Seoul's restaurants offer a wide variety of dishes from local and regional Korean favourites to international cuisine. With so many great options on the table, it isn’t always easy to know where to go. In these situations, it's best to follow those in the know: the locals.
While Seoul's 5-star restaurants will certainly serve you outstanding dishes, no one can afford to eat in these places every day. Locals tend to gravitate towards budget-friendly places that still pack in a lot of flavour. Here are some of the best places to go to find authentic local-favourite food in Seoul.
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Jangchung-dong
Spicy pig trotters in Jokbal Alley
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Jangchung-dong earned the nickname 'Jokbal Alley' for the number of places serving this local specialty: spicy braised pig trotters. Many traditional jokbal restaurants here have been open since the 1970s, following the opening of the Jangchung Arena.
You’ll find that the jokbal restaurants tend to have similar menus and pricing, so don’t worry too much about which you choose. Most are open late and a few run around the clock. The alley is an excellent spot for a late-night hangout and snacks.
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Garosu-gil
A popular date spot with an international menu
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Garosu-gil is one of the city’s most popular shopping and dining districts and tends to attract a young and alternative crowd. International restaurants and hip cafes stand side by side with bookstores, art galleries and antique furniture shops on the main street lined with ginkgo trees and the neighbourhood beyond.
The area’s trendiness and charm attract a lot of local couples. There’s something for every budget here, with upscale and casual eateries in equal measure. You’ll find everything from tacos and dim sum to Vietnamese, soufflé pancakes and, of course, Korean barbeque.
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Namdaemun Kalguksu Noodle Alley
Longstanding market alley offering low prices and large portions
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Kalguksu Noodle Alley is one of the busiest food streets in Seoul. Located inside the Namdaemun Market, the city’s largest and oldest traditional market, the steam-filled alleyway is packed with vendors selling kalguksu, a bowl of knife-cut noodle soup. This spot has remained a popular spot to get a filling and affordable meal since its opening in 1988.
Vendors enthusiastically call passersby to their counters, and as the place tends to get crowded it’s best to take whatever seat you can get. All the vendors in the alley make their noodles by hand and cook them to order in a salty anchovy broth before topping with fried tofu and sesame seeds.
Dirección: 42-1 Namdaemunsijang 4-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul, South Korea
Horario: Monday–Friday from 5 am to 9 pm, Saturday from 6 am to 9 pm, Sunday from 6 am to 8 pm
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Seorae Village
For a little French flair
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Seorae Village offers a glimpse of Paris in the middle of Seoul. Following the establishment of the Lycée Français in the 1980s, a small French community of expats settled here, and over the years a few European-style restaurants and cafes opened. There is even a bakery making classic baguettes using imported, made-in-France ingredients.
The charming cafes tend to be small and cosy, and many put tables out on the pavement in the warmer months. Wine bars offer a relaxed environment to sip and snack. Conveniently located in the centre of the city, walk over for a quiet evening after an afternoon at Hangang River Park.
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Namdaemun Hairtail Alley
Chilli-based aromas fill the air in this popular market alley
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Located within the maze of the sprawling Namdaemun Market, Hairtail Alley is a favourite destination for those seeking a piping hot dish of galchi jorim: braised hairtail stew. Locals are happy to line up for this spicy dish, which originated in Jeju Island and is served here at bargain prices.
The fish is cooked over an open fire in a thin brass bowl. The stew is heavily seasoned with gochujang and red pepper flakes, so expect it to be as hot as its fiery colour suggests. The flesh is sweet and tender, but don’t gobble this fish down too fast, as you’ll have to navigate around all its tiny bones.
Dirección: 21 Namdaemunsijang 4-gil, Hoehyeon-dong, Jung-gu, Seoul, South Korea
Horario: Daily from 10 am to 10 pm
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Ikseon-dong
Charming district with sweet treats
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Old meets new in Ikseon-dong's Hanok Village, where about 100 single-storey hanok houses have been converted into modern cafes and retail shops. The pretty little street is well-loved by the younger generations of locals and sees a lot of crowds in the evenings and on weekends.
Tea houses and craft beer bars are abundant here and often have trendy elements. One bar even serves its craft brews in chemistry beakers. Bakeries, ice cream shops and dessert cafes are common, too. One café serves decadent desserts and matcha in a lush, lantern-filled garden.
Horario: Thursday–Tuesday from 10 am to 9 pm, Wednesday from 11.30 am to 9 pm
Teléfono: +82 (0)22-148-5243
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Yeonnam-dong
Brunch by the park
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Yeonnam-dong is a busy stretch of the Gyeongui Line Forest Park lined with cafes and international eateries. Often compared to New York’s Central Park for its green spaces and tree-lined paths right in the middle of the city, it also shares features with New York’s High Line, as it follows the path of an out-of-use railway line.
This city respite is well-loved by locals, who come to brunch al fresco and take walks through the greenery. You’ll find Italian restaurants, a popular dessert shop and even a Little Chinatown. On the weekends, Dongjin Market sets up shop, with sellers offering vintage clothing and handmade accessories.
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Euljiro Golbaengi Alley
A working-class favourite dish
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Golbaengi Alley is an under-the-radar part of hip Euljiro. The neighbourhood has been the gritty home of the working class since its development in the 1970s, and only in recent years has it drawn a young artist crowd. Exit the Euljiro 3-ga subway station and you’ll find yourself facing Golbaengi Alley, a small cluster of restaurants serving golbaengi muchim, a sweet-sour-spicy dish of whelk and spring onions over noodles.
Grab a seat with the local tradespeople at one of the outdoor tables and order a cheap beer to wash down your golbaengi. Afterwards, take an evening stroll to explore the craft beer bars and late-night spots around the rest of urban-chic Euljiro.
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Usadan-gil
Halal foods and friendly neighborhood atmosphere
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Usadan-gil stretches from Dokkebi Market to Seoul Central Mosque at the top of Itaewon Hill. This neighbourhood has a cosy, chaotic charm, with relics of the 60s and 70s standing next door to artists' studios and new coffee shops. You’ll find many hole-in-the-wall eateries here, including shops selling kebabs and halal foods, a rarity in Seoul.
The neighbourhood has a lot of personality, and artists' murals bring streets and staircases to life. If you can, time your visit for the last Saturday of the month when local artists vend their collections and creations at the Stairway Flea Market.
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Hwayang-dong
Cheap eats in East Seoul’s new Chinatown
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You’ll see more signboards written in Chinese than Korean in Hwayang-dong, a district known for its Chinese food culture. A cluster of streets to the southwest of Konkuk University are filled with restaurants serving hot pot, lamb skewers and Szechuan cuisine.
Prices tend to be affordable to cater to the local student crowd and many offer buy-one-get-one deals, so bring an appetite and a friend. Once you’ve filled up, head to the string of karaoke bars on Dongil-ro for a night of singing and revelry.
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