Korean restaurant near City Hall Station after two art museums: SABAL

Where to eat Korean food near City Hall Station and Gyeongbokgung after a museum visit?

After seeing two exhibitions, one at Deoksugung Museum and one at the Seoul Museum of Art, we headed to SABAL (사발), a Korean restaurant inside the Gyeonghuigung Achim complex. My legs were tingling and I was starving, and my boyfriend and I both craved something gentle on the stomach and neatly prepared, like a hanjeongsik (traditional Korean set meal). While hunting for a nice spot nearby, we found SABAL, a great pick near City Hall Station!

SABAL sits inside the Gyeonghuigung Achim complex in Gwanghwamun, and it's a well-known Korean restaurant near Gyeongbokgung.

Is there a long wait at SABAL?

I heard the waiting line at SABAL can get really long if you're unlucky, but we went late and luckily got straight in. It's already popular by word of mouth as a light lunch option in Seochon.

It has a stylish Seochon hanjeongsik look, and my mood brightened the moment we walked in. It's a lovely space where a traditional hanjeongsik atmosphere meets a modern touch.

Terrace vibes and a refined pumpkin porridge

SABAL has an open terrace, and since the weather was cool, we grabbed a terrace seat without a second thought. The indoor interior is charming and full of mood too, so yes, it's a City Hall Station favorite for me.

The first thing out after we ordered was the pre-meal pumpkin porridge, and its faint cinnamon scent made it feel really refined.

Unlike the hanjeongsik places I know, it offered a different kind of treat, and I was genuinely moved!

It's such a fitting starter for a weekend Seochon lunch when you want to treat yourself. The clean, polished service at SABAL won me over.

If you like neat, refined hanjeongsik dishes, it's bound to hit your taste.

How do SABAL's tangtang octopus deodeok gochujang rice and chogye noodles taste?

Finally, the tangtang octopus deodeok gochujang rice (chopped octopus and bellflower root over rice with chili paste) and the cool chogye noodles (chilled chicken noodles) we ordered at SABAL arrived!

The deodeok gochujang rice is colorful and pretty, and sweet and spicy, so I kept reaching for more.

The mini noodles that came with the set were a treat too. The chogye noodle broth was rich and cool, so it made a perfect course. It was packed with generous toppings, filling, and a very satisfying meal.

The flavors had such a distinct charm that I was excited the whole meal! My boyfriend and I wolfed it all down.

Is SABAL good for gatherings and dates?

The food comes out neat and refined, so I think it would be great for bringing your parents. It also has wine and highballs, a thoughtful touch for a City Hall Station restaurant. Next time I definitely want to try other dishes, or the gamtae (seaweed) perilla oil bibimbap!

I'd strongly recommend it as a casual Seochon lunch spot with friends too. I hear it's popular with office workers at lunchtime. It felt like I got the true essence of hanjeongsik in an atmospheric space, a special place that reinterprets a classic, upscale hanjeongsik mood in a modern way.

As you'd expect from a well-known place, I was hugely satisfied after the meal. I've picked it as my top City Hall Station restaurant! A memorable meal, mission accomplished!

SABAL opening hours and visitor info

• Name: SABAL (사발)
• Location: Inside Gyeonghuigung Achim Complex 3, Sajik-ro 8-gil, Jongno, Seoul
• Weekdays (Mon–Fri): 11:30–21:00, last order 20:20, break time 15:00–17:00
• Weekends (Sat–Sun): 11:30–20:00, last order 19:20, no weekend break time
• Full terrace seating, group seating available
• Parking available in the building