Restaurants in Seoul
Koreans love eating and there are plenty of restaurants where visitors and locals alike can experience the local cuisine's bold flavours. The least expensive fare consists of traditional dishes and Korean "fast food", like a steaming bowl of noodles at Myeongdong Gyoja. A wonderful Korean barbecue can be sampled at Chamsutgol in Jung-gu. There is usually no tipping and VAT is included in the price of the meal, except in some top-end restaurants.
- Korean
Bibigo
Bibimbap is arguably the most well known of Korean dishes, and for good reason. A simple bowl of hot rice mixed with fresh vegetables, fermented sauces, and marinated meats is not only tasty but also extremely healthy. Still, the pungent flavor of gochujang (chili pepper sauce) can…$$Gwanghwamun - Hawaiian Fusion
Bonjour Hawaii
Although Bonjour Hawaii advertises itself as a French and Pacific restaurant, colorful Japanese signage and menu items like sushi pizza illustrate the eatery's obvious Eastern influences. In addition to fusion dishes, Bonjour Hawaii offers up meals for just about every taste. Their…$$Hongdae - Pizza
Brick Oven New York Pizzeria
Korea isn't exactly known for good pizza. In fact, it's known for bad pizza. Really bad pizza. Even at Western franchises like Domino's and Pizza Hut, toppings are bizarre and can include everything from canned corn to mayo-smothered shrimp to cheesecake. Fortunately for those who…$$$Gangnam Station - Dumplings
Bukchon Mandu
If you happen to be wandering the streets of Seoul and spot billows of steam rising from stacked metal cooking vessels, you can be all but certain something magical is happening inside. Such is the case at Bukchon Mandu, a franchise of hole-in-the-wall dumpling joints located…$Insadong - Dessert
Cafe Yung
Cafe Yung is a cozy, yet modern, shop housed in a renovated hanok, or traditional Korean home. The café is well known for recreating traditional Korean sweets with modern twists. The house's hotteok (pancakes stuffed with brown sugar and nuts), for example, is a step up from the…$Samcheongdong - Moroccan/Sandwiches
Casablanca
Haebangchon, a gentrifying neighborhood adjacent to the American army base, is often called the "expat ghetto" of Seoul, and it's home to some of the city's best international cuisine. Whatever their nationality, most of the locals in this primarily residential neighborhood would…$Haebangchon - Dessert
Dessertree
Dessertree is a trendy café that offers its mostly female patrons an unforgettable dessert experience. After studying the culinary arts in France, proprietor and pâtissier Lee Hyun-hee decided to bring authentic chocolates, creams, and pastries to Seoul in the way they should be…$$Apgujeong - Indian/Himalayan
Everest
Surrounded by dilapidated office buildings and abandoned karaoke rooms, Everest restaurant is a diamond in the rough. It may not look like much from the outside, but this unassuming eatery oozes charm, with a loyal patronage that packs the place daily thanks to its delectable Indian,…$Dongdaemun - Korean
Insadong Sujebi
A spartan menu is so often indicative of good food and this proves to be the case at at this popular Insadong eatery named for its signature dish. The restaurant's sujebi is a hearty soup of chewy, hand-torn flour dumplings in a garlicky oyster broth that's simmered for several…$Insadong - Korean
Mimine
Tteokbokki, rice cakes drowned in a sweet red chili sauce, is a popular street food dish among children and adults alike. Though sampling this snack curbside is an experience in itself, the upscale version of the classic served at Mimine in Hongdae is even more highly recommended.…$Hongdae - Tea
Moon Bird Does Think Of Only The Moon
Step into this little tea house and go back through the years to experience a Korea when times were harder but life was simpler. Even before being seated, visitors will find themselves mesmerized by the rustic décor that dots every nook and cranny of this cramped-but-cozy shop.…$Insadong - Korean
Seo-Seo Galbi
For the best galbi (marinated ribs) in the city, head to Seo-Seo Galbi in the university neighborhood of Sinchon. This no-frills hangout has been super popular with locals since the 1960s, evidenced by the long lines that stretch around the corner starting as early as 4pm. Although…$$Sinchon - Korean
Seokparang
For a dining experience that will be remembered long after your trip is over, don't miss Seokparang, one of Seoul's most historic restaurants, celebrated for its hanjeongsik, or Korean table d'hôte. Travel back in time to dynastic Korea as you step over the gated threshold, following…$$$Buamdong - Korean
Story of the Blue Star
This rustic pub is tucked away in a hidden Insadong back alley so narrow that most guests contemplate skipping dinner just so they can be sure they'll fit through on the way out. That idea usually goes out the window when diners see the restaurant's delicious anju (drinking snacks)…$$Insadong - American/Brunch
Suji's Restaurant and Bar
Suji's Restaurant and Bar was opened in 2005 by Suji Park and was originally intended to cater to expats eager for a taste of home. Inspired by the corner delis of New York City, Suji's was (and continues to be) a respite from bibimbap and kimchi. With an extensive menu of delectable…$$Itaewon - Café
Takeout Drawing
Coffee is not only the preferred beverage of choice for Seoulites in general, it's also an essential staple in every office, as Koreans work some of the longest hours in the world. It not only keeps energy and productivity levels high, it also inspires creativity. Nowhere is this…$$$Itaewon - Korean
Tongin Market Lunchbox Café
In the old days, Korean children were sent to school with hot meals of rice, a protein, and kimchi, all packed into a dosirak, a tin lunchbox. Although traditional-style lunchboxes aren't as common as they once were, there are still a few places that serve up dosirak for the…$Gyeongbokgung - Korean
Yoogane
After you've tried bulgogi, bibimbap, and kimchi, venture deeper into the Korean culinary world with dalk galbi. Though its name literally translates to chicken meat (dalk) around the ribs (galbi), the dish is much more than that, with a combination of spices and vegetables that…$Myeongdong
