Hillside Wanderer · 9 stories

Loose Pouch, Seoul and Gyeonggi Wanders

Writes about cafes, restaurants, beauty spots, and things to do around Seoul, Gyeonggi, and Gangwon. · Writes about: Restaurants · Cafés · Hair & beauty salons · Things to do

PlaceGangnam, SeoulHair & beauty salons

Seolleung hair salon: summer hush cut & deep black dye, Bitnage Hair

Bitnage Hair Seolleung Station Branch (빛나게헤어 선릉역점) is a hair salon on the 2nd floor of a building on Teheran-ro 43-gil in Gangnam, Seoul, near Exit 5 of Seolleung Station. Tired of long hair in the summer heat, the writer got a heavily layered hush cut and a deep black dye at Bitnage Hair, where patchy, faded color turned the black she wanted in a single session and the stylist taught a blow-dry method she could copy at home. Bitnage Hair is a Seolleung Station salon worth recommending for its thorough consultation and careful work, especially if you are growing your hair out through a mid-length stage.

Written Jun 14, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulRestaurants

Ramen shop in Gangnam, Seoul: spicy tripe miso and karaage at Sisio

Sisio Ramen (시시오) is a Japanese ramen restaurant on basement level 1, about a 5-minute walk from Exit 3 of Seolleung Station in Gangnam, Seoul. On a rainy day, the writer ate alone at the Sisio Ramen counter just after opening and ordered the spicy beef tripe miso ramen (less spicy) with karaage. The broth was deep and rich with no tripe smell, the meat was thick and the egg was soft. For a solo meal or a workday lunch near Seolleung Station, Sisio Ramen is a definite return visit.

Written Jul 9, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulRestaurants

Diet poke near Seolleung Station: extra steak, no seaweed, Hola Poke

Hola Poke Seolleung Branch (올라포케 선릉점) is a poke restaurant on the 2nd floor of a building, a 5-minute walk from Seolleung Station Exit 2 in Gangnam, Seoul. The writer, who is on a diet, ordered the steak poke at Hola Poke Seolleung Branch with extra steak and no seaweed, topped with the wasabi mayo a staff member recommended plus sesame dressing from the self-serve bar. If you're tired of plain salads and chicken breast, Hola Poke Seolleung Branch is a good spot for a tasty meal that keeps your diet on track.

Written Jul 8, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSokcho, GangwonRestaurants

Sokcho ramen shop for a sunset dinner: miso vs karai ramen, Ichiba

Ichiba Ramen (이찌바라멘) is a Japanese-style ramen restaurant on Jungangno in Sokcho, Gangwon. After an afternoon playing in the sea, the writer and a younger sibling ordered karai (spicy) ramen, miso ramen, karaage (Japanese fried chicken), a 330ml draft beer and an extra egg at Ichiba Ramen, and finished every drop of broth. Both agreed the miso ramen, topped with fire-seared vegetables, beat the karai ramen.

Written Jul 27, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSokcho, GangwonRestaurants

Sokcho Beach buckwheat noodle spot: 1.5-serving deulmemak, Topgol

Sokcho Topgol Makguksu Main Branch is a buckwheat noodle (makguksu) restaurant in Sokcho, Gangwon, about a 5-minute walk from Sokcho Beach. The writer arrived with a younger sibling around 11:10 a.m., waited about 5 minutes, and ordered deulmemak (perilla oil buckwheat noodles), buckwheat makguksu and a single-serving suyuk (boiled pork); even the regular deulmemak felt like 1.5 servings. Verdict: if you think perilla oil makguksu is the same everywhere, Sokcho Topgol Makguksu is different.

Written Jul 28, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSokcho, GangwonCafés

Sokcho market egg tart bakery closed early, rebooked next day: Doris

Doris Patisserie is a hot-pink egg tart and baked-goods bakery by the entrance of Sokcho Central Market in Sokcho, Gangwon. The blogger missed out when Doris Patisserie closed early the evening before, so booked for the next day and took away one box of original egg tarts and one half-walnut, half-cream-cheese box; the free original egg tart, fresh from the oven, was crisp and melted in the mouth. If you want an easy-to-reach egg tart shop in Sokcho Central Market, booking Doris Patisserie ahead is the safer bet.

Written Jul 31, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJongno, SeoulRestaurants

Jonggak Station diet restaurant: beef pasta & pumpkin soup, Wystab

Wystab Diet Gwanghwamun (와이스타브 다이어트 광화문점) is a high-protein diet restaurant on basement level 1 near Exit 1 of Jonggak Station in Jongno, Seoul. The writer ordered the beef pasta set with a drink and swapped the side for kabocha pumpkin soup. The demi-glace-style sauce came with so much beef that the writer ended up eating the meat on its own and left full. With nutrition facts and calories posted for every menu item, Wystab Diet Gwanghwamun is an easy pick for office workers watching their diet.

Written Jul 31, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSokcho, GangwonCafés

Sokcho bakery: quiet-morning pea makgeolli bread, Sokcho Sulppang

Sokcho Sulppang (속초술빵) is a market bakery near the Nonghyup bank in Sokcho Jungang Market, Gangwon, selling sulppang (steamed bread fermented with raw makgeolli rice wine) plus honeycomb and honey ice cream. On a car-free trip, the writer stopped by Sokcho Sulppang around 10:30 a.m. and took away one ₩5,000 loaf and a honeycomb ice cream; the pea-studded loaf, about the size of 5–6 fists, was still fluffy and chewy back home. Sokcho Sulppang is a Sokcho Jungang Market treat best bought in the morning, away from the evening crowds, with leftovers portioned and frozen.

Written Jul 29, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGwanak, SeoulRestaurants

Sillim salad pasta restaurant with 2nd-floor outlet seats: Prepers

Prepers Diet Food Sillim Main Branch is a two-floor diet food restaurant a 2–3 minute walk from Exit 3 of Sillim Station in Gwanak, Seoul. The writer visited with her sister and ordered the chicken rosé salad pasta and the pork salad pasta at ₩10,900 each, noting the outlets under the window sofa seats on the 2nd floor and the braille kiosk downstairs. Prepers is an easy solo meal when you want protein, carbs and fat covered for around ₩10,000.

Written Aug 16, 2026Sponsored
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