Forenoon Spreader · 11 stories

Texture Before Noon

I share everyday impressions of beauty products I try. · Writes about: Beauty products · Restaurants · Hair & beauty salons · Bars

PlaceGwangju, GyeonggiRestaurants

Gwangju Korean BBQ: ₩17,900 beef rib lunch with Mom at Jeongwon Galbi

Jeongwon Galbi is a Korean BBQ restaurant on Gyeongancheon-ro in Songjeong-dong, Gwangju, Gyeonggi, whose lunch special serves 150g of beef rib meat with cold noodles (naengmyeon) or doenjang stew and rice for 17,900 won. Three days after returning to Korea from abroad, the writer visited Jeongwon Galbi with their mother and ate the beef rib with mul naengmyeon and bibim naengmyeon, finding the meat tender with no sinew and the more than 10 side dishes fresh. For anyone weighing taste and price together, the Jeongwon Galbi beef rib lunch special is a good choice for a meal with parents.

Written Jun 13, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGwangju, GyeonggiRestaurants

Gwangju kimchi jjigae restaurant, whole uncut kimchi: Oneuldo Utja

Oneuldo Utja Chowol (오늘도웃자 초월) is a Korean restaurant specializing in kimchi jjigae (kimchi stew) and duruchigi (stir-fried pork) on Sansu-ro in Chowol-eup, Gwangju, Gyeonggi. A Mokhyeon-dong resident came with family on an early weekend evening for the old-style kimchi jjigae with pot rice (12,000 won per person) and a giant egg roll (10,000 won), and enjoyed the whole uncut kimchi, pork with no gamey smell and the nurungji (scorched rice) from the pot. Despite the drive, the family keeps coming back to Oneuldo Utja Chowol regularly.

Written Jun 15, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGwangju, GyeonggiRestaurants

Offal-free spicy sundaeguk for one in Gonjiam: Old Gyeongseong

Old Gyeongseong Sundaeguk Gonjiam Branch (옛날경성순대국 곤지암점) is a sundaeguk (Korean blood sausage soup) restaurant on Docheok-ro in Gonjiam-eup, Gwangju, Gyeonggi, open from 8:10 AM with no break time. On a work trip, the writer stopped in alone for a late lunch after 2 PM and ordered the spicy sundaeguk without offal (12,000 won), a large chal-sundae (glutinous rice blood sausage, 11,000 won) and a sliced pork sampler (5,900 won); the clean, spicy broth and sweet, crunchy radish kimchi stood out. Old Gyeongseong Sundaeguk is a Gonjiam sundaeguk restaurant where even people who can't eat offal can order exactly what they want.

Written Jun 18, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeongnam, GyeonggiRestaurants

Pho without coriander in Jeongja: spicy brisket with Mom at Kkamon

Kkamon Bundang Jeongja Direct Store is a Vietnamese pho restaurant on the first floor of The Sharp Star Park in Jeongja-dong, Seongnam. Two weeks after getting back from a trip to Vietnam, the writer and her mom shared two bowls of spicy brisket pho (₩11,000 each) and the new crab nem (fried spring rolls, 2 pieces for ₩8,000). Kkamon leaves out coriander by default and its broth has only a light spice flavor, so even people who avoid Southeast Asian spices can eat comfortably. Her picky mom enjoyed the meal too, and the spicy broth with crispy crab nem made a satisfying combination.

Written Jun 23, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeongnam, GyeonggiRestaurants

Korean BBQ in Pangyo, 5 servings for 3 friends: Dwaeji Mansion

Dwaeji Mansion Pangyo Avenue France Branch is a pork belly restaurant on the first floor of Pangyo Avenue France in Seongnam, Gyeonggi, where staff grill the meat for you. Three friends booked Dwaeji Mansion for 7:30pm and started with 3 servings of Korean han-don pork belly and pork neck at 18,000 won per 150g. Because 150g felt small, they added 2 more servings, Imsil cheese grill, kimchi stew and cheonggukjang (fermented soybean stew). The portions were on the small side, but the meat quality, grilling and side dish pairings left all three friends satisfied.

Written Jun 21, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeocho, SeoulRestaurants

Gyodae snack bar late lunch before class: soupy tteokbokki, Halls

Halls Gimbap Main Branch (홀스김밥본점) is a Korean snack bar near Gyodae Station in Seocho, Seoul, specialising in gimbap (seaweed rice rolls), tteokbokki (spicy rice cakes) and dakgangjeong (sweet crispy fried chicken). It took over the former Auto Gimbap spot with the same owner and staff, and only the name changed. On a late lunch before a class in Gangnam, the writer had the Seocho-dong nurungji tteokbokki (7,500 won) and the wasabi dakgangjeong set (11,000 won), and found the tteokbokki broth as generous as a true soupy tteokbokki, with soft, tender rice cakes. Halls Gimbap Main Branch is a good fit if you want old-school, broth-heavy snack-bar tteokbokki to dip big gimbap slices into.

Written Jun 20, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGwangju, GyeonggiRestaurants

Gwangju pork bone soup brunch with Mom: Old Gyeongseong Sundaeguk

Old Gyeongseong Sundaeguk Mokhyeon Ibaejae Branch is a sundaeguk (Korean blood sausage soup) franchise restaurant on Ibaejae-ro in Mokhyeon-dong, Gwangju, Gyeonggi. Over a brunch with Mom, the writer ordered the spicy pork slices and sundae set (15,000 won) and pork bone soup (11,000 won); the two pork bones were so meaty that the meat slid off at a light touch, and the Korean-grown kimchi was delicious. Of all the Old Gyeongseong Sundaeguk branches the writer has tried, the Mokhyeon-dong branch tasted best, and a return visit is a 100% yes.

Written Jun 26, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeongnam, GyeonggiRestaurants

Yatap chicken restaurant, boneless chicken feet set: Jangjakkun

Jangjakkun Yatap Direct Branch (장작꾼 야탑직영점) is a nurungji (crispy scorched rice) whole chicken and chicken feet restaurant in the Yatap food alley in Seongnam, Gyeonggi. A spice-loving family ordered the spicy seasoned nurungji chicken and boneless chicken feet set for 39,000 won; right after they ordered, a 'sold out' sign went up, and they finished every bite of the moist breast meat and smoky, fire-charred boneless chicken feet. Jangjakkun Yatap Direct Branch is a Yatap Station chicken spot where the right move is to arrive early and order the chicken and chicken feet set.

Written Jul 7, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeongnam, GyeonggiRestaurants

Moran Station Chinese restaurant: jjajang sampler set, Yang Jjamppong

Yang Jjamppong Moran Station branch is a newly opened Chinese restaurant near Moran Station in Seongnam, Gyeonggi, serving set menus that pair jjajangmyeon (black bean noodles) or jjamppong (spicy seafood noodle soup) with tasting portions of tangsuyuk (sweet and sour pork), chili shrimp, menbosha (shrimp toast), jellyfish salad and crab soup. The writer ordered the jjajang set (13,800 won) and their mother the jjamppong set (14,800 won); with so many sides the meal was fairly filling, though the set came with only one chili shrimp and the set jjajangmyeon looked smaller than the single-dish version. Verdict: the Yang Jjamppong set suits diners who want a little of everything, while anyone after a big main or more shrimp should order à la carte or add sides.

Written Jul 13, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeongnam, GyeonggiRestaurants

Seongnam bossam restaurant: cold soy noodle family dinner, Bossam Ae

Bossam Ae Kalguksu Seongnam Eunhaeng branch is a bossam (boiled pork) and kalguksu (knife-cut noodle) restaurant in Eunhaeng-dong, Jungwon-gu, Seongnam, near the entrance to Namhansanseong. For a family dinner, the writer ordered the ₩10,000 bossam set (bossam, kalguksu and rice) and the ₩13,000 bossam kongguksu set (cold soy milk noodles). The tender pork neck bossam, the spicy kalguksu and the kimchi, refilled several times, stood out. Bossam Ae Kalguksu serves a generous meal for around ₩10,000, making it a good choice for a family meal with older relatives.

Written Jul 15, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGwangju, GyeonggiRestaurants

Chowol-eup kimchi jjigae with an extra block of tofu: Oneuldo Utja

Oneuldo Utja Chowol is a kimchi jjigae (kimchi stew) and duruchigi (stir-fried pork) restaurant on Sansu-ro in Chowol-eup, Gwangju, Gyeonggi, near Gonjiam. On this family visit the old-style kimchi jjigae with sotbap (hot pot rice) cost 12,000 won, with a block of tofu and a glass noodle portion added at 2,000 won each, served with a whole head of kimchi, big chunks of mostly lean pork, a self-serve banchan bar and scorched rice from the sotbap at the end. Oneuldo Utja Chowol works well for anyone who wants extra protein or a family meal that suits older relatives.

Written Aug 17, 2026Sponsored
You've reached the end · 11 stories