
PlaceNowon, SeoulHair & beauty salons

Nowon hair salon bride's high-layered cut and C-curl perm: Yeum Hair

Yeum Hair Nowon District Office branch is a hair salon on the 2nd floor of the Starbucks building next to Nowon District Office in Seoul. One month before her wedding, the writer had her thick, long straight hair lightened with a high-layered cut and a perm curled slightly more than a C-curl, plus a lesson on blow-drying it at home. Yeum Hair is a good fit for brides-to-be who want to turn heavy long hair into a light, easy-to-manage style before the big day.

Written Jul 10, 2026Sponsored
PlaceUijeongbu, GyeonggiRestaurants

Millak-dong pork BBQ buffet for a couple in the ₩30,000s: Muhan Paldo

Muhan Paldo Daepae Uijeongbu Millak Branch is an all-you-can-eat daepae (thin-sliced pork) BBQ restaurant at 394 Millak-ro in Uijeongbu, Gyeonggi, charging ₩18,900 per person for its premium Paldo Daepae. The writer went with her husband and ate Korean pork, a range of sauces, four kinds of wrap greens including perilla leaves, ramen with Ojjam, tteokbokki and slushies. Even after eating their fill, the couple paid only in the ₩30,000s at Muhan Paldo Daepae, and the writer plans to return with friends.

Written Oct 7, 2026Sponsored