Small Pouch · 9 stories

Small Pouch, Seoul and Gwangju Cafes and Faces

Writes about beauty counters, restaurants, and cafes across Seoul, Gwangju/Jeolla, Gyeonggi, Gangwon, Daejeon/Chungcheong, Incheon, and Busan/Gyeongnam. · Writes about: Hair & beauty salons · Restaurants · Cafés

PlaceYeongdeungpo, SeoulRestaurants

Retro Korean BBQ near Seonyudo Station: pork belly vs neck at Gamgol

Gamgol Yeontan-jip Seonyudo Station Branch is a retro coal-briquette Korean BBQ restaurant near Seonyudo Station in Yeongdeungpo, Seoul, where Korean-raised (handon) pork belly and pork neck can be ordered together. On a family visit, the rich pork belly and the lean, clean-tasting pork neck were eaten side by side, along with the signature flat bibim noodles and free dried filefish (jwipo) from the receipt review event. Verdict: given the quality of the meat, the prices at Gamgol Yeontan-jip are easy on the wallet, and overall satisfaction was high.

Written Aug 3, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYangcheon, SeoulRestaurants

Omokgyo, Seoul Chinese restaurant for a family dinner: Yugwanjang

Yugwanjang Banjeom Omokgyo Station Branch is a second-floor Chinese restaurant in Yangcheon, Seoul, a 5-minute walk from Omokgyo Station Exit 1. At a dinner with a child, the jjajangmyeon (black bean noodles, ₩8,000) had pleasantly soft noodles, and the small tangsuyuk (sweet and sour pork, ₩19,000) had no porky smell and a thin, crisp batter. With an elevator and high chairs, Yugwanjang Banjeom is an easy pick for a family dinner out with kids.

Written Jul 28, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGuro, SeoulRestaurants

Front leg jokbal and furikake rice balls in Sindorim: The Jokbal

The Jokbal Sindorim Main Branch (더족발 신도림본점) is a jokbal (braised pig's trotters) restaurant on the ground floor of the Sindorim 3-cha Prugio apartment shopping arcade, between Sindorim and Guro stations in Guro, Seoul. On an early-evening visit, the front leg jokbal came tender with no gamey smell, served with rice balls, crunchy radish kimchi, seasoned chives and cold bean sprout soup in a clean, well-matched spread. With parking on level B1 of the same building, The Jokbal Sindorim Main Branch is a solid choice for a family dinner or a work get-together.

Written Aug 5, 2026Sponsored
PlaceWonju, GangwonCafés

Wonju Innovation City café with low-acid Americano: Coffee Grip

Coffee Grip is a newly opened café and dessert shop in Bangok-dong, Wonju Innovation City, directly across from the National Health Insurance Service. The writer ordered a nutty-bean Americano, a vanilla bean latte and an egg tart, all to go, and found that Coffee Grip's coffee had a deep, hand-drip-like flavor without strong acidity. Coffee Grip opens at 8am, which makes it a good stop for a morning commute coffee or before or after a visit to the National Health Insurance Service.

Written Jul 22, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGuro, SeoulRestaurants

Sindorim Korean BBQ: pre-grilled makchang and octopus, Meongteongguri

Meongteongguri Kkomjangeo Makchang Guro-gu Sindorim Branch is a retro-style charcoal-grill Korean BBQ restaurant at 620-1 Gyeongin-ro, 2nd floor, in Guro, Seoul. The old-style makchang (grilled beef intestines) and spicy marinated jukkumi (webfoot octopus) arrived pre-grilled and needed only a quick finish over the charcoal, while 90s Korean pop played through the retro dining room. Meongteongguri Kkomjangeo Makchang is worth a visit if you want to alternate between makchang and octopus in Sindorim or Guro.

Written Aug 10, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulRestaurants

Hongdae pasta restaurant: bacon cream pasta and tube duck figure, Omil

Omil Hongdae is a bright, lively pasta restaurant in Hongdae, Seoul, a 2-minute walk from Hongik University Station at 178-8 Yanghwa-ro, 2nd floor. The Oh! Set for two at 48,700 won came with the summer-only Summer Vacation rubber duck omurice, bacon cream pasta, crunchy corn fritters and two drinks, plus a rubber duck figure wearing a swim tube given out during the event period. Omil Hongdae is more than just pretty plates: the bacon cream pasta was good enough to order again.

Written Aug 10, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSiheung, GyeonggiRestaurants

Siheung Baegot BBQ, 47,000-won set with two naengmyeon: Ssosam 208

Ssosam 208 Siheung Baegot Branch is a Korean pork BBQ restaurant about 5 minutes by car from Siheung Premium Outlet in Gyeonggi. The Marble Basic Set costs 47,000 won and includes 400g of marbled pork belly and 200g of a special pork cut, and this table added bibim naengmyeon (spicy cold noodles), mul naengmyeon (cold noodle soup), rice and doenjang jjigae (soybean paste stew), with staff grilling the meat from start to finish. Ssosam 208 is a solid choice for a filling meal before a day of outlet shopping.

Written Aug 12, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulCafés

Hongdae date café with vanilla sky and peach soufflé: Think Fruit

Think Fruit is a soufflé dessert café in Mapo, Seoul, a 5-minute walk from Exit 7 of Hongik University Station. Two people shared the summer-only peach soufflé with a Vanilla Sky and a peach iced tea, and the portion was generous enough for three adults. The bright, spacious room made Think Fruit a satisfying stop on a Hongdae date.

Written Aug 11, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYangcheon, SeoulRestaurants

Sinjeongnegeori udon restaurant with honey tomato dessert: Haengbokhan

Haengbokhan Udon Gage Sinjeongnegeori Station Branch is an udon and pork cutlet restaurant in Yangcheon, Seoul, right outside Exit 1 of Sinjeongnegeori Station and open until 3am. A meal of cheese katsu (11,900 won) and fish cake udon (9,000 won), finished with honey tomato (6,000 won) — a side dish usually served with drinks — brought generous portions and a clean broth. Haengbokhan Udon Gage is an easy stop for a simple but filling meal near the station.

Written Aug 12, 2026Sponsored
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