Glass Jar Islander · 86 stories

Jar by the Window

I write brief notes on beauty products I have tried. · Writes about: Beauty products · Restaurants · Cafés · Bars · Hair & beauty salons · Things to do

PlaceDongjak, SeoulRestaurants

Family tonkatsu restaurant at Isu Station: holiday cheese katsu, Kosi

Kosi Isu Branch is a Japanese restaurant serving house-made udon and handmade tonkatsu, right in front of Exit 9 of Isu Station in Dongjak, Seoul. On a long holiday weekend, our family ordered tonkatsu (11,000 won), cheese tonkatsu (12,500 won), a side of udon and a spicy donburi, and Kosi Isu Branch provided kids' tableware and parking support. Kosi Isu Branch is a good-value tonkatsu restaurant at Isu Station that works well for families with children.

Written May 31, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSongpa, SeoulHair & beauty salons

Songpa lash salon, pre-trip lash extensions, not a perm: Salon de Van

Salon de Van is a lash perm and lash extension salon about 200m from Exit 1 of Bangi Station in Songpa, Seoul. Before a trip, the writer swapped her usual lash perm for lash extensions at Salon de Van to cut down on morning eye makeup, and found the curl and length natural and light, with little feeling of something in the eye. Verdict: very satisfied, since travel photos looked good even without makeup.

Written Jun 2, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYeongdeungpo, SeoulRestaurants

Saetgang Korean BBQ team dinner, ₩5,000 valet: Smile Samgyeop

Smile Samgyeop Main Branch is a Korean BBQ restaurant near Saetgang Station in Yeouido, Yeongdeungpo, Seoul, specializing in kimchi and minari (water dropwort) pork belly. The writer chose Smile Samgyeop Main Branch for a company dinner: booking on Naver, parking with 5,000 won valet or at the public street parking out front, complimentary kimchi stew, and pork belly topped with a mountain of minari. With easy booking and parking and generous portions, Smile Samgyeop Main Branch is a solid pick for an after-work team dinner in Yeouido.

Written Jun 3, 2026Sponsored
ProductCeramineBeauty products

Hydrating sheet mask for dry Europe travel: Ceramine Aqua Pyeongbaek

The Ceramine Aqua Pyeongbaek Mask Pack is a thin, hydrating Korean sheet mask sold in a box of 10. The writer used one Ceramine Aqua Pyeongbaek mask a day on the plane and at the accommodation during a UK trip, and found that it clings closely and keeps skin moist for a long time. Verdict: the Ceramine Aqua Pyeongbaek Mask Pack is a solid pick as a hydrating, soothing mask for travel.

Written Jun 3, 2026Product provided
PlaceGangnam, SeoulRestaurants

Gangnam Station burger shop, no break time: truffle cheese, Downtowner

Downtowner Gangnam is a handmade burger shop on Teheran-ro 1-gil, right in front of Exit 11 of Gangnam Station in Seoul. For a solo lunch, the writer took a Downtowner Burger and a Truffle Cheese Burger home from Downtowner Gangnam and especially praised the cheese with its subtle truffle aroma and the big whole-meat chicken burger. Because Downtowner Gangnam has no break time, it is a good pick for anyone who wants a handmade burger near Gangnam Station even at 3–4 pm.

Written Jun 7, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeongbuk, SeoulRestaurants

Seokgwan-dong chicken delivery for a cold night: half & half, Hidongi

Hidongi Chicken Seokgwan Branch (히동이치킨 석관점) is a fried chicken shop on Hancheon-ro in Seokgwan-dong, Seongbuk, Seoul, with crispy fried chicken at 18,000 won, nostalgic yangnyeom (sweet-and-spicy) chicken at 19,000 won and a discount on takeout orders. After a busy workday with a rushed lunch, the writer ordered Hidongi Chicken's fried and yangnyeom half-and-half to eat at home with canned beer, and each half came in its own box, so it felt as generous as two whole chickens. On an evening when the weather suddenly turned cold, Hidongi Chicken's half-and-half and beer made an easy, affordable late-night meal at home.

Written Oct 22, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulRestaurants

Mapo Station gukbap: pork bone soup after a UK trip, Bosseung Hoegwan

Bosseung Hoegwan Mapo Branch (보승회관 마포역점) is a gukbap (Korean rice soup) restaurant on Mapo-daero near Mapo Station in Seoul, serving sundae gukbap, pork bone hangover soup, offal gukbap and samgyetang (ginseng chicken soup). Back from a trip to the UK, the writer went straight from the airport to Bosseung Hoegwan Mapo Branch with a suitcase in tow and ate pork bone hangover soup and a plate of sundae (Korean blood sausage) as a first meal in Korea, loving the rich broth, meaty bones and free kimchi. Bosseung Hoegwan Mapo Branch is a good fit for anyone near Mapo Station looking for a hangover cure or a hearty lunch.

Written Jun 15, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangdong, SeoulRestaurants

Tonkatsu near Amsa Market, Seoul, on the way to the clinic: Tonka

Tonka is a Japanese tonkatsu restaurant near Amsa Market and Amsa Station in Gangdong, Seoul. On the way to a Korean medicine clinic, the writer and their child put their names on the Tonka waiting list and ordered the Tonka Tonkatsu, which serves hire (tenderloin) and premium loin on one plate. The shiitake miso soup and tender hire were the highlights at Tonka, though the high counter stools were a little awkward with a child.

Written Oct 19, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGuro, SeoulRestaurants

Sindorim group dinner jokbal: free parking, ₩12,000 lunch, The Jokbal

The Jokbal Sindorim Main Branch is a jokbal (braised pork trotter) restaurant on the ground floor of the Prugio apartment shopping arcade between Sindorim Station and Guro Station in Guro, Seoul, with parking, kid-friendly seating and room for group dinners. The writer, a regular who often visits with family, had complimentary cold jokbal and doenjang (soybean paste) soup, rice balls made with the kids, and tender jokbal boiled the same day, and also covers the lunch menu: jeyuk ssambap (spicy pork with lettuce wraps) 12,000 won, bossam set 11,000 won and soft tofu bossam set 13,000 won. The Jokbal Sindorim Main Branch is a neighborhood jokbal spot for anyone looking for both a group dinner venue and a lunch option in Sindorim.

Written Jun 17, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYeongdeungpo, SeoulRestaurants

New Dangsan-dong gamjatang restaurant with clean broth: Dangsan

Dangsan Ppyeodaegwi Haejangguk (당산뼈다귀해장국) is a gamjatang (pork bone stew) and bone hangover soup restaurant in Dangsan-dong, near Yeongdeungpo-gu Office Station in Seoul. The writer spotted the newly opened restaurant while walking by, returned the next day for the smallest gamjatang and fried rice, and found the small pot generous and the broth clean and rich, without a strong MSG taste. With free rice refills and a friendly owner, Dangsan Ppyeodaegwi Haejangguk is a hangover-soup spot near Yeongdeungpo-gu Office Station worth becoming a regular at.

Written Jun 19, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSongpa, SeoulRestaurants

Craft burger takeout in Jamsil for World Cup night: Downtown Jamsil

Downtown Jamsil is a craft burger shop near Songridan-gil and Seokchon Lake in Songpa, Seoul. The writer, who has ordered from Downtowner nearly 100 times, picked up a truffle cheeseburger, a crispy chicken burger and a Downtowner burger on the way home from work and ate them with family and beer while watching the World Cup. With a clean hall and widely spaced seats, Downtown Jamsil works both for a date and for takeout to eat at home in front of a football match.

Written Jun 20, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYeongdeungpo, SeoulCafés

Yeongdeungpo bakery café after kindergarten: watermelon juice, BYWAY

BYWAY BAKERS Yeongdeungpo Branch is a large bakery café near Yeongdeungpo-gu Office Station in Seoul. The writer stops by BYWAY BAKERS as a regular after kindergarten pickup with her child, ordering the summer seasonal watermelon juice, a latte, salt bread and a jambon (ham) sandwich, and browsing the 5-flavor financier set, Shanghai butter tteok (rice cake) and a mango cake for a birthday. Roomy seating and reasonable bread prices make BYWAY BAKERS an easy regular bakery near Yeongdeungpo-gu Office Station for a break with kids.

Written Jun 19, 2026Sponsored