30 korean restaurants worth the trip across South Korea, editor-ranked. All cuisines in South Korea.
Mingles ★ 4.9 · Seoul
Gangnam-gu · 19 Dosan-daero 67-gil, Gangnam-gu, Seoul 06016
One of South Korea's three-Michelin-star restaurants, where chef Mingoo Kang weaves jang (fermented pastes) and cho (vinegars) into contemporary modern.
Jungsik ★ 4.8 · Seoul
Gangnam-gu · 11 Seolleung-ro 158-gil, Gangnam-gu, Seoul
The restaurant that coined New Korean fine dining, where chef Jung Sik Yim's avant-garde plating and Korean pantry ingredients earned two Michelin stars.
La Yeon ★ 4.7 · Seoul
Jung-gu · 249 Dongho-ro, Jung-gu, Seoul
On the 23rd floor of the Shilla Seoul, La Yeon serves royal-tradition Korean tasting menus against a panorama of the Han River basin, holding two Michelin.
Kwonsooksoo ★ 4.7 · Seoul
Gangnam-gu · 37 Apgujeong-ro 80-gil, Gangnam-gu, Seoul
Two Michelin stars in the ES Building's fourth floor: seasonal tasting courses where Kwonsooksoo treats Korean fermentation tradition as a living canvas.
Onjium ★ 4.7 · Seoul
Jongno-gu · 49 Hyoja-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul 03043
One Michelin star for a cultural research institute disguised as a restaurant: chef Cho Eun-hee studies Joseon royal court recipes and reinterprets them.
Soigne ★ 4.6 · Seoul
Gangnam-gu · SINSA SQUARE 2F, Sinsa-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul
Two Michelin stars for a seasonal tasting menu structured like a narrative, each course titled as an act in chef Jun Lee's signature Episode format.
Evett ★ 4.6 · Seoul
Gangnam-gu · 10-5 Dosan-daero 45-gil, Gangnam-gu, Seoul
Australian chef Joseph Lidgerwood and his Korean wife Ginny Kim opened Evett in 2019; in 2025 it was elevated to two Michelin stars for its ingredient-led.
Restaurant Allen ★ 4.6 · Seoul
Gangnam-gu · 231 Teheran-ro, Gangnam-gu, Seoul
Chef Allen Suh, formerly of Eleven Madison Park, brings a Francophile sensibility to Korean ingredients at his two-Michelin-star table in the Centerfield.
Woo Lae Oak ★ 4.4 · Seoul
Jung-gu · 62-29 Changgyeonggung-ro, Jung-gu, Seoul
Open since 1946, Woo Lae Oak is Seoul's canonical address for Pyongyang-style naengmyeon (cold buckwheat noodles), the broth made from hanwoo foreshank.
Tip: The broth is clear and mild; if you want spice ask for bibim naengmyeon. Bulgogi is the other order.
Imun Seolnongtang ★ 4.4 · Seoul
Jongno and Insadong · 38-13 Ujeongguk-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul
Korea's first registered restaurant, open since 1904 in Jongno, still serving a single dish: 17-hour ox bone seolleongtang with sliced brisket.
Tip: Season the broth yourself with the salt provided; adding too much at once is the only mistake you can make.
Woo Lae Oak ★ 4.4 · Seoul
Jung-gu · 62-29 Changgyeonggung-ro, Jung-gu, Seoul
Open since 1946, Woo Lae Oak is Seoul's institution for Pyongyang-style naengmyeon: cold buckwheat noodles in clear hanwoo bone broth, in the Michelin Guide.
Tip: Add the thin slices of cold beef from the side dish to the noodle bowl; it is part of the intended eat.
Imun Seolnongtang ★ 4.4 · Seoul
Jongno and Insadong · 38-13 Ujeongguk-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul
Korea's first registered restaurant, open since 1904 in Jongno, serving one dish unchanged: 17-hour seolleongtang. Michelin Bib Gourmand recognised.
Tip: The breakfast crowd is small; a morning bowl before the palace opens is one of the best starts to a day in old Seoul.
Imun Seolnongtang ★ 4.4 · Seoul
Jongno and Insadong · 38-13 Ujeongguk-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul
Seoul's oldest continuously operating restaurant, first licensed in 1904: ox bones boiled for 17 hours, broth poured over sliced beef and soft wheat.
Tosokchon Samgyetang ★ 4.3 · Seoul
Bukchon and Samcheong · 5 Jahamun-ro 5-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul
The most visited samgyetang (ginseng chicken soup) restaurant in Seoul, set in a cluster of traditional hanok buildings near Gyeongbokgung Palace.
Tip: Come at 10:00 on a weekday to walk straight in; the broth is identical morning and night.
Hadongkwan ★ 4.3 · Seoul
Jung-gu and Myeongdong · 12 Myeongdong 9-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul
Hadongkwan has been open since 1939 in Myeongdong and is in the Michelin Guide for a bowl of seolleongtang that has not changed: slow-cooked ox bone.
Tip: The kitchen closes at 15:30 sharp; arrive for an early lunch to guarantee a bowl.
Vegan Insa ★ 4.3 · Seoul
Jongno and Insadong · 33-18 Ikseon-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul
Vegan Insa in Ikseon-dong Hanok Village serves fully plant-based Korean food in a traditional courtyard house, including vegan bibimbap and banchan spreads.
Tip: The outdoor courtyard seats fill quickly on warm evenings; weekday lunch is the quietest window.
Tosokchon Samgyetang ★ 4.3 · Seoul
Bukchon and Samcheong · 5 Jahamun-ro 5-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul
The most visited samgyetang restaurant in Seoul, set across several traditional hanok houses near Gyeongbokgung Palace with a long daily queue before 11:30.
Tip: Come at opening on weekdays; queues are shortest before 11:30.
Hadongkwan ★ 4.3 · Seoul
Jung-gu and Myeongdong · 12 Myeongdong 9-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul
One of Seoul's oldest restaurants, Hadongkwan serves only seolleongtang (milky-white ox bone soup) from morning until it sells out around 15:30.
Tip: The kitchen closes when the pot is empty, typically mid-afternoon. No dinner service.
Vegan Insa ★ 4.3 · Seoul
Jongno and Insadong · 33-18 Ikseon-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul
Vegan Insa in the hanok lanes of Ikseon-dong is consistently rated one of Seoul's best vegan restaurants: purely plant-based Korean food in a traditional.
Tip: Ikseon-dong is a 10-minute walk from Insadong and worth the detour for its traditional atmosphere.
Hadongkwan ★ 4.3 · Seoul
Jung-gu and Myeongdong · 12 Myeongdong 9-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul
Established in 1939, Hadongkwan is in the Michelin Guide for seolleongtang: ox bone broth slow-cooked to opaque white, seasoned only with salt at the table.
Insa Dodam ★ 4.2 · Seoul
Insadong · 5-1 Insadong 16-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul
Insa Dodam is a renovated hanok off Insadong-gil that runs a lunch-only bibimbap programme, capping bowls per day to lock in same-morning vegetable delivery.
Tip: Bibimbap is lunch-only; arrive before 14:00 to be sure of a dolsot order, and ask for the vegan build if you want the no-egg version.
Ojangdong Hamheung Naengmyeon ★ 4.2 · Seoul
Jung-gu · 108 Mareunnae-ro, Jung-gu, Seoul
Family-run since 1953, Ojangdong serves Hamheung-style cold noodles: the noodles are made from potato starch and are notably chewier than Pyongyang-style.
Tip: Cut the noodles with scissors if you prefer shorter strands; the kitchen leaves them long by tradition.
Bukchon Son Mandu ★ 4.2 · Seoul
Bukchon and Samcheong · 84-1 Gyedong-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul
A hanok courtyard dumpling kitchen in Bukchon, selling hand-formed mandu (dumplings) by the basket to a patient queue of Seoulites who find the 20-minute.
Tip: The mandu guk (dumpling soup) is only slightly more expensive and adds a clear anchovy broth that makes it a meal.
Jongno 3-ga Pojangmacha Street ★ 4.2 · Seoul
Jongno-gu · Jongno 3-ga, Jongno-gu, Seoul
The 200-metre stretch in front of Ikseon-dong from Exit 5 to Exit 6 at Jongno 3-ga Station is Seoul's most concentrated pojangmacha (street food tent).
Tip: Arrive by 19:00 or earlier to find a free stool; cash only at most tents.
Ojangdong Hamheung Naengmyeon ★ 4.2 · Seoul
Jung-gu · 108 Mareunnae-ro, Jung-gu, Seoul
Open since 1953, Ojangdong serves Hamheung-style naengmyeon: potato starch noodles notably chewier than Pyongyang style, best in the spicy bibim version.
Tip: Hamheung noodles are chewier than Pyongyang style; cut with scissors at the table if you prefer shorter strands.
Maru Jayeonsik Kimbap ★ 4.2 · Seoul
Jongno and Insadong · 3-20 Insadong-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul
A traditional Korean lunch counter in Insadong serving plant-based kimbap and banchan, rated 4.5 stars across 400+ HappyCow reviews for consistent quality.
Tip: Arrive early; the seating is limited and the queue forms quickly at lunchtime.
Dongdaemun Bonga Seolleongtang ★ 4.1 · Seoul
Dongdaemun · 6-1 Majang-ro 43-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul
Near Dongdaemun Fashion Market, Bonga cooks its seolleongtang in a traditional gamasot (iron cauldron) from ten beef cuts for 24 hours straight.
Tip: The 24-hour schedule means this is Seoul's best post-midnight beef broth bowl.
EID Halal Korean Food ★ 4.1 · Seoul
Itaewon and Hannam · 15 Usadan-ro 10-gil, Yongsan-gu, Seoul
EID Halal Korean Food on Usadan-ro is one of Seoul's most respected halal restaurants, operated by a Korean Muslim family serving authentic Korean cuisine.
Tip: The Itaewon mosque area on Usadan-ro has the densest concentration of halal restaurants in South Korea.
Vegan Kitchen ★ 4.1 · Seoul
Jung-gu · 21 Toegye-ro 20-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul
Vegan Kitchen in Jung-gu serves Korean cuisine free of meat, fish and dairy in the temple food tradition, rated 4.5 stars across over 400 HappyCow reviews.
Tip: Temple food avoids garlic and spring onions; ask whether the kitchen follows this convention or not before ordering.
Insadong Geu Jib ★ 4.1 · Seoul
Insadong · 3 Insadong 12-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul 03146
Insadong Geu Jib is a hanok-style Korean restaurant set in a narrow Insa-dong alley, serving dolsot bibimbap, beef-tartare bibimbap and bulgogi-and-vegetable.
Tip: The bulgogi yachaemari rolls (pick beef, pork or chicken) are the house specialty: thin meat with vegetables, hand-rolled at the table.