Hyunjoo Sagong · 25 stories

A Brazier Plate in Yangdong

Writes about small restaurants and market eateries around Gwangju and the Jeolla region. · Writes about: Restaurants · Things to do · Cafés · Bars · Hair & beauty salons

PlaceIcheon, GyeonggiRestaurants

Icheon Korean BBQ after Seolbong Spa: pork belly & galbi, Neul Gogi

Neul Gogi Jip Icheon Main Branch (늘고기집 이천본점) is a Korean BBQ and galbi restaurant with private rooms on Gyeongchung-daero in Icheon, Gyeonggi, a 5-minute drive from Seolbong Spa. After bathing at Seolbong Spa, the writer and her husband ordered one portion each of pork belly and marinated pork galbi, plus mul naengmyeon (cold noodles in broth) and hwangmi pot rice; staff grilled the meat, the side dishes were generous, and coffee and soft serve were free. Neul Gogi Jip is the recommended lunch stop on an Icheon day trip that pairs Seolbong Spa with the Costco refurbished shop.

Written Apr 20, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSongpa, SeoulRestaurants

Beef gopchang BBQ near Jamsil Stadium before an LG game: Jinseong

Jinseong Hanwoo Gopchang Bangi Direct Branch (진성한우곱창 방이직영점) is a hanwoo (Korean beef) gopchang (grilled small intestine) restaurant in Bangi-dong Food Alley, Songpa, Seoul, within a 15-minute walk of Jamsil Baseball Stadium. Before cheering on the LG Twins, the writer and her husband ordered 2 servings of hanwoo gopchang, 1 serving of daechang (large intestine), anchovy noodles and 1 bottle of soju, with staff grilling everything to a timer and serving steamed egg and a 3-kimchi set alongside. Verdict: Jinseong Hanwoo Gopchang made a hearty, satisfying meal before a game at Jamsil Baseball Stadium.

Written Apr 25, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSuwon, GyeonggiRestaurants

Haenggung-dong restaurant: lantern festival date course

Kueodeukkutteu (쿠어드꾸뜨) is a dog-friendly terrace brunch restaurant on Haengnidan-gil in Haenggung-dong, Suwon. On the day of the Buddha's Birthday Lantern Festival, the writer browsed the Luckhee, Muniverse and Giggled Jenny gift shops, then had dinner at Kueodeukkutteu: burrata jambon French toast (16,000 won) and carrot and pollock roe aglio olio (17,000 won). After dinner, the writer watched the lantern parade. Verdict: gift shops, brunch at Kueodeukkutteu and the Lantern Festival made a very satisfying one-day Haenggung-dong date course.

Written May 16, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulCafés

Gangnam Station café for sisters: black raspberry ade, Upper and Under

Upper and Under is a dessert café on Gangnam-daero 102-gil in Gangnam, Seoul, near Sinnonhyeon Station Exit 6, known for its ube latte. After dinner at Gangnam Station, the writer and her older sister stopped at Upper and Under for a pistachio cream latte (8,000 won), a bokbunja (Korean black raspberry) lemon ade (7,500 won), butter tteok (butter rice cake), financiers and canelés, and packed desserts to go for her nieces. Thanks to its European-style interior, Upper and Under also works well as a blind-date café near Gangnam Station and Sinnonhyeon Station.

Written May 17, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulHair & beauty salons

Gangnam hair salon: mocha brown, not ash, to hide gray hair, Anew

Anew Hair Cheongdam Main Branch is an appointment-only hair consulting salon near Exit 2 of Gangnam-gu Office Station in Gangnam, Seoul. Worried about more gray hair and a yellow skin tone, the writer had a hair consultation at Anew Hair Cheongdam Main Branch, swapped the usual ash brown for a first-ever mocha brown tone-down dye, and got a medium-length layered cut that kept the length. The verdict: even without a dedicated gray-coverage dye, the mocha brown hid the gray strands and brightened the writer's skin tone, and the writer was very happy with the result.

Written May 19, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSuwon, GyeonggiRestaurants

Suwon chicken restaurant after Chicken Road tour: Haenggung Jangjak

Haenggung Jangjak Hanbang Tongdak is a wood-fired roast chicken restaurant on Chicken Street in Haenggung-dong, Suwon. After writing up the November K-Heritage Food Tour (Suwon Chicken Road), the writer arrived at Haenggung Jangjak Hanbang Tongdak right at the evening opening for seasoned wood-fired chicken served on a stone plate, and within 30 minutes every table was full and a line had formed. If you plan to eat at Haenggung Jangjak Hanbang Tongdak for dinner after the Chicken Street tour, book ahead.

Written Nov 3, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSuwon, GyeonggiRestaurants

Japanese lunch date by Gwanggyo Lake Park: tsukune bowl, Gyuen-dang

Gyuen-dang Avenue France Gwanggyo Branch is a Japanese restaurant serving gyukatsu (beef cutlet) and rice bowls at Avenue France near Gwanggyojungang Station in Suwon. On a weekend lunch date, the writer and her husband had tenderloin gyukatsu, which melted in the mouth after being seared with butter on a mini brazier, and a tsukune (Japanese meatball) bowl that never felt greasy once mixed with egg yolk and spicy sauce. Gyuen-dang is worth recommending as the start of a weekend date course followed by Galleria shopping and a walk in Gwanggyo Lake Park.

Written May 22, 2026Sponsored
PlaceHanam, GyeonggiRestaurants

Sister's go-to terrace pizzeria in Hanam Misa: The Pizzeria Market

The Pizzeria Market Hanam Misa is a dog-friendly wood-fired pizza and brunch restaurant near Misa Lake Park in Hanam, Gyeonggi. At my sister's regular spot, we sat on The Pizzeria Market's terrace with an Italian arugula pizza boat, a shrimp egg Kewpie mayo pizza boat, Maison cheese chip fries and draft Budweiser, and the crisp, chewy wood-fired dough and European-style outdoor-drinking vibe stood out. For terrace drinks and wood-fired pizza together in Misa, The Pizzeria Market is a great fit.

Written May 25, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulRestaurants

Sinnonhyeon brunch restaurant, forest terrace & shrimp gnocchi: Brivit

Brivit Gangnam Station is a Western restaurant near Exit 6 of Sinnonhyeon Station in Gangnam, Seoul, and the second branch of Brivit from Seongsu. On the forest terrace at the back of Brivit Gangnam Station, the writer shared a set for two of salmon steak pasta, porcini shrimp gnocchi and a Greek yogurt and tomato salad, with a server grinding pepper tableside from a giant grinder like in a European restaurant. With atmosphere, food and service all there, Brivit Gangnam Station is a strong pick for a blind date or a wedding invitation dinner.

Written May 25, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSuwon, GyeonggiRestaurants

Tripe BBQ grilled start to finish in Gwanggyo, Suwon: Sekwang

Sekwang Yangdaechang Suwon Gwanggyo is a retro, old-school charcoal grill restaurant with an outdoor-pub feel, serving yang (beef tripe), daechang (beef large intestine) and makchang near Exit 3 of Gwanggyojungang Station and Gwanggyo Lake Park in Suwon. We ordered the signature mixed grill for two (52,000 won) and kimchi udon; a staff member grilled everything over charcoal at our bar table from start to finish so the marinade never burned, and sundubu (soft tofu stew) came as a complimentary side. Sekwang Yangdaechang is a solid pick for a relaxed daechang date or an after-work get-together.

Written May 24, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYongin, GyeonggiRestaurants

Gogi-ri shabu-kalguksu: hand-torn noodles, breadcrumb pajeon, Yun Ujae

Yun Ujae Shabu Kalguksu Gogidong Branch (윤우재 샤브칼국수 고기동점) is a shabu-shabu and kalguksu (knife-cut noodle soup) restaurant with private rooms in Gogi-ri, Suji-gu, Yongin. After a wait at an early weekday lunch, the writer had red beef-bone broth shabu-kalguksu and crispy seafood pajeon (savory pancake); the flat noodles that staff tear by hand into the pot and the pork neck-sirloin sliced to order stood out. At 11,500 won per person for sirloin, vegetables, noodles and fried rice, Yun Ujae is a Gogi-ri restaurant that delivers both value and flavor.

Written May 27, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulCafés

Gangnam blind-date café, mango sando to go: Something About Coffee

Something About Coffee is a dessert café specialising in fruit sandos and cakes, on the café street between Gangnam Station and Sinnonhyeon Station in Seoul. At Something About Coffee the writer had a lime mojito, a black sesame cream latte (₩7,800) and a mango fresh cream cake (₩9,800), and took a mango sando (₩9,900) to go, with the rich, nutty black sesame latte and the soft mango cake standing out. For a stylish dessert café after dinner or for a blind date, Something About Coffee is well worth recommending.

Written Jun 2, 2026Sponsored