Looking for the best Korean restaurants in Seoul? This guide sorts our picks by neighborhood, so you can eat well wherever your day takes you: Myeongdong, Gwangjang Market, Gyeongbokgung, Ikseon-dong, Seongsu, Hongdae, Itaewon and Gangnam. Every pick is a place foreign visitors actually search for, with the dish to order, the price, the nearest subway station and how to deal with the line.
Most meals here cost ₩10,000–20,000 per person. Several picks are in the MICHELIN Guide, and none of them need a fancy budget.
Quick Picks: Where to Eat in Seoul
| Neighborhood | Restaurant | What to order | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Myeongdong | Myeongdong Kyoja | Kalguksu (noodle soup) | ₩12,000 |
| Gwangjang Market | Soonhee-ne Bindaetteok | Mung bean pancake | About ₩6,000 |
| Gwangjang Market | Gohyang Kalguksu | Kalguksu (Netflix stall) | About ₩7,000 |
| Gyeongbokgung | Tosokchon Samgyetang | Samgyetang | ₩20,000 |
| Anguk | Muguok | North Korean-style samgyetang | ₩18,000 |
| Ikseon-dong | Damsot | Eggplant sotbap (pot rice) | ₩13,000 |
| City Hall | Goryeo Samgyetang | Samgyetang (clear broth) | ₩20,000 |
| Seongsu | Gebang Sikdang | Soy crab roe bibimbap | ₩26,000 |
| Seongsu | Solsot | Steak sotbap | ₩17,900 |
| Hongdae | Eongteori Saenggogi | All-you-can-eat pork BBQ | ₩16,800 |
| Itaewon | EID | Halal bulgogi, bibimbap | About ₩8,000–15,000 |
| Seocho (Gangnam) | 3rd Samgyetang | Pine nut samgyetang | ₩19,500 |
What to Eat in Seoul: 10 Korean Dishes to Try
- Samgyeopsal (삼겹살): thick pork belly grilled at your table and wrapped in lettuce.
- Samgyetang (삼계탕): a whole young chicken stuffed with rice and ginseng, served in broth.
- Kalguksu (칼국수): knife-cut wheat noodles in a hot broth.
- Bindaetteok (빈대떡): a crispy pancake made from ground mung beans.
- Sotbap (솥밥): rice cooked to order in a small iron pot with toppings.
- Ganjang gejang (간장게장): raw crab marinated in soy sauce, eaten with rice.
- Tteokbokki (떡볶이): chewy rice cakes in a sweet and spicy sauce.
- Bibimbap (비빔밥): rice topped with vegetables, meat and chili paste, mixed before eating.
- Naengmyeon (냉면): cold buckwheat noodles, a summer favorite.
- Korean fried chicken (치킨): double-fried chicken, best with beer (chimaek).
Myeongdong
Myeongdong Kyoja (명동교자)
A Myeongdong institution and a MICHELIN Bib Gourmand for ten years in a row (2017–2026). The kalguksu comes in a rich, cloudy chicken broth with tiny dumplings, and the garlicky kimchi is famous on its own. Order at the kiosk, which has English, Japanese and Chinese.
- Order: Kalguksu ₩12,000, mandu (dumplings) ₩13,000
- Station: Myeongdong Station (Line 4)
- Hours: Daily 10:30–21:00 (last order 20:30). Closed on Seollal and Chuseok.
- Tip: Walk-in only. The line moves very fast. Naver Map
Myeongdong Street Food Night Market
Every evening the main streets of Myeongdong fill with food stalls. Come hungry and graze.
- When: Stalls open in the afternoon and are busiest from about 18:00 to 21:00. They close around 22:00–23:00.
- What to try: Egg bread (₩2,000–2,500), tteokbokki (about ₩5,000), chicken skewers (₩5,000–6,000)
- Budget: ₩10,000–20,000 per person for a good sampling. Most stalls take cards, but carry a little cash.
Gwangjang Market (Jongno 5-ga)
Seoul’s best-known traditional food market. The eating alleys run from about 09:00 to 23:00, although each stall keeps its own hours. Take Line 1 to Jongno 5-ga Station, Exit 8.
Soonhee-ne Bindaetteok (순희네 빈대떡)
You will smell this stall before you see it. Mung beans are ground on site and fried into thick, crispy pancakes.
- Order: Mung bean pancake (녹두빈대떡), about ₩6,000
- Hours: About 09:00–21:00
- Tip: Share one between two people and save room for other stalls. Naver Map
Gohyang Kalguksu (고향칼국수)
The hand-cut noodle stall run by Cho Yonsoon, featured on Netflix’s Street Food: Asia (Seoul episode). Expect a queue at peak times.
- Order: Kalguksu, about ₩7,000
- Location: Stall A70, east section of the market
- Tip: Opening days can change, so check Naver Map before you go. Naver Map
Gyeongbokgung & Anguk
Tosokchon Samgyetang (토속촌삼계탕)
The most famous samgyetang in Seoul, served in hanok buildings near Gyeongbokgung Palace. The broth is thick and nutty, and every table gets a free shot of ginseng liquor.
- Order: Samgyetang ₩20,000
- Station: Gyeongbokgung Station (Line 3), Exit 2
- Hours: Daily 10:00–22:00 (last order 21:00)
- Tip: Walk-in only. Avoid the 12:00–13:00 lunch rush. Naver Map
Muguok (무구옥)
Where Justin Bieber ate in October 2026. North Korean-style samgyetang, with chicken, broth and rice served separately and cooked in big iron cauldrons. Newly listed in the MICHELIN Guide in 2026.
- Order: North Korean-style samgye baekban ₩18,000
- Station: Anguk Station (Line 3), Exit 1
- Hours: Daily 11:00–21:00, break 15:00–17:30
- Tip: The waitlist opens at 10:00 on site, or join remotely on the CatchTable app. Naver Map
Full details on both: Tosokchon Samgyetang: Menu, Wait & Muguok.
Ikseon-dong
Damsot (담솥)
Damsot cooks rice to order in small iron pots inside the hanok alleys of Ikseon-dong. The signature eggplant sotbap is a good choice even for people who don’t usually like eggplant.
- Order: Eggplant sotbap ₩13,000, steak sotbap ₩19,000
- Station: Jongno 3-ga Station (Lines 1, 3, 5), Exit 4
- Hours: Daily 11:00–21:30, break 15:30–17:00 (last order 20:30)
- Tip: Walk-in only, and peak-time waits are often 20 minutes or more. There is an English photo menu. Naver Map
City Hall
Goryeo Samgyetang (고려삼계탕)
Open since 1960 and often called Korea’s first samgyetang restaurant. The broth is clear and light, a good contrast to Tosokchon. It was listed in the MICHELIN Guide Seoul from 2017 to 2023.
- Order: Samgyetang ₩20,000
- Station: City Hall Station, Exit 10 (about 1 minute)
- Hours: Mon–Fri 10:30–21:00, Sat–Sun 10:30–20:30. Closed on Seollal and Chuseok days.
- Naver Map
Seongsu-dong
Gebang Sikdang (게방식당)
A modern soy crab restaurant. The original Gangnam location is MICHELIN-listed, and the Seongsu branch serves the same menu. If raw crab feels like too much, the crab roe bibimbap is the easy way in.
- Order: Soy crab roe bibimbap ₩26,000, spicy crab roe bibimbap ₩15,000
- Station: Seongsu Station (Line 2), Exit 3 or 4
- Hours: Tue–Sun 11:30–21:00, break 15:00–17:30. Closed Mondays.
- Tip: Book on CatchTable, because walk-ins are often turned away. Naver Map
Solsot (솔솥)
Another sotbap spot, popular with Seongsu shoppers. Each pot comes with toppings like steak, abalone or sea bream.
- Order: Steak, abalone or sea bream sotbap ₩17,900, eel sotbap ₩25,900
- Station: Seongsu Station (Line 2), Exit 4
- Hours: Daily 11:30–21:00, break 15:00–17:00
- Tip: Join the waitlist on CatchTable. Naver Map
Hongdae
Eongteori Saenggogi (엉터리생고기)
All-you-can-eat Korean BBQ that is easy on the wallet, listed by VisitKorea. Pork belly and neck come with soybean paste stew and kimchi.
- Order: All-you-can-eat samgyeopsal and moksal ₩16,800 per person (minimum 2 people)
- Station: Hongik University Station (Line 2), Exit 9
- Hours: Daily 11:00–23:00
- Tip: On weekends, arrive before 18:00 to skip the line. Naver Map
Itaewon
EID Halal Korean Food (이드)
A KMF halal-certified Korean restaurant a few minutes’ walk below the Seoul Central Mosque. It’s the go-to spot for Muslim travelers who want bulgogi, bibimbap or samgyetang.
- Order: Halal bibimbap (about ₩8,000), bulgogi (about ₩15,000), samgyetang (about ₩18,000)
- Station: Itaewon Station (Line 6), Exit 3 or 4, then about 5 minutes uphill
- Tip: Hours change from time to time, so check Naver Map before going. Naver Map
Gangnam & Seocho
3rd Samgyetang (3대삼계장인)
Run by one family since 1973 and named a MICHELIN Bib Gourmand in 2026. The broth is thick and hearty, and the menu offers pine nut, mung bean and mugwort versions.
- Order: Pine nut samgyetang ₩19,500
- Station: Seoul National University of Education Station (Lines 2, 3), Exit 14, about 3 minutes
- Hours: Daily from about 10:30 to 22:00, no break. Closed on Seollal and Chuseok.
- Tip: Use the Tabling app for the waitlist. Naver Map
Tips for Eating Out in Seoul
- Break time: Many restaurants close between lunch and dinner, usually around 15:00–17:30. Check before you go.
- Waitlist apps: Popular places use CatchTable or Tabling instead of reservations. CatchTable Global works in English without a Korean phone number.
- BBQ minimums: Barbecue restaurants usually require at least two servings per table.
- Side dishes are free and refillable. Water is often self-serve.
- No tipping. Cards are accepted almost everywhere, and many places order through a kiosk or tablet.
- Use Naver Map or Kakao Map, not Google Maps, for walking directions and current hours.
FAQ
How much does a meal cost in Seoul?
At the restaurants in this guide, most meals cost ₩10,000–20,000 per person. Specialties like soy crab cost more.
Which cheap Seoul restaurants are in the MICHELIN Guide?
Myeongdong Kyoja and 3rd Samgyetang are Bib Gourmands, and Muguok was newly listed in 2026. All three charge under ₩20,000 for their signature dish.
Do I need reservations at Seoul restaurants?
Most casual Korean restaurants are walk-in. Busy places run a waitlist through CatchTable or Tabling, and a few, like Gebang Sikdang, are much easier with a booking.
Where can I find halal Korean food in Seoul?
Around the Seoul Central Mosque in Itaewon. EID is a KMF halal-certified Korean restaurant there.
Prices and hours were checked in November 2026 and can change. Check Naver Map before you go.
Browse more Seoul restaurant guides or find restaurants by region.