Blog
Notes from life in Korea.
Personal reflections, discoveries, and stories from an extended stay, beyond the guidebook.
Food10 min read
5 Halal-Friendly Korean Restaurants in Seoul, Centered on Itaewon: A Real Korean Food Guide for Muslim Travelers and Residents
A guide for Muslim travelers and residents to five halal-friendly Korean restaurants in Seoul: Eid and Makan in Itaewon, Yang Good in Yeoksam, Busan Jib in Myeongdong, and more. It covers where each place is and what to order, along with practical tips on Friday prayer times, payment, and levels of halal certification. For Muslims trying Korean food in Korea for the first time, it points the way to the safest first meal.
Read
Food9 min read
A Lazy Afternoon at Famous Benny on Changwon's Garosu-gil: Café Time with Korean Moms
Tucked into Changwon's Garosu-gil, Famous Benny is a café that completes a lazy afternoon with specialty coffee and a relaxed interior. For travelers visiting Changwon, it's a place too good to miss.
Read
Food12 min read
Seongsu-dong Specialty Coffee Guide 2026: 5 Must-Visit Cafés to Take Foreign Friends
Seongsu-dong has grown beyond "old factories turned into cafés" into the heart of Seoul's specialty coffee scene. This guide covers five cafés worth taking a foreign friend to: Onion Seongsu for first impressions, Center Coffee and Mesh Coffee for hand-drip and espresso, and Anthracite and Coffee Graffiti for laptop work. It also covers routes, busy hours, and the desserts to order alongside.
Read
Food10 min read
Vegan Bakery near Busan's Chungnyeolsa Station: Soulful Bread at Momongve Bakery
Momongve Bakery, near Chungnyeolsa Station in Busan, is a hidden spot that local regulars keep coming back to for carefully made vegan bread using regional ingredients. A truly local find for plant-based travelers and long-term foreign residents.
Read