I’m back with another Korean-Chinese restaurant that’s both affordable and delicious! You know how rare it is to find a place that checks both boxes in the Bay Area. Without tax and tip, today’s meal came to about $36, but honestly, the quality felt like it should have cost much more.
This restaurant is located in Koreatown in Santa Clara, CA. I haven’t tried that many Korean restaurants in the area yet, but a lot of people say there are plenty of great spots here.
If you’re planning to visit, just keep in mind that parking can be a bit challenging. There aren’t many parking spaces, and the restaurant is usually busy, so good luck finding a spot!
As soon as you walk in, the staff warmly welcome you and seat you as quickly as possible. Once you’re seated, they bring out pickled radish and small bowls for sharing dishes. The dining area is also very clean and well-maintained.
My husband and I don’t eat a huge amount, so we ordered one stir-fried jajangmyeon and a sweet and sour pork dish. We were already planning to take any leftovers home, but surprisingly, we ended up finishing almost everything!
For reference, the stir-fried jajangmyeon is fairly spicy. It’s not the kind of spice that hits you right away, but it gradually builds as you keep eating. Unlike some jajangmyeon dishes that are mostly noodles, this one is packed with seafood and vegetables, which I really appreciated.
As for the sweet and sour pork, the texture was fantastic. It wasn’t soggy, and it wasn’t overly crunchy either—it was fried just right. The sauce was exactly what you’d expect: perfectly sweet and tangy. It also came with plenty of vegetables, which paired really well with the pork. If you visit, I definitely recommend eating the pork together with the vegetables for the best bite!
On Memorial Day, I finally visited Carmel-by-the-Sea for the first time.
It is one of the most famous places to visit in California because of its beautiful scenery and unique atmosphere. You know, when people think of California, they usually think of busy cities, highways, and endless suburbs. But Carmel feels completely different. Walking around the town felt as if I had suddenly landed somewhere in the English countryside.
My husband and I visited the 17-Mile Drive area near Carmel last time, but we ran out of time and never actually made it to Carmel-by-the-Sea. Ever since then, I had been saying, “We have to go back.” So this Memorial Day, I insisted.
On the way there, we grabbed a bite at a lovely café. Thanks to Too Good To Go, it cost way less than it normally would. One of my favorite hobbies these days is finding food at prices that make me unreasonably happy.
We arrived a little after noon, which turned out to be a terrible time for parking. The town was packed. We drove around for a while before finding street parking in a beautiful residential neighborhood. Honestly, don’t worry too much about parking if you visit. There are plenty of spots. The real question is how much walking you’re willing to do.
We headed toward the main shopping area first. I even spotted a Korean restaurant, which somehow made me happy. And then I saw Anthropologie. Now, if you know me, you know I had to go in. After spending some time in Anthropologie, we continued wandering around.
By then, we were hungry. Since Carmel is a tourist destination, I wasn’t worried about finding good food. I was worried about finding affordable food. Those are two completely different things. I wasn’t craving anything fancy. I just wanted a simple lunch that wouldn’t make my wallet cry.
As we wandered around, I found the perfect place: a small stand selling burgers and hot dogs outside. My husband ordered a New York-style steak burger, and I got a Polish sausage hot dog. Both were delicious, but my favorite part was watching them grill everything right in front of us. Maybe it’s just me, but food somehow tastes better when I can watch it being cooked.The waiting time was basically a mouthwatering session.
After a satisfying lunch, it was obviously time for dessert. No man will ever fully understand this, but lunch and dessert go into separate stomachs.I wanted gelato, but my husband argued that the weather was cloudy and I might get cold. I disagreed, but marriage is about compromise. So instead, we bought chocolates. We found a chocolate shop that looked very serious about chocolate, which usually means one thing: expensive.
We picked out a box of mixed chocolates and caramels and sat on a bench outside a small local church. The church kindly provided benches, and we gratefully provided ourselves. Sitting there, enjoying chocolates and doing absolutely nothing productive, felt surprisingly nice. The church had a small garden filled with flowers, and I found myself stopping to look at almost every one of them. When I was younger, flowers were just… flowers. These days, I catch myself saying things like “Oh, that’s pretty.” I suppose this is what aging looks like.
After that, we wandered around a little longer. But honestly, too much wandering is not my thing. I know some people can spend six or seven hours exploring a town. I cannot. In my opinion, fully grown adults have a two-hour wandering limit. After that, your feet start negotiating with your brain.
So we headed back to our beloved car and decided to spend the rest of the afternoon at the beach. On the way back, the beautiful houses completely captured my heart. There were so many gardens, yet none of them looked the same. Every house seemed to have its own character. What I found especially interesting was that some houses even had names. Their nameplates were attached to fences, gates, or front doors, as if the houses were introducing themselves. Some names sounded elegant, while others felt playful. It made me wonder who lived there and why they chose those names. By then, we were too tired to continue exploring every little shop and alley, but honestly, I don’t mind. I think I’d rather come back another day and spend more time searching for hidden gems instead of only visiting the famous places. Who knows what treasures I might find next time?
A homemaker is someone who manages the day-to-day operations of a household, handling tasks like cooking, cleaning, child care, and budgeting. But to me, being a homemaker means more than that.
I feel responsible not only for making this house a better place to live, a place we truly want to come back to, but also for helping this home prosper. However, since I am not currently making money, I try to contribute in another way: by saving money and reducing the amount I waste on things that are not truly worth it.
And today, my friends, I want to tell you from the bottom of my heart: this app is amazing!
It’s such a shame that I didn’t know about it sooner.
I recently came to know this app through Instagram Reels. It said that people can get food made a day before for such a great price. Since I am not a picky person who needs everything to be freshly made that day, I felt like this app was made just for me.
On the way to the beach, I got a notification from Bibi Bakery. Their surprise box only cost about $7. A surprise box means no one knows what’s inside except the owner. I wanted to try breads from a new bakery, so I ordered it without hesitation. And honestly, it was one of the best choices I made today.
In my case, I got two cakes, a muffin, and a pastry. I could see that the muffin alone usually costs more than $6. For this price, I can definitely live with day-old pastries!
How to use it
When you open the app, you can see many restaurants, grocery stores, bakeries, and sometimes even flower shops. Some stores post their surprise boxes daily, while others randomly let you know when they have leftovers for you.
When you find a shop that catches your heart, you can place an order. But as I said, you cannot choose what is inside the surprise box. If you already knew what was inside, there would be no point in calling it a surprise box, right?
At the notified pickup time, you can go and pick it up. When you order through the app, it says to tap the pickup button. Tap it in front of the owner or employee! Once you tap it, they bring out a surprise box, usually from a fridge. And inside, surprisingly good things are waiting for you.
Who I recommend it to
I believe this is a great app for almost everyone, except those who think freshly baked or freshly cooked food is very important when choosing what to eat.
Personally, I highly recommend using it as a way to try new stores. What I mean is, if you use this app to discover a new place, it might work really well for you. In my case, I will definitely go to Bibi Bakery again because even their day-old breads tasted so good. Imagine how great it would be to bite into their freshly baked bread!
I cannot believe it is already the middle of 2026 and I’m finally posting January’s dosiraks! Time passed so quickly — honestly, January still feels like it was just a month ago.
January is always a special month for all of us. We make New Year’s resolutions, wish happiness for the people we love, and get ready for spring when everything slowly begins to bloom again.
For us, this January felt even more special because it was our very first January in California. Until now, every January I had experienced was freezing cold — always coat season. But here in California, I wear light jackets instead of thick winter coats. Sometimes it honestly feels more like March than January!
So! What did I pack for his lunch box?
Menu
Monday: Kkanpung Mandu
Tuesday: Soy Sauce Stir-Fried Pork
Wednesday: Jangjorim with Grilled Tofu
Thursday: Spicy Stir-Fried Octopus
Friday: Sweet & Spicy Spam Tofu Gangjeong
Monday: Kkanpung Mandu
First of all, Kkanpung sauce is actually inspired by Chinese cuisine. It is savory, slightly sour, sweet, and spicy all at once. Koreans love this flavor because it feels both familiar and appetite-boosting.
Usually, Kkanpung sauce is paired with meat dishes, especially pork. But honestly, it works incredibly well with mandu too. Personally, I recommend using pork mandu rather than vegetable mandu for this dish. The richer flavor matches the sauce much better.
Tuesday: Soy Sauce Stir-Fried Pork
Many Korean men seem to have two ultimate comfort foods: donkatsu and spicy pork dishes, commonly called Jeyuk.
Once you start exploring the world of Jeyuk, you realize how wide its flavor spectrum really is. The most famous version is made with gochujang (Korean red pepper paste), but today I wanted to make a soy sauce-based version instead since I had already cooked something spicy the day before.
Using the same flavor profile two days in a row feels a little boring to me! Surprisingly, I also think more people in the U.S. would enjoy soy sauce-based Jeyuk because it is milder and easier to approach.
Wednesday: Jangjorim with Grilled Tofu
Jangjorim is such a unique Korean dish. Meat is slowly simmered and marinated in soy sauce so it can stay flavorful for a long time — sometimes even over a week.
I personally like adding black pepper and onions to mine. Jangjorim itself is already delicious, but I felt like the meal needed something softer and lighter to balance it out. So I added grilled tofu on the side.
I especially love eating the tofu together with the sauce from the Jangjorim. It feels comforting, smooth, and easy to eat.
Thursday: Spicy Stir-Fried Octopus
After two days of milder flavors, it was finally time for something spicy again!
If you enjoy seafood and bold heat, I highly recommend this dish. Boil the octopus for only about 30 seconds to 1 minute, then let it cool slightly.
The sauce itself is pretty simple: gochujang, soy sauce, sugar, onions, green onions, and peppers. Stir-fry the vegetables first — onions and carrots work especially well — then add the octopus at the very end and cook it briefly for less than a minute.
My hubby told me this one was especially good, and even some of his coworkers became curious about it. Honestly… don’t blame me for being a good cook!
Friday: Sweet & Spicy Spam Tofu Gangjeong
Spicy, mild, spicy again… too predictable. So this time, I wanted to make something a little unexpected: sweet and spicy together.
Korean fried chicken has become more and more popular in the U.S. these days, and I think the sauce is the biggest reason why. It tastes spicy at first, but the more you eat it, the sweeter and more addictive it becomes.
I used a similar sauce for this dish. Cut extra-firm tofu and spam into cubes, coat them lightly with potato starch, and fry them until crispy. Let them cool slightly, then quickly toss them in the sauce.
It looks simple, but it actually took me a while to get used to balancing the texture correctly. But once you do — trust me — you’ll love it 🙂
Ever since I became an adult in Korea, I rarely even trimmed my own nails because I used to go to a nail salon regularly, about once a month.
One of the hardest things after moving to the U.S. was realizing how expensive nail salons are here — and the quality doesn’t always match the price. In Korea, nail salons constantly come up with new designs every month, promote their work, and even attend seminars or training sessions to improve their skills. But when I looked up nail salons in the U.S., a lot of people said the same thing: lower your expectations, but be prepared to pay a lot more.
After moving to California, I did notice that there are many high-quality nail salons run by Koreans. But, you know… life happens. Many of them don’t post their prices on their websites or Instagram, so it’s hard to know what to expect before making an appointment.
That’s when I found an alternative: Ohora.
Ohora makes gel-based nail strips and press-on nails. They are similar to Dashing Diva, but they feel more like real gel nails. I had tried the basic Ohora gel nail strips before, but they came off easily, especially because I use water a lot throughout the day.
But recently, Ohora released a new product: press-on gel nails!
They are basically gel-based press-on nails. The biggest difference is that you don’t need a UV lamp. You simply press them onto your nails. You can find some designs at Target, but there are many more options available on their website. Since they were newly released, they were also on sale when I bought them.
Here’s how I applied them:
First, I picked the press-on nails that best matched the size of each nail.
Then, I wiped my nails with the included prep pads.
Next, I applied the primer coat to my natural nails, and added an extra layer near the tips.
After that, I pressed each nail down firmly for more than 10 seconds.
If the nails are too long, you can file them down. They won’t fall off just because you file the press-on nails.
Right after filing pressed on nails
For me, they lasted more than seven days. But honestly, I cook, wash dishes, and use my hands a lot, so if you don’t use your hands as much as I do, they will probably last even longer.
Here’s a tip for you!
If you have short or small nails like me, it’s better to buy the short version and file them down if needed. I bought the medium size, and I had to file them a lot. Next time, I think I’ll buy the short, cute press-on nails instead.
First and foremost, I have to say: I’m obsessed with gyros!
When I used to live in New Mexico, I once tried a Greek restaurant in a food court. To be honest, it wasn’t amazing, but it was still edible. My husband told me that it definitely wasn’t the best version of Greek food, so ever since then, I had been wanting to try a proper gyro plate somewhere special.
Later, I went to a Greek restaurant at Westfield with one of my friends, and that experience completely changed my mind. The food was so good, and it made me crave Greek food even more. I especially wanted to try a gyro plate — not just the sandwich version, but the full plate with Greek salad, seasoned rice, and gyro meat.
Luckily, there is a very special Greek restaurant only about 20 minutes away from my home. The restaurant is decorated like a little building in Santorini, with a refreshing blue-and-white exterior that immediately catches your eye.
We ordered a gyro plate and a combination plate. For the combination plate, we chose beef and lamb, which came as chunks of seasoned meat. I also learned that gyro meat is a little different from regular meat chunks. It is usually sliced from seasoned, ground meat that is cooked together, almost like a meatloaf or meatball texture, rather than separate pieces of meat.
GYRO PLATECOMBINATION PLATE
Overall, it was such a fun and satisfying meal, and it finally felt like I got to enjoy the kind of Greek food I had been looking for.
For the first time in forever, I took part in a marathon!
My husband used to tell me that he wanted to run with me someday back when we were dating. But at that time, I wasn’t interested in running—or exercising in general. I was literally a couch potato.
After getting married, a lot of things changed. I started going to the gym regularly with my hubby and even began running. So this year, I made up my mind to participate in a marathon as part of my New Year’s resolution.
Originally, we planned to run in February, but we failed to register for the 8K. Eventually, we signed up for Bay to Breakers 2026!
Practicing
While browsing information about B2B, I realized it must be one of the most unique marathons in the world. People wear costumes, put on crazy makeup, and do their absolute best to enjoy the event. We were so excited to become part of the most festival-like marathon ever!
There were two options for runners: 12K and 15K. 12K for me, 15K for him!
Since I’m a beginner, we were supposed to practice for months. But somehow, we couldn’t make it happen. We decided to start practicing after our April trip to Yosemite, which meant we only had about 2–3 weeks to prepare. Our longest practice run was just 10K—and that was only a week before the race!
D-Day & Prep
We woke up at 5 a.m., left home at 6:15, and arrived at the designated parking lot near the pier. We were ready!
We had been assigned to different starting sections: my husband was in Section B, and I was in Section D. However, the staff said runners from earlier sections could move to later sections, but not the other way around. So we decided to run together in Section D.
Section D was supposed to start at 8:15, but even after so many starting signals, all I could do was take a few tiny steps forward. After what felt like 30 minutes, we finally began walking toward the actual starting line.
While waiting, I saw tortillas flying through the air. At first, I thought they were pieces of paper. But after getting hit by one, I realized they were definitely heavier than paper—and it actually hurt a little. Apparently, throwing tortillas is one of the race traditions!
START
My husband and I saw so many cute, weird, and extraordinary people. Honestly, I still cannot imagine wearing a huge costume while running more than 9 miles.
Up until around 8K, we stayed together—well, more accurately, we alternated between walking and running. Once we reached the hills, though, I simply couldn’t keep running. The hills were way too steep for me! But my husband kept saying, “Run!”
We stayed together until around mile 3 or 4, then eventually split up because of our different running speeds and time goals.
Our goal times were 1 hour 30 minutes for the 12K and 15K.
I managed to cross the finish line in 1 hour and 36 minutes, and my husband finished in 1 hour and 45 minutes—almost a 10-minute difference between us!
Finish Line
At the finish line, there were long lines for water, bananas, fruit bars, chips, and medals for the 12K runners. I made the rookie mistake of standing in the very front line, which was insanely crowded, while the lines farther back were much shorter.
After getting our free snacks, we walked a little farther so my husband could receive his bonus 15K medal. I thought it was such a cute idea that the 15K medal was stackable with the regular 12K medal since the 15K was considered a bonus challenge.
We enjoyed our free beer, refreshments, and water for a little while before heading straight to the shuttle bus.
And honestly… I have to admit that I can’t enjoy festival party energy the same way I did in my 20s anymore. I felt like such an old lady because all I wanted to do was sleep on the bus ride.
January is the freshest month of the year. And the first week of January? No extra words needed. It feels like the newest, cleanest week of the whole year.
But, you know, we had a whole holiday week before January started, which means we all had a break and were not quite ready to get back to our daily lives.
Packing dosirak is an act of love, but honestly, it can also be a bit of a bother sometimes. So this week, I prepared simple yet yummy meals for both of us. We needed something easy and comforting to help us slowly gear up for the new year.
Menu
Monday: Grilled eel over rice
Tuesday: Pork Galbi
Wednes day: Chili shrimp
Thursday: basil meatball
Friday: Spam egg fried rice
Monday: Grilled Eel over rice
There is a rumor that eel is especially good for men. I don’t really buy that, but somehow I still find myself picking up eel when I go grocery shopping.
One of the best parts of living in California is that Korean markets are everywhere. I can even choose which market to go to, which is something I could never have imagined when I used to live in New Mexico.
The reason I chose grilled eel over rice as the first dosirak menu of the year was because I wanted to wish my hubby the best and cheer him up.
Honey, I know how hard you work for us! love you always!
Tuesday: Pork Galbi Galbi is a traditional Korean marinated meat dish. The word “galbi” means “ribs,” but when Koreans say “galbi,” we usually mean meat marinated in a sweet and savory soy sauce-based marinade.
You can marinate many different kinds of meat, but pork and beef are the most common.
Anyway, I marinated the pork the day before so the sauce could soak into the meat better. The best cut for pork galbi is ribs, but they can be quite costly, so I tend to choose pork shoulder blade instead.
Wednesday: Chilli Shrimp
One of the easiest yet yummiest dishes is chili shrimp!
The sauce is so simple and easy to make. Sugar, ketchup, and a little bit of gochujang, which is Korean red pepper paste, will do the job.
It is quick, flavorful, and perfect for a busy weekday dosirak.
Thursday: Basil Meatball
I feel so satisfied when I find meatballs in my fridge. I almost never leave my fridge without them!
They are convenient, easy to cook, and go well with so many different sauces, such as tomato sauce, cream sauce, and even basil paste.
When I make meatballs, I don’t mix in too many ingredients. I usually use Spam, ground beef with an 80/20 fat ratio, and pepper.
First, grill the meatballs. Then add some vegetables, such as onions. When the onions become translucent, pour in some basil paste. Adding a bit of cheese on top makes it even better.
Friday: spam egg fried rice
Ask any Korean if they like Spam and egg fried rice. If someone says no, I bet they are not Korean!
It is one of the most beloved comfort foods among Koreans. Many of us grew up eating this simple but delicious dish.
To remind my hubby of our good old days, I made this for him. And of course, he absolutely loved it.
From 2026, I decided to start sharing my Dosirak Diary on this blog. But, well… life happened, and I somehow postponed it for almost four months.
The good news is that even though I didn’t post anything, I did take pictures of my husband’s dosirak almost every day!
You may be wondering, “What is dosirak?” Dosirak is the Korean word for a lunch box. Since I became a homemaker after marriage, I started packing lunch for my husband every day.
Before getting married, I barely cooked. But after marrying him, I slowly began learning how to cook and pack homemade lunches. In Korea, eating out is usually not as expensive as it is here in the U.S. Also, many companies in Korea have cafeterias or provide meal allowances.
Of course, some companies in the U.S. do have cafeterias too, but as a Korean, I still feel that a warm, homemade meal means something special. In Korean culture, food is deeply connected to care. We even say, “Did you eat?” as a way of saying, “How are you?”
So from now on, I’ll be sharing weekly dosirak posts here. Most of them will be about the menu, but sometimes, when I cook something new or unexpected, I’ll also share the recipe.
