# Korean restaurant dinner in Gwanghwamun: tofu myeongnan rice at SABAL - By Boram Yun (https://superchart.com/en/@sinseol-quiet-tray/) - Written Sep 21, 2026 - Local places › Restaurants › Jongno, Seoul - Sponsored: This visit was sponsored by the business. - English edition: https://superchart.com/en/@sinseol-quiet-tray/sabal-gwanghwamun-korean-dinner-reservation/ - Also in: [한국어](https://superchart.com/ko/@sinseol-quiet-tray/sabal-gwanghwamun-korean-dinner-reservation/index.md) ## In short SABAL is a Korean restaurant in Jongno, Seoul, on the first floor of Gyeonghuigungui Achim Complex 3, a short walk from Gwanghwamun and Gyeongbokgung. Booking a window table for two at 7pm, the writer ordered chwinamul (aster greens) tofu myeongnan-bap with mini noodles for 17,000 won, gamtae (green laver) perilla oil bibim noodles for 17,000 won, and SABAL mini tteokbokki for 8,000 won, which arrived in a portion that was anything but mini. SABAL makes an easy, light Korean dinner that suits a date, a night with friends or a small work dinner. ## Good to know - **Location**: SABAL, Unit 142, Gyeonghuigungui Achim Complex 3, 34 Sajik-ro 8-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul - **Hours**: Daily 11:30–20:50 (break 14:50–17:00) - **Parking**: 1 hour free at the Gyeonghuigungui Achim Complex 3 lot; 1 extra hour with orders over 20,000 won per person - **Reservations**: Naver Reservation and Catch Table (same-day bookings possible) - **Chwinamul tofu myeongnan rice + mini noodles**: 17,000 won - **Gamtae perilla oil bibim noodles**: 17,000 won - **SABAL mini tteokbokki**: 8,000 won - **Seating**: Window tables for two, terrace seats (dogs welcome), separate area for groups - **Price reference**: ₩20,000 ≈ $14.5 (2026-09-21) *as written by the visitor on Sep 21, 2026* The weather's been so nice lately for a date around Gwanghwamun and Gyeongbokgung! I didn't want anything too heavy on the stomach in the evening, so while hunting for a good Korean restaurant near Gwanghwamun I found SABAL — here's my dinner review ❤️ > SABAL, Gwanghwamun > 📍142-ho SABAL, Gyeonghuigungui Achim Complex 3, 34 Sajik-ro 8-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul, South Korea > ⏰ Daily 11:30–20:50 (B.T 14:50–17:00) > 🅿️ 1 hour free parking at Gyeonghuigungui Achim Complex 3 (extra hour with orders over ₩20,000 per person) > ✔️ Reserve via Naver Reservation or Catch Table ![Entrance to SABAL on the first floor of Gyeonghuigungui Achim Complex 3](https://img.superchart.com/images/sabal-gwanghwamun-korean-dinner-reservation/sabal-gwanghwamun-korean-dinner-reservation-01-8wvkd-900.webp) ## Where SABAL is and how to book a table "SABAL" sits on the first floor of Gyeonghuigungui Achim Complex 3 — easy to find once you walk in through the main entrance! ![Handwritten waitlist at the SABAL entrance](https://img.superchart.com/images/sabal-gwanghwamun-korean-dinner-reservation/sabal-gwanghwamun-korean-dinner-reservation-02-12igf-900.webp) If there's a wait, you just write your name on this handwritten waitlist! Since same-day booking is available through both Naver Reservation and Catch Table, it's way more convenient if you reserve ahead. Apparently it's been a well-known Seochon lunch spot since 2008, popular with office workers in the Gwanghwamun area at lunchtime — and a go-to spot for work dinners in the evening..🩶 ![SABAL window seat for two, reserved for dinner](https://img.superchart.com/images/sabal-gwanghwamun-korean-dinner-reservation/sabal-gwanghwamun-korean-dinner-reservation-03-iw000-898.webp) ## What SABAL feels like at 7pm, and where to sit I'd already booked for 7pm and was shown to a window table for two! The interior is modern, neat and clean — I loved it right away..✨ ![Modern, neat interior of SABAL](https://img.superchart.com/images/sabal-gwanghwamun-korean-dinner-reservation/sabal-gwanghwamun-korean-dinner-reservation-04-11uni-900.webp) ![SABAL dining hall seating and lighting](https://img.superchart.com/images/sabal-gwanghwamun-korean-dinner-reservation/sabal-gwanghwamun-korean-dinner-reservation-05-cvg1j-900.webp) Once you're seated, they set the table with side dishes, grain tea, and pumpkin porridge as a starter! Very fitting for a Gyeongbokgung-area hanjeongsik (Korean full-course) restaurant you could bring your parents to! ![SABAL side dishes, grain tea, and pumpkin porridge starter](https://img.superchart.com/images/sabal-gwanghwamun-korean-dinner-reservation/sabal-gwanghwamun-korean-dinner-reservation-06-1xjz9-900.webp) ![SABAL starter pumpkin porridge and side dishes on the table](https://img.superchart.com/images/sabal-gwanghwamun-korean-dinner-reservation/sabal-gwanghwamun-korean-dinner-reservation-07-19qwf-900.webp) Even at 7pm, a fairly late hour, the whole place was either reserved or fully seated!! I saw all sorts of groups — couples, friends, work dinners. ![Dog-friendly terrace seating at SABAL](https://img.superchart.com/images/sabal-gwanghwamun-korean-dinner-reservation/sabal-gwanghwamun-korean-dinner-reservation-08-3wyx0-900.webp) ### Can you bring a dog? SABAL's terrace seats A shot of the terrace seats on my way out! These seats seem to be really popular...🌿 With the cooler weather lately, lots of people were pairing wine out on the terrace! And since the terrace allows dogs, I spotted a few people who'd brought their pups along! There's also group seating set apart from the main hall, so it looks like it's a popular spot for work dinners too! At SABAL, apparently every single side dish is made in-house! Clean flavors and genuinely tasty. ![Plate of house-made side dishes at SABAL](https://img.superchart.com/images/sabal-gwanghwamun-korean-dinner-reservation/sabal-gwanghwamun-korean-dinner-reservation-09-1iy0b-900.webp) ## Parking at SABAL: how many hours are covered As for parking, it's 1 hour free per visitor, plus an extra hour if you spend over ₩20,000 per person! If that's still not enough, you can buy an additional parking discount ticket at checkout. For this neighborhood, the parking rates are pretty reasonable!! ![Parking info sign for Gyeonghuigungui Achim Complex 3](https://img.superchart.com/images/sabal-gwanghwamun-korean-dinner-reservation/sabal-gwanghwamun-korean-dinner-reservation-10-1ea2r-900.webp) ![SABAL Korean menu board](https://img.superchart.com/images/sabal-gwanghwamun-korean-dinner-reservation/sabal-gwanghwamun-korean-dinner-reservation-11-8r8og-900.webp) ![SABAL popular menu page marked with "best"](https://img.superchart.com/images/sabal-gwanghwamun-korean-dinner-reservation/sabal-gwanghwamun-korean-dinner-reservation-12-1nu6q-900.webp) ![SABAL menu page for rice bowls and noodles](https://img.superchart.com/images/sabal-gwanghwamun-korean-dinner-reservation/sabal-gwanghwamun-korean-dinner-reservation-13-ve1yv-900.webp) ![SABAL side dish menu page](https://img.superchart.com/images/sabal-gwanghwamun-korean-dinner-reservation/sabal-gwanghwamun-korean-dinner-reservation-14-10ns0-900.webp) ![SABAL drinks and alcohol menu](https://img.superchart.com/images/sabal-gwanghwamun-korean-dinner-reservation/sabal-gwanghwamun-korean-dinner-reservation-15-1ksj6-m-900.webp) ## What to order at SABAL on a first visit SABAL's menu is made up of neat, tidy Korean dishes, and the popular ones are marked "best" — if it's your first time, I'd recommend ordering mainly from those! Especially the popular mini tteokbokki, which often sells out early, so grab it if you can❤️🔥 > ✨ The best-menu items we ordered ✨ > ✔️ Chwinamul (aster scaber greens) tofu myeongnan-bap (pollock roe rice bowl) + mini noodles ₩17,000 > ✔️ Gamtae (seaweed) perilla oil bibim noodles ₩17,000 > ✔️ SABAL mini tteokbokki (stir-fried rice cakes) ₩8,000 ![Full table setting of chwinamul tofu myeongnan-bap and mini noodles at SABAL](https://img.superchart.com/images/sabal-gwanghwamun-korean-dinner-reservation/sabal-gwanghwamun-korean-dinner-reservation-16-rw9j5-1200.webp) ![Close-up of chwinamul tofu myeongnan-bap](https://img.superchart.com/images/sabal-gwanghwamun-korean-dinner-reservation/sabal-gwanghwamun-korean-dinner-reservation-17-m5er3-900.webp) ![Mini noodles served alongside the myeongnan-bap](https://img.superchart.com/images/sabal-gwanghwamun-korean-dinner-reservation/sabal-gwanghwamun-korean-dinner-reservation-18-w746s-900.webp) ![Bowl of SABAL myeongnan-bap before mixing](https://img.superchart.com/images/sabal-gwanghwamun-korean-dinner-reservation/sabal-gwanghwamun-korean-dinner-reservation-19-1ow5j-900.webp) ### Chwinamul tofu myeongnan rice with mini noodles, 17,000 won I ordered the chwinamul tofu myeongnan-bap + mini noodles — my digestion's been off lately with all this test-tube work, so I went for a rice dish! Perfectly balanced macros..🤤 With bibimbap, the balance of ingredients matters most, and the pollock roe + chwinamul + tofu combo was spot on!! My husband liked it more than I did, so he ended up stealing most of it...😇 The portion is filling enough even for men! ![SABAL gamtae perilla oil bibim noodles](https://img.superchart.com/images/sabal-gwanghwamun-korean-dinner-reservation/sabal-gwanghwamun-korean-dinner-reservation-20-1mou9-900.webp) ![Perilla oil bibim noodles wrapped in gamtae seaweed](https://img.superchart.com/images/sabal-gwanghwamun-korean-dinner-reservation/sabal-gwanghwamun-korean-dinner-reservation-21-14nqt-900.webp) ### Gamtae perilla oil bibim noodles, 17,000 won My husband ordered the gamtae perilla oil bibim noodles! I went with rice worrying about digestion, but SABAL's noodles were so soft and slid down so easily that I probably didn't need to worry at all🤣 Wrapped in gamtae, they were so good~ not too salty either, just right..✨ ![Full table setting for the SABAL dinner](https://img.superchart.com/images/sabal-gwanghwamun-korean-dinner-reservation/sabal-gwanghwamun-korean-dinner-reservation-22-4zw3f-900.webp) ### SABAL mini tteokbokki, 8,000 won — mini in name only Look at this whole spread! They call it mini tteokbokki, but... it's not mini at all......... Genuinely generous portion😇 There's a reason SABAL's mini tteokbokki is so popular! ![Generously portioned SABAL mini tteokbokki](https://img.superchart.com/images/sabal-gwanghwamun-korean-dinner-reservation/sabal-gwanghwamun-korean-dinner-reservation-23-1v266-900.webp) Look at how the mini tteokbokki looks — clearly not a restaurant that skimps on ingredients..🫢 ![Empty plate after finishing the SABAL mini tteokbokki](https://img.superchart.com/images/sabal-gwanghwamun-korean-dinner-reservation/sabal-gwanghwamun-korean-dinner-reservation-24-9yoiq-900.webp) The mini tteokbokki was so good I finished every bit! I saw the table next to us come in during the last seating and not be able to order it — felt bad for them...! Definitely order the tteokbokki💘 > SABAL is a Korean restaurant near Gwanghwamun that works for dates, friends, and work dinners alike — a flavor pretty much everyone will love!🩵 ## Where it is - SABAL (사발) - 142-ho SABAL, Gyeonghuigungui Achim Complex 3, 34 Sajik-ro 8-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul, South Korea - 서울특별시 종로구 사직로8길 34 경희궁의아침 3단지 사발 142호 - 37.5735857, 126.9724791 - Google Maps: https://www.google.com/maps/search/%EC%82%AC%EB%B0%9C/@37.5735857,126.9724791,17z --- Superchart · https://superchart.com/en/@sinseol-quiet-tray/sabal-gwanghwamun-korean-dinner-reservation/ · https://superchart.com/llms.txt