Bucheon Pocket Mirror · 47 stories

The Everyday Compact

I write about beauty products that fit into everyday routines. · Writes about: Beauty products · Restaurants · Cafés · Bars · Things to do

PlaceYeonsu, IncheonRestaurants

Indian curry date in Songdo: chicken masala, mango lassi, Manokamana

Manokamana Triple Street Branch 2 is an Indian curry restaurant on the first basement floor of Triple Street in Songdo, Yeonsu, Incheon. The writer, who had eaten Indian curry only once before, came on a date and ordered Set B (chicken masala, plain naan, tandoori chicken and rice), adding a strawberry lassi and a mango lassi; the spice was not overpowering and the naan was chewy. Verdict: Manokamana Triple Street Branch 2 is an easy, crowd-pleasing pick even for Indian curry newcomers, and the writer would 100% go back.

Written Jul 3, 2026Sponsored
PlaceNamdong, IncheonRestaurants

Ganseok-dong sundaeguk spot, garden-view window and pine decor: Gukdam

Gukdam Sundaeguk Main Branch (국담순대국 본점) is a newly opened restaurant in Ganseok-dong, Namdong-gu, Incheon, specializing in sundaeguk (Korean blood sausage soup), suyuk (boiled pork slices) and Hanwoo beef tripe hot pot. After a long break from gukbap (rice soup) while dieting, the writer shared 2 servings of sundaeguk and a plate of suyuk with a companion and was pleased with the big window overlooking a flower bed, the pine tree decor, the barley tea and side dishes like seasoned pork skin. For a hearty bowl of rich sundaeguk in a clean setting, Gukdam Sundaeguk Main Branch earns a 100% would-return verdict.

Written Jul 4, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJongno, SeoulThings to do

Hyehwa board game café with Orbito and Dwaeji Bar bingsu: Hero

Hero Board Game Cafe Daehangno Branch is a board game café on Daehak-ro's theater street in Jongno, Seoul, 105 m from Hyehwa Station Exit 2. After seeing a play, the writer and her boyfriend ordered Dwaeji Bar bingsu (shaved ice) and cold brew, then played Orbito, a 2-player brain game, and a new potion-mixing game. With board games, pool, Nintendo and plenty of food, Hero Board Game Cafe Daehangno Branch earns a 100% would-return verdict.

Written Jun 30, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJongno, SeoulRestaurants

Hyehwa Chinese restaurant date, sauce-on-side yuringi: Cheonghwawon

Cheonghwawon Daehangno Branch is a two-floor Taiwanese and Chinese restaurant right next to Daehangno CGV near Hyehwa Station in Jongno, Seoul, known for beef knife-cut noodles and dim sum. On a theatre date, two of us ordered beef knife-cut noodles, shumai and yuringi (fried chicken with a tangy sauce); the yuringi sauce came on the side, so the chicken stayed crispy, and a companion who had eaten beef noodles in Taiwan was happy with Cheonghwawon's version too. Cheonghwawon Daehangno Branch is a Daehangno date spot I'd 100% revisit; sit on the quieter 2nd floor rather than the 1st floor by the kitchen.

Written Jul 1, 2026Sponsored
PlaceDong-gu, BusanRestaurants

Busan Station milmyeon spot, no-wait weekday brunch for two: Yeongdong

Yeongdong Milmyeon & Dwaeji Gukbap (영동밀면&돼지국밥) is a milmyeon (Busan-style cold wheat noodles) and dwaeji gukbap (pork and rice soup) restaurant about 100m from Exit 7 of Busan Station in Dong-gu, Busan. On a weekday brunch during their Busan trip, a couple walked in with no wait and ordered mul milmyeon, dwaeji gukbap and handmade dumplings, praising the clean milmyeon with no herbal-medicine taste, the rich pork soup with no gamey smell and the generously filled dumplings. For eating both milmyeon and dwaeji gukbap in one stop at Busan Station, the writer gives Yeongdong Milmyeon & Dwaeji Gukbap a 100% return-visit verdict.

Written Jul 8, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJung-gu, BusanBars

Busan bar near Jagalchi Station Exit 3: Terra and Maedalgu, Budan

Budan Nampo Branch (부단 남포점) is a Korean gastropub on Gwangbok-ro in Jung-gu, Busan, on the 2nd floor of the Miryang Pork & Rice Soup building near Jagalchi Station Exit 3. On a weeknight during a Busan trip, two of us took a window seat at Budan Nampo Branch and ordered the signature Maedalgu (a spicy-sweet grill of daechang intestines, Buldak noodles, chicken neck and cheese), Terra beer and a side of ramyeon cream rice. The softly lit atmosphere and the quality of the food were both satisfying, and a return visit to Budan Nampo Branch is a 100% yes.

Written Jul 7, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMichuhol, IncheonRestaurants

Incheon Korean restaurant for two: bossam set with yukgaejang, Hantiok

Hantiok Lotte Department Store Incheon Branch is a Korean restaurant serving gukbap (rice soup), guksu (noodles) and bossam (boiled pork slices) in the B1 food hall of Lotte Department Store Incheon in Michuhol, Incheon. On a day of browsing pop-ups and shopping, the writer and her partner ordered a bossam set and a gondre (thistle) bibimbap set plus extra bossam, and the table filled up with yukgaejang (spicy beef soup), gomtang (beef bone soup), jeyuk (spicy stir-fried pork), king mandu (dumplings) and tofu until they were almost too full to move. For a hearty Korean meal in the Lotte Department Store Incheon food hall, the Hantiok set meals are a safe bet.

Written Jul 5, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulRestaurants

Yeonnam-dong bistro, wedding invite meetup for two: Hôtel de Couture

Hôtel de Couture (오뗄드꾸뜨) is a Western-style restaurant on the 1.5th floor at Donggyo-ro 46-gil in Yeonnam-dong, Mapo, Seoul. The writer hosted a wedding invitation meetup at Hôtel de Couture, ordering the carrot duck aglio e olio (₩18,000) and the house steak (₩35,000), and the two women left stuffed from just those two dishes. With its calm atmosphere and friendly service, Hôtel de Couture comes strongly recommended as a place for a wedding invitation meetup.

Written Oct 12, 2026Sponsored
PlaceNamdong, IncheonRestaurants

Incheon sushi takeout in summer heat: 30-min walk home, Minyeong

Minyeong Hwareo Gongjang Moraenae Market Branch (민영활어공장 모래내시장점) is a takeout-only sushi shop inside Moraenae Market in Namdong, Incheon. For lunch, the writer bought two 10-piece packs, Special Sushi and Special Assorted Sushi, for ₩30,000 and walked 30 minutes home in the midsummer sun; the ice pack and cooler bag kept the sushi cold, and the thick slices of fish and modest rice portions hit the spot. Minyeong Hwareo Gongjang Moraenae Market Branch delivers both value and freshness, and the writer is 120% ready to return.

Written Jul 6, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSuyeong, BusanCafés

Gwangalli brunch café: bacon Benny under red cabbage, Famous Benny

Famous Benny Gwangalli Branch is a Blue Ribbon-awarded, Australian-style brunch café in a two-story standalone building near Millak Raw Fish Center in Gwangalli, Busan. Tired of heavily seasoned food on a Busan trip, the writer visited on a weekday morning and ordered The Famous Benny with bacon, served under a layer of red cabbage, along with French toast, Ethiopian drip coffee and an iced Americano. Famous Benny is a little pricey, but the plating and flavors made it a brunch of a lifetime, with a 120% chance of a return visit.

Written Jul 9, 2026Sponsored
PlaceHaeundae, BusanRestaurants

Haeundae Chinese restaurant that beats Incheon's Chinatown: Bueokgan

Bueokgan Chinese Marine City Branch (부엌간 차이니즈 마린시티점) is an upscale Chinese restaurant on the 2nd floor of a seaside building in Marine City, Haeundae, Busan. On a 2-night, 3-day Busan trip, the writer and her partner sat by a breezy sea-view window and ate poached-egg pork belly ganjajang (dry-fried black bean noodles), a spicy poached-egg octopus rice bowl and whole-garlic yuringi (fried chicken in soy-vinegar sauce), and rated Bueokgan Chinese above the Chinese restaurants in Incheon's Chinatown. Verdict: a 120% revisit, and Bueokgan Chinese will be her pick for Chinese food on her next Busan trip.

Written Jul 10, 2026Sponsored
PlaceNamdong, IncheonRestaurants

Nonhyeon, Incheon ramen: black garlic vs spicy set at Hongdae Gureume

Hongdae Gureume Incheon Nonhyeon Branch is a Fukuoka-style Japanese ramen restaurant in Nonhyeon-dong, Namdong-gu, Incheon, near Nonhyeon Station. The writer, a ramen lover who has traveled to Japan just to eat ramen, ordered two Premium Special Ramen sets with a companion: one Kumamoto-style with black garlic sauce and one Korean-style with spicy sauce. Each set came generously loaded with inari sushi, shrimp tempura, karaage and more. The writer named Hongdae Gureume Incheon Nonhyeon Branch her all-time favorite ramen shop.

Written Jul 16, 2026Sponsored