Just like Seoul itself, the South Korean capital’s culinary scene brings together the best of the entire country – and beyond.
Foodies will find restaurants serving regional recipes from the provinces, neighborhood markets slinging nostalgic snacks, high-end chefs innovating with local and international flavors, and young restaurateurs bringing passion to independent pubs and patisseries.
Whether you’re after Michelin-starred cuisine or just something cheap and filling, Seoul has something for every kind of craving. Here are Seoul’s must-visit restaurants.
Best Cheap Eats in Seoul
For a cosmopolitan metropolis, Seoul is remarkably affordable, particularly when it comes to Korean food. Fierce competition keeps prices reasonable, and culinary tradition guarantees that side dishes are always both free and bottomless. Low prices do not equate to bad food: you can eat exceptionally well for just a few thousand won, which is a blessing as travel costs have surged.
Savor the Stews at Ttukbaegi-Jip
Tucked away on a back street just south of the popular Insa-dong neighborhood, humble Ttukbaegi-Jip has been serving homely Korean stews and meals for decades. For only ₩6000–7000, you’re served your choice of stew, rice, and an array of homemade side dishes like mixed soybean sprouts and sautéed zucchini. You can enjoy these separately or mix them together to create bibimbap, complemented by the homemade gochujang (red pepper paste) available on every table.
Tteokbokki at Kokkiri Bunsik
Tteokbokki (rice cakes in a spicy and sweet gochujang-based sauce) is a quintessential Korean snack. Near Mapo Station, Kokkiri Bunsik offers a no-frills, tableside version where you can customize your tteokbokki with hard-boiled eggs or glass-noodle-filled fried dumplings. Tteokbokki for two starts at just ₩2500, with additional toppings costing just one or two thousand more.
Hail a Ride to Songlim Sikdang
Once favored by taxi drivers due to their speed and affordability, “taxi restaurants” have become popular dining spots for all. Only a couple of blocks from Konkuk University, Songlim Sikdang is one of Seoul’s largest taxi restaurants, accommodating more than 300 diners. They serve affordable soups and stews at just ₩7500, accompanied by rice and side dishes. A popular choice is the marinated pork (₩9000), prepared in a large broth-filled pan right at your table.
Yoojin Sikdang: A Longtime Stalwart
Despite many changes in the Jongno neighborhood – with new skyscrapers rising and old homes turning into trendy cafés – decades-old Yoojin Sikdang remains consistent. Its Pyongyang-style naengmyeon (cold noodle dish), bindaetteok (mung bean pancakes), soups, and stews are some of the cheapest in town, ranging from ₩6000 to ₩15,000, so expect a crowd at this eatery on the north side of historic Tapgol Park.
Best High-End Dining in Seoul
Seoul chefs are dedicated to elevating the city’s haute cuisine. Many of the area’s most exciting culinary talents have received international training, specializing in blending Korean and Western cuisines and techniques, while others are innovating humble traditional recipes. With hansik (Korean food) gaining worldwide popularity, this is an exciting time to experience how it is being refined in its birthplace.
Enjoy Elevated Korean Preparations at Poom
Poom takes traditional gourmet Korean dishes and reinterprets them with a modern twist. The seasonal menu ensures that the chefs use only the best ingredients. Signature dishes such as grilled and marinated beef are reminiscent of what would have been served to Korea’s royalty. The restaurant is situated in the upscale Cheongdam neighborhood, frequented by movie stars and K-pop idols—thus, lunches are around ₩200,000 and dinners ₩300,000.
Korean and Western Flavors Combine at Mingles
This fine-dining establishment in the Apgujeong neighborhood aims to mix the flavors of Korean and Western cuisines. Traditional ingredients like soybean paste and mugwort are creatively paired with lamb and crème brûlée, advancing modern Korean cuisine boundaries. The nine-course lunch menu costs approximately ₩150,000, while the 11-course dinner menu is about ₩250,000.
Toc Toc Will Surprise Your Taste Buds
This restaurant features diverse ingredients and flavors that defy categorization. Familiar dishes such as pasta, terrine, and steak exhibit unexpected flavor combinations, while signature offerings like truffle dumplings have established this Gangnam District hotspot on the foodie map. With tasting menus commencing at just ₩90,000 for weekday lunch, Toc Toc provides a relatively affordable opportunity to sample haute cuisine in Seoul.
Best Vegan and Vegetarian Restaurants in Seoul
Navigating vegetarian and vegan diets can be challenging in South Korea, where these lifestyles are not widespread; many seemingly plant-based foods might actually contain ingredients like anchovy broth or salted shrimp. However, Seoul now boasts numerous places offering plant-based menus.
Plant Cafe Serves Up International Vegan Fare
One of the first vegan restaurants in Seoul to provide options beyond traditional Korean cuisine, Plant Cafe, with locations in Itaewon and Yeonnam, features flavorful vegan bowls, veggie burgers, and wraps, most priced between ₩10,000 and ₩15,000. Additionally, their vegan drink options include smoothies, cold-pressed juices, teas, and kombucha. A vegan bakery serves cakes, cookies, and other delightful baked goods.
The Food Has a Buddhist Twist at Sanchon
Korea’s Buddhist vegetarian cuisine has gained international recognition in recent years. Dining at Sanchon, established by a former Buddhist monk, is among the best ways to sample this unique fare, which omits ingredients like garlic and chives. Located in Insadong, Sanchon focuses on seasonal ingredients and traditional preparation methods, and its humble setting and colorful plate presentation have garnered popularity. Lunch and dinner set menus are both ₩33,000, accompanied by traditional Korean music and dance performances in the evenings.
Vegan Fare Goes Upscale at Balwoo Gongyang
Despite its modern setting, Balwoo Gongyang features a menu rich with traditional Korean Buddhist dishes that avoid meat and certain roots like shallots and leeks. The homemade sauces and pastes, harmonized with the freshest seasonal ingredients, create well-balanced dishes, including pumpkin-and-millet porridge and deep-fried mushrooms with gochujang sauce. Tasting menus range from ₩30,000 to ₩150,000.
Fuel Up at Drunken Vegan
True to its name, Drunken Vegan restaurant and bar is perfect for those seeking delicious vegan snacks alongside a selection of beverages. Crowd-pleasers include vegan lasagna and vegan fish-and-chips, both priced at ₩18,000. Situated in the Hongdae area, the cozy atmosphere is casual and socially inclusive, making it an ideal gathering spot.
Best Korean Barbecue in Seoul
Korean barbecue is one of the most enjoyable dining experiences globally. Cooking pork belly or beef ribs at your table, combined with a myriad of side dishes, ensures that each bite is a unique experience. It’s no surprise this is the preferred meal for a night out among locals and visitors alike.
Get a Taste of Gangwon-do at Ogeunnae Dak Galbi
Tender cuts of chicken marinated in a sweet-and-spicy sauce are grilled to perfection at famous Ogeunnae Dak Galbi, located in the Yongsan District. This restaurant is one of the best places outside Chuncheon, the dish’s origin, to enjoy dak galbi (stir-fried chicken and vegetables in red pepper paste). An order costs ₩14,000, and you can enhance your meal with a bowl of cold buckwheat noodles for ₩8000.
You’ll Find the Beef at Daedo Sikdang
Established in 1964, Daedo Sikdang is a well-known Korean barbecue institution. At the original location near Wangsimni Station, as well as branches in Sinsa and Mapo neighborhoods, diners enjoy the sizzle of the well-marbled hanwoo (Korean beef) sirloin cooking in a cast-iron pan. This high-quality beef comes at a premium—an order of sirloin costs ₩46,000. Don’t forget to top off your meal with their famous kkakdugi-bokkeumbap—fried diced radish kimchi and rice.
The Protein Comes from the Sea at Getbeol Eui Jinju
This popular restaurant chain grills fresh seafood such as scallops, clams, and shrimp right at your table. If you’re not in the mood for barbecuing, you can opt for steamed or soup-cooked seafood. This is a refreshing alternative to typical barbecued meats, with prices ranging from ₩30,000 to ₩70,000.
Impress Your Date at Maple Tree House
This upscale chain of Korean barbecue restaurants is ideal for impressing your dining companion. Watch as premium cuts of meat, including Jeju-do black pork belly (₩19,900) and aged hanwoo strip loin (₩49,500), are expertly cooked right at your table. Dishes such as bibimbap, kimchi stew, and cold noodles can be enjoyed alone or enhanced with your barbecue meal. The original Maple Tree House is located in the lush Samcheong neighborhood, with branches available in Itaewon and Gangnam.
Best Traditional Marketplaces in Seoul
Wherever you travel, traditional markets are the best venues to find authentic flavors at budget-friendly prices. Seoul boasts fantastic markets where both locals and tourists alike seek out noodles, street snacks, seafood, and much more.
Try Namdaemun Market for Noodles and Fish Stew
This sprawling market complex adjacent to Namdaemun Gate features several noteworthy food alleys. One such alley specializes in kalguksu (knife-cut noodles), where patrons receive complimentary bibim naengmyeon (cold noodles in a spicy sweet sauce) alongside any bibimbap order.
For something unique to Korea, don’t miss the alley specializing in braised hairtail fish, where they cook this delicacy to tender perfection in a traditional pot filled with radish and a spicy-sweet sauce. Other popular snacks around the market include fist-sized handmade dumplings and hotteok (fried mini cakes filled with sweet or savory fillings).
Eat Your Way Through Gwangjang Market
As one of the nation’s oldest traditional markets, Gwangjang Market is a vast downtown complex renowned for offering a variety of tasty and inexpensive food. Popular items here include kkoma kimbap (small seaweed rolls dipped in mustard soy sauce) and yukhoe (beef tartare). However, Gwangjang is most famous for its bindaetteok, which are fried mung-bean pancakes, crispy on the outside and soft within. These pair perfectly with a bottle of makgeolli, unrefined rice wine.
Build Your Own Lunch Box at Tongin Market
Small and traditional, Tongin Market, located in the old Seochon neighborhood west of Gyeongbokgung Palace, has quickly become popular for its unique build-your-own lunch box system. After paying a nominal flat fee of ₩5000, you receive a compartmentalized lunch tray with some traditional coins. As you stroll through the market selecting your lunch items, vendors place your chosen food onto your tray and collect the corresponding coins. Be sure to try the gireum tteokbokki (tteokbokki stir-fried in oil), as this is a market specialty.
If You Love Fish, Don’t Miss Noryangjin Seafood Market
The seafood varieties at Noryangjin, Seoul’s largest fish market, are among the freshest and most diverse available. As you browse different vendors, your haggling skills will come in handy! Don’t hesitate to politely ask vendors if they can provide you additional freebies. After selecting your seafood, you’ll be directed to an associated restaurant where your fresh catch will be prepared just to your liking. The restaurant will implement a small service charge in addition to what you paid for your seafood.
Best Noodle Restaurants in Seoul
A good bowl of noodles is one of life’s greatest pleasures, making it a staple in Korean cuisine. Seoul offers a multitude of places to enjoy every imaginable noodle variety, from hot soups to cold dishes.
Myeongdong Kyoja Specializes in Knife-Cut Noodles
Established in 1966, Myeongdong Kyoja in the Myeongdong neighborhood is famous for its kalguksu, knife-cut noodles served with stir-fried vegetables and meat in a savory chicken broth. While kalguksu is generally crafted with seafood or beef broth, here, it has a subtly smoky yet light flavor, complemented by its signature kimchi, which is a delight for garlic enthusiasts. Steamed dumplings and a popular cold mixed noodle dish are also available, with all menu items priced around ₩10,000.
Try Younghwaru for Spicy Noodles
Located in the Seochon neighborhood, Younghwaru has a history spanning more than fifty years. Their Chinese-influenced delicacies of jjajangmyeon (noodles with meat and vegetables in black bean sauce) and jjamppong (noodles in a spicy seafood broth) are beloved by Koreans, and Younghwaru’s spicy versions are local favorites. Both dishes come with generous portions of chopped Cheongyang peppers for an extra heat kick. A bowl of jjajangmyeon is available for ₩7000, while jjamppong costs ₩8000.
Wooraeok Offers Pyongyang-Style Noodles
The humble yet flavorful dish of Pyongyang naengmyeon (cold buckwheat noodles) receives a delightful twist at Wooraeok, located near Euljiro-4-ga Station. Its robust and distinct beefiness has made its Pyongyang naengmyeon (₩16,000) a perennial local favorite since its establishment in 1946. Pair this dish with cooked bulgogi beef for a truly satisfying meal.
Spot a Celebrity at Jinju Hwoegan
Renowned for kongguksu (noodles in cold soybean broth), Jinju Hoegwan has catered to everyone from politicians to celebrities. All beans used in the soybean soup are sourced from Gangwon Province and are part of a secret recipe that imparts an extra nutty flavor to the broth. Unique ingredients such as potato starch and ground nuts are blended into the noodle dough, enhancing their flavor and elasticity. Jinju Hoegwan is found near City Hall Station, with a serving of kongguksu priced at ₩13,000.
This article was first published on Feb 28, 2020 and updated on Aug 31, 2022.
