Glazed Cup Wanderer · 14 stories

The Ceramic Mug

I write about cafes I visit in Seoul and the details I notice along the way. · Writes about: Cafés · Restaurants · Stays

PlaceGwangmyeong, GyeonggiRestaurants

Fish grill in Gwangmyeong for a mackerel-loving husband: Todam

Todam Hwadok Saengseongui (토담화덕생선구이) is a clay-oven grilled fish restaurant on Anyangcheon-ro in Gwangmyeong, Gyeonggi. The writer dislikes the smell of grilling fish at home, so she took her mackerel-loving husband there for a mackerel set, a Spanish mackerel set and steamed egg with pollock roe. Both were happy with everything, from the self-bar's pumpkin porridge, watermelon and sweet potato to the doraji muchim (seasoned bellflower root). Verdict: Todam Hwadok Saengseongui is a good Gwangmyeong fish restaurant for a healthy meal with parents.

Written Oct 26, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulCafés

Solo terrace café in Yeonnam-dong: Picadamia Platter and decaf at Pip

Pip Espresso Bar is an espresso bar and dessert café on Seongmisan-ro 29-gil in Yeonnam-dong, Mapo, Seoul. Wanting coffee in the autumn breeze, the writer went to Pip Espresso Bar alone, took a terrace seat and ordered the Picadamia Platter and an iced decaf americano for 20,200 won in total. The Picadamia Platter's cream cheese, nuts, honey and biscuits made a pleasing dessert, and the decaf was surprisingly strong. Pip Espresso Bar is a good Yeonnam-dong café for enjoying rich coffee and a not-too-sweet dessert on an autumn terrace, even solo.

Written Oct 25, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGwangju, GyeonggiCafés

Gwangju forest-view café: first canelé and chestnut bread, La Cuesta

La Cuesta Gwangju is a large bakery café in Gonjiam-eup, Gwangju, Gyeonggi, near Hwadam Forest. On a weekend visit to La Cuesta Gwangju, the blogger sat at a private outdoor table that smelled of the forest and had a La Cuesta latte, an Americano, a canelé and a bread with chestnuts, and the chestnut bread was the favorite. La Cuesta Gwangju is a good café both for spending time with kids and for relaxing with a forest view.

Written Oct 24, 2026Sponsored
PlaceWonju, GangwonRestaurants

Wonju octopus restaurant: ₩50,000 jjusam, gukbap, bibim naengmyeon

Singi Arrowroot Naengmyeon & Jjukkumi (신기칡냉면&쭈꾸미) is a Korean restaurant on Yeowon-ro in Munmak-eup, Wonju, Gangwon, serving webfoot octopus (jjukkumi), naengmyeon (cold noodles) and gukbap (rice soup). On the drive home from camping, a couple ordered jjusam (spicy stir-fried octopus and pork belly) for 2, a mixed gukbap and a bibim naengmyeon for 50,000 won, enough food for 3 to 4 people. The smoky jjusam, the unsalted mixed gukbap and the homestyle bibim naengmyeon sauce all satisfied. Singi Arrowroot Naengmyeon & Jjukkumi suits families and travelers who want good value and generous portions in Munmak.

Written Oct 21, 2026Sponsored
PlaceIcheon, GyeonggiRestaurants

Icheon kodari spot before camping: octopus braise for two, Seonghone

Seonghone Wang Kodari Dongtaetang, Icheon Seolseong Branch is a kodari (semi-dried pollock) and pollock stew restaurant in Seolseong-myeon, Icheon, Gyeonggi. A couple stopped at Seonghone on the way to a campsite, ordered the flower octopus kodari braise for 99,000 won, and received a volcano egg custard and a pollock milt jiri (clear soup) on the house; the head-sized octopus was not chewy but tender like sashimi. Seonghone is a good pick for anyone who misses the braised kodari their mother used to make, though the flower octopus kodari braise was close to four servings for two people.

Written Oct 19, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYeongwol, GangwonStays

Yeongwol campsite on the Pyeongchang River: Maru Pension Camping Site

Maru Pension Camping Site (마루펜션캠핑장) is a campsite and pension on Pyeongchanggang-ro in Juchon-myeon, Yeongwol, Gangwon, with the Pyeongchang River right in front of the sites. The writer and her husband spent one autumn night at site C4, car camping alongside a tent, and were especially pleased with the guest-only fridge, the sink stocked with dish soap, the odor-free showers and the washbasins kept separate from the toilets. Verdict: Maru Pension Camping Site impressed the writer so much that she recommended it to a camping-loving friend as soon as she got home.

Written Oct 17, 2026Sponsored
PlaceHwaseong, GyeonggiRestaurants

Solo after-work tonkatsu in Dongtan: half flower katsu, Kkot Gatsu

Kkot Gatsu (꽃가츠) is a tonkatsu restaurant on Wangbaesan 3-gil in Mokdong, Dongtan, Hwaseong, Gyeonggi. On a solo stop after work, the writer ordered a cheese katsu set and a half portion of Kkot Katsu (flower katsu); the cheese katsu had a well-judged amount of pork and cheese, the crisp-outside Kkot Katsu was extremely tender, and the leftovers went home from the self-serve packing bar. For tender tonkatsu in Dongtan Mokdong, Kkot Gatsu's Kkot Katsu is a must-try.

Written Jul 6, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeongnam, GyeonggiCafés

Jeongja-dong café with low-sugar grapefruit tea: Butter & Shelter

Butter & Shelter Bundang Jeongja is a dessert café specializing in butter sands (butter cream sandwich cookies) in Jeongja-dong, Bundang-gu, Seongnam. The writer and her mom ordered a decaf iced Americano, a low-sugar grapefruit tea, a crème brûlée butter sand and a raspberry cream cheese butter sand, and they each preferred a different butter sand. With soft butter sands, a relaxed atmosphere and friendly service, Butter & Shelter Bundang Jeongja is a café worth coming back to.

Written Jul 30, 2026Sponsored
PlaceAnseong, GyeonggiCafés

Gongdo, Anseong salt bread café with in-laws at Chuseok: Chat Baker

Chat Baker Brunch & Bakery Café is a two-floor brunch and bakery café on Seodong-daero in Gongdo-eup, Anseong, Gyeonggi. Over Chuseok, the writer visited Chat Baker with her husband and in-laws, ordering 2 salt breads, a squid ink cream cheese bread and drinks such as fresh pineapple lemon juice, and the whole family raved about the salt bread. Verdict: Chat Baker is a spacious, clean salt bread café that stays comfortable even on busy days, thanks to its size and bread cases with automatic doors.

Written Oct 3, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSuwon, GyeonggiCafés

Mangpo Station café with cherry-topped Basque cheesecake: Hongrad

Hongrad Mangpo Station Branch is a vintage-style café and dessert spot on the 4th floor of a building at 1529 Deogyeong-daero, Yeongtong-gu, Suwon. The Basque cheesecake at Hongrad came topped with whipped cream and a cherry and looked lovely, and the decaf iced americano still tasted like real coffee rather than watery. Hongrad Mangpo Station Branch is a good pick for working in a vintage setting or browsing small goods over something sweet.

Written Aug 9, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGwanak, SeoulCafés

Strawberry Nutella waffle at Cansiple, a Gwanak waffle café in Seoul

Cansiple is a waffle and toast café on Nambusunhwan-ro near Seoul National University Station in Gwanak, Seoul. The order was a strawberry Nutella waffle, apple toast and an iced Americano, with the whipped cream set to "less" — Cansiple cools its waffles before serving, so the waffle stayed crisp from the first bite to the last. Cansiple suits anyone who wants a thin, crispy waffle with the cream and toppings adjusted to their own taste.

Written Sep 22, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYeongdeungpo, SeoulRestaurants

Han River bike ride lunch: pork belly bossam set at Dangsan's Cheongun

Cheongun Bossam Dangsan Branch is a bossam and Korean restaurant on Yangpyeong-ro 12-gil near Dangsan Station in Yeongdeungpo, Seoul. After finishing a Han River bike ride, the writer ordered the pork belly bossam set (ogyeop bossam jeongsik) and the squid seafood pancake: the pork belly cut had enough fat to stay moist rather than dry, and the pancake was crisp at the edges. With the full glass front thrown wide open, Cheongun Bossam feels like eating outdoors and makes a filling post-ride meal.

Written Sep 19, 2026Sponsored