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Seoul

Cafés, restaurants and places in Seoul, written by bloggers who went there.

Gangdong, SeoulRestaurants

Late-night Korean BBQ in Godeok-dong, Seoul: Geumdon Hwaro's A Set

Geumdon Hwaro Sangil-dong Station Branch is a premium aged-pork charcoal BBQ restaurant on the 1st floor of the Megasquare building at Godeok Central Prugio in Gangdong, Seoul. Arriving just before closing, the writer ordered the Geumdon A Set for 49,000 won (two servings of aged pork belly plus one of aged pork collar) and the pork-loaded kimchi jjigae for 7,000 won, and staff grilled every cut over charcoal from start to finish. With side dishes as solid as the fresh kimchi salad and steamed egg, Geumdon Hwaro is worth remembering if you want a Sangil-dong Station or Godeok-dong Korean BBQ place that grills for you.

Written Sep 15, 2026Sponsored
Mapo, SeoulRestaurants

Hapjeong lamb barbecue restaurant for family dinner: Gukjeyangsik

Gukjeyangsik is a lamb barbecue restaurant near Exit 8 of Hapjeong Station in Mapo, Seoul, where lamb is grilled over a charcoal brazier at the table. On a family dinner visit, the signature charcoal set for two brought shoulder rack and lamb sirloin — the shoulder rack tender, the sirloin deeper in lamb flavour — and staff grilled each cut, so the meal ended with lamb fried rice while everyone kept talking. Gukjeyangsik is a calm place to come back to for lamb chops in Hapjeong.

Written Sep 15, 2026Sponsored
Seodaemun, SeoulRestaurants

Ewha Vietnamese restaurant with bun cha noodle refills: Kkua Ewha

Kkua Ewha is a Vietnamese restaurant on the second floor near the main gate of Ewha Womans University in Seodaemun, Seoul. Two of us ordered brisket rice noodle soup (chadol yangji pho), bun cha (grilled pork with cold rice noodles) and nem (fried spring rolls), and the pho came with one free refill each of noodles and broth, the bun cha with one free refill each of noodles and sauce. The broth at Kkua Ewha was rich, but the writer's top pick was the bun cha dipped in fish sauce.

Written Sep 15, 2026Sponsored
Mapo, SeoulBars

Hongdae izakaya patio with Earl Grey highballs: Yakitori Iyu

Yakitori Iyu is a handmade skewer izakaya on the first basement floor of an alley building on Jandari-ro, between Hongdae and Hapjeong in Seoul, with outdoor patio seats that look onto trumpet vines over the wall. The 5-skewer assorted set costs 17,800 won, and Yakitori Iyu also serves cheese tsukune, iberico, tebasaki and grilled corn alongside Kirin draft beer and an Earl Grey highball, with basil pesto for dipping the skewers. It is one of the best bars in Hongdae for a relaxed drink outdoors.

Written Sep 15, 2026Sponsored
Seongdong, SeoulRestaurants

Seoul Forest Western restaurant with beef Wellington: Kongkase Seongsu

Kongkase Seongsu is a Western restaurant a short walk from Exit 5 of Seoul Forest Station in Seongdong, Seoul. Booked through Naver for a Friday evening, the table by the floor-to-ceiling windows came with a lit candle, and dinner was beef Wellington cooked medium rare (₩53,000) plus lasagna (₩23,000) rolled from fresh pasta sheets — the best lasagna I've eaten to date. With the calm Seoul Forest setting and candlelight, Kongkase Seongsu is an easy recommendation for a date or a first meeting.

Written Sep 15, 2026Sponsored
Seocho, SeoulBars

Seoul gastropub in Sadang: bisque rose pasta for two at Dophan

Dophan is a casual European bistro pub in Seocho, Seoul, a 5-minute walk from Exit 11 of Sadang Station. Two of us ordered the bisque rose pasta (22,900 won), gochujang cream gnocchi (20,900 won), perilla oil cappellini with dressed greens (22,900 won) and a non-alcoholic mojito highball (9,900 won), and the chewy pasta, thick sauces and sharp dressed greens cutting the richness were the best part. With bar seats, tables and a private room for 7 to 9, Dophan works for everything from a solo drink to a wedding-invitation get-together.

Written Sep 15, 2026Sponsored
Gangnam, SeoulRestaurants

Cheongdam-dong fine dining, free corkage: Pepite's white ragu pasta

Pepite is a Japanese-French fine dining restaurant in an inner alley off the luxury shopping street in Cheongdam-dong, Gangnam, Seoul. At dinner, Pepite's white ragu pasta — made with white port wine and porcini mushrooms — came with a side of ciabatta; the sauce is cream-based but never heavy, and it soaks into the pasta right to the last bite. With warm lighting, generous space between tables and a private room for up to 10 people, Pepite is worth saving for a Gangnam date or a small group dinner.

Written Sep 15, 2026Sponsored
Jongno, SeoulRestaurants

Udon set meal with karaage in Insadong, Seoul: Insadong Jemyeonso

Insadong Jemyeonso Annyeong Insadong Branch is an udon and rice bowl Japanese restaurant in Insadong, Jongno, Seoul, about 230m from Anguk Station Exit 6 on the 3rd floor, unit 303, of the Annyeong Insadong building. Ordering at the kiosk, I had the karaage udon set, the steak rice bowl, a 3-piece handmade shrimp tempura and a croquette, and the springy udon noodles plus the karaage served with the set beat expectations. Insadong Jemyeonso is an easy pick for a warm meal before or after sightseeing in Insadong.

Written Sep 15, 2026Sponsored
Gangnam, SeoulRestaurants

Tuna bar in Gaepo-dong, Seoul: 45,000-won soju course at Honma Tuna

Honma Tuna is a tuna restaurant with private room seating on Gaepo-ro in Gangnam-gu, Seoul. The 45,000-won special course per person brings thick-cut tuna sashimi weighted toward belly meat, butter-grilled abalone and shrimp, braised tuna and fried shrimp, with soju at 6,000 won a bottle. Honma Tuna suits work dinners and family gatherings that want drinks and quiet conversation in a closed room.

Written Sep 15, 2026Sponsored
Mapo, SeoulRestaurants

Sangam gyukatsu restaurant with open-window bar seats: Izawa Sangam

Izawa Sangam is a gyukatsu (Japanese-style breaded beef cutlet) restaurant near Digital Media City Station in Mapo, Seoul, opened by the brand that introduced Korea's first gyukatsu in 2015 and spread over the first and second floors on World Cup buk-ro 50-gil. Two diners ordered two gyukatsu sets, grilled each piece on the mini charcoal stove set on every table and dipped them in salt, wasabi and soy sauce, then looked over the first-floor bar table that opens onto the street like an outdoor seat and the six-person table upstairs. Izawa Sangam stays calm enough for solo dining yet works just as well for a blind date or a team dinner in Sangam.

Written Sep 15, 2026Sponsored
Mapo, SeoulRestaurants

Sushi restaurant near Hapjeong Station, Seoul: VIP set at Sushi Sakaba

Sushi Sakaba Hapjeong is a sushi and aged-sashimi restaurant on the second floor of the izakaya alley by Hapjeong Station in Mapo, Seoul. Ordering the Hap Sushi Set and the VIP Sushi Set side by side showed that the VIP set adds sweet shrimp, abalone and octopus plus a mini kaisendon (seafood rice bowl) to everything in the Hap set. Sushi Sakaba Hapjeong is a good choice when you want solid sushi in a relaxed setting rather than an elaborate omakase.

Written Sep 15, 2026Sponsored
Gwangjin, SeoulRestaurants

Guui Station pork belly restaurant with self-serve greens: Ssamchae

Ssamchae Sotttukkeong Samgyeopsal is an iron-lid pork belly restaurant on Jayang-ro in Gwangjin, Seoul, a short walk from Guui Station. The writer ordered samgyeopsal (pork belly) and kkeopdegi (pork skin), which staff grilled at the table, and ate them with wrap greens and side dishes from the self-serve bar plus doenjang jjigae (soybean paste stew). With a wide dining room and a well-stocked self-serve bar, Ssamchae Sotttukkeong Samgyeopsal is an easy choice for grilled pork with friends or a larger group.

Written Sep 15, 2026Sponsored