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Depending on one's palette, quality food in Seoul can be dirt cheap or relatively pricey. Street food in Seoul is safe and tasty, and high-end restaurants are generally a good value as well. Much Korean cuisine is made specifically to be shared with a group so solo-travelers may get some strange looks eating alone.
While this old-school eatery advertises itself as a boribap (barely rice) establishment, it's most famous for its bossam (steamed pork) set menu. If you're not in the mood for pork, you can also order courses of duck or kodari (semi-dried pollack), along with sides of ddeokgalbi (beef and onion patties), dotori mook (acorn jelly salad), and much more. When it comes time to order drinks, a bottle or two of the milky Korean rice wine known as makgeolli will do wonders to complement this rustic-style meal in the middle of the capital.
On the 81st floor of the Lotte World Tower, this highly lauded fine dining restaurant serves elegantly prepared contemporary Korean fare with sky-high views. Multi-course lunch and dinner menus highlight local ingredients in everything from stuffed abalone to dry-aged striploin, every bite better than the last.
The Jamsil branch of this upscale Japanese restaurant features elegant syokudo (a la carte) and teishoku (set menu) dishes including fresh sushi, pork cutlet, tempura, and sashimi rice bowls. Located in the basement of the Sofitel Ambassador hotel, Kobachi's sleek, minimalist interior perfectly complements the delicious, yet understated food. They also serve Japanese beers, highballs, and sakes from a nice list.
If you're in the mood for some proper Korean barbecue pork, look no further: this highly rated eatery serves grilled samgyeopsal (pork belly) and moksal(pork collar) like nobody's business. The staff will make sure that your meat is grilled to perfection while you can sit back and enjoy the lively atmosphere. Not only are the cuts of meat fresh and thick, but the service is also top notch.
"Good times" are had by all who order hand-twisted donuts and dessert-like coffee from this trendy shop on Songridan-gil. Choose from flavors like Oreo mint, tiramisu, lotus, or almond chocolate and multiply the sweetness with a caramel salted latte while you sit on the outdoor patio.
Since 1984 Buil Galmaegi has been serving up galmaegisal (pork skirt meat) to hungry Jamsil residents, and decades later it's still going strong. This is Korean barbecue in its purest form: hearty, unadorned, and deeply delicious.
This restaurant situated along the Bangi Matgol (Food Alley) is one of the few places in Seoul where you can get a proper bowl of dwaeji gukbap, a savory pork and rice soup that's the specialty of Busan, South Korea's second city. The broth is milky and rich, and they don't skimp on the meat. Make sure to eat plenty of the kimchi and kkakduki (sliced radish kimchi) provided, and to complete the experience, order a bottle of Busan "C1" brand soju to wash it all down.
The Jamsil branch of this popular Seoul chain sits on a corner of the Songridan-gil food and cafe street. The burgers are made with tasty, lean patties, and the buns are super fresh. They also have great fries and a number of soft drinks to choose from, as well as craft beers on tap. It's rare to get a premium burger in Seoul that doesn't break the bank, and Downtowner definitely delivers in this regard. Be prepared to wait, as there's almost always a line.
Who says Korean barbecue is just about pork or beef? This joint takes the idea of grilled meat at your table and adds chicken to the equation, which, if you're a fan of the bird, works very well. The interior is clean and made of bright wood, which adds a countrified, traditional feel to the place. The modun gui (mixed grill) contains several cuts of chicken (dark and white meat), along with some spicy marinated bits to keep you on your toes.
Done up in bright red and neon in the style of a Chicago pizzeria, the Jamsil branch of this Seoul chain will scratch your itch for American-style pies. The sizes range from personal pies to big pizzas that can feed several adults. They also also serve deep dish and baked spaghetti, if you're in the mood. This establishment is take out only.
This Japanese restaurant on the Songridan-gil cafe and food street specializes in tempura donburi (piles of crispy, deep-fried goodness over a bed of fluffy white rice). The ingredients include combinations of shrimp, carrots, peppers, eggs, seaweed, chicken, asparagus, and slices of raw salmon, all served on wooden trays. The interior is clean, cozy, and well-lit, bringing forth the elements that make Japanese dining great, and the menu is limited, which is usually a good sign.
Across from the main gate of Olympic Park, this little Japanese eatery is the perfect spot to grab lunch in between visits to the local sights. Their menu includes donkatsu (pork cutlet), karaage (fried chicken), and ebi (shrimp) set meals, as well as several different Japanese curry dishes. The prices are surprisingly mild, and they also have cold beer on tap.
It can be hard to find authentic Chinese food in Seoul (Korea tends to feature fusion dishes like jajangmyeon [noodles in black bean sauce],tangsuyuk [sweet and sour pork], and jjampong [spicy seafood noodle soup]), which is why Paljinhyang is a breath of fresh air. This is one of the few places in the city where you can get Peking Duck, though you should be prepared to pay for it. They also offer high end versions of Korean-Chinese favorites, like "Olive Beef Rib Jajangmyeon," and "Korean Pork Shoulder Tangsuyuk."
This cool yet friendly coffee bar sits two blocks away from the main strip of the Songridan-gil cafe street, which means it retains its own charms while eschewing the lines and crowds found at the area's more well-known establishments. The interior is sleek yet inviting, with tables and an island espresso bar where solo diners will feel welcome.
Baek Jong-won is probably Korea's best known celebrity chef and restaurateur, and Saemaul is his barbecue chain. If you're looking for very solid Korean grilled pork, you won't go wrong at his Jamsil branch. Situated on the Bangi "Food Alley," Seamaul is known for its mixed grill, pork belly, pork collar, marinated pork, and its signature yeontan bulgogi, which comes in both mild and spicy forms. If you're feeling brave, they also offer makjang (pork intestines).
This popular cold noodle restaurant in the Lotte Mall has an appropriately limited menu. You're best off ordering mul naengmyeon (cold noodles in ice water) with a side of mandu (dumplings), though if you're in the mood for a hearty bowl of soup, try their mandu galbitang (beef short rib dumpling soup). There's often a line, though for good reason: this place, despite its mall location, really nails it.
Great pastries, creative coffee drinks, and even a few select cocktails are served at this hip dessert cafe. The clientele tends to be young and fashionable in a way that appears like they're not even trying.
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