Tin Spoon Keeper · 11 stories

The Tin Spoon

Writes about small restaurant finds and the meals worth returning for. · Writes about: Restaurants · Cafés · Hair & beauty salons · Shopping

PlaceGoyang, GyeonggiCafés

Goyang bakery for neighborhood tea time: cornet pies, Boulangerie Tan

Boulangerie Tan, Hyundai Department Store KINTEX is a European-style baguette sandwich bakery on basement level 1 (B1) of Hyundai Department Store KINTEX in Goyang, Gyeonggi. On the recommendation of neighborhood friends, the writer stopped by Boulangerie Tan while shopping, took home vanilla and pistachio cornet pies and several other breads, and shared them over coffee with neighborhood aunties, who all found them delicious. Verdict: Boulangerie Tan is a good stop for taking bread home while shopping, or for a sandwich and coffee at the tables in front of the shop.

Written Apr 20, 2026Sponsored

PlaceSeongdong, SeoulRestaurants

Seongsu gyukatsu: tenderloin and grilled-vegetable udon, Gyuen Dang

Gyuen Dang Seongsu Main Branch is a Japanese restaurant specializing in gyukatsu (breaded beef cutlet), on the 2nd floor on Yeonmujang 7-ga-gil near Seongsu Station in Seoul. After booking ahead, the writer grilled the tenderloin gyukatsu (24,000 won) in butter for the first time, then added the atsu-atsu udon (11,000 won) after spotting it at the next table. Gyuen Dang Seongsu Main Branch is a good pick for melt-in-your-mouth tenderloin gyukatsu alongside a rich udon with grilled vegetables.

Written Nov 12, 2026Sponsored

PlaceMapo, SeoulRestaurants

Hongdae Korean restaurant: early dinner with my daughter, Bap Jangin

Bap Jangin Hongdae Branch (밥장인 홍대점) is a Korean restaurant specializing in pork kimchi stew, on Yanghwa-ro 18an-gil in Mapo, Seoul. The writer stopped by for an early dinner with her daughter and ordered a spicy pork kimchi stew set, stir-fried bulgogi, steamed egg and grilled Spam for a total in the ₩30,000 range. She was very pleased with the heaped bowls of rice and the kimchi stew loaded with Spam and pork. Bap Jangin Hongdae Branch is worth recommending if you want a hearty, good-value home-style meal with a child in Hongdae.

Written May 12, 2026Sponsored

PlaceMapo, SeoulCafés

Hongdae dessert café: maple strawberry banana soufflé, Think Fruit

Think Fruit (띵크프룻) is a soufflé dessert café on Wausan-ro 29-gil near Hongik Univ. Station in Mapo, Seoul. After dinner, the writer and the writer's daughter shared a strawberry banana soufflé drizzled with maple syrup at Think Fruit, along with an iced Americano and a mango smoothie. The verdict: thanks to the fresh fruit and fluffy soufflé, Think Fruit is the number-one dessert café in Hongdae.

Written May 13, 2026Sponsored

PlaceHaeundae, BusanRestaurants

Sea-view Japanese restaurant in Haeundae: family katsu lunch at Taiga

Taiga Tempura & Matsudo (타이가텐푸라&마츠도) is an ocean-view Japanese restaurant on the ground floor of the building right next to the Mipo Blue Line train station in Haeundae, Busan. After riding the Blue Line with the kids, the writer's family had lunch at Taiga Tempura & Matsudo: a tenderloin katsu set (21,000 won), shrimp tempura udon (16,000 won) and the spicy miso ramen SET B (22,000 won). Portions were generous and kids' tableware was provided, so the whole family left happy. Verdict: a good Japanese restaurant in Mipo, Haeundae for a family lunch with a sea view.

Written May 24, 2026Sponsored

PlacePaju, GyeonggiRestaurants

Unjeong Chinese restaurant: seafood hangover jjamppong, Mimi China

Mimi China is a Chinese restaurant on Cheonjeonggu-ro in Unjeong, Paju, Gyeonggi. The writer and her older sister shared tangsuyuk (sweet and sour pork, 20,000 won) and a seafood-packed jjamppong (spicy seafood noodle soup) at Mimi China, and both loved the meaty pork and the spicy, refreshing hangover broth with no MSG taste. With a large parking lot and a clean dining room, Mimi China is a jjamppong spot in Unjeong worth going out of your way for.

Written Jun 1, 2026Sponsored

PlacePaju, GyeonggiShopping

Unjeong, Paju optician for a child's strabismus glasses: Eugmm Plus

Eugmm Plus Glasses Paju Unjeong Station Branch is an optician on the 2nd floor of the Burger King building in front of Starfield in Unjeong, Paju. The writer went for new glasses after computer use weakened their eyesight, and a friend's daughter brought a hospital strabismus prescription for a special-glasses consultation. Thanks to a wide frame selection, good value and the owner's careful explanation of strabismus glasses, Eugmm Plus Glasses earned a 'full pass' by the writer's standards.

Written Jun 9, 2026Sponsored

PlacePaju, GyeonggiRestaurants

Yadang Station pub, Paju: gochujang pork and Jjapaghetti, Haetteuljip

Haetteuljip (해뜰집) is a Korean BBQ restaurant and pub on the 2nd floor of the nightclub building near Yadang Station in Paju, Gyeonggi. The writer met a close younger friend early, ordered gochujang pork belly for 2 that arrives fully cooked, wrapped the meat in a side of Jjapaghetti (black bean instant noodles) and finished 3 bottles of drinks. Verdict: thick, generous gochujang pork belly and ramyeon sides make Haetteuljip a good first stop for a long night of drinking.

Written Jun 8, 2026Sponsored

PlacePaju, GyeonggiRestaurants

Stroller-friendly Korean BBQ near Yadang Station: Girin Samgyeopsal

Girin Samgyeopsal Yadang main branch is a Korean BBQ restaurant near Yadang Station in Paju, Gyeonggi, where Korean Handon pork belly is grilled on a stone plate. On a family meal with a young daughter, the writer ordered fresh pork belly, diced pork jowl, gabrisal (pork cheek-adjacent cut) and cold kalguksu (chilled knife-cut noodles). The writer liked the generous portions, the clean and cool dining room, the slushie at the self-serve bar and the hair ties left on each table. For a meal with kids near Yadang Station, Girin Samgyeopsal is a place worth going back to.

Written Jun 19, 2026Sponsored

PlaceGangnam, SeoulRestaurants

Yeoksam Korean BBQ lunch: jingalbi, pollock roe egg custard, Raviok

Raviok Yeoksam Main Branch is a Korean beef BBQ restaurant on the 2nd floor on Teheran-ro 25-gil in Yeoksam, Gangnam, Seoul, where you can pair the beef with wine. While visiting a younger sibling who had opened a shop in Yeoksam, the writer booked through Naver and ordered the snow-flake jingalbi (beef rib) roast for 29,000 won, spicy bibim kalguksu (mixed knife-cut noodles) for 9,000 won and the samdaejinmi egg custard with pollock roe for 7,000 won, while staff grilled the beef at the table with a fire show. Raviok Yeoksam Main Branch grills the meat for you, and its side menu is just as satisfying.

Written Jun 26, 2026Sponsored

PlaceGangnam, SeoulCafés

Yeoksam café catch-up with a friend: 2 levain cookies to go, Mini Male

Mini Male Coffee Roaster Yeoksam Branch is a roastery café on Teheran-ro 25-gil near Yeoksam Station in Gangnam, Seoul, known for New York levain-style cookies and its signature Helsinki latte. On an afternoon visit with a friend who works in Yeoksam, the writer had a Helsinki latte, an iced Americano and cookies, then bought 2 more cookies on the way out. Verdict: the coffee and the big, thick cookies at Mini Male Coffee Roaster Yeoksam Branch are a perfect pairing.

Written Jun 28, 2026Sponsored

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