Weekend Tote Carrier · 26 stories

Linen Tote, Seoul/Gyeonggi and Incheon and Gangwon Shopping, Stays and Beauty

Writes about shopping streets, small stays, and beauty counters across Seoul, Gyeonggi, Incheon, and Gangwon, alongside the odd cafe or bar worth a stop. · Writes about: Restaurants · Cafés · Hair & beauty salons · Bars · Shopping · Stays

PlaceGoyang, GyeonggiRestaurants

24-hour Ilsan shabu-shabu restaurant: beef & dumpling hot pot, Auseong

Auseong Gaeseong Sonmandu (아우성개성손만두) is a 24-hour handmade dumpling hot pot and shabu-shabu restaurant on the first floor of Western Dom in Ilsan, Goyang, open every day of the year. On a chilly day the writer ordered beef shabu-shabu for two, poaching beef in a clear broth with handmade dumplings, and also tried the complimentary steamed meat and kimchi dumplings. Free of harsh, MSG-heavy flavor, the clean broth at Auseong Gaeseong Sonmandu is worth finishing to the last drop, making it a go-to 24-hour dumpling hot pot spot in Ilsan.

Written Oct 24, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYongin, GyeonggiRestaurants

Sinbong-dong shabu-kalguksu with parents and a BP check: Dongchundang

Dongchundang Shabu Shabu Kalguksu Sinbong Oesik Town Branch is a shabu-shabu kalguksu (knife-cut noodle) restaurant in the Sinbong-dong dining district of Suji-gu, Yongin. The writer, her parents and her nurse sister ordered shabu-kalguksu for 4 with an added tofu sandwich topping and ate through every course, from yeolmu (young radish greens) barley rice to the closing fried rice. They also checked the parents' blood pressure on the restaurant's machine. Verdict: thanks to unlimited makgeolli (rice wine) and a free dessert corner, Dongchundang was a meal the parents loved.

Written Oct 24, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGoyang, GyeonggiCafés

Autumn bakery café in Wondang: cheese brioche & salt bread, Baedagol

Baedagol Bakery House (배다골베이커리하우스) is a large bakery café in Deogyang-gu, Goyang, Gyeonggi, near Wondang and Hwajeong by the Baedagol theme park. On an autumn visit, the writer enjoyed green views through the floor-to-ceiling windows and the outdoor terrace over cheese brioche and salt bread with an iced Americano, and got a free sweet potato for writing a Naver receipt review. Baedagol Bakery House suits anyone who wants a relaxed break with bread, coffee, nature views and a terrace in Wondang.

Written Oct 20, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGoyang, GyeonggiRestaurants

Ilsan Western Dom Thai lunch: tom yum & beef noodles, Drunken Thai

Drunken Thai Ilsan is a Thai restaurant chain branch on the first floor of Western Dom in Ilsan, Goyang. Over lunch with a friend, the writer shared beef rice noodle soup with extra bean sprouts, pad thai and tom yum goong, and the tom yum goong, tried for the first time, became an instant favorite. With convenient underground parking and free extra noodles and rice, Drunken Thai Ilsan is worth recommending for a filling Thai lunch.

Written Jun 15, 2026Sponsored
PlacePaju, GyeonggiCafés

Paju bakery café brunch with Mom and mango charlotte: Four & More

Four & More (포앤모어) is a large five-floor bakery café at 235 Soraji-ro in Paju, Gyeonggi. On a weekend drive with her mother, the writer had ricotta salad with wood-fired bread, a croissant sandwich, mango charlotte cake, a matcha strawberry latte and a red bean butter baguette at Four & More. With ample parking, floor-to-ceiling windows and a wide bread selection, Four & More made a satisfying spot for a family brunch outing.

Written Jun 15, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGoyang, GyeonggiRestaurants

Goyang gopchang pub by Jichuk Station, free tofu stew: Yangcheolbuk

Yangcheolbuk Gopchang Goyang Jichuk branch (양철북곱창 고양지축점) is a Korean beef gopchang (grilled beef small intestine) restaurant on the ground floor of the shopping building right in front of Jichuk Station in Deogyang-gu, Goyang. The writer ordered the Hanu Gopchang Hanpan (Korean beef intestine platter) and was pleased with the spicy soft tofu stew served free in an earthenware pot, the intestines packed with rich filling, and the thoughtful extras at every table. Yangcheolbuk Gopchang is a good spot near Jichuk Station for gopchang with a drink.

Written Oct 17, 2026Sponsored
PlacePaju, GyeonggiCafés

Paju Unjeong café: 5 financiers and air-fryer leftovers, Pound Coffee

Pound Coffee Unjeong Main Branch is a baked-goods dessert café on Waseoksunhwan-ro 192beon-gil in Unjeong, Paju, with floor-to-ceiling windows that look out onto trees. The writer ordered an iced americano, five financiers and a lemon madeleine, then took the leftover salted caramel financier home and reheated it in an air fryer the next day. The vanilla macadamia financier and the lemon madeleine were the favorites, and Pound Coffee Unjeong Main Branch is worth visiting again and again for moist, soft baked sweets.

Written Jun 22, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGoyang, GyeonggiCafés

Ilsan KINTEX bakery brunch: jambon-beurre baguette, Boulangerie Tan

Boulangerie Tan Hyundai Department Store KINTEX (블랑제리 탄) is a European-style bakery on the B1 floor of Hyundai Department Store KINTEX in Ilsan, Goyang. The writer ordered Boulangerie Tan's made-to-order jambon-beurre (ham and butter) sandwich on a baguette with a choco baguette on the side, and found the crisp-outside, chewy-inside baguette paired well with the ham, arugula and cheese. Verdict: Boulangerie Tan is an easy-parking bakery near KINTEX for a filling brunch with an iced americano.

Written Jun 25, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYeongdeungpo, SeoulRestaurants

Seonyudo Station burgers: where to park and 7 sauces to try, BAS

BAS Burger Seonyudo (바스버거 선유도점) is a handmade burger restaurant on the ground floor of a building on Yangpyeong-ro in Yeongdeungpo, Seoul, near Seonyudo Station. The writer parked at the Yangpyeong 2-dong Office public lot, walked over, and compared the BAS Burger with the Wasabi Mayo Shrimp Burger. The writer also used the self-serve bar of unlimited potato chips and the tasting guide for 7 sauces, soft drinks and beer. BAS Burger Seonyudo is small but turns tables quickly, a satisfying handmade burger meal on a Seonyudo outing.

Written Jun 15, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGoyang, GyeonggiRestaurants

Siksa-dong container restaurant: sweet pumpkin mandu hot pot, Arirang

Arirang Gaeseong Son Mandu Siksa Branch (아리랑 개성손만두 식사점) is a Korean restaurant on Dongguk-ro in Siksa-dong, Ilsan (Goyang), specializing in mandu (Korean dumpling) hot pot made with handmade dumplings. The writer and a friend ordered the mandu hot pot for 2, starting with steamed mandu, moving on to a hot pot with sweet pumpkin and finishing with kalguksu (knife-cut noodles), and loved the packed fillings and thin wrappers the owner folds in-house. With soju and beer at ₩1,900 and a large parking lot, Arirang Gaeseong Son Mandu Siksa Branch is a good-value mandu hot pot spot worth a return visit.

Written Jul 1, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangneung, GangwonRestaurants

Jumunjin sashimi to go, a soju spread with free shrimp: Ilchul Hoetjip

Ilchul Hoetjip (일출횟집) is a sashimi restaurant inside Jumunjin Fish Market in Gangneung, Gangwon, serving both takeout and dine-in. The writer took a medium mixed sashimi platter from Ilchul Hoetjip back to their accommodation to eat with soju. Free abalone, sea squirt, sea snails, steamed shrimp and lettuce wraps filled the table, and the sashimi was firm and chewy with no fishy taste. For fresh takeout sashimi to enjoy at your stay in Jumunjin, Ilchul Hoetjip is a satisfying choice.

Written Jul 1, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSokcho, GangwonBars

Sokcho container bar with lemon-squeezed tomato mulhoe: Seo Jubang

Seo Jubang (서주방) is a Korean restaurant and pub on Yeongnanghaean 6-gil in Sokcho, Gangwon, known for its large American-style container exterior. On a Sokcho trip, the writer ordered the Sokcho Juan set, a new drinking set launched in June, chose tomato flounder mulhoe (cold raw fish soup) as the main, squeezed in lemon juice for a sweet-and-sour kick, and paired it with abai squid sundae (stuffed squid), potato with myeongran (pollock roe) and highballs. For refreshing mulhoe and a fun atmosphere in Sokcho, the Sokcho Juan set at Seo Jubang is a solid choice.

Written Jul 3, 2026Sponsored