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Depending on one's palette, quality food in Seoul can be dirt cheap or relatively pricey. Street food in Seoul is safe and tasty, and high-end restaurants are generally a good value as well. Much Korean cuisine is made specifically to be shared with a group so solo-travelers may get some strange looks eating alone.
Opened in 1965, Hakrim Dabang is widely considered the oldest running coffee shop in the area (dabangs are old-school Korean establishments that primarily served coffee and non-alcoholic drinks). Not much has changed since then, including the shelves of vinyl, vintage photographs of Seoul on the walls, and velvet lined seats; walking up the creaky, wooden stairs to the shop almost feels as if you’re traveling into the past. Its name is fitting as Hakrim, meaning “forest of learning,” was once where intellectuals gathered and students secretly organized. The Seoul Metropolitan Government designated Hakrim Dabang as a Seoul Future Heritage site for its role during the Democracy Movement, guaranteeing its preservation for future generations.
Arguably the best cheap wang mandu (king-size dumplings) in Seoul can be ordered at this restaurant in Namdaemun Market, where customers line up for pink take-out boxes from the front counter. The restaurant has two signature types of dumplings: kimchi with a spicy kick, and plain meat with juiciness in each bite. At first, it may seem like the establishment is take-out only but you can eat-in by entering past the counter. You’ll pass the kitchen of busy dumpling-makers and be led upstairs to either the second or third floor. The restaurant also serves kalguksu (knife-cut noodles), shrimp mandu, and galbi (short-rib) mandu, but you can’t go wrong by sticking to the classics. You might have to make an extra effort to get someone to help you but the prices, at ₩4,000 for a plate of dumplings, truly make up for the lack of service.
Although Seoul’s love of coffee has now boomed in the past decade, and the city often tops lists of most cafes per capita, Namusairo was a game changer when it first opened its doors in 2002. The cafe (its name means “through the trees”) boasts specialty beans from all over the world and an airy, elegant aesthetic. Built around a hanok, the cafe has a modern storefront that hides a traditional Korean setting. In recent years, the cafe’s owner Bae Jun-sun has become even more involved in the sourcing of his beans, and the cafe’s Instagram outlines each coffee’s origins and the stories of its farmers.
A local institution since 1989, this bunsik (Korean snack foods) shop is widely considered to serve the best tteokbokki (hot and spicy rice cake) in all of Seoul. Barring pandemic restrictions, they are open 24 hours, but no matter when you go, there will always be a line of people.
A neighborhood institution, Tteuran—meaning inner garden—opened its doors in 2009 long before Ikseon-dong became the tourist hot spot it is today. The traditional tea house inside in a hanok is owned by Kim Ae-ran, a woman who personally worked on the building's renovation and still runs the cafe’s register on a daily basis. In addition to Korean teas, Tteuran has traditional Korean treats such as danpatjuk (sweet red bean porridge) and patbingsu (shaved ice topped with sweet red beans). While you'll find many variations around the city, few establishments excel in the beloved summertime dessert like Tteuran. Take a seat facing the garden, left of the main entrance, and enjoy its vibrant colors over authentic Korean flavors.
Although the humble gimbap (rice and various fillings wrapped in seaweed) is not typically a dish that one would go out of the way for, Yeonhui Gimbap in its Yeonhui-dong headquarters is worth going the extra mile. Known for its creative fillings like the extra-spicy squid and braised beef in soy sauce, the hole-in-the-wall gimbap joint has locations all over the country thanks to its success here. There are several locations in Yeonhui-dong alone and no seating at the original location, but the gimbap here is one of the best cheap meals in the city.
If you're in the mood for a juicy cheeseburger and a craft beer after shopping at nearby IFC Mall, head to this popular local chain that's bathed under neon lights. The trendy spot has a menu aims that aims to excite with experimental choices such as a peanut butter burger and Hawaiian burger loaded with bacon and pineapple.
The Beautiful Tea Museum offers guests a chance to not only sample a variety of Korean teas, but learn the history and properties of them as well. The interior is designed to look like a traditional Korean courtyard, albeit one lined with western style tables. The staff can also help customers decide which of the 130 some teas on offer is best for them. The museum part of the name comes from a gallery exhibiting ceramic works and a display about the traditional teas of Korea, which were once made from flowers rather than tea leaves.
This trendy coffee label from Oakland, California has percolated into South Korea, with its newest location on the fifth floor of the Hyundai Seoul department store. The light-and-tree-filled space with no walls or windows was designed by a landscape architect to give it an outdoor feeling. The crew of well-trained baristas grind and brew each cup by hand to create a bespoke coffee experience.
"Good times" are had by all who order hand-twisted donuts and dessert-like coffee from this trendy shop on Songridan-gil. Choose from flavors like Oreo mint, tiramisu, lotus, or almond chocolate and multiply the sweetness with a caramel salted latte while you sit on the outdoor patio.
Located in the Bukchon Hanok Village, this traditional tea house and hanok offers seating that looks out onto Bugaksan mountain and serves an extensive menu of Korean teas. The staff, accustomed to tourists, can answer any questions you might have about the beverages and can recommend drinks based on your preferences. While the view outwards is undoubtedly the draw, and many prefer to sit on that end of the house, don’t be too disappointed to be seated elsewhere as all seats have a view of the charming little garden in the hanok’s madang (courtyard). Avoid early afternoons, especially on the weekends, as the tea house fills up quickly. If you’re not too fussy about the hour you have tea, your best bet will be after 6 pm when most tourists are out for dinner.
What started as a homemade ice cream venture in a basement in Boston in 1975 has become a global rock ‘n’ roll-themed frozen treat enterprise. There are seven locations in South Korea and the DDP shop features the usual lineup of whimsical flavors and cones inspired by rock stars. They also purvey smoothies, sorbet, and yogurt.
Founded by a pastry chef, barista, and designer trio, Fritz Coffee is a bakery and cafe with three locations in Seoul. This one, Fritz Wonseo, is aptly located in Wonseo-dong, on the first floor of the Arario Museum, a contemporary art museum founded by world-famous collector Kim Chang-il. Fritz visitors can order coffee and sweets from an addendum to the main building then choose from seats either in the courtyard or in a modern hanok that’s been built inside the courtyard. The brand is well known for their single-origin coffee as well as their red bean and butter baked goods, but also make sure to check out the official Fritz goods. The brand’s signature baby seal logo is a favorite among many Seoulites.
Set in a circa-1915 traditional hanok house passed down through generations to the current owner, this is without a doubt the most atmospheric cafe in Dongdaemun. The time-worn interior and tranquil courtyard feel miles (and years) away from the bustling city beyond, and a locavore focus on seasonal Korean ingredients and domestic producers creates a unique menu of baked goods, snacks, tea, coffee, beer, wine, and cocktails. Most of Seoul’s historic hanoks are set in the time-tested Insadong or Bukchon neighborhoods, but this peaceful coffee shop is tucked just off the main road near Heunginjimun Gate.
The word “jopok” means "gangster" in Korean, so the owners of this tteokbokki (spicy rice cakes) restaurant put up a sign that reads, “We’re run by innocent, average men with no affiliation to gangsters” to quell the rumors. Nonetheless, the catchy name has brought them over twenty years of business, and the restaurant is a student favorite for affordable meals of tteokbokki, Busan odeng (savory fishcakes from the Busan region) and twigeum (a variety of deep-fried vegetables). The restaurant stays open until 4:30 am, long after many restaurants in the neighborhood have closed, making it a last-stop for many partygoers. Jopok has one additional location closer to Hongik University Station.
This Samcheong-dong institution serves one of the best gimbaps (seaweed rice rolls) in the country. Although most gimbap restaurants cater to younger demographics with fillings like tonkatsu (fried porklet) and tuna-mayonnaise, this small eatery serves dishes that adhere to more traditional recipes from Joseon kingdom times, including two types of gimbap, kongbiji (ground soybean stew) and Joseon guksi (warm noodles with a soybean-paste soup). Both gimbaps have the typical pickled, yellow radish, ham, and sliced carrot fillings but the Joseon gimbap throws ugeoji namul (seasoned cabbage leaves) into the mix while the Odeng gimbap has an entire sheet of fish cake at its center. These dishes are more of an acquired taste, but the fresh ingredients and the neat ambiance of the restaurant set Joseon Gimbap apart from other gimbap joints.
With a whopping 87,000 fried chicken restaurants in South Korea, and a huge proportion of them set in the Seoul Capital Area, it’s obvious that Koreans love this tasty treat, and one of the most popular chains is Kyochon Chicken. The Dongdaemun location is the company’s largest, and it’s open 24 hours a day, 365 days per year. The interior is that of your typical fast-food joint, but the chicken and beer are spot on. Fun fact: this location is on the second floor of a building directly above a KFC.
One of the city’s best chicken restaurants, Mirak Chicken serves fried chicken three ways: regular, sweet and spicy, and garlic. While the garlic chicken is undoubtedly their signature, be warned that the dish can be a lot to handle, even for fans of the herb, as the garlic is stir-fried and not oven-roasted. The other two options, while overlooked, are great alternatives and pair perfectly with cold, local beer on tap here. Mirak is popular for late-night bites on an evening out, so keep in mind that from 8 pm onward will be quite crowded.
One of the first well-known Western-style vegan restaurants in Seoul, Plant opened in 2013 as the brainchild of former designer and blogger Mipa Lee. Although Plant was first a small cafe for baked goods, its popularity from vegans and non-vegans alike has helped grow the menu and the space. Still operating as a 100% plant-based restaurant, the beloved menu includes a hummus and roasted squash salad, lentil veggie bowl, and mushroom burger in addition to its wide range of desserts. Today, Plant has two locations: this one near Itaewon Station and another in Yeonnam-dong, Hongdae.
While the name of this restaurant means “good year for a rice harvest,” locals often refer to it as the corner place with delicious tteokbokki (spicy stir-fried rice cakes). Eat inside the bare-bones restaurant which is also a functioning rice mill, pairing the tteokbokki with one of its popular sides: soondae (blood sausage), twigim (deep-fried meats and vegetables), or eomuk (fish cakes). Those looking for a quick bite can also get a tteok-kkochi, a fried rice cake skewer dipped in a sweet and spicy sauce, by far the best ₩1,000 snack in the city.
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