eat in korea

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Seoul food and dining atmosphere SEOUL TABLE
SeoulBusanJejuIncheonDaeguJeonjuGyeongjuGangneungSokchoSuwonPyeongtaekYeosu

SEOUL FOOD GUIDE

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Choose the part of Seoul you are visiting. Each area leads straight to restaurant guides—no extra geographic layers.

Myeongdong Seoul street food stalls and neon-lit shopping street at night01 AREA TABLEMyeongdongCentral stops for easy first meals and late shopping breaks. Restaurants in this area Seongsu Seoul red brick warehouse street with design shops and cafés02 AREA TABLESeongsuCreative streets for a thoughtful meal between independent shops. Restaurants in this area Hongdae and Yeonnam pedestrian street with cafés and young visitors03 AREA TABLEHongdae & YeonnamLively cafés, casual dinners, and a young food scene. Restaurants in this area Gangnam Seoul modern boulevard with high-rise buildings04 AREA TABLEGangnamPolished dining choices that fit a busy day south of the river. Restaurants in this area Gwanghwamun palace gates and modern Seoul city buildings05 AREA TABLEJongno & GwanghwamunClassic streets, palace walks, and warm, timeless tables. Restaurants in this area Euljiro Seoul retro alley with vintage shopfront light at night06 AREA TABLEEuljiro & CheonggyecheonOld lanes, small plates, and atmospheric evening discoveries. Restaurants in this area Bukchon hanok homes and tiled roofs along a quiet Seoul lane07 AREA TABLEBukchon & AngukQuiet corners for a slower lunch between hanok-lined streets. Restaurants in this area Dongdaemun Design Plaza and lively Seoul night scene08 AREA TABLEDongdaemunA practical place to eat well after a long day of wandering. Restaurants in this area Itaewon and Hannam Seoul international restaurant street at dusk09 AREA TABLEItaewon & HannamA relaxed mix of global flavors and Korean neighborhood tables. Restaurants in this area Sungnyemun Gate, also known as Namdaemun, in central Seoul10 AREA TABLENamdaemunMarket energy and dependable local meals in the heart of central Seoul. Restaurants in this area COEX and Samseong Seoul modern convention district with Gangnam Style statue11 AREA TABLECOEX & SamseongEasy meal decisions close to exhibitions, hotels, and shopping. Restaurants in this area Jamsil Seoul landmark tower beside Seokchon Lake12 AREA TABLEJamsilA straightforward place to pause for a meal near the river. Restaurants in this area Yongsan Seoul cultural district park path and contemporary cityscape13 AREA TABLEYongsanA connected area where markets and new tables meet. Restaurants in this area Apgujeong and Cheongdam tree-lined fashion and café street14 AREA TABLEApgujeong & CheongdamStylish streets and carefully considered lunch or dinner stops. Restaurants in this area Seoul city view representing additional neighborhood restaurant guides15 AREA TABLEOther AreasRestaurant guides for Seoul neighborhoods beyond the area cards above. Restaurants in this area

SEOUL / JONGNO & GWANGHWAMUN

Restaurants in
Jongno & Gwanghwamun.

These restaurant guides belong to the area you selected. Choose one to see what to order and how to get there.

01 LOCAL TABLE
Seoul · Jongno & GwanghwamunTaeguk Latte · Taeguk Ade

Café I got everything – National Museum of Korean Contemporary History

A unique café on the 3rd floor of the National Museum of Korean Contemporary History, overlooking Gwanghwamun Square and Gyeongbokgung. It is a relaxing stop after visiting the museum, known for its terrace views, affordable coffee, and Korea-inspired signature drinks such as Taeguk Latte and Taeguk Ade. The café is also part of a social employment project providing stable jobs for baristas with significant disabilities.

FEATURED MENUTaeguk Latte · Taeguk Ade태극 라떼 · 태극 에이드

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02 LOCAL TABLE
Seoul · Jongno & GwanghwamunJeyuk Ssambap

Sujeongsikdang

Sujeongsikdang is a small Korean restaurant in Jongno 3-ga known for jeyuk ssambap — spicy stir-fried pork served with fresh leafy vegetables, rice and Korean side dishes. It is a straightforward, everyday Korean meal rather than a formal restaurant experience. The lunch menu is particularly simple: the jeyuk ssambap is served as a complete set with rice, vegetables and banchan, making it easy for visitors who want to try a typical Korean home-style meal without having to figure out a complicated menu. The restaurant is in the older Jongno 3-ga area near Tapgol Park, and its customer base includes nearby office workers as well as long-time local diners. Reviews and visitor content repeatedly mention the generous leafy vegetables, tasty side dishes and fast table setting. A 2024 visit featured a two-person jeyuk ssambap order at ₩10,000 per person, with rice and side dishes available for refills.

FEATURED MENUJeyuk Ssambap제육쌈밥

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03 LOCAL TABLE
Seoul · Jongno & GwanghwamunGaburi Bossam

Sonjung Bossam Jongno

Sonjung Bossam Jongno is a Korean restaurant specializing in gaburi bossam, a style of boiled pork made with the tender gaburi cut and served with kimchi, vegetables and other Korean side dishes. The restaurant also has a broader menu that includes spicy al goni kalguksu, seafood kalguksu, jeyuk bulgogi and several shared dishes, so it works both as a simple Korean lunch and as a group meal. The restaurant is located in the Jonggak area, about a five-minute walk from Jonggak Station. Its menu is particularly useful for visitors who want to try bossam without ordering an elaborate Korean banquet. The ₩12,000 gaburi bossam set is a relatively accessible single-person option, while the larger gaburi kimchi bossam is designed for sharing.

FEATURED MENUGaburi Bossam보쌈

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04 LOCAL TABLE
Seoul · Jongno & GwanghwamunHanwoo Haejangguk

Cheongjinok

Cheongjinok is a historic Seoul restaurant that has specialized in Korean haejangguk since 1937. Located in Jongno, it is known for a traditional beef-bone broth simmered for many hours with soybean paste, vegetables, beef offal, and seonji, a Korean dish made from coagulated beef blood. The result is a hearty, savory soup served as a complete meal with rice. The restaurant has a long connection with Jongno's old haejangguk dining culture and was designated a Seoul Future Heritage site in 2013. Its main attraction is not an elaborate menu or modern dining experience, but a distinctive bowl of traditional Seoul-style soup. Travelers who enjoy rich broths and are curious about Korean food traditions will find it an interesting stop near Gwanghwamun and Jonggak.

FEATURED MENUHanwoo Haejangguk한우해장국

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05 LOCAL TABLE
Seoul · Jongno & GwanghwamunDoganitang

Daesungjip

Daesungjip is a long-established Korean soup restaurant in Jongno, Seoul, best known for its doganitang, a traditional soup made with beef knee cartilage and connective tissue. The dish is valued for its rich, comforting broth and the distinctive soft-yet-chewy texture of the dogani. Unlike many Korean soups built around sliced beef, this dish introduces diners to a different side of Korean food culture: slow-simmered broth and gelatin-rich cuts. The restaurant is located near Dongnimmun Station and the Seodaemun Independence Park area, making it a practical stop for visitors exploring this part of Seoul. Daesungjip has also been featured in the Michelin Guide. Its appeal lies in a focused menu and a traditional Korean soup-house experience rather than elaborate presentation. For travelers who want to try a well-known local specialty beyond barbecue and bibimbap, doganitang is a distinctive choice.

FEATURED MENUDoganitang도가니탕

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06 LOCAL TABLE
Seoul · Jongno & GwanghwamunTosokchon Samgyetang

Tosokchon Samgyetang

Tosokchon Samgyetang is one of Seoul’s best-known restaurants specializing in samgyetang, a traditional Korean ginseng chicken soup. Located near Gyeongbokgung Palace, the restaurant occupies a group of traditional-style hanok buildings, offering visitors a chance to enjoy a classic Korean meal in a distinctive setting. The soup is prepared with a whole young chicken, glutinous rice, ginseng, jujube, and a variety of nuts and seeds. Operating since 1983, Tosokchon has become a familiar stop for both Korean diners and international visitors exploring the palace district. Its main attraction is the hearty chicken soup and traditional Korean food experience rather than fine dining. Because of its popularity, queues can form around lunchtime, particularly during summer when samgyetang is traditionally eaten to help people cope with the heat.

FEATURED MENUTosokchon Samgyetang삼계탕

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07 LOCAL TABLE
Seoul · Jongno & GwanghwamunSamgyetang

Jangsu Samgyetang

Jangsu Samgyetang is a traditional Korean restaurant in the basement of the Seoktan Hoegwan Building in Susong-dong, Jongno. It specializes in samgyetang, a nourishing chicken soup made by simmering a whole young chicken with glutinous rice, ginseng, and other aromatic ingredients. The restaurant also offers half-chicken portions and variations featuring ingredients such as oyster, medicinal herbs, or antler. Located in the office district around Jonggak and Gwanghwamun, it is a practical choice for visitors looking for a traditional Korean lunch away from the more tourist-oriented restaurants around major palaces. Its range of soup options makes it possible to choose between a smaller meal and a full serving of chicken soup.

FEATURED MENUSamgyetang삼계탕

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08 LOCAL TABLE
Seoul · Jongno & GwanghwamunSamgyetang

Jangsu Samgyetang Nakwon Branch

Jangsu Samgyetang’s Nakwon branch is a Korean soup restaurant in the lively Jongno area of central Seoul. Its specialty is samgyetang, a traditional dish made by simmering a young whole chicken with glutinous rice, ginseng, and other ingredients. The menu also includes half-portion chicken soup and herbal variations, giving diners options depending on their appetite and preferred flavor. Located on the second floor of Nakwon Building, the restaurant is convenient for visitors exploring Jongno 3-ga, Ikseon-dong, and nearby traditional shopping streets. It offers a straightforward way to experience a classic Korean nourishing soup in a neighborhood frequented by local diners.

FEATURED MENUSamgyetang삼계탕

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09 LOCAL TABLE
Seoul · Jongno & GwanghwamunDakhanmari

Baekbujangjip Dakhanmari Main Branch

Baekbujangjip Dakhanmari Main Branch is a Korean chicken restaurant in Gongpyeong-dong, Jongno, near Jonggak Station. It specializes in dakhanmari, a traditional dish featuring a whole chicken simmered in broth with vegetables and rice cakes. The restaurant also serves dakbokkeumtang, a spicy braised chicken dish. Its menu offers a choice between a mild chicken soup meal and a more strongly seasoned chicken dish, making it suitable for different dining preferences. Located in central Seoul's office district, the restaurant is a familiar Korean dining option for workers and visitors exploring Jongno.

FEATURED MENUDakhanmari닭한마리

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010 LOCAL TABLE
Seoul · Jongno & GwanghwamunDakhanmari

Songane Dakhanmari

Songane Dakhanmari specializes in dakhanmari, a traditional Korean dish in which a whole chicken is simmered in broth at the table. The restaurant is located in the Sinseol-dong area of Jongno, Seoul. The broth is known for its generous garlic flavor. Diners can enjoy the chicken with a dipping sauce and finish the meal with noodles or porridge added to the remaining broth.

FEATURED MENUDakhanmari닭한마리

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011 LOCAL TABLE
Seoul · Jongno & GwanghwamunDakdoritang

Jongno Gyerim Dakdoritang Original Main Branch

The restaurant is known for its traditional Korean dakdoritang, a spicy braised chicken dish served in a bubbling pot. Its signature style emphasizes garlic, chili, and a hearty broth rather than elaborate presentation. Located in the Jongno 3-ga area, the original branch has a casual, old-fashioned dining atmosphere. It is a familiar stop for people looking for a traditional Korean chicken stew in central Seoul.

FEATURED MENUDakdoritang닭도리탕

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