Miseongok
미성옥 · Soups & Stews
ABOUT
Miseongok is a traditional Korean restaurant in Myeongdong that has been serving Seolleongtang, a slow-cooked Korean beef soup, since 1966. The restaurant keeps its menu remarkably simple, focusing on Seolleongtang and Suyuk, boiled beef served as a separate dish. Its Seolleongtang is known for a clean, savory beef broth rather than an aggressively rich or salty flavor. Thin noodles and generous pieces of beef are served in the soup, making it a complete and comforting meal. For travelers, Miseongok offers a different side of Myeongdong from the busy shopping streets and tourist restaurants. The restaurant has long been part of the everyday food culture of central Seoul and is still visited by local diners as well as international visitors. Its early opening hours also make it particularly useful for travelers looking for a traditional Korean breakfast before exploring Myeongdong, City Hall or Euljiro.
WHAT LOCALS SAY
the appeal is not strong spice or intense seasoning, but the slow-developed flavor of beef and broth. The kimchi and kkakdugi are an important part of the meal. Reviews repeatedly mention their refreshing, well-seasoned flavor, and many diners naturally alternate between spoonfuls of soup and bites of kimchi or radish kimchi. Some local food guides specifically recommend eating the beef and noodles first and then adding rice to the remaining broth, allowing the soup to become a more substantial final part of the meal. The atmosphere is firmly on the traditional neighborhood restaurant side. Diningcode reviews describe it as casual, busy and popular with local residents, with breakfast and lunch being particularly common occasions. There may be a wait during busy periods, but the simple menu allows food to come out quickly. For visitors, the experience is less about polished service and more about sitting down for a straightforward bowl of an old Seoul classic.
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PRACTICAL INFO
Know before
you go.
6AM–9PM
NO BREAK TIME
OPEN DAILY
₩13,000–₩15,000 / serving
If you are staying around Myeongdong and want to try a traditional Korean breakfast, Miseongok is an easy choice. It opens at 6:00 AM every day, so you can eat here before the main shopping streets become busy. The menu is very simple—Seolleongtang or Suyuk—so you do not need to worry about navigating a complicated Korean menu. The restaurant is tucked inside a narrow alley in Myeongdong, so do not be surprised if it is not immediately visible from the main shopping street. Look for the Miseongok sign and follow the alley inside. There is no dedicated parking, so visitors using a rental car should plan for nearby parking instead. If you want the most local-feeling experience, come in the morning, order Seolleongtang, and enjoy it with kimchi and kkakdugi alongside the regular Korean breakfast crowd.
서울 중구 명동길 25-11 1층25-11 Myeongdong-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul
+82-2-776-8929
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