Chungmuro beef noodle spot after Namsangol Hanok Village: Bao Seoul

A Chungmuro hangout spot for Taiwanese food: Bao Seoul | BAO Seoul

Where is Bao Seoul Chungmuro? A small slice of Taiwan down an alley

Bao Seoul Chungmuro is a Taiwanese restaurant tucked in an alley off Toegye-ro 27-gil in Jung-gu, Seoul, just a 3-minute walk from Chungmuro Station. After looking around Namsangol Hanok Village, I was craving something a little different.

Korean food felt a bit routine since I eat it all the time, and the usual pasta or barbecue place felt predictable too. That's when Bao Seoul Chungmuro caught my eye. A menu and atmosphere full of Taiwanese vibes — I got curious how it would taste. Here's an unusual meal that's perfect for an Euljiro outing course, let's get into it!

The sign catches your eye from far away, and walking along the alley your gaze naturally settles here. Just encountering that local Taiwan feel in the middle of Seoul made me more excited. Green plants climb up the wall adding a warm touch, and the phrase 'TAIWANESE RESTAURANT' glows brightly — it felt like a trip to Taiwan.

Outside this Chungmuro restaurant, Bao Seoul, there was also a menu board you could check at a glance.

• 📍 Location: 31 Toegye-ro 27-gil, 1F Unit 1, Jung-gu, Seoul, South Korea
• 🚇 Transit: 3 min walk from Chungmuro Station; 8 min from Euljiro 3(sam)-ga or Myeongdong Station
• 🚗 Parking: Hanil Cheonggang parking lot (10 sec walk, ₩1,000/10 min, ₩15,000 max)
• ⏰ Hours: 11:00–21:30 (break time Mon–Fri 15:00–16:00, Sat–Sun 16:00–17:00)

Inside Bao Seoul Chungmuro: open kitchen and neon-lit interior

Inside, Bao Seoul Chungmuro is an exotic space filled with movie posters, a traditional calendar, and neon signs, with an open kitchen. The moment I stepped through the door, I felt that exotic atmosphere.

Movie posters and a traditional calendar on the walls made me feel like I'd stepped into a local café. The neon signs and props all come together — isn't this the spot for an unusual Euljiro-Myeongdong date course? The tables and chairs are arranged casually, comfortable for hanging out with friends, and the soft lighting made the whole space feel warm.

👩‍🍳🍜 The kitchen is an open format, so you could watch the chefs cooking right in front of you. The sounds and smells drifting over the glass partition built up anticipation before the meal even started. The wait wasn't boring at all — it was actually part of the fun, watching the cooking process.

How do you order at Bao Seoul Chungmuro? On the table tablet

At Bao Seoul Chungmuro, you can pick your menu and pay right at your seat. The screen neatly lays out photos and descriptions for everything from signature sets to rice bowls and bao, making it easy to choose.

What impressed me was that it even guides you on 'how to eat it best' — a small detail, but memorable. The tip to leave the rice as is and mix only the toppings for the best flavor showed real care for guests.

What three people ordered and what it cost: beef noodles, pork belly rice bowl, classic bao

At Bao Seoul Chungmuro, we ordered Taiwanese beef noodles for ₩17,000, braised pork belly rice bowl for ₩15,000, and classic bao for ₩12,000. Eating one noodle dish and one rice bowl while splitting the bao in half turned out to be just right.

🍜✨ Bao, rice bowl, and beef noodles all laid out on the table. Enjoying Chungmuro food is important, but adding Taiwanese liquor on top would make it perfect!!

Taiwanese beef noodles, 17,000 won: rich broth and tender beef

🥢 The beef noodles were loaded with beef shank, giving it a satisfying chew. The broth was rich yet clean, and the noodles lifted up with chopsticks were nice and springy. The moment I took the first spoonful, it felt like I was sitting in a Taiwanese alley instead of Chungmuro.

Braised pork belly rice bowl, 15,000 won: soft pork over rice

🍚 The braised pork belly rice bowl had softly cooked pork with a rich sauce mixed into the rice — addictive. And that cabbage kimchi-like side was totally crunchy and delicious! The real star that completes this generous bowl. Every spoonful of rice soaked up the sauce for deep flavor.

Classic bao, 12,000 won: a Taiwanese-style burger in a fluffy bun

🥯 Between the fluffy bun sits slow-cooked pork with plenty of special sauce. Savory peanut powder and scallions add different textures with every bite, and one bite in it brought to mind a night market... haha

Is Bao Seoul Chungmuro worth adding to an Euljiro or Myeongdong day out?

Bao Seoul Chungmuro is both a great Chungmuro restaurant and a must-add hangout spot for an Euljiro date course. The menu reinterprets Taiwanese flavors in an approachable way, and it would work well for dates, meetups, or company dinners too. It's just one meal, but it felt like a small trip away in the middle of Chungmuro. I'll share our stop at Namsangol Hanok Village soon too!