Spicy El Taco burger and onion rings at Reel Burger, Gwanghwamun Seoul

I went to a new handmade burger place that just opened next to my office. Turns out this was a genuine handmade burger gem in Jongno. Reel Burger Gwanghwamun sits between Jonggak Station and Gwanghwamun Station. We ordered three different burgers, and one of them turned out to be a menu item developed with chef Won-il Lee's consulting. It was the best burger I've had in a while.

Reel Burger Gwanghwamun at a glance

Burgers run ₩9,400 to ₩14,900, and sides run ₩5,900 to ₩7,900.

What we ordered

• No.2 Classic Burger
• No.4 El Taco Burger
• No.5 Egg Benedict Burger
• Crispy Onion Rings
• Coca-Cola 355ml

One-line review: the bread and patty are a different league from franchise burgers. Glad we got a side too.

Who this is for: If you're fine with spices, go El Taco, if the aroma feels like too much, go Egg Benedict, if it's your first time, go Classic.

Where is Reel Burger Gwanghwamun? Walking there from Jonggak Station

Reel Burger Gwanghwamun is at 71 Sambong-ro, 1F Unit 105, Jongno-gu, Seoul. It's less than 400m from Jonggak Station Exit 2. You can also walk there from Gwanghwamun Station Exit 2 on Line 5. My office is nearby, so I walked over. If you're looking for a Gwanghwamun burger place, the location is hard to fault.

At the entrance there was a CatchTable waiting tablet. When we arrived around 6:10pm on a weekday, the screen said to walk right in, no waiting. So we went straight in. But the fact that they've set up a tablet at all suggests lines form during busier hours.

One thing worth knowing before you go. They're open daily from 11am to 8:30pm, with a break time from 3pm to 5pm. Show up in that awkward post-lunch window and you'll find the door closed. Last order is also split — 2:30pm before break time, 8pm before closing.

The Reel Burger story: from Ttukseom Hangang Park to chef Lee Won-il

Before eating, I assumed this was just another new handmade burger place. A poster on the wall said the brand started back in 2023. It began as a handmade burger stand for people visiting Ttukseom Hangang Park. Now it also has a location in The Hyundai Seoul in Yeouido. That's where the chef Won-il Lee story comes in. Our No.4 El Taco Burger is that very menu item. The poster explains it was developed with chef Won-il Lee's consulting after an appearance on the YouTube show "Boss, Not Manager" (과장말고 사장하자). We just ordered the most popular item without realizing that's what it was.

Reel Burger menu and prices: three of us, three different picks

The three of us each ordered a different burger, and our reasons were all different. One person picked the El Taco Burger because you have to try the most popular thing. Another picked the Classic Burger, reasoning that a new place should be judged on the basics. I picked the Egg Benedict Burger because I generally love eggs. Looking back, it turned out to be a great combination. The three burgers were so different in character that we ended up sampling the whole Reel Burger lineup in one sitting.

Before the burgers arrived, pickles, olives, and two sauces came out first.

No.4 El Taco Burger: how spicy is a three-chili rating?

The menu showed three chili peppers next to this item, so we all braced ourselves. Once we tried it, it definitely wasn't Shin Ramyun-level spicy. It was milder than that, mild enough that even someone who can't handle spice could eat it without worry. It's built with taco sauce, nachos, onion rings, and a beef patty. It was fun that a whole onion ring goes inside the burger. The fried bits are crispy, the onion in the salsa is crunchy, and the bun is soft. Crispy, crunchy, and soft all arrive in a single bite. The flavor is distinctly taco, but the meat patty and bun back it up with substance. We agreed it's far more filling than eating an actual taco.

One honest note, though. There's a clear cilantro and spice aroma that will divide people. And we weren't the only ones to notice. The order page explicitly states cilantro cannot be removed. The fact that the restaurant states this upfront tells you how defined this burger's character is. If you're okay with spices, it's bright and full of flavor. But if you can't handle cilantro, skip this one.

No.2 Classic Burger: bacon jam and a gentle smoky char

The Classic Burger is built with house bacon jam, Reel Burger sauce, cheese, romaine, and tomato. This bacon jam has its own backstory too. The menu description notes it's the house bacon jam beloved by chef Edward Lee, who appeared on Culinary Class Wars (흑백요리사). True to its name, it was a burger that nailed the basics. The patty had a subtle smoky char. Despite the cheese, it wasn't greasy. The coworker who ordered it said they hadn't had a burger this good in a long time. I'd recommend this one for first-timers. There's no spice to worry about, and it shows off Reel Burger's fundamentals most honestly.

No.5 Egg Benedict Burger: the pick when spice is too much

I had the Egg Benedict Burger. I picked it because I generally love eggs, and it turned out to be a good call. It comes with hollandaise sauce, jambon ham, poached egg, and arugula. The half-cooked egg paired with the sauce was rich without being greasy. There was no spice-forward smell at all. My palate leans a bit toward the mild side, and this was exactly right for me. Think of it as the exact opposite of the El Taco Burger.

Crispy onion rings: Reel Burger knows how to fry

The crispy onion rings we ordered as a side turned out to be the sleeper hit of the day. First, the size surprised us. Then the flavor surprised us again. I don't think I've had onion rings this good before. This place clearly knows what it's doing when it comes to frying. If you were planning to just order a burger and leave, reconsider.

Eating a handmade burger with a knife: what caught me off guard

Honestly, this was my first time having this kind of handmade burger. Other burger places near my office, you pick up and eat with your hands, but here it's served to be cut with a knife. I'd never eaten a burger this way before, so it threw me off a bit. One coworker acted like a pro but completely mangled theirs while cutting. We all cracked up watching that. I think it's partly because the bun is so soft. It wasn't the burger bun I was used to. Crisp on the outside, but completely soft inside. The patty, being handmade, was also in a different league from franchise patties. Comparing the two almost felt disrespectful.

Why I recommend Reel Burger in Gwanghwamun, and who it suits

People kept walking in the whole time we ate. I wondered if this place was famous, and after eating I understood why people kept coming. I asked my coworkers how it compared to other handmade burger places near our office. They said this one was much better and that they'd be coming back.

Some of you may have landed on this post while searching for Gwanghwamun restaurants. Others may have searched for Jongno handmade burgers or the best handmade burger spot. Either way, here's the summary. If you're fine with spice and cilantro, order the El Taco Burger. It's the item developed with chef Won-il Lee's consulting, and it's marked as the popular pick in-store. If the aroma feels like too much, the Egg Benedict Burger is the safe choice. If it's your first visit, go with the Classic Burger to check out the fundamentals. And whatever you order, get the onion rings too.

Reel Burger Gwanghwamun FAQ

Does Reel Burger Gwanghwamun do takeout?

Yes. According to the signage at the entrance, you can search Reel Burger Gwanghwamun on Naver, pick your menu, and pay. You can also order directly via the in-store QR code. Note that the order page warns crispy onion rings can go soggy quickly for takeout due to moisture from the onions. We'd recommend eating those in-store.

Which menu items did we not order?

There are five burgers total. The No.1 Cheese Burger at ₩9,400 is a classic cheeseburger with special garlic mayo and signature sauce, and it's the cheapest option. The No.3 Jalapeño Mayo Burger at ₩13,500 has house jalapeño jam, grilled tomato, and red onion, with spice roughly on par with jalapeño pickles. The menu description notes IVE's Rei raved about it.

What sides does Reel Burger serve?

There are three: black pepper cajun fries at ₩5,900, maple sweet potato fries at ₩6,900, and crispy onion rings at ₩7,900. We ordered the onion rings and were very satisfied.

Can you reserve a table at Reel Burger Gwanghwamun?

There's a CatchTable tablet at the entrance where you can register for waiting. We walked right in without a wait, though, so we didn't test the reservation function.

What are Reel Burger Gwanghwamun's hours?

They're open daily from 11am to 8:30pm, with the same hours every day, so there's no fixed closing day. There is a break time from 3pm to 5pm, so plan around that. Last order is 2:30pm before break time and 8pm before closing.

Final thoughts on Reel Burger Gwanghwamun

I went in with low expectations for a newly opened place and came out far more satisfied than I expected. Eating with a knife felt awkward at first, but it turned into a fun part of the experience. Since it's near my office, I'll probably be back often. Next time I'll try the No.1 Cheese Burger or the No.3 Jalapeño Mayo Burger, which I haven't had yet.