Recommended for your trip to Korea! Seoul's latest gourmet food in 2023. 14 selections from famous restaurants to hidden gems

We have carefully selected 14 spots, including classic Korean delicacies such as samgyeopsal and yakiniku, trendy Korean cafes, hidden gems that are popular with locals, and popular restaurants that are easy to go to alone. Please use this as a reference when you visit Korea.

*For the latest information on entry, please check the official website of the embassy.
*Business hours may be subject to change.

Myeongdong Area: A popular tourist spot in Seoul that everyone visits

Myeongdong is a famous tourist destination that everyone visits at least once during their trip to Seoul. It is a bustling shopping district with many attractions such as food stalls, cosmetics, and fashion, and is visited by many tourists from Japan, so there are many stores that have menus in Japanese and where Japanese is spoken.

Although some stores have been affected by COVID-19, travel restrictions have been relaxed and inbound tourists are gradually returning. Here are some of the must-visit stores in Myeongdong.

[Myeongdong] A Myeongdong staple! The delicious Kalguksu that has people lining up at "Myeongdong Gyoza Main Branch"

Myeongdong, one of Seoul's top tourist spots, has many restaurants for tourists offering samgyeopsal, dak galbi, and simple porridge, so it can be hard to decide where to eat. Among them, one restaurant that has been loved for a long time is "Myeongdong Gyoza Main Branch."

Myeongdong Gyoza is a long-established restaurant founded in 1966. In the rapidly changing Korean food and beverage industry, it is said that it is difficult for a restaurant to continue for a long time, but the fact that it has a history of about 45 years shows that it has been loved by many people.

The first thing you should try at the restaurant is their signature dish, "Kalguksu." Kalguksu is a noodle dish made with wheat flour and is similar to Japanese udon. Myeongdong Gyoza's Kalguksu is made by boiling chewy Kalguksu in a soup made with chicken stock. The flavor of the soup permeates the noodles, creating a taste that you will never tire of, no matter how much you eat.

"Mandoo" is also a recommended menu item that many people order together with kalguksu. The dumplings, filled with plenty of chives and overflowing with meat juice, are addictive and will have you eating more and more. The taste, which has long been loved by locals, will also put tourists at ease.

Myeongdong Gyoja Main Branch

Itaewon Area: A sophisticated neighborhood that became a hot topic thanks to the TV drama

Itaewon is located near the center of Seoul, and the area around Hangangjin, Noksapyeong, and Hannam-dong, including Itaewon, is an art and creative area. It is also the setting for the popular Japanese drama "Itaewon Class."

In addition to the glittering downtown area around Itaewon Station, which appears in the drama, there are plenty of facilities and entertainment where high-class Korean people gather, such as the street-front COMME des GARçONS store and Blue Square, where musicals are performed almost every day. There are also areas in Itaewon where many foreigners live, giving it a unique atmosphere even within Seoul.

[Itaewon] NEKKID WINGS, a hidden gem that Korean gourmets frequent

A 10-minute walk from Noksapyeong Station on the subway, NEKKID WINGS, a fried chicken specialty store, is located in a narrow alleyway that makes you wonder, "Is there a store in a place like this?" It is a hidden gem that is popular among Korean gourmets and young people.

Although Korea tends to focus on dishes that use beef and pork, it actually has a wide variety of chicken dishes as well. Fried chicken in particular is so popular that it can be called "Korean soul food," and there are many restaurants serving it throughout the city.

NEKKID WINGS' fried chicken is characterized by its wide range of flavors.

There are a total of 12 different sauces to go with the chicken, from the classic Korean sweet and spicy yangnyeom flavor, to honey mustard flavor, and even soy sauce flavor, which is popular among Japanese people. The chicken is crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside. Choose a beer to accompany it, and enjoy the classic Korean combination of chicken and beer, "chimaek."

What's more, you can choose two dips and a side dish, and the price is less than 20,000 won (about 2,000 yen) per person. It's a restaurant you'll want to visit again and again.

NEKKID WINGS

[Itaewon] Parc Hannam Main Branch, a popular set meal restaurant near COMME des GARçONS Street

To the east of Itaewon, around Hangangjin Station, there is a quiet, upscale residential area, and the building that houses the COMME des GARçONS store is its symbol.
The street in front of the store is called "COMME des GARçONS Street" and is lined with trendy shops and cafes.

Parc is a popular restaurant located in this fashionable town. At first glance, the exterior looks like an ordinary house. However, it is actually such a popular restaurant that there is a line every day. It gets even more crowded on weekends, and you need to make a reservation even for lunch.

The menu consists mainly of Korean home cooking arranged in a modern style. They don't use any chemical seasonings, and they change the menu according to the ingredients they get every season, such as organic vegetables.

There are three types of menu: vegetarian set meal, seafood set meal, and meat set meal, each of which comes with three side dishes and soup, and the rice can be changed to brown rice. There are plenty of vegetarian-friendly menu items.

Be prepared to wait in line, but this is a healthy and stylish Korean restaurant that is worth visiting even if you have to wait in line.

Parc Hannam Main Branch

Seongsu-dong Area: The hottest area in Seoul that sends out trends

Seongsu-dong was once an area lined with shoe factories and small town factories. The old streets still remain around Seongsu-dong Station on Subway Line 2, giving the area a retro feel.

Seongsu-dong is now attracting attention from young people in Korea as a place that is both old and new, with stylish cafes and shops opening one after another in renovated old buildings. We will introduce you to some of the most popular gourmet spots in Seongsu-dong, which has come to be known as the "Brooklyn of Seoul."

[Seongsu-dong] Cafe Onion, the pioneer of the bakery cafe trend

Cafe Onion, which opened in 2016, is a cafe renovated from a local factory.
This popular store is said to have started the boom in bakery cafes in Korea.

The standard way to enjoy this cafe is to pair their specialty coffee, made with carefully selected beans, with their specialty bread. They use bread from Seoul's popular bakery "BREAD05," and there is a wide variety of breads on offer, from hard to soft, so you'll be spoilt for choice.

You can find delicious breads such as "Salted Bread," which has an exquisite combination of the aroma of butter and salt, and "Pan d'Or," which is covered in powdered sugar and looks like a pointed hat. Their deliciousness has become a hot topic among cafe lovers.
It's open early on weekdays, so it's perfect for breakfast.

cafe onion

[Seongsu-dong] Enjoy offal in a stylish space at "Seongsu Nor"

The cafe isn't the only place making use of the renovated space. "Seongsu Nol" is a restaurant that specializes in grilled horumon (grilled offal) and is bustling with young Koreans every day.

The interior of the restaurant, which was renovated from a two-story house that is over 50 years old, is a calm space with exposed concrete, creating the atmosphere of a hidden restaurant.

The fresh gopchang (beef small intestine) served here is crispy on the outside and chewy on the inside, and the more you chew it, the more delicious the meat becomes.

The gopchang, served on a large round iron plate, is very impressive. Eating it with the accompanying garlic and sauce makes it a great companion to alcohol.
As mentioned above, there are many stylish renovated cafes and general stores in the Seongsu area, so why not enjoy a stroll around the town and end your day with some delicious offal?

Holy Water Nol (Songsunol)

Ikseon-dong Area: A place where you can feel the atmosphere of old Seoul with its rows of hanok houses

Hanok (traditional Korean house) is a traditional Korean house. Ikseon-dong is a place where you can feel as if you have wandered into the world of Korean historical dramas, with many of them lined up side by side.

Ikseon-dong is the oldest hanok village in Seoul, established around 1920. More than 100 hanok houses are densely packed into a small area, lined with stylish cafes and unique shops. Guesthouses that use hanok houses are especially popular.

This is a noteworthy area where you can enjoy the contrast between the old and the new, with the modern Seoul scenery lined with skyscrapers and the old Seoul cityscape that makes you feel as if you have traveled back in time 100 years.

[Ikseon-dong] Ikseon-dong 121: A Korean-style cafe where you can enjoy healthy home-cooked meals

Among the many cafes in Ikseon-dong that use traditional Korean houses, Ikseon-dong 121 is a stylish cafe where you can enjoy hearty home-cooked meals. It has been a beloved restaurant among local residents and office workers even before Ikseon-dong became the popular area it is today.

The interior of the restaurant, which was renovated from a hanok house built in 1920, has a modern atmosphere, but traces of its earlier appearance remain in places, and enjoying this contrast is one of the joys of visiting a hanok cafe.

The restaurant's menu is described as "modern Korean cuisine," and is delicious both in appearance and taste. The most popular dish is the "miso bibimbap," which uses additive-free miso made by a traditional Korean doctor.

Other dishes on offer include "Banban Curry," which allows you to enjoy yellow chicken curry and red beef curry at the same time, and "Charcoal Tonkatsu," which uses squid ink to resemble charcoal briquettes. You can enjoy delicious food that will satisfy both your body and soul.

Ikseon-dong 121

[Ikseon-dong] Miltoast: Fluffy steamed bread is popular

Mil Toast is a popular cafe in Ikseon-dong that often has long queues. "Mil" means "wheat" in Korean, and the cafe is famous for its bread-based menu.

Like other restaurants in Ikseon-dong, the interior is set in a traditional Korean house but has a modern, relaxed atmosphere.

If you come to Mil Toast, you should definitely order the "Steamed Bread." These small slices of bread are steamed in a steamer and made with brioche. There are several types of bread to choose from, so you can share with friends and enjoy a variety of flavors. Eating the freshly baked fluffy bread while huffing and puffing will bring you a moment of bliss.

Other popular items include the melt-in-your-mouth "souffle toast," made with the same brioche bread, and bottled drinks that are perfect for taking home.

Miltoast is packed with customers as soon as it opens on weekends. It seems that they have opened several branches recently, but the relaxed atmosphere of the Ikseon-dong Hanok house can only be experienced here.

Please try our bread, you will be hooked once you try it.

Mil Toast

Hongdae Area: A fashionable area that can be enjoyed by both young people and adults

The Hongdae area, where the art university Hongik University is located, is a town for young people. It's a place where you can see the latest trends in Korea. If you go a little away from the crowded areas, you'll find many stylish and tasteful cafes that adults can enjoy as well.

Being a student town, there are many reasonably priced and delicious restaurants, making Hongdae the best area in Seoul to enjoy gourmet food. Be sure to try out the different restaurants and sample a variety of food styles.

[Hongdae] Enjoy Korean Samgyeopsal at a great price at "Ungtori Saenggogi"

When it comes to Korean food, many people probably think of "Samgyeopsal" first. It is a dish of grilled pork belly wrapped in leafy vegetables and eaten, and is one of the most familiar Korean dishes for Japanese people.

The restaurant we will introduce here, "Ungtori Saenggogi," is a famous chain restaurant that offers all-you-can-eat samgyeopsal at a reasonable price, where you can enjoy your fill of samgyeopsal. In addition to samgyeopsal, you can eat as much as you like of various cuts of pork, such as moksal (neck meat) and chadolbagi (pork belly meat). Another great thing about this restaurant is that you can also eat as much miso jjigae and side dishes as you like.

By using fresh, not frozen, Korean pork, you can enjoy the deliciousness of fresh meat.

Ungtori Saenggogi Hongdae Branch

[Hongdae] Cafe Layered, a stylish cafe famous for its scones

If you walk a short distance north from Hongik University Station, you will come to Yeonnam-dong, an area filled with small cafes, general stores, and bookstores.

Cafe Layered, located in Yeonnam-dong, where many trendy cafes are dotted, is a cafe that has become a hot topic on social media as it is a gathering place for young people in Korea.

The interior of the cafe, a large old brick house, has been renovated to a modern style, but antique furniture is placed here and there. Just being in the cafe makes you feel like you've been invited to an English tea party.

The most popular item on the menu is the handmade British scones. Images of the various kinds of scones lined up on the table have been posted on social media and become a famous sight. There are so many different kinds and they are so cute that it's hard to decide, and many people say, "I can't decide!"

This is one of the cafes I want to visit when I come to Hongdae.

Cafe Layered Ennan

[Hongdae] GREEM CAFE: A mysterious cafe with fun optical illusions

GREEM CAFE is a mysterious cafe tucked away in Yeonnam-dong.
When you open the small door to the shop, a truly mysterious world unfolds before you.

It's like stepping into a picture book, a space with no sense of reality and three-dimensionality. As you can see from the photo, there are proper three-dimensional chairs and desks.
A similar shop has also opened in Shin-Okubo, Japan, and its mysterious interior has become a hot topic on social media.

The cups the coffee is served in are like paintings, and you can feel the attention to detail that goes into making this a cafe you should visit and see for yourself.

GREEM CAFE

[Hongdae] "Miss Choppal Hongdae Main Branch" where you can eat "pig's trotters" at a great price

Among the Hongik University area where you can feel the enthusiasm of students, Miss Choppal is crowded with people lining up every day. When I visited before, there were 10 groups of people waiting even though it was after 10pm.

"Jokbal" means "pig's trotters" in Korean, and most people who visit the restaurant order this dish.

The most popular dish is "Manul Jokbal (garlic pig's trotters)" topped with plenty of garlic, but if you are sensitive to the smell of garlic, you can still enjoy the deliciousness of regular jokbal.

The side dishes, salads piled high on a large plate, and jokbal are 38,000 won (about 3,800 yen) for 2-3 servings, so they're a great deal and will satisfy your stomach. Enjoy the healthy pork trotters with vegetables.

Miss Choppal Hongdae Main Branch

[Hongdae] "Shounen Shokudo" is a popular soy sauce restaurant that is easy to visit even by yourself

Located away from the hustle and bustle of Hongik University Station, Shonen Shokudo is a small restaurant in a semi-basement. It is particularly famous for its set meal of soy-marinated shrimp, called "ganjangseu." Many people visit the restaurant alone just for this set meal.

At Shonen Shokudo, they make their dish by marinating fresh shrimp in a special soy sauce every day. If it's too salty or not marinated enough, it won't taste good, so getting the saltiness just right is important.

The Soy Sauce Set Meal includes the main dish of Soy Sauce, rice, soup, a small salad, pickled ginger, and dessert. The Soy Sauce is cut into small pieces with scissors, placed on top of the rice, and mixed with soy sauce and eggs. The shrimp is rich and sweet, and you'll be hooked after just one try.

Shonen Shokudo Hongdae Branch

Seoul Station Area: Seoul's Train Gateway

Seoul Station is the gateway to Seoul's train network. It is a very large station, and is the departure point for the subway that connects the city of Seoul, the airport line to the airport, and the KTX train that goes to other parts of Korea, such as Busan and Daegu.

Although the station is normally busy with passengers, it is a seasonal sight to see the station bustling with Koreans returning to their hometowns during Chuseok and Lunar New Year holidays.

[Seoul Station] If you don't know what to eat, come here. "Shinchon Seolleongtang"

Seolleongtang is a popular Korean dish. It is a mild-tasting dish made by simmering beef bones until the soup turns cloudy, and is served with rice or noodles.

"Shinchon Seolleongtang" is a Seolleongtang specialty store. It is one of the famous chain stores in Korea, and has a store in "Seoul Square" near Seoul Station.

Kimchi is a standard side dish at seolleongtang restaurants. Every restaurant has kimchi available for you to eat as much as you like. At Shinchon seolleongtang, cabbage kimchi and well-marinated kakteki are served.

Seolleongtang itself has almost no flavor, so you can add salt, pepper, kimchi, or whatever flavor you like. You can also add as much green onion as you like, so it's popular with people who like green onions.

The white seolleongtang is filled with thinly sliced beef and thin somen-like noodles. It looks fatty and rich, but because the seolleongtang is light, it doesn't bother me too much.

It's a restaurant where it's easy to eat alone, so if you're in a pinch, try Shinchon Seolleongtang.

Shinchon Seolleongtang Seoul Square Branch

Cheongdam-dong area: A high-end residential area with many entertainment agencies

The last place I would like to introduce is the Cheongdam-dong area in the "Gangnam" region south of the Han River, a large river that crosses Seoul. This is a so-called high-end residential area, and a celebrity town where high-end brand shops and department stores are gathered.

[Cheongdam-dong] Golmok Restaurant, a "commoner" restaurant that stands out in the posh area

The Cheongdam-dong area is filled with a celebrity atmosphere, but one popular restaurant that stands out amongst it all is Golmok Restaurant.

As the name suggests, this is a common restaurant located on the first basement floor of a multi-tenant building. However, once inside, you'll be surprised to see a row of autographs of famous people.

In fact, JYP Entertainment, the talent agency that TWICE and other artists are affiliated with, was located nearby, so people related to the agency would visit on a daily basis, and it is said that TWICE members had been going there even before their debut.

Before the COVID-19 pandemic, fans often visited from Japan, and when the staff realized they were Japanese, they would speak to them in Japanese and give them the menu in Japanese.

The popular menu item is kimchi jjigae, and the restaurant's recommendation is the Korean rolled egg "Kyeranmari."

Come enjoy the hearty flavors of Korean home cooking.

Golmok Restaurant

Seoul is a city where unique and innovative restaurants and stylish cafes are opening one after another, giving birth to new trends and gaining popularity, but it is also a city that is loved by everyday eateries.

If you have the opportunity to visit Seoul, be sure to experience new trends and culture while also enjoying the local cuisine that has been loved for many years.
You're sure to discover new charms of Seoul you've never known before.

Originally posted: February 12, 2019
*Some content was updated on November 30, 2022.

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