Soyeon Baran · 10 stories

Corner Pouch, Seoul-Daegu/Gyeongbuk-Busan/Gyeongnam

Notes on bars, cafes, shopping and beauty spots across Seoul, Daegu/Gyeongbuk and Busan/Gyeongnam. · Writes about: Bars · Restaurants · Cafés · Hair & beauty salons · Shopping · Things to do

PlaceSeongdong, SeoulBars

Birdsong valley pub in Wangsimni: cheese potato jeon, Ari Gyegok

Ari Gyegok Wangsimni Hanyang University Branch is a traditional Korean pub near Wangsimni Station in Seoul, decorated as a valley with natural stone, wood and the sound of birdsong. On an early weekday evening the writer ordered the signature original chicken hot pot with nurungji (scorched rice, +3,000 won), chicken neck stir-fried with shishito peppers, and the new bubbling cheese potato jeon (pancake), and was happy with all three. Ari Gyegok in Wangsimni is a good pick when you want a restorative meal and a drink in a valley-like setting.

Written Apr 23, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeongdong, SeoulRestaurants

Seongsu lamb skewers, leanest cut and egg fried rice: Hwaro Yangmi

Hwaro Yangmi (화로양미) is a lamb and Chinese restaurant near Exit 4 of Ttukseom Station in Seongdong-gu, Seoul. Dining with a companion who had to avoid greasy food, the blogger ordered the chilled lamb skewers that Hwaro Yangmi's staff recommended as the leanest cut (8 skewers, 200g, ₩17,000), grilled them on a tabletop brazier, dipped them in four seasonings and finished with egg fried rice. With chilled lamb that has no gamey smell and seating for groups, Hwaro Yangmi is a good place in Seongsu and Ttukseom for lamb skewers without a wait.

Written Apr 29, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeongdong, SeoulRestaurants

Seoulsup blind date restaurant for potato gnocchi: Fleurs sur la route

Fleurs sur la route is a European vintage-style restaurant on Seoulsup 2-gil in Seongdong-gu, Seoul. On a chilly day after rain, the writer took a window seat and ordered the spinach and potato gnocchi and the signature Fleurs sur la route pizza (22,000 won); the gnocchi was chewy and soft, and the bulgogi-style pizza, decorated like flowers, was just as satisfying. Fleurs sur la route is a great pick for a date, a blind date or brunch with friends, followed by a walk in Seoulsup.

Written May 7, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSuseong, DaeguCafés

Family bakery café near Gosan Station, Daegu: 4 generations at Aroke

Aroke Daegu Sigi Branch is a bakery café with Korean-style interiors in Suseong, Daegu, near Gosan Station. Four generations of one family visited Aroke over a holiday and shared kouign-amann, pain au chocolat, an americano with a choice of bean acidity, rooibos tea and the new spring lavender special lemonade, and everyone from the grandparents to the children praised the space. Aroke Sigi Branch is a family café near Gosan Station that gets both the bread and the atmosphere right.

Written May 11, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYongsan, SeoulRestaurants

Shabu restaurant near Seoul Station for non-spicy eaters: Deungchon

Deungchon Shabu Kalguksu Seoul Station branch is a mushroom kalguksu (knife-cut noodle soup) shabu-shabu restaurant on the 1st floor of Gateway Tower, Huam-ro, Yongsan, Seoul, with parking in the building. For a late weekend lunch, the blogger ordered 2 servings of clear mushroom kalguksu and one plate of beef, then ate 4 courses: minari (water parsley) and oyster mushroom shabu, kalguksu noodles and self-made porridge. If you drive to Seoul Station and want an unhurried shabu-shabu meal, Deungchon Shabu Kalguksu Seoul Station branch is a dependable choice.

Written May 13, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeongdong, SeoulShopping

Child's drawing phone case shop in Seongsu: sky photo MagSafe, Casedby

Casedby Seongsu is a custom MagSafe phone case shop at 2 Seongsui-ro 12-gil in Seongsu-dong, Seoul, within walking distance of Seongsu Station. On a visit with a son, the blogger scanned the kiosk QR code to design on their own phone, placed the son's hand-drawn character on a sky photo taken while traveling, and used AI image extension to fill in the clouds. Casedby Seongsu is a hands-on Seongsu stop where families can turn photos and drawings into a one-of-a-kind case and take it home the same day.

Written May 21, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeongdong, SeoulRestaurants

Pho restaurant in Seongsu, Seoul for bun bo xao, no wait: Noi Seongsu

Noi Seongsu (노이 성수점) is a Vietnamese-style rice noodle restaurant on Seongsui-ro 12-gil in Seongsu, Seoul. The writer, a repeat visitor, ordered bun bo xao (Vietnamese beef noodle salad), chicken pho and buffalo hot wings. The writer enjoyed the sweet-and-sour, vegetable-packed bun bo xao and the chicken pho with plenty of chicken breast. Noi Seongsu is a hidden gem in Seongsu for pho in a pleasant setting, with no wait even on weekends.

Written May 22, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJung-gu, SeoulRestaurants

Sindang chicken restaurant for summer: cold sliced chicken, Gyeryugwan

Gyeryugwan (계류관) is a chicken restaurant inside Sindang Jungang Market in Jung-gu, Seoul, that roasts chicken over oak firewood. After several visits, the blogger paired the 22,000 won oak-fired chicken with neungi mushrooms with chicken breast cartilage meatballs, mul makguksu (buckwheat noodles in cold broth) and a kettle of makgeolli, then added cold chicken pyeonyuk (sliced boiled chicken) for 10,000 won for the first time. Gyeryugwan is a great Sindang-dong chicken spot for a summer stamina meal over makgeolli.

Written Jun 10, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeongdong, SeoulBars

Haengdang Market bar with soy braised chicken for 3: Rainbow Pocha

Rainbow Pocha is a Korean pocha-style pub on the 2nd floor near Haengdang Market and Hanyang University in Seongdong, Seoul. Three friends ordered tofu kimchi, whole-chicken udon and soy braised chicken (ganjang jjimdak) in a cast-iron pot, and the aged, mukeunji-style kimchi and the chicken's clean, gamey-free flavor stood out. With a wide menu and late hours, Rainbow Pocha is an easy pick for a second round in Haengdang.

Written Jun 14, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeongdong, SeoulHair & beauty salons

Middle-school boy's scissor cut at Uahan Meori, a Wangsimni hair salon

Uahan Meori Wangsimni Centras Branch (우아한머리 왕십리센트라스점) is a hair salon in the Wangsimni Centras complex near Sangwangsimni Station in Seongdong, Seoul. After exams and a busy schedule left her middle-school son's semi-curly hair long and overgrown, a mom booked a weekday evening visit on Naver. Uahan Meori cut the hair with scissors only, no clippers, and finished with a shampoo, blow-dry and wax. For a teen boy's cut where the stylist listens to the style he wants, Uahan Meori Wangsimni Centras Branch was a satisfying choice.

Written Jul 19, 2026Sponsored
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