Seoul: Small-Group Night Food Tour in Seoul with Korean BBQ
Join the Seoul Night Food Tour for a unique culinary adventure, exploring street food and traditional dishes under the city's vibrant nightscape. An unforgettable even...
40 korean places in Seoul we have eaten in, sorted by editor score. All cuisines in Seoul | Korean across every city.
This is the heart of how Seoul eats, from centuries-old specialists to market counters and tented streets. Tosokchon Samgyetang, Imun Seolnongtang and Hadongkwan are the long-running names, while Woo Lae Oak and Ojangdong Hamheung Naengmyeon carry the North Korean noodle tradition. Bukchon Son Mandu and the Jongno 3-ga Pojangmacha Street round out a category that runs from formal rooms to the city's banchan-laden market stalls.
Tosokchon Samgyetang ★ 4.3
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.
Insa Dodam ★ 4.2
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.
Woo Lae Oak ★ 4.4
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.
Ojangdong Hamheung Naengmyeon ★ 4.2
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.
Hadongkwan ★ 4.3
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.
Imun Seolnongtang ★ 4.4
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.
Bukchon Son Mandu ★ 4.2
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.
Dongdaemun Bonga Seolleongtang ★ 4.1
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.
Vegan Insa ★ 4.3
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.
EID Halal Korean Food ★ 4.1
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.
Vegan Kitchen ★ 4.1
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.
Tosokchon Samgyetang ★ 4.3
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.
Jongno 3-ga Pojangmacha Street ★ 4.2
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).
Insadong Geu Jib ★ 4.1
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.
Woo Lae Oak ★ 4.4
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.
Hadongkwan ★ 4.3
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.
Ojangdong Hamheung Naengmyeon ★ 4.2
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.
Vegan Insa ★ 4.3
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.
Dongdaemun Bonga Seolleongtang ★ 4.1
Dongdaemun · 6-1 Majang-ro 43-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul
Open 24 hours, Bonga near Dongdaemun cooks its seolleongtang in traditional cast-iron pots from ten beef cuts for 24 hours: the bowl that market traders.
Maru Jayeonsik Kimbap ★ 4.2
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.
EID Halal Korean Food ★ 4.1
Itaewon and Hannam · 15 Usadan-ro 10-gil, Yongsan-gu, Seoul
EID on Usadan-ro near Seoul Central Mosque is the city's most respected halal Korean restaurant, run by a Korean Muslim family since the 1990s.
Imun Seolnongtang ★ 4.4
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.
Vegan Kitchen ★ 4.1
Jung-gu · 21 Toegye-ro 20-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul
Vegan Kitchen in Jung-gu serves Korean cuisine in the temple food tradition: no meat, fish, dairy, and in the traditional style, often no garlic or spring.
Mingles ★ 4.9
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
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
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
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.
Soigne ★ 4.6
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
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
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.
Onjium ★ 4.7
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.
Hadongkwan ★ 4.3
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.
Imun Seolnongtang ★ 4.4
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.
Bukchon Son Mandu ★ 4.7
Bukchon and Samcheong · 84-1 Gyedong-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul
Bukchon Son Mandu hides in the residential lanes above Bukchon-ro; jjin-mandu and gukbap mandu soup are the order, kitchen closes when dumplings run out.
Euljiro Pocha Alley ★ 4.4
Jung-gu and Myeongdong · Euljiro 3-ga, Jung-gu, Seoul (behind the fire station)
Euljiro Pocha Alley in Seoul: the tented pojangmacha alley between euljiro 3-ga and the industrial backstreets is off every major tourist map.
Miro Sikdang ★ 4.5
Hongdae and Yeonnam · 80 Wausan-ro 30-gil, Mapo-gu, Seoul
Miro Sikdang is a five-table Korean drinking-food room near Hongik University, often filled by off-duty chefs; go early before the evening service fills it.
Mangwon Market Banchan Counters ★ 4.0
Hongdae and Yeonnam · 2 Mangwon-ro, Mapo-gu, Seoul
Mangwon Market Banchan Counters sell pre-made kimchi, japchae and braised vegetables to locals; visit before 10:00 weekday morning for freshest containers.
Hadongkwan ★ 4.4
Jung-gu and Myeongdong · 12 Myeongdong 9-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul
Hadongkwan has served seolleongtang (milky ox bone and brisket soup) from its Myeongdong address since 1939, at a price that remains practically unchanged.
Imun Seolnongtang ★ 4.5
Jongno and Insadong · 38-13 Ujeongguk-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul
Imun Seolnongtang has served the same bowl since 1904 -- seolnongtang, a milky ox bone and brisket broth, for ₩10,000. Michelin Bib Gourmand recognised.
Namdaemun Market Kalguksu Alley ★ 4.3
Jung-gu and Myeongdong · 21 Namdaemunsijang 4-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul
The kalguksu stalls inside Namdaemun Market serve knife-cut wheat noodles in a clean anchovy-and-kelp broth with zucchini and green onion for ₩7,000-8,000.
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