Pre-concert set menu at SABAL, a Gwanghwamun Korean restaurant

A Korean restaurant near Gwanghwamun, Seochon and Gyeongbokgung that adds a modern touch to traditional Korean food, making for a special meal.

My husband and I went out on a rare Jongno date and wanted a slightly special meal, since a concert at Sejong Center was scheduled that evening. We looked for somewhere to eat before the show without rushing, and honestly everything — the food, the atmosphere, the staff — was really satisfying. There are so many exhibitions and performances around Gwanghwamun and Gyeongbokgung too, so pairing a meal with culture makes for a great full day out.

Where is SABAL, and how do you walk there from Gwanghwamun or Gyeongbokgung Station?

SABAL is on the first floor commercial building of Gyeonghuigungui Achim 3-danji, 4 Sajik-ro 8-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul. You can reach it from Exit 7 of Gyeongbokgung Station (Line 3) or Exit 1 of Gwanghwamun Station (Line 5) by heading toward the main gate of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency.

It's tucked inside the Gyeonghuigungui Achim 3-danji complex, right across from the police agency's main gate. The side door next to Gyeonghuigung Korean Medicine Clinic or the revolving door beside Myeongseong Real Estate are the easiest ways in. It helps to think of it as diagonally right of KB Kookmin Card's headquarters, across from Yongbieocheonga.

SABAL parking and opening hours

If you're driving, search 'SABAL parking' in your navigation to find the parking lot for the Gyeonghuigungui Achim 3-danji officetel complex. The first hour is free, with up to two hours provided depending on your order amount and wait time. Business hours run from 11:30 to 20:50, with a break time from 14:50 to 17:00. Last order is 14:10 for lunch and 20:10 for dinner, so keep that in mind.

What is the atmosphere like inside SABAL?

Walking in, it felt less like a typical Korean restaurant and more like stepping into a calm gallery.

Toned-down walls, soft lighting, ceramic objects and bamboo accents all came together for a neat, refined feel. Nothing was overdone — Korean touches were placed here and there without feeling excessive, and they actually complemented the food well.

It wasn't too loud or crowded while we ate, so we could chat slowly. There's also terrace seating, which looks great for enjoying the outdoor atmosphere on nice days.

The vibe suits somewhat formal occasions too — it seemed like it would work fine for a business meal or a wedding invitation gathering. I also thought it would be a nice spot to bring my parents for a meal.

Above all, the staff were so polite and kind that I felt genuinely well taken care of the whole time. With both the food and the service this thoughtful, the overall satisfaction felt even higher.

SABAL menu and prices

SABAL bases its menu on traditional Korean flavors while reinterpreting rice, noodle, and soup dishes in a modern way.

• Tangtang octopus deodeok gochujang rice ₩17,000
• Gamtae perilla oil rice ₩17,000
• Hongcho chicken cold noodles ₩16,000
• Chicken noodles ₩16,000
• Oyster mushroom black sesame perilla soup noodles ₩17,000
• Spicy dakgaejang (spicy shredded chicken soup) ₩17,000
• Neungi mushroom chicken gomtang ₩17,000
• Beef spinach curry ₩17,000
• Old-style tteokbokki (stir-fried rice cakes) ₩17,000
• Grilled pork jowl with chamnamul (aster greens) ₩35,000

Looking at the menu, a lot of dishes use familiar Korean ingredients but combine them a bit differently. We ordered the set with both the tangtang octopus deodeok gochujang rice and the gamtae perilla oil rice so we could try a bit of everything.

Cold sweet pumpkin porridge and side dishes to start at SABAL

Before the mains arrived, we were served cold sweet pumpkin porridge. It was smooth and nutty, topped with sliced almonds, which was a nice way to whet our appetite.

Every side dish that came with it was neatly prepared too. Kimchi, pickled vegetables, and a dish with a nutty dressing were all mild rather than overly seasoned, making them easy to nibble before the main dish. I liked that none of the side dishes were too strongly seasoned, so they didn't compete with the main flavors.

Tangtang octopus rice with deodeok gochujang: a sweet-spicy bibimbap

The tangtang octopus deodeok gochujang rice is ₩17,000, and just the sight of all the toppings built up my expectations before I even took a bite. Soft blanched octopus, flying fish roe, fragrant minari (water dropwort), radish sprouts, egg garnish, and seaweed flakes were piled generously on top of the rice.

The colors of each ingredient were so vivid that it looked pretty even before mixing. The octopus was tender, and the flying fish roe added a popping texture, so there was a lot going on in every bite.

Mixing in the house-made deodeok (bellflower root) gochujang tied all the ingredients together with a spicy-sweet kick. The fragrance of the minari and radish sprouts kept what could've been a heavy bibimbap feeling surprisingly fresh.

Gamtae perilla oil bibimbap: the milder, nuttier bowl

The gamtae (seaweed) perilla oil bibimbap had a completely different charm from the octopus bibimbap. Mushrooms, black sesame salt, scallions, and egg garnish sat on top of the rice for an overall muted, clean look. The subtle nutty aroma of perilla oil blended well with the distinct flavor of gamtae.

Without any strong seasoning, there was still plenty of savory depth coming straight from the ingredients — personally, this was a dish that tasted better the more slowly I ate it. Wrapping rice in the gamtae felt fresh too.

Ordering both rice dishes together meant we could switch back and forth between the spicy-sweet octopus bibimbap and the milder, nuttier gamtae perilla oil rice, and the combination worked really well. When one leaned strong, the other balanced it out calmly, so eating them together never got old.

The mini noodles that come with the SABAL set

The mini noodles that came with the set were more memorable than I expected.

The noodles were a bit thicker than somyeon (thin wheat noodles), closer to jungmyeon (medium noodles), so they had a nice chewy bite. The broth was a clear stock made from anchovy and chicken — clean but with a lingering depth. It wasn't heavily seasoned or greasy, so it worked well as a palate cleanser alongside the bibimbap. Especially after eating something as seasoned as the tangtang octopus, sipping the clear broth balanced the flavors so well that I was glad we ordered the set.

A date course pairing SABAL with a Sejong Center concert

We stopped by SABAL before heading to a concert at Sejong Center, and both the location and atmosphere worked well for a date. Around Gwanghwamun and Gyeongbokgung there are concert halls as well as galleries and exhibition spaces, so it's easy to pair a meal with another plan before or after. Eating before a concert like we did works, but so does exploring Gyeongbokgung or Seochon first and finishing with a calm meal.

Is SABAL worth it? Final verdict

I wanted something a little different for a rare Jongno date, and the food, space, and service all left an impression. It's especially convenient to pair with a Sejong Center concert or a walk around Gyeongbokgung and Seochon, so it works well for everything from a meal with parents to a special date. I'd recommend this Gwanghwamun, Seochon, Gyeongbokgung Korean restaurant as a spot for a meal with parents 🩷