Restaurant guides, local food spots, and places to eat in Seoul for international travelers.
Mangwon Market is one of the easiest places in Seoul to turn a traditional-market visit into a relaxed food crawl. Mangwon Market food ranges from stuffed fried peppers and handmade dumplings to noodles, gimbap, hotteok, and other easy-to-share market snacks. Located in Mapo-gu near Hongdae, Hapjeong, and Mangwon Hangang Park, the market is compact enough…
Gyeongbokgung Palace is one of the best places in Seoul to combine Korean history, traditional architecture, and food in a single day. Built in 1395, Gyeongbokgung was the primary royal palace of the Joseon Dynasty and stood at the center of Hanyang, the city that later became modern Seoul. The palace was heavily damaged during…
The best gimbap in Seoul can look very different from one shop to another, but gimbap itself is one of the easiest Korean foods to fit into a Seoul trip. A roll can work as breakfast before sightseeing, a quick solo lunch, a market snack, or an easy takeaway meal when you do not want…
Korean food in Seoul does not always have to mean barbecue, spicy stew, or a table full of side dishes. If you want something warm, gentle, and easy to eat, Korean porridge, called juk (죽), is one of the most practical meals to try. Juk is made by slowly cooking rice with water or broth…
A steaming bowl of kalguksu may not be as internationally famous as Korean barbecue, fried chicken, or bibimbap, but it is one of the most comforting local meals you can eat in Seoul. Kalguksu is made with soft wheat noodles traditionally cut from rolled dough with a knife. Depending on the restaurant, the noodles may…
Samgyetang may look simple at first: one small chicken, a steaming broth, and a few traditional ingredients. However, the experience can be surprisingly different from one restaurant to another. Some restaurants serve a light and clean chicken broth with a noticeable ginseng aroma. Others make thick, creamy soups with perilla seeds, pine nuts, mung beans,…
Finding the best Korean breakfast in Seoul can be surprisingly confusing for first-time visitors. Many cafés and regular restaurants do not open until later in the morning, while hotel breakfast buffets can be expensive and may not feel like the local food experience you came to Korea for. Fortunately, some long-running Korean restaurants begin serving…
Bibimbap is one of the easiest Korean dishes to recommend to a first-time visitor. It is colorful, filling, easy to order as a single meal, and flexible enough for travelers with very different tastes. If you are still deciding what else to eat during your first trip, our guide to 15 must-try Korean foods in…
Why Korean Fried Chicken Is Worth Trying in Seoul Korean fried chicken is one of the easiest foods to try on a first trip to Seoul, but choosing where to eat can be less straightforward. Famous chains such as BBQ, Kyochon, and BHC are convenient and beginner-friendly, while long-running local spots offer a more traditional…
Introduction: Korean Food Is Not Always Spicy Many first-time visitors arrive in Seoul with one big food question: “Is all Korean food spicy?” The answer is no. While Korea is famous for dishes like tteokbokki, kimchi jjigae, spicy ramyeon, and fiery chicken dishes, Seoul also has many mild, comforting, beginner-friendly Korean restaurants that are perfect…