The Buoy

The Buoy is a Korean cafe and dessert shop in Hayes Valley, San Francisco that specializes in rice flour pastries. It all started with the owner’s curiosity on why there aren’t many rice flour desserts in the US, something like the Korean rice cake that she grew up eating a lot. Her curiosity eventually led her to go to Korea and learned all about rice flour pastries and baking techniques. She then started her baking journey in her own kitchen, creating and making desserts for friends and family who then encouraged her to sell them because they were so good. 

And so in the summer of 2024, The Buoy was born. Their dessert and drinks menu revolve around rice flour and Korean flavors (black sesame, mugwort, and injeolmi flavors to be exact) which certainly pretty unique and unusual in San Francisco’s cafe scene. Their moist, chewy and fluffy roll cakes become one of their best sellers and they also offer a variety of baked goods in their dessert lineup. In one interview, Esther Kim—the owner of Buoy—talked about the health benefits of rice flour desserts such as how easy they are to digest and they are naturally gluten-free. On top of making a lot of their ingredients in house—including the syrup, toasted coconuts and toasted black sesame—they also created their own unique recipes that are followed down to a T. Not only striving to serve delicious desserts, they also wish that everybody who comes to The Buoy feels happy, uplifted and welcomed. 

The cafe itself is pretty spacious, with three different seating areas to choose from—the regular tables, the tables with couches by the window and the bar seatings. There are more or less 40 seatings around the space, ranging from 2-person tables to 4-person tables.

I visited this place with my sister during one of our outings in San Francisco. She was actually the one who told me about the place and asked if I want to try it. I said the place looks interesting (and I saw the Black Sesame Latte and Ssuk Latte on the menu which I'm immediately sold on) so we went. We got there around 2:30 pm on a Saturday and the place was pretty full. But lucky for us, there was people leaving right when we got there so we immediately got a table and head to the counter to place our order. 

Later I found out, the person who took our order was the owner herself, Esther. We got to talking a little bit and she was super nice and friendly. She also gave us recommendations on which menu to order and we took her word for it and tried them. Here are what we ordered:

☕ Black Sesame Latte ($6) | 9/10

A very well-made Black Sesame Latte (and I’m a sucker for all things black sesame so super happy with this find). Not too sweet and comforting. Will definitely order again next time.

🍹 Raspberry Omija Soda ($6) | 9/10

Raspberry Cream, Omija

Very refreshing drink. The cream on top was delicious—not too thick and sweet—and complimented the raspberry soda really well. Could probably have that cream with any other drinks if I’m being honest

🥪 Umami Kimchi Panini ($16.5) | 9.5/10

Spicy Kimchi, Sweet Potato Mousse, Bacon, Corn Cheese, Herb Aioli, Salad/Chips

This is the panini that Esther recommended and I can see why she’s proud of this menu. This was our first time having a Kimchi Panini and we both agreed it was really good. Bursts of Korean flavors in every bite and super flavorful. It was very well executed, delicious and the portion was pretty generous too. Although maybe worth mentioning, it was a tad spicy for me who can’t really eat spicy food (that kimchi really had a pretty spicy kick for me) but it was fine for my sister who can.

By the time we finished our Kimchi Panini, we were fully stuffed which was a shame because honestly, I really wanted to try their Black Sesame Brownie. But maybe that’s just a sign for me to go back again next time. If you’re looking for a dessert cafe in San Francisco/Hayes Valley area with unique Korean flavors, this place is definitely worth trying. 

 

The Buoy

Address: 22 Franklin St, San Francisco, CA 94102
Telephone: +14154169409
Hours: Everyday 11am-3pm

Instagram: @thebuoysf
Website: The Buoy

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Cloudfields

Cloudfields is an all-day brunch cafe/casual dining restaurant in Outram/Tiong Bahru area in Singapore that serves Asian fusion menu developed by a 1 Michelin-Starred chef, Chef Jason Tan. Their main dining room is decorated with wooden interior and an installation of (what I believe is) a modern take on clouds made out of interconnected slim metal pipes and fabric banners hanging on the ceiling. The structure is definitely unique and gives a nice little contrast between the more industrial cool vibes it exudes and the warmer wooden panels surrounding the space. The restaurant has indoor and outdoor areas with plenty of seatings around, making it a perfect place to wind down or catch up with friends over coffee or drinks and good food. 

Visited this place one month shy after it’s grand opening back in November 2025 because my Singaporean foodie friend suggested the place for our meetup when I was in town. Located on the second floor of Tan Boon Liat Building, the restaurant’s location is certainly unusual considering most of the tenants in that complex are design and furniture stores and it’s pretty out of the way of everything (imho). But I guess the nice interior of the place is somewhat a strong enough reason for people to make a trip to try their food (including me). 

Came here on a Saturday for brunch and the place wasn’t too busy when I got there around 11 am (at least for the outdoor area, the indoor area was pretty packed). I was running a little behind and my friend actually ordered for me while I was still on my way. By the time I got there, our orders came out not long after I was seated so service was pretty swift I’d say.

🍹 Morning Whisper (S$8) | 9/10

Zhejiang Green Tea, Osmanthus & Jasmine Flowers, Guava

Light and refreshing tea mix. Perfect for a hot weather. Love it. Also, on a side note, their drink menu is pretty extensive ranging from their coffee, unique signature tea mixes (8 options to be exact which I—as a non-coffee drinker—super appreciate and all of them actually looks interesting), juices, wine, sake to beer. An option for everybody. 

🍟 Cacio e Pepe Fries (S$18) | 8/10

Double-Fried, Potato Foam, Cracked Black Pepper, Pecorino Romano & Parmesan, Greek Honey

Nicely done fries and the portion was pretty generous. Although I didn’t really taste much of the Greek Honey (maybe I got the pieces without it).

🥐🥑 Croissant Avo (S$28)

Mashed Avocado, Toasted Croissant, House-Cured Parma Ham, Free-Range Eggs Sunny Side Up, Parmesan Snow

My friend ordered this and I didn’t try it, but she finished the whole thing and said it’s pretty good.

🍽️ Nori Clams Pasta (S$26) | 8.5/10

Little Neck Clams, White Wine, Kombu, Nori, Sous Vide Egg

The pasta was cooked al dente and nicely seasoned (not too heavy, not too salty, slightly on the lighter side). The sous vide egg also worked well with the pasta and added that extra creaminess to the overall dish after being mixed. I do wish they give a little bit more sauce though because I think the pasta kind of absorbed the sauce pretty quickly and it was a little dry when I ate it (or maybe I just didn’t eat quick enough since I was taking pictures first before I started eating). But overall, I enjoyed this dish. 

My friend and I sat on the outdoor area and the noise level wasn’t too bad. Although it got a bit hot at some point (but it was time for us to leave anyway so perfect timing I guess). Service was good and the staff was friendly. If you’re looking for an Asian fusion all-day brunch or dinner spot, you can give this place a try.

 

Cloudfields

Address: 313 Outram Rd, Level 2 Tan Boon Liat Building, Singapore 169073
Hours: Everyday 10am-10pm

Instagram: @lovecloudfields
Cloudfields Website

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Hince Hannam • 힌스 한남

Hince (힌스) is a South-Korean makeup brand that is well known for their “mood-narrative” focused beauty products. Founded in 2019, Hince was first started with a vision to expand the standard of Korean bold transparent makeup that was popular at the time by creating products with more neutral color palettes and different, lighter textures. The aim was to enhance customers’ natural beauty and features so they can create their own unique aura. And with the majority of other brands focusing on the brighter (fairer) and bolder color choices, this move actually made Hince stood out from the rest of their competitors. Hince has now expanded their lineups from lip products, to makeup and fragrances which you can discover and experience in person at Hince Hannam (힌스 한남), one of their offline stores in Seoul.

 

Hince Hannam • 힌스 한남

Address: 서울 용산구 이태원로49길 14-2 1층
Telephone: 02-2135-3031
Hours: Everyday 11:00-20:00

Instagram: @hince_official
Website: https://hince.co.kr/

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Sinsajeon • 신사전

Sinsajeon (신사전) is a restaurant in Garosugil (가로수길) area that specializes in Korean pancakes (jeon) and Korean rice wine (makgeolli). The place first gained its popularity on social media for their now infamous honey makgeolli—which is essentially makgeolli served with raw honeycomb—that went viral the first time it was introduced to the online sphere. Since then, the place has gained popularity among the locals as well as international travelers who wanted to try the viral drink as well as the assortment of Korean pancakes they offer on their menu.

Do you know that there’s a Korean tradition where Koreans usually eat savory pancakes (jeon) and drink rice wine (makgeolli) on rainy days? It is said that the reason for it was because the sound of frying pancakes in oil is very similar to the sound of the pitter-patter of rain. And during rainy days, you usually want to eat something comforting. That something is savory pancakes for most Koreans. The makgeolli part is just something sweet and refreshing that pairs well with the savory and oil-rich pancakes, making it a good combination to eat on a rainy day.

Funny enough, my first visit to Sinsajeon was during a rainy day, making it the perfect setting to experience this Korean tradition. It was raining since morning that day and by the time me and my two friends made our way to the restaurant for dinner, it didn’t seem that the rain was going to letup anytime soon. When we reached the restaurant around 6 pm, it was still pouring and the restaurant was full with people lining up in front of it. And so we joined the line and waited in the rain for our turn.

35 minutes later, cold from standing in the rain with our jackets half soaked from the raindrops that were falling from people’s umbrellas around us, it’s finally our turn. We entered the restaurant and was greeted by the voices of people talking over each other, some even half shouting. The main dining area was loud but fortunately we were led to the back area of the restaurant where we got seated in one of the more private booths with curtain partitions. This area seemed to be for larger groups as we were seated on a long table that could accommodate 8 people. And the area was definitely quieter, something that the three of us were thankful for. We placed our order using the tablet order system on the table (and if you’re wondering, they do have the English option so ordering for non-Koreans shouldn’t be a problem) and our food started to come out about 10 minutes later. 

Before everything else, first came the banchan and the dipping sauces. Everything is nicely seasoned and pretty good.

Honeycomb (벌집꿀) ₩4,000/piece* | 8/10

*Must be ordered with the Makgeolli

Since Sinsajeon is well-known for their honeycomb makgeolli, of course we had to try it. We ordered one piece of honeycomb to split between the three of us since none of us is a fan of super sweet stuff. Plus the size of each piece looked quite big so unless you really, really like honeycomb, ordering one piece per person might be a bit much. The staff actually came to our table with a tray of honeycombs and cut one piece into three smaller pieces before placing them into our glasses. 

Sinsa Makgeolli (신사 막걸리) ₩10,000/bottle | 9/10

For their Sinsa Makgeolli, I actually quite enjoyed it. Smooth, not too strong. And the honeycomb did add a little extra sweetness to the drink which made it a perfect dessert drink for me. 

Grandma’s Kimchi Jjigae with Pork (외할머니김치찌개) ₩33,000 | 8/10

Kimchi Stew, Pork, Tofu, Mushroom

The kimchi jjigae was comforting and delicious, hitting that right combination of savory, sour and a little bit of spiciness for me. The pork meat was a little bit too tough for me though. It was served in one big slice and we cut it into smaller pieces after it was cooked, but the texture was still hard to chew. So 8/10 for the stew, but maybe 6/10 for the pork meat. But it’s still a good dish to order if you want something soupy and comforting.

Combination Jeon (Regular) 모듬전 (소) ₩28,000 | 9/10

Two Varieties of Mushrooms, Pumpkin, Shrimp, Tofu, Korean Style Meatballs, Sesame Leaves with Minced Pork, Chili Peppers with Minced Pork, Frozen Pollack, and Kimchi. Fried with custom batter and egg wash.

Overall, a very solid assortment of Korean pancakes and every single one of them is executed nicely. I also like the variety that they have in the portion from vegetables, fish to meat. Definitely enjoyed the pancakes. 

Also, fun fact, some of my Korean friends told me that they usually eat savory Korean pancakes at home with their family or during family gatherings on major traditional holidays like Chuseok or Seollal. It’s something they usually cook at home and not necessarily something that they would eat out at a restaurant for. And maybe that’s why I don’t see a lot of restaurant specializing in Korean pancakes (at least from my research). For the restaurants that I did find, they are usually located in a more tourist heavy area like Garosugil or Hongdae, which makes sense because tourists are more likely to look for Korean pancakes restaurant to try.

If you are looking for a specialized Korean pancake restaurant or maybe a place to drink makgeolli with good anju (안주) (food to be eaten with alcohol), Sinsajeon (신사전) is definitely the place to go. Plus they open late so you can even go here for the second round of your dinner. 

 

Sinsajeon • 신사전

Address: 서울 강남구 도산대로11길 18 신사전
Telephone: 0507-1337-9993
Hours: Everyday 10:30 am—01:00 am

Instagram: @sinsajeon_official
Naver Map

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Cosmic Mansion Hannam • 코스믹맨션 한남점

Cosmic Mansion Hannam (코스믹맨션 한남점) is a home fragrance shop that is tucked away in one of the alleyways of Hannam-dong (한남동). This local brand has been around since 2013 and is probably considered one of the more famous niche fragrance brands in Seoul with its own loyal following. The brand has a sleek, minimalistic monochromatic branding and they sell high-quality, eco-friendly and all-natural scented products with affordable price.

Cosmic Mansion (코스믹맨션) is actually one of (if not) the first fragrance stores that I visited during my very first trip to Hannam-dong years ago when I was first visiting Seoul. It was one of the shops that left quite an impression on me since fragrance stores back then were not as abundant as they are now in city. Back then, if I remember correctly, they’re mainly focusing on home fragrance products (candle, soaps, room sprays, diffusers). But now, they’ve expanded their product lineup to include linen sachets, perfume and body & hand care products as well. I usually try to stop by the store every time I’m in the area and on every single visit, I usually ended up buying something before walking out of the store. My last purchase was 2 bottles of their Our Maison room spray (Scent: ‘Another Morning’ & ‘Garden Rain’) and ‘Another Morning’ perfume. Love their scents.

If you’re looking for an alternative or a more affordable options than the usual Tamburins, Grandhand or Non-Fiction selections, Cosmic Mansion is definitely the brand you should check out.

 

Cosmic Mansion • 코스믹맨션

Address: 서울 용산구 이태원로54길 31 2층
Telephone: 0507-1316-0652
Hours: Everyday 11:00 - 20:30

Instagram: @cosmicmansion
Cosmic Mansion Website

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