Three tips before you go on a study exchange
July 29, 2022
Soups are an essential and delicious part of Korean cuisine. I love this especially in cold weather.
I’ve flown on Asiana Airlines before, and I am tempted to book another ticket on this South Korean carrier for no other reason than the opportunity to eat the country’s food every day.
Pork back-bone stew and bubbling “jjigae” hot pots are must-try Korean dishes especially in the freezing temperatures of winter. Spoon some rice into your soup and and follow this mouthful with a sip of cold soju. You’re experiencing a quintessential Korean meal.
The restaurants I visited in Seoul are not all tourist hot spots. Most of them are perfectly normal, local venues which I chanced upon. Finding food would be the activity I looked forward to the most after a remote work session at a nearby cafe (for a list of cafes perfect for digital nomads, see here).
If you’d like more travel recommendations for Seoul, message me on Instagram. Alternatively, we can book a meeting.
List of restaurants
Somunnan Gamjatang
45 Yeonmujang-gil, Seongdong-gu, Seoul
The servings of pork bone (with meat tenderly pulling away) are HUGE here. Somunnan Gamjatang opened in 1983 and has been featured on television.
You can expect to line up because the “gamjatang” (pork and potato stew that’s mildly spicy) is very popular here. I loved the crunchy vegetables that came on the side. Dip them in the ssamjang sauce after every mouthful of pork, shovel some rice in, and you’re in heaven.
See the Google Map link to “Somunnan Gamjatang” in Seongsu-dong here.
보승회관 이태원역점 (Itaewon)
8 Itaewon-ro 26-gil, Yongsan District, Seoul
“Sundae” is not to be confused with the ice-cream when you’re in South Korea. Many restaurants have it written on their outdoor advertisement boards, and I was initially confused because they looked nothing like a place that would sell ice-cream.
Instead, “sundae” in Korean cuisine refers to a type of blood sausage, where pig or cow’s blood is packaged together with noodles and spices into an intestine, then packaged, boiled, and sliced up.
For the uninitiated, sundae may seem intimidating. It is definitely not in a “starter” list of Korean dishes. I like it though! Have it with warm stew and ssam-jang sauce and the flavour is satisfying.
보승회관 이태원역점 has friendly, English-speaking service and solid food.
See the Google Map link to the “보승회관 이태원역점” in Itaewon here. I recommend visiting before a night out in Itaewon’s famous party area.
Late night food street in Jongno
Right outside Exit 4 of the subway station Jongno 3(sam)-ga, Seoul
If you are a viewer of Netflix K-dramas, you’ll likely have watched scenes where characters dine in the lively, intimate atmosphere of a “Pojangmacha”.
These are portable, wagon-like enclosures which usually have the owner/server in the middle and people seated around. They look similar to the Japanese “yatai” stalls. Seafood and street food is served, along with soju.
For a lively, local experience, take the subway to Jongno 3(sam)-ga and walk out of Exit 4. At night (8pm would be an ideal time to visit), the street is full of outdoor dining and drinking activities. Humble restaurants line either side and further down the street, pojangmachas serve their diners.
I loved this experience in Jongno. It felt very local and down-to-earth!
See the Google Map link to “Jongo 3(sam)-ga subway station” in Jongno here.
Ebadom Gamjatang Itaewon
Seoul, Yongsan District, Itaewon-ro, 176 2층
Being honest, the food wasn’t spectacular here. It was decent, but not spectacular.
I enjoyed visiting because of the friendliness of service and the fact that Ebadom Gamjatang is open 24/7. Particularly useful if you’ve just finished a night partying in Itaewon and you’re feeling hungry!
See the Google Map link to “Ebadom Gamjatang” (Itaewon) here. It’s great for late-night dining in Itaewon.
Outdoor Korean BBQ at Ikseon-dong Hanok Village
Ikseon-dong, Jongno District, Seoul
“Hanoks” are traditional Korean houses. Ikseon-dong is a village combining the old-world charm of hanoks with the more “modern-world” amenities of restaurants, cafes, bakeries and boutique shops. They are charmingly nestled in every alleyway!
I was mesmerised by the expanse of outdoor barbecue tables in a particular part of Ikseon-dong. People ate and chatted animatedly, with restaurant staff walking around keeping an eye on everything.
Enjoying a traditional outdoor Korean BBQ at Ikseon-dong is definitely in my list of top local recommendations for what to do in Seoul.
See the Google Map link to “Ikseon-dong Hanok Village” here.
Wangbijib Myeongdong
26 Myeongdong 8ga-gil, Jung District, Seoul
“Galbi” is the Korean word for rib. This restaurant in Myeongdong is famous amongst tourists. The interior has a modern Korean style and the seating is pleasant.
Wangbijib specialises in premium cuts of beef. If you want a mouthwatering, authentic Korean BBQ experience, order cuts of sirloin, beef rib, tenderloin, ox tongue, and rib finger. Once you’ve chosen your meats, the staff will help you grill them over charcoal.
See the Google Map link to “Wangbijib Myeongdong” here.
그때그집두루치기
123 Supyo-ro, 종로1.2.3.4가동 Jongno District, Seoul
Located at the end of the street of pojangmachas and outdoor dining tables outside Jongno 3-(sam)ga Subway Station, this restaurant was small, a little hectic, and cozy. The owner joined us for a drink!
It feels like a restaurant that a couple from a K-drama episode would dine in.
See the Google Map link to “그때그집두루치기” here. Order the pork belly for your BBQ. It grills perfectly with kimchi.
기다 스시
230 Itaewon-ro, Yongsan District, Seoul
I came here after working at the Maxim Plant cafe nearby. There was a “behind-closed-doors” mystery, so I had to check it out!
This Japanese restaurant near Hannam-dong didn’t disappoint. The service was sincere and my meal was satisfying.
See the Google Map link to “기다 스시” here.
Yookssam Naengmyeon
123-1 Supyo-ro, Jongno District, Seoul
“Naengmyeon” means cold buckwheat noodles in Korean. During summer time especially, slurping it down is super refreshing. The soup is ice-cold, and I recommend mixing in a bit of mustard and vinegar – these are usually provided to you. Yookssam in Jongno is famous for naengmyeon!
I ordered oyster soup, which came in a set with grilled meat and healthy rice.
See the Google Map link to “Yookssam Naengmyeon” here.
Sombrero Bar
118-76 Itaewon-dong, Yongsan District, Seoul
If there was an area to discover a Mexian restaurant in Seoul, it would be Itaewon. Sombrero Bar is located just off the main street, where people from all around the world gather to party.
Sombrero Bar is great for groups, serving classic Mexican cuisine such as tacos, quesadillas, chimichanga, and burritos. Their vibe is fun and relaxing. Seated on the upper floor, with a view of the busy street below and listening to Latin American music playing around you, it is a no-brainer to reach for their cocktail and alcoholic menu.
See the Google Map link to “Sombrero Bar” in Itaewon here.
Dallae Haejang
97, Achasan-ro-2307, 02 466, Seongdong-gu, Seoul
After my visit to 1Million Dance Studio in Seongsu, I satisfied my hunger pangs at Dallae Haejang next to the subway station.
It is a simple, no-frills restaurant. Just the way I like it. The beef noodles were hearty and I enjoyed a peculiar dish with raw oysters preserved in chilli sauce.
See the Google Map link to “Dallae Haejang” here.
Sushi Sawa
18 Itaewon-ro 55ga-gil, Yongsan District, Seoul
I ordered the “Nagasaki Seafood Noodle Soup” at Sushi Sawa. It was HUGE!
Near Maxim Plant cafe and Grand Hyatt Seoul, Sushi Sawa is a premium-style restaurant serving Japanese cuisine. There’s different types of sashimi and sushi that the chef creates at the counter. For hot food, there is tempura, donburi, udon, and grilled fish.
See the Google Map link to “Sushi Sawa” in Itaewon here. This area borders Itaewon and Hannam-dong. Fashion lovers will have many boutique shops to browse.
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