Healthy diet lunch in Jongno, Seoul: chicken hemp seed salad at SABAL

Sometimes you just want clean, healthy Korean food! Gyeongbokgung Station restaurant SABAL♡

Last weekend an acquaintance was running a flea market near Gyeongbokgung, so we decided to grab lunch nearby afterward.

My friend and I have been on a healthy diet lately, so even when eating out we tend to look for menus that combine vegetables and protein rather than anything too heavy or overly seasoned. That day, after some back and forth about what to eat, we picked SABAL — a place where you can taste Korean food that thinks about both health and flavor.

It's also a place I'd been curious about for a while since it was featured on Wednesday Food Talk (수요미식회)~ If you're looking for a good Korean restaurant between Gwanghwamun and Gyeongbokgung, it's worth stopping by.♡

Where is SABAL, and what are its hours and parking?

• Name: SABAL
• Address: 142, Gyeonghuigung-ui-achim 3-danji, 34 Sajik-ro 8-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul, South Korea
• Hours: Mon–Fri 11:30–20:50 / break time 14:50–17:00 / last order 14:10, 20:10
• Sat–Sun: 11:30–19:50 / break time 14:50–17:00 / last order 14:10, 17:10
• Parking: free parking up to 2 hours

Walking to SABAL from Gyeongbokgung Station

On the map, SABAL sits between Gwanghwamun and Gyeongbokgung Station. It's located inside the building that houses the Gyeonghuigung-ui-achim officetel, and it took about 7 minutes on foot from Exit 7 of Gyeongbokgung Station.

The restaurant isn't visible right from the main street — you have to go a bit deeper into the building's retail arcade. We entered from the street-facing entrance, but you can also get in from the terrace side at the back of the building.

It seemed like there could be a wait during peak hours. It looks like a lot of Gwanghwamun office workers come here on weekdays, and even when we visited around 1pm on a Sunday, there were plenty of diners. We had booked ahead through Naver Reservation, so we were seated right away without waiting. If you're planning to visit, I'd recommend making a reservation first!

Inside SABAL: a calm, refined Korean restaurant

SABAL's interior is modern but layered with traditional touches here and there, giving it a calm, comfortable feel. In this kind of nice weather, eating on the terrace would probably feel really nice too. The staff were all kind, which made the whole meal comfortable~~♡

There's a good variety of seating from tables for two to tables for four, so it looks like a good fit for couple dates as well as family meals or gatherings. There are also baby chairs available, so it seems fine to visit with kids too.

Menu prices mostly sit around ₩16,000–17,000, which isn't too heavy a price for a date-course meal around Gwanghwamun or Gyeongbokgung. Korean food is the main focus, but there are also salads and tteokbokki (spicy rice cakes) and other dishes that work well across generations eating together — nice touch!

What we ordered at SABAL

• Chicken hemp seed salad ₩16,000
• Cold red vinegar chicken noodles ₩16,000

Pumpkin porridge and side dishes to start

The pumpkin porridge came out first once we sat down. The pumpkin's deep natural sweetness combined with a subtle hint of cinnamon made it soft and delicious. A great little appetizer before diving into the real meal~

The basic side dishes were rakkyo (pickled scallions), kimchi, and pickled vegetables — three in total, all clean-tasting overall. The sauce coating the rakkyo in particular was so good I kept going back for more~

Chicken hemp seed salad, 16,000 won

SABAL's chicken hemp seed salad is made with sous vide chicken breast, hemp seeds, and a variety of fresh vegetables, topped with sesame dressing. First off, the portion was much bigger than expected. There were plenty of vegetables and a generous amount of chicken breast, so the salad alone felt fairly filling.

Maybe because the chicken breast was sous vide, the texture was soft. I barely noticed the usual dryness that chicken breast can have, and it was clean-tasting with no off flavor, so it was really enjoyable to eat. The sesame dressing added a nutty flavor that went well with the vegetables too♡

When you're dieting, sometimes you eat a salad and think, 'it's healthy, but the taste is kind of lacking~' — but with this dish there was no such disappointment; it was genuinely delicious.

Cold red vinegar chicken noodles, featured on Wednesday Food Talk

The cold red vinegar chicken noodles (홍초계냉국수) are apparently a signature spring and summer noodle dish here, topped with mustard-dressed shredded chicken, pickled radish, cucumber, cheongyang chili, and sprouts in a cold anchovy broth. Most striking of all is the red-colored noodles. It looks really pretty, and the noodles themselves are wonderfully chewy!

The broth is a slightly spicy, slightly tangy anchovy broth — refreshing with deep umami. It's not just harshly spicy; the sweet-and-sour tang blends with the anchovy broth's umami in a way that keeps you spooning up more broth.

There's a generous amount of shredded chicken and vegetables piled on top, so even though it's a noodle dish, you also get plenty of protein and vegetables along with it. It seemed like it would be especially good on a hot day, and since it was featured on Wednesday Food Talk, it's probably worth trying at least once if it's your first visit to SABAL!

Is SABAL worth it for a healthy meal near Gyeongbokgung?

Eating at SABAL that day, it felt like a Korean restaurant that thinks about both health and flavor. Personally, since I've been watching my diet while still eating out, I appreciated having menu options that let you get vegetables and protein together.

It's an easy walk from Gyeongbokgung Station and close to Gwanghwamun too, so it's a great spot to stop for a meal while exploring Gyeongbokgung or Gwanghwamun, whether for a date or a family meal — the atmosphere works for various occasions. If you're looking for a Gyeongbokgung restaurant and want clean, healthy Korean food rather than the usual options, SABAL is worth remembering.♡