Hanam Weekender · 69 stories

The Outing Journal

I share firsthand experiences of restaurants and beauty visits in Seoul and Gyeonggi. · Writes about: Restaurants · Hair & beauty salons · Cafés · Shopping · Things to do

PlaceYongin, GyeonggiRestaurants

Yongin Korean buffet after school run: 3 plates of tangsuyuk, Daedong

Daedong Korean Buffet & Dosirak (대동한식뷔페&도시락) is a Korean buffet in Yangji-eup, Cheoin-gu, Yongin, open every day from 5:30 a.m. After the kids left for school, the blogger went for breakfast with a married couple they are friends with, stayed into the switch to the lunch menu, and ate dakbokkeumtang (spicy braised chicken), tangsuyuk (sweet and sour pork), jeyuk (spicy stir-fried pork), tteok (rice cakes), noodles and toast. Daedong Korean Buffet is lightly seasoned and never too salty, making it an easy, good-value breakfast buffet.

Written Jun 4, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGwangju, GyeonggiRestaurants

Korean restaurant in Chowol, Gwangju: cockle brunch for two, Bomseol

Bomseol (봄설) is a Korean set-meal restaurant in Chowol-eup, Gwangju, Gyeonggi, that reopened under a new name after operating as Gang Minju's Deulbap. The writer and a friend arrived right at opening and ordered 2 servings of kkomak-muchim (spicy seasoned cockles). They mixed the cockles into stone-pot rice, finished with doenjang-jjigae (soybean paste stew) and nurungji (scorched rice), and took the leftover cockles home because the portion was so large. Bomseol's seasoned cockles are plump, chewy and generous, and even diners who struggle with spicy food can enjoy them.

Written Jun 5, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeongnam, GyeonggiRestaurants

Diet-friendly brunch in Jeongja: avocado chicken salad at Ritz Diner

Ritz Diner is a brunch restaurant on the roadside ground floor of Emco Heritz Complex 1 in Jeongja, Bundang (Seongnam). On a weekend lunch visit with a friend, the writer waited behind 6 groups and ordered chili rosé pasta, an avocado chicken salad and an orange & berry ade. Ritz Diner's hearty avocado chicken salad makes it a satisfying Jeongja brunch spot even when you're dieting.

Written Oct 25, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYongin, GyeonggiRestaurants

Yongin pizza and pasta spot: autumn window-seat lunch at Bonaricetta

Bonaricetta is a wood-fired pizza and pasta restaurant on the second floor of a building near Hankuk University of Foreign Studies (HUFS) in Mohyeon-eup, Cheoin-gu, Yongin. On an autumn lunch with a friend at a sunny window bar table, the writer had Bonaricetta's sweet pumpkin gorgonzola pizza, truffle cream paccheri and a grapefruit ade, and the chewy, light wood-fired dough and the gently truffle-scented short pasta stood out most. For a date or a long lunchtime chat with a friend near HUFS in Yongin, Bonaricetta's window seats are a good fit.

Written Oct 24, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSongpa, SeoulRestaurants

Tonkatsu restaurant in Jamsil for a late lunch with kids: Pine Katsu

Pine Katsu Jamsil Main Branch (파인카츠 잠실본점) is a tonkatsu restaurant on Baekjegobun-ro 21-gil near Samjeon Station in Songpa, Seoul. Over a late lunch with an elementary-school-age elder daughter, the blogger ordered tenderloin cheese katsu, cold soba with tenderloin katsu and curry udon, with dishes at about 10,000 to 15,000 won. The cheese was nutty rather than salty and the thick tenderloin stayed juicy, making Pine Katsu Jamsil Main Branch a satisfying family-meal spot with kids.

Written Jun 7, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSongpa, SeoulRestaurants

Seokchon Lake gukbap lunch on a cold day: jowl suyuk set, Boseung

Boseung Hoegwan Bangi Branch (보승회관 방이점) is a 24-hour sundaeguk (Korean blood sausage soup) and gukbap (rice soup) restaurant on Ogeum-ro in Songpa, Seoul, right in front of Seokchon Lake. On a chilly day around 1 p.m., the writer and a friend ordered two pork jowl suyuk (boiled pork) sets, one with mild milky broth and one with spicy broth, and Boseung Hoegwan was full with a waiting line. At about ₩16,000 per person for gukbap plus generous pork jowl suyuk and assorted sundae, Boseung Hoegwan Bangi Branch is a hearty lunch spot by Seokchon Lake.

Written Oct 23, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeongnam, GyeonggiRestaurants

Autumn window-seat spicy chicken hot pot in Migeum: Sugyeokok

Sugyeokok Bundang Migeum (수계옥 미금본점) is a dak hanmari (whole chicken hot pot) restaurant on Migeumil-ro 74beon-gil in Migeum, Bundang, Seongnam. On an autumn day the writer booked through Naver, sat at a window seat with friends and ate the spicy-broth dak hanmari, porridge and kalguksu set for 3 like a course, from chicken neck porridge to spicy kalguksu (knife-cut noodles). Even a writer who normally skips broth emptied 4 to 5 bowls of Sugyeokok's soup, making it a deeply satisfying, restorative meal.

Written Oct 21, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSongpa, SeoulCafés

Songpa café before golf: mugwort latte, crack salt bread at Grid Cafe

Grid Cafe is a salt bread and egg tart bakery café at 1F, 146 Macheon-ro, Songpa-gu, Seoul. Before heading out to golf with friends, the writer snacked at Grid Cafe on a mugwort latte, a Greek blueberry smoothie, crack salt bread, an egg tart and a cheese tart. On a chilly day the mugwort latte was warming, and the crisp-outside, soft-inside crack salt bread and vanilla bean-scented tarts stood out. Grid Cafe is a worthy Songpa bakery-tour stop, best visited after checking when the bread comes out.

Written Oct 22, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeongnam, GyeonggiRestaurants

Pangyo brunch restaurant: burrata basil short pasta at Andover

Andover is a brunch and Western restaurant on Baekhyeon-dong Café Street in Pangyo, Seongnam. Over an autumn lunch with a younger sibling, the writer had Andover's peach pecan ricotta salad, fresh basil short pasta topped with burrata, and the signature flounder steak with baguette, brought out one after another like a dining course. Andover is a Pangyo brunch spot worth recommending for an anniversary or a special-day date.

Written Oct 20, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSuwon, GyeonggiRestaurants

Kid-friendly shabu kalguksu restaurant in Gwonseon-gu, Suwon: Gijangok

Gijangok Shabu Kalguksu Suwon Main Branch is a shabu kalguksu (shabu-shabu with noodle soup) restaurant on Sehwa-ro in Gwonseon-gu, Suwon, serving meat, house-made black rice kalguksu (knife-cut noodles), sujebi (hand-torn dough soup) and fried rice as a course. The writer went for a late lunch with elementary school kids, ordered the clear original-broth shabu kalguksu with the Korean pork (Handon) cold bossam set, and found the free self-serve bar, large parking lot and group seating made the family meal easy. With four courses in the ₩10,000 range, Gijangok Shabu Kalguksu is a great-value spot for a family meal out.

Written Jun 10, 2026Sponsored
PlaceUijeongbu, GyeonggiRestaurants

Handmade pork galbi lunch near Uijeongbu Station: Manpo Galbi

Manpo Galbi Uijeongbu Main Branch is a charcoal-grilled handmade pork galbi restaurant on Beomgol-ro near Uijeongbu Station in Gyeonggi. On an errand day in Uijeongbu, the writer ordered 2 servings of handmade marinated pork galbi and 1 bowl of rice for lunch, and Manpo Galbi added 2 bowls of mul naengmyeon (Hamheung-style cold noodles) and yukhoe (Korean beef tartare) on the house. With a sweet-salty marinade, tender meat and free naengmyeon, Manpo Galbi made for a great-value lunch.

Written Jun 10, 2026Sponsored
PlaceIcheon, GyeonggiRestaurants

Icheon Korean BBQ weekday family dinner: 9 sides & galbi, Neul Gogi

Neul Gogi Jip Icheon Main Branch (늘고기집 이천본점) is a 120-seat charcoal-grill Korean BBQ restaurant on Gyeongchung-daero in Icheon, Gyeonggi. For a weekday family dinner, the writer ordered 2 servings of marinated pork galbi, yellow rice pot rice for 3, tendon doenjang stew and a bomb steamed egg, and enjoyed 9+ neat side dishes in the style of a Korean set meal (hanjeongsik), staff grilling the galbi, and an after-meal ice cream and coffee space. For an easy family dinner with kids in Icheon, Neul Gogi Jip Icheon Main Branch is a great fit.

Written Jun 12, 2026Sponsored