Hanam Touch Tester · 73 stories

The Texture Checklist

I write about beauty products I try and the textures and finishes I notice. · Writes about: Beauty products · Restaurants · Things to do · Hair & beauty salons · Cafés · Bars · Shopping

PlaceGwangjin, SeoulCafés

Konkuk Univ. house-turned café: decaf latte & salt financier, Ohkam

Café Ohkam is a dessert café in a half-renovated house in a college-town alley near Konkuk Univ. Station in Gwangjin, Seoul, with seating from the first floor up to the rooftop. A writer in their 40s stopped by Café Ohkam after dinner on a weekend evening for a decaf café latte (6,800 won), a chocolate financier (3,300 won) and a fresh mango cake (9,500 won), and also looked around the photos of the café cat and the rooftop seats. The tables at Café Ohkam are close together, but the handmade desserts and cute, cozy feel make it a satisfying spot for an after-dinner tea.

Written May 25, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGoyang, GyeonggiCafés

Ilsan bakery for Mom's mango fresh cream birthday cake: Tomoru Bakery

Tomoru Bakery Ilsan is a bakery café in Wicity, Siksa-dong, Ilsandong-gu, Goyang, open 09:00–21:00 every day of the year with no break time. For Mom's birthday party, the writer picked up a No. 1 size Tomoru Bakery mango cake, made with dairy fresh cream and generously topped with mango, for 45,000 won, and was pleased with both the cream quality and the amount of mango. Verdict: Tomoru Bakery Ilsan doesn't skimp on ingredients, whether you're buying cakes or bread.

Written May 24, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangdong, SeoulRestaurants

Corkage-free chicken galbi BBQ in Cheonho with my parents: Ondogye

Ondogye is a charcoal-grilled chicken galbi (marinated grilled chicken) restaurant, a 2-minute walk from Exit 6 of Cheonho Station in Gangdong, Seoul. On a substitute holiday evening, the writer and their parents ordered 3 servings of garlic salt chicken galbi, 1 serving of spicy marinated chicken galbi and a cheese egg custard, and brought their own wine at no corkage charge; the chicken had no gamey smell and the ingredients tasted clean. Ondogye is worth recommending near Cheonho Rodeo Street if you want grilled chicken that wins on ingredients rather than heavy sauce.

Written May 28, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangseo, SeoulRestaurants

Hwagok sashimi spot: bone-in flounder & corn cheese, Eochongye 1beonji

Eochongye 1beonji (어촌계1번지) is a sashimi restaurant in Hwagok, Gangseo-gu, Seoul, serving East Coast fish and run by a chef who trained at a Japanese restaurant. The writer visited on a day when rare live squid had come in and ordered the seasonal flounder sekkoshi (thinly sliced bone-in sashimi, small) for ₩42,000 and corn cheese for ₩8,000. The portion looked like 400–500g of fish, with side dishes such as seaweed soup and salad and 4–5 dipping sauces. For generous portions and a clean dining room in Hwagok, Eochongye 1beonji is worth a weekday visit.

Written Jun 1, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeongdong, SeoulCafés

Seongsu Greek yogurt café: soy tub & perilla topping, Lazy Yogurt

Lazy Yogurt Seongsu is a dessert café in Seongsu-dong, Seoul, serving thick Greek yogurt and Greek in Hong Kong, a yangzhi ganlu (Hong Kong mango-pomelo dessert) made with mango and grapefruit. The writer took home a 300g soy-flavor tub and a 300g Oreo tub, discounted for Family Month, for a total in the 20,000-won range, then topped them at home with fruit, nuts and perilla seeds. For a cool, filling summer snack instead of ice cream, Lazy Yogurt Seongsu is a good choice.

Written May 31, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGoyang, GyeonggiRestaurants

Goyang Korean restaurant for skate bossam dinner: Hwajeong Bossam

Hwajeong Bossam Jjukkumi Kalguksu is a Korean restaurant near Exit 2 of Hwajeong Station in Goyang, Gyeonggi, serving bossam (boiled pork wraps), stir-fried jjukkumi (webfoot octopus) and kalguksu (knife-cut noodle soup). The writer went at 5 p.m. with a middle-school friend, ordered the hongeo (skate) bossam for 55,000 won and added the free jjukkumi stir-fry, and found the skate fresh, the pork tender and the jjukkumi smoky. Hwajeong Bossam Jjukkumi Kalguksu serves generous portions for groups, and its 13,000 won single-serving jjukkumi stir-fry makes it easy to eat there alone.

Written Jun 3, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJung-gu, SeoulRestaurants

Korean restaurant near Myeongdong Station: quiet 4pm solo meal, Baekok

Baekok Myeongdong (백옥 명동) is a pork gomtang (clear pork soup) and Korean restaurant in an alley near Exit 6 of Myeongdong Station in Seoul. Because Baekok Myeongdong has no break time, the writer came alone around 4pm, when it was quiet, and ate bulkkorangji (spicy pork tail, ₩13,000), naengjeyuk (cold sliced pork, ₩10,000) and cabbage dumplings wrapped in cabbage leaves (₩8,000 for 4), then took cabbage dumplings home to go. Baekok Myeongdong is an easy Korean restaurant for eating alone in Myeongdong, and one the writer returns to at least every two months.

Written Jun 5, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeocho, SeoulCafés

Naebang café: acacia honey nut pie mix box, Hodukkakki Brothers

Hodukkakki Brothers Bangbae branch is a takeout dessert café specializing in nut pies, near Exit 7 of Naebang Station in Seocho, Seoul. The writer filled a 35,900-won mix box with milk cream, cream cheese, macadamia, walnut and pecan pies, and the nutty sweetness from acacia honey instead of sugar won over even the writer's mother, who doesn't usually enjoy sweets. Hodukkakki Brothers is a Naebang Station dessert shop worth a regular trip by public transport.

Written Jun 4, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJung-gu, SeoulShopping

Dongdaemun recycled vintage store: ₩49,000 Guess jumpsuit, Viva Trade

Viva Trade Eulji Dundaun Dongdaemun Branch is a large recycled vintage clothing store on the 5th floor of a building near Exit 12 of Dongdaemun History & Culture Park Station in Jung-gu, Seoul. The writer browsed everything from summer T-shirts to fall and winter coats, tried pieces on in the fitting room, and bought a short-sleeve, gray-denim American Guess jumpsuit in Korean size 66 for ₩49,000. Viva Trade Eulji Dundaun is worth revisiting every season to pick up overseas-brand clothes at low prices.

Written Jun 6, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulRestaurants

Mangwon Market salad takeout: salmon salad & tofu inari, Green & Fini

Green & Fini Mangwon is a salad and poke restaurant near Exit 2 of Mangwon Station and Mangwon Market in Mapo, Seoul. The writer ordered a salmon salad (₩14,900) with boiled shrimp and olive toppings, plus tofu inari (sweet fried tofu pockets stuffed with rice), to take home, and was impressed by the fresh salmon, the generous portion and the packaging that held up without spilling. For a filling, lightly seasoned salad meal near Mangwon Station, Green & Fini Mangwon is a good choice.

Written Jun 10, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulBars

Hapjeong makgeolli bar for Hanwoo yukhoe and uni: Dambaek Jujeom

Dambaek Jujeom (담백주점) is a new Korean pub in an alley between Sangsu Station and Hapjeong in Mapo, Seoul. On a Sunday visit, the signature Hanwoo yukhoe (Korean beef tartare) with uni (28,000 won), Gyeongju rice makgeolli (8,000 won) and a Chinese-style cucumber salad (6,000 won) stood out for their fresh ingredients and seasoning that is never too salty, matched by the owner's no-frills manner and a house motto of sincerity, honesty and humility. Dambaek Jujeom is worth a return visit whenever you want light, clean-tasting snacks with a glass of makgeolli.

Written Jun 12, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJungnang, SeoulBars

Sangbong wine bar for pollock roe avocado and cinnamon beer: Jjaerof

Jjaerof is a wine bar on the second floor right by Exit 3 of Sangbong Station in Jungnang, Seoul. On a Sunday around 5 p.m., with a projector playing visuals in a private-feeling room, the writer had three cheeses (7,000 won), pollock roe avocado with cucumber (17,000 won) and a Kozel cinnamon beer (8,000 won). Jjaerof is a Sangbong neighborhood bar where you get both atmosphere and fusion bar snacks for under 50,000 won.

Written Jun 15, 2026Sponsored