Order List · 109 stories

What I Ordered

I write about restaurants I visit in Seoul and the food I eat there. · Writes about: Restaurants · Cafés · Beauty products · Bars · Hair & beauty salons · Things to do · Shopping

PlaceGangnam, SeoulHair & beauty salons

Sinnonhyeon hair clinic: 18-step flat-iron damage care, Park Jun

Park Jun Beauty Lab Gangnam Branch is a hair salon on the 2nd floor of a building on Gangnam-daero 110-gil near Sinnonhyeon Station in Gangnam, Seoul. On a friend's recommendation, the writer, whose hair had turned rough from heat damage from blow-drying and flat ironing, got the 18-step scalp treatment (₩250,000) and came out with soft, shiny, tangle-free hair. With a thorough consultation, a massage-bed shampoo chair and a free Life Four Cuts photo booth, Park Jun Beauty Lab's 18-step treatment is worth trying at least once for heat-damaged hair.

Written May 2, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJung-gu, SeoulRestaurants

Sindang izakaya: monkfish liver and tuna seaweed wraps, Bada Yakbang

Bada Yakbang Sindang Branch is an aged sashimi izakaya on a side street in Sindang-dong, near Sindang Station in Jung-gu, Seoul, with a wide range of traditional Korean liquors. Visiting in May, just after Bada Yakbang Sindang Branch opened, the writer ordered the seasonal aged sashimi platter (₩55,000) and monkfish liver salt gimbap (₩28,000), and the standout was wrapping rice, monkfish liver and tuna together in seaweed. If you want to taste the soft texture and rich umami of aged sashimi, Bada Yakbang Sindang Branch is worth a visit.

Written May 3, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJung-gu, SeoulShopping

Namdaemun kids' shop: rib-cuffed grey zip-up hoodie, Apple Smile

Apple Smile is a children's clothing shop in Unit 12 of the Burdeng kids' clothing building in Namdaemun Market, Jung-gu, Seoul, carrying a wide range of new fall and winter clothes for elementary-age and junior girls. The writer felt and compared corduroy pants, fleece-lined tops and ribbed cuffs at Apple Smile before choosing a grey hooded zip-up jacket. Verdict: Apple Smile was a satisfying choice for parents who want to see and touch kids' clothes before buying.

Written Nov 9, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeongbuk, SeoulHair & beauty salons

Seongbuk hair salon for dry, flaky scalp care and a spa cut: Luri

Luri Hair Salon Hansung University Branch (루리헤어살롱 한성대역점) is a hair salon in Seongbuk, Seoul, on the 2nd and 3rd floors of a building a 1-minute walk from Hanseongdae Station. The writer's scalp had become sensitive and the hair dull with the change of seasons, so she booked a cut plus scalp care (a spa cut) at Luri Hair Salon. Comb flake removal, steam and a massage shampoo left the scalp feeling lighter and the hair glossier. Luri Hair Salon Hansung University Branch suits anyone who wants seasonal scalp care and a tidy style in one visit.

Written May 6, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulBars

Nonhyeon market pocha: webfoot octopus & rice balls, Yeongdong Pocha

Yeongdong Pocha is a pocha (Korean-style pub) right in front of Yeongdong Market near Nonhyeon Station in Gangnam, Seoul. The writer brought a friend who was feeling low, and over stir-fried webfoot octopus with rice balls, sugar tomatoes and perilla-oil steamed egg, the two talked for hours. With webfoot octopus cooked to your chosen spice level and a silky perilla-oil steamed egg, Yeongdong Pocha is a bar worth coming back to.

Written May 11, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulCafés

Garosu-gil café: 8 butter sands & cheese cookie, Butter & Shelter

Butter & Shelter Gangnam-Sinsa is a butter sand dessert café on Garosu-gil near Sinsa Station in Gangnam, Seoul. The writer wandered into Butter & Shelter by chance and bought an 8-piece butter sand set and a yellow cheese cookie, and was happy with the melt-in-the-mouth butter sands, the rich cheese flavor of the cookie and the careful packaging. Butter & Shelter Gangnam-Sinsa is a good Garosu-gil café for buying several butter sand flavors at once as a gift.

Written May 7, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJung-gu, SeoulRestaurants

Gwanghwamun burger spot: Shrimp Deluxe & Chicken Fries, Downtowner

Downtowner Gwanghwamun is a handmade burger restaurant on the B1 level of SFC Mall on Sejong-daero in Jung-gu, Seoul. The writer ordered the Shrimp Deluxe set (16,700 won) and Chicken Fries (7,300 won), and liked the plump shrimp patty, the crispy chicken and fries, the well-spaced seating and the well-kept self-serve bar. Verdict: for a burger lunch or date near Gwanghwamun and City Hall Station, Downtowner Gwanghwamun is worth a return visit.

Written May 13, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeocho, SeoulRestaurants

Gyodae Station snack bar: Spam gimbap dipped in tteokbokki, Halls

Halls Gimbap Main Branch (홀스김밥본점) is a gimbap and Korean snack bar near Gyodae Station in Seocho, Seoul. After a meeting, the writer stopped by alone at lunchtime for nurungji tteokbokki (spicy rice cakes with scorched rice) at 10,000 won, Spam gimbap (seaweed rice roll) at 6,000 won and a self-serve sesame cup ramen at 2,000 won, and dipping the gimbap and nurungji into the tteokbokki sauce was the highlight. Halls Gimbap Main Branch is an easy, no-pressure spot for a solo meal near Gyodae Station.

Written May 14, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGwanak, SeoulRestaurants

Sillim pizza place: buldak & shrimp half, cheese balls, Pug Pizza

Pug Pizza House Sillim Branch is a large pizza restaurant near Sillim Station in Gwanak, Seoul, occupying an entire building. A half-and-half buldak (fiery spicy chicken) and shrimp pizza came with cheese balls and shrimp rings on the side, alongside a tour of the 1st-floor open kitchen, the self bar with four sauces, the 2nd-floor window view over Sillim and the 3rd-floor pet-friendly area. Pug Pizza House Sillim Branch is a satisfying pick near Sillim Station for a group meal or a date that pairs good pizza with an interesting space.

Written May 17, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulRestaurants

Gongdeok solo Korean lunch: spicy octopus bowl, dumplings, Horangi

Horangi Gotgan Gongdeok Branch is a Korean restaurant near Exit 4 of Gongdeok Station in Mapo, Seoul. The writer ordered a jjukkumi (spicy webfoot octopus) rice bowl, juicy dumplings and mul naengmyeon (cold noodles in broth), alternating the spicy rice bowl with the cool noodles, and liked the complimentary bone broth, kkakdugi and pickled onions. With solo tables and a kiosk at every seat, Horangi Gotgan Gongdeok Branch is a Gongdeok Station lunch spot worth returning to.

Written May 18, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeocho, SeoulRestaurants

Shrimp-scallop poke with duck at Salering, a Gyodae Station poke shop

Salering Gyodae Direct Store is a poke, salad and sandwich shop near Gyodae Station in Seocho, Seoul. The writer, who started managing their diet while recovering, ordered a shrimp-scallop poke with extra duck and a chicken thigh sandwich and found the ingredients fresh, the portions generous and the gochujang mayo sauce an especially good match. Salering Gyodae Direct Store is a solid solo diet lunch spot near Gyodae Station that breaks the idea that health food is bland.

Written May 24, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeo-gu, BusanThings to do

Busan photo booth with friends: 15-second video flipbook, Songdo Times

Songdo Times (움직이는사진책 송도타임스) is a 24-hour self-service photo space in Seo-gu, Busan, right next to the building where you board the Songdo Cable Car. At Songdo Times, two friends printed a 'Top Star Arrives in Busan!' newspaper in the newspaper booth, then shot three 15-second videos and picked their favorite scenes for a moving photo book. Unlike an ordinary four-cut photo strip, the Songdo Times photo book animates like a GIF as you flip the pages, making it a highly recommended way to keep Busan trip memories.

Written May 20, 2026Sponsored