Where to eat in Seoul

The restaurants and cafés we'd send a friend to — long-running favourites, places foreign visitors consistently rate highly, and picks from the Michelin Guide's Bib Gourmand list (great food at modest prices). Nobody paid to be here.

10 places

Palaces, Bukchon & Seochon

1. Samcheong-dong-gil 삼청동길

   A gentle street of cafés, galleries and small shops beside the palace wall.

   Naver MapGoogle MapsBukchon Hanok Village: The Rules and the Best Views

2. Tongin Market 통인시장

   Buy brass coins and fill a lunch box from the stalls. Try gireum tteokbokki.

   Naver MapGoogle MapsSeoul's Traditional Markets, ComparedSeochon: The Quiet Village West of the Palace

3. Sejong Village Food Street 세종마을 음식문화거리

   Busy local restaurants and pubs by Gyeongbokgung Station.

   Naver MapGoogle MapsSeochon: The Quiet Village West of the Palace

4. Tosokchon Samgyetang 토속촌삼계탕

   Ginseng chicken soup a few minutes from the palace — a big tourist favourite, so expect a lunch queue.

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5. Hwangsaengga Kalguksu 황생가칼국수 Michelin Bib Gourmand

   Michelin Bib Gourmand knife-cut noodles and dumplings between the palace and Bukchon.

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6. Mijin 미진 Michelin Bib Gourmand

   Michelin Bib Gourmand buckwheat noodles near Gwanghwamun — cold and refreshing in summer.

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7. Jaha Son Mandu 자하손만두 Michelin Bib Gourmand

   Michelin Bib Gourmand dumplings up in Buam-dong, above Seochon. Worth the short taxi.

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8. Café Onion Anguk 어니언 안국

   A hanok café by Anguk Station, famous for its snowy pandoro pastry. Go early.

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9. Daeo Bookstore 대오서점

   Seoul's oldest bookshop house, now a tiny courtyard café in Seochon.

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10. Hyoja Bakery 효자베이커리

    A long-running Seochon bakery known for its cornbread.

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7 places

Insadong, Ikseon-dong & Jongno

1. Ikseon-dong Hanok Street 익선동 한옥거리

   Narrow 1920s hanok alleys full of cafés, bakeries and small restaurants.

   Naver MapGoogle MapsInsadong and Ikseon-dong: Old Seoul, Two Ways

2. Gwangjang Market 광장시장

   Bindaetteok, mayak gimbap and yukhoe at the food stalls. Share across stalls.

   Naver MapGoogle MapsGwangjang Market: What to Eat and How to Order

3. Gaeseong Mandu Koong 개성만두 궁 Michelin Bib Gourmand

   Michelin Bib Gourmand dumplings and dumpling soup in the Gaeseong style, just off Insadong-gil.

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4. Kyung-In Museum tea garden 경인미술관

   A traditional tea garden in the courtyard of a small art museum — the calmest seat in Insadong.

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5. Imun Seolnongtang 이문설농탕

   Seoul's oldest restaurant (since 1904): milky ox-bone soup, simple and cheap.

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6. Soonhee-ne Bindaetteok 순희네빈대떡

   Gwangjang Market's famous mung-bean pancake stall — watch them grind the beans.

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7. Buchon Yukhoe 부촌육회

   The best-known beef tartare (yukhoe) restaurant by Gwangjang Market. Queue at peak times.

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6 places

Myeongdong, Namsan & City Hall

1. Namdaemun Market 남대문시장

   Seoul's biggest traditional market — hotteok stalls and a knife-noodle alley.

   Naver MapGoogle MapsSeoul's Traditional Markets, Compared

2. Jangchung-dong Jokbal Street 장충동 족발골목

   A street of restaurants serving braised pork trotters, a Seoul classic.

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3. Myeongdong Kyoja 명동교자

   Kalguksu noodle soup and dumplings since 1966 — fast, cheap and always busy.

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4. Hadongkwan 하동관

   Beef gomtang soup since 1939. Opens early and closes when the broth runs out.

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5. Pildong Myeonok 필동면옥 Michelin Bib Gourmand

   Michelin Bib Gourmand Pyongyang-style cold noodles near Chungmuro.

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6. Coffee Hanyakbang 커피한약방

   A tiny antique-filled café hidden in an alley — one of Seoul's most atmospheric.

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6 places

Dongdaemun, Naksan & Euljiro

1. Dakhanmari Alley 동대문 닭한마리골목

   Whole chicken simmered at your table, noodles to finish.

   Naver MapGoogle MapsDongdaemun, DDP and Euljiro: Seoul After Dark

2. Sindang-dong Tteokbokki Town 신당동 떡볶이타운

   The street that made spicy rice-cake hotpot famous.

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3. Woo Lae Oak 우래옥 Michelin Bib Gourmand

   Pyongyang-style cold noodles and bulgogi since 1946 — a Michelin Bib Gourmand classic.

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4. Jinokhwa Halmae Wonjo Dakhanmari 진옥화할매원조닭한마리

   The best-known restaurant on Dakhanmari Alley — whole-chicken hotpot, noodles to finish.

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5. Geumdwaeji Sikdang 금돼지식당 Michelin Bib Gourmand

   Michelin Bib Gourmand pork BBQ near Yaksu Station — one of Seoul's most famous grills. Expect a queue.

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6. Hakrim Dabang 학림다방

   A café open since 1956, upstairs in Daehangno — creaky floors and classical music.

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7 places

Seongsu & Seoul Forest

1. Seoul Forest café streets 서울숲 카페거리

   Small cafés and bakeries in the lanes by Seoul Forest Station.

   Naver MapGoogle MapsSeongsu, Mapped: Seoul's Coolest Neighbourhood

2. Yeonmujang-gil 연무장길

   Seongsu's main café and shopping street, in converted factories.

   Naver MapGoogle MapsSeongsu, Mapped: Seoul's Coolest Neighbourhood

3. Café Onion Seongsu 어니언 성수

   The converted-factory café that made Seongsu famous. Weekday mornings are calmest.

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4. Daelim Changgo 대림창고

   A huge warehouse gallery-café — the original Seongsu hangout.

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5. Nudake Seongsu 누데이크 성수

   Sculptural desserts that look like art pieces. Arrive near opening.

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6. Seongsu Jokbal 성수족발

   A famous braised pork trotter (jokbal) spot — queues at dinner.

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7. Neungdong Minari Seongsu 능동미나리 성수 Michelin Bib Gourmand

   Michelin Bib Gourmand beef soup with water parsley, on Yeonmujang-gil.

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5 places

Hongdae, Yeonnam & Mangwon

1. Sangsu-dong 상수동

   Quieter streets of cafés and cocktail bars south of Hongdae.

   Naver MapGoogle MapsHongdae After Dark

2. Mangwon Market 망원시장

   A local market with cheap croquettes, fried chicken and snacks.

   Naver MapGoogle MapsSeoul's Traditional Markets, Compared

3. Mangridan-gil 망리단길

   Small cafés and shops around Mangwon Market.

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4. Okdongsik 옥동식 Michelin Bib Gourmand

   Michelin Bib Gourmand clear pork-and-rice soup. Tiny, with a queue that moves.

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5. Coffee Libre Yeonnam 커피리브레 연남

   One of Seoul's pioneering specialty roasters, in a small Yeonnam-dong shop.

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4 places

Itaewon, Hannam & Yongsan

1. Gyeongnidan-gil 경리단길

   A hillside street of small restaurants and bars.

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2. Anthracite Coffee Hannam 앤트러사이트 한남

   A specialty roaster in a stylish multi-level building on Itaewon-ro.

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3. ALT.a 알트에이 Michelin Bib Gourmand

   An Itaewon vegan restaurant on the 2025 Michelin Bib Gourmand list.

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4. Mongtan 몽탄

   Straw-smoked beef short rib near Samgakji — one of Seoul's most famous BBQ queues.

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2 places

Gangnam, COEX & Jamsil

1. Samwon Garden 삼원가든

   A long-running garden-style Korean BBQ restaurant — good for a special dinner.

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2. Gebangsikdang 게방식당 Michelin Bib Gourmand

   Michelin Bib Gourmand soy-marinated raw crab (ganjang gejang). Book ahead.

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3 places

Yeouido & the Han River

1. Noryangjin Fish Market 노량진수산시장

   Choose seafood downstairs and have it cooked upstairs.

   Naver MapGoogle MapsSeoul's Traditional Markets, Compared

2. Jinju Jip 진주집

   Chilled soy-milk noodles (kongguksu) in a Yeouido office arcade — a summer classic.

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3. Mapo Ok 마포옥 Michelin Bib Gourmand

   Michelin Bib Gourmand ox-bone soup (seolleongtang) near Mapo Station, across the river.

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3 places

Day trips & beyond

1. Suwon Chicken Street 수원 통닭거리

   Whole fried chicken cooked in big cauldrons — the classic end to a Suwon day.

   Naver MapGoogle MapsSuwon Hwaseong Fortress: The Easiest Great Day Trip from Seoul

2. Sokcho Tourist & Fish Market 속초관광수산시장

   Fried chicken, squid sundae and seafood by the East Sea.

   Naver MapGoogle MapsSeoraksan and Sokcho: Korea's Most Dramatic Mountains, by Bus from Seoul

3. Jagalchi Market 자갈치시장

   Korea's biggest fish market: choose downstairs, eat upstairs.

   Naver MapGoogle MapsBusan from Seoul: A Day Trip or Two Days by KTX