Finding the best restaurants in Seoul is one of the most rewarding culinary adventures in Asia — and one of the most overwhelming without a proper guide.
Seoul has more Michelin-starred restaurants per capita than almost any city in the world. But the best restaurants in Seoul aren’t always the most expensive ones. From ₩5,000 street food stalls to ₩300,000 tasting menus, the best restaurants in Seoul span every budget, every cuisine, and every dining experience imaginable.
This complete guide to the best restaurants in Seoul covers 20 must-visit places — organized by neighborhood and budget — so you know exactly where to eat on your Seoul trip.
Before exploring the best restaurants in Seoul, read our Seoul 3 Day Itinerary to plan which neighborhoods you’ll be visiting — the best restaurants in Seoul are spread across the city.
Best Restaurants in Seoul: Budget Eats (Under ₩15,000)
Best Restaurants in Seoul #1 — Gwangjang Market (광장시장)
Gwangjang Market is the best restaurant in Seoul for traditional Korean street food — and one of the most atmospheric eating experiences in the entire city.
Operating since 1905, Gwangjang Market’s food stalls serve bindaetteok (mung bean pancakes), mayak gimbap (tiny sesame rice rolls), japchae (glass noodles), and raw beef bibimbap in a setting that feels genuinely unchanged by decades of tourism.
Best restaurants in Seoul at Gwangjang:
- Bindaetteok stalls along the main corridor — order at the counter and eat standing
- Mayak gimbap vendors — tiny rolls dipped in mustard and soy sauce
- Raw beef (yukhoe) bibimbap — one of the most unique best restaurants in Seoul experiences
Best restaurants in Seoul price: ₩3,000–₩8,000 per item Nearest subway: Jongno 5-ga Station, Line 1
Best Restaurants in Seoul #2 — Myeongdong Kyoja (명동교자)
Myeongdong Kyoja is one of the most beloved best restaurants in Seoul for kalguksu — hand-cut noodles in a rich chicken broth. Operating since 1966, this best restaurant in Seoul has served the same menu for nearly 60 years — and the queue outside proves its legendary status.
Best restaurants in Seoul Myeongdong Kyoja must-order:
- Kalguksu (칼국수) — hand-cut noodles in chicken broth
- Bibim guksu — cold spicy noodles
- Mandu (만두) — handmade dumplings
Best restaurants in Seoul price: ₩10,000–₩12,000 Location: Myeongdong, walking distance from Myeongdong Station, Line 4
Best Restaurants in Seoul #3 — Tosokchon Samgyetang (토속촌삼계탕)
Tosokchon is the best restaurant in Seoul for samgyetang — whole young chicken stuffed with glutinous rice, ginseng, and jujube, simmered in a rich broth. This best restaurant in Seoul near Gyeongbokgung Palace has been serving this single dish since 1983.
Best restaurants in Seoul tip: Arrive early — Tosokchon consistently has queues of 30–60 minutes and is one of the most popular best restaurants in Seoul for both locals and tourists.
Best restaurants in Seoul price: ₩18,000 Location: Near Gyeongbokgung Station, Line 3
Best Restaurants in Seoul #4 — Noryangjin Fish Market (노량진수산시장)
Noryangjin Fish Market is the best restaurant in Seoul experience for seafood lovers — Korea’s largest fish market where you choose live seafood from the stalls and have it prepared on the spot upstairs.
Best restaurants in Seoul Noryangjin experience:
- Choose your seafood from the market stalls
- Take it upstairs to the restaurant floor — any restaurant will prepare your selection
- Sashimi (회, hoe) preparation costs approximately ₩10,000–₩20,000 extra
Best restaurants in Seoul price: ₩20,000–₩50,000 depending on selection Nearest subway: Noryangjin Station, Lines 1 and 9
Best Restaurants in Seoul #5 — Jeonju Jungang Hoegwan (전주중앙회관)
For the definitive bibimbap — the dish that represents Korean cuisine globally — this best restaurant in Seoul in the Insadong area serves the Jeonju-style bibimbap that is considered the gold standard.
Best restaurants in Seoul price: ₩12,000–₩15,000 Location: Near Anguk Station, Line 3
Best Restaurants in Seoul: Mid-Range (₩15,000–₩50,000)
Best Restaurants in Seoul #6 — Maple Tree House (메이플트리하우스)
Maple Tree House is one of the best restaurants in Seoul for premium Korean BBQ in a beautifully designed hanok setting in Itaewon. The beef is sourced from top Korean producers, and the banchan spread is exceptional.
Best restaurants in Seoul Maple Tree House highlights:
- Hanwoo (Korean beef) galbi — the best restaurant in Seoul for this cut
- Traditional charcoal grilling
- Beautiful courtyard setting — among the most photogenic best restaurants in Seoul
Best restaurants in Seoul price: ₩30,000–₩60,000 per person Location: Itaewon, near Hangangjin Station, Line 6
For complete Korean BBQ guidance at the best restaurants in Seoul, read our Korean BBQ Guide.
Best Restaurants in Seoul #7 — Mingles (밍글스)
Mingles is one of the best restaurants in Seoul for modern Korean cuisine — Michelin-starred chef Kang Minjoo’s restaurant blends Korean flavors with contemporary techniques in a way that has made it one of the most acclaimed best restaurants in Seoul for food enthusiasts.
Best restaurants in Seoul price: ₩80,000–₩150,000 for tasting menu Location: Cheongdam-dong, Gangnam
Best Restaurants in Seoul #8 — Hanilkwan (한일관)
Hanilkwan is one of the best restaurants in Seoul for traditional Korean royal court cuisine — elaborate multicourse meals inspired by Joseon Dynasty palace cooking. Operating since 1939, this best restaurant in Seoul is a living piece of Korean culinary history.
Best restaurants in Seoul price: ₩25,000–₩50,000 Location: Near Anguk Station, Line 3
Best Restaurants in Seoul #9 — Palsaik Samgyeopsal (팔색삼겹살)
Palsaik — meaning “eight colors” — is one of the best restaurants in Seoul for an innovative Korean BBQ experience. Pork belly is marinated in eight different flavors including wine, ginseng, curry, and herbs, served simultaneously on a specialized grill.
Best restaurants in Seoul tip: This is the best restaurant in Seoul for Korean BBQ first-timers — the variety makes for an ideal introduction.
Best restaurants in Seoul price: ₩15,000–₩25,000 per person Multiple locations across Seoul
Best Restaurants in Seoul #10 — Jungsik (정식당)
Jungsik is one of the best restaurants in Seoul for contemporary Korean cuisine at the highest level — two Michelin stars, an internationally trained chef, and a menu that reinterprets Korean culinary tradition through a global lens.
Best restaurants in Seoul price: ₩150,000–₩250,000 for tasting menu Location: Apgujeong, Gangnam
Best Restaurants in Seoul by Neighborhood
Best Restaurants in Seoul: Hongdae Area
Best Restaurants in Seoul #11 — Yoogane (유가네닭갈비)
Yoogane is one of the best restaurants in Seoul for dakgalbi — spicy stir-fried chicken cooked on a large iron griddle at your table. This best restaurant in Seoul chain started in the Hongdae area and has become a Seoul institution.
Best restaurants in Seoul price: ₩12,000–₩18,000 Location: Hongdae and multiple locations across Seoul
Best Restaurants in Seoul #12 — Bongousse (봉우스)
For the best brunch in Seoul, Bongousse in Hongdae is one of the best restaurants in Seoul for Western-Korean fusion breakfast — the kind of best restaurants in Seoul experience that has made Hongdae a food destination in its own right.
Best restaurants in Seoul price: ₩15,000–₩25,000 Location: Hongdae area
Best Restaurants in Seoul: Gangnam Area
Best Restaurants in Seoul #13 — Gaon (가온)
Gaon is one of the best restaurants in Seoul at the absolute pinnacle of Korean fine dining — three Michelin stars, an extraordinary wine cellar, and a menu that celebrates Korean seasonal ingredients with breathtaking precision.
Best restaurants in Seoul price: ₩300,000+ for tasting menu Location: Gangnam
Best Restaurants in Seoul #14 — Butchers Cut (부처스컷)
For the best steak in Seoul, Butchers Cut in Gangnam is consistently ranked among the best restaurants in Seoul for premium beef — both imported and Korean hanwoo cuts, in a sophisticated setting.
Best restaurants in Seoul price: ₩80,000–₩150,000 Location: Gangnam
Best Restaurants in Seoul: Insadong and Bukchon
Best Restaurants in Seoul #15 — Sanchon (산촌)
Sanchon is one of the most unique best restaurants in Seoul — a Buddhist temple cuisine restaurant in Insadong serving elaborate multicourse vegetarian meals inspired by Korean monastic cooking traditions.
Best restaurants in Seoul tip: The set menu at Sanchon includes 20+ small dishes — one of the most comprehensive best restaurants in Seoul experiences for understanding traditional Korean flavors.
Best restaurants in Seoul price: ₩35,000 for set menu Location: Insadong, near Anguk Station, Line 3
Best Restaurants in Seoul: Itaewon
Best Restaurants in Seoul #16 — Vatos Urban Tacos (바토스)
For the best Korean-Mexican fusion in Seoul, Vatos is one of the best restaurants in Seoul for creative international cuisine — Korean bulgogi burritos and kimchi fries in a lively Itaewon setting.
Best restaurants in Seoul price: ₩18,000–₩30,000 Location: Itaewon
Best Restaurants in Seoul #17 — plant (플랜트)
Plant is one of the best restaurants in Seoul for vegan and vegetarian food — a beautifully designed Itaewon restaurant serving plant-based Korean and international dishes that satisfy even confirmed meat-eaters.
Best restaurants in Seoul price: ₩15,000–₩30,000 Location: Itaewon
Best Restaurants in Seoul: Special Experiences
Best Restaurants in Seoul #18 — Pojangmacha Street Tent (포장마차)
No list of best restaurants in Seoul is complete without pojangmacha — the iconic orange tent street food stalls that appear throughout Seoul after dark.
Pojangmacha are among the most atmospheric best restaurants in Seoul experiences — eating tteokbokki, eomuk, and drinking soju under a tent while Seoul’s streets buzz around you is quintessentially Korean.
Best restaurants in Seoul pojangmacha locations:
- Cheonggyecheon Stream area
- Around Hongdae late at night
- Near Dongdaemun after midnight
Best restaurants in Seoul price: ₩5,000–₩15,000 for a full evening Best time: After 9 PM
For the complete drinking culture context of this best restaurants in Seoul experience, read our Korean Soju Guide.
Best Restaurants in Seoul #19 — Convenience Store Eating
One of the most genuinely Korean best restaurants in Seoul experiences costs under ₩5,000 — Korean convenience stores.
CU and GS25 are best restaurants in Seoul in their own right for budget travelers and anyone who wants to eat like a Korean office worker. Samgak gimbap, hot ramen, steamed dumplings, and banana milk eaten at the small tables inside or on the street outside is an authentic Seoul food experience.
For the complete guide to this best restaurants in Seoul budget option, read our Korean Convenience Store Guide.
Best Restaurants in Seoul #20 — Noryangjin Chicken Alley and Mapo Galmaegi
For the most social best restaurants in Seoul experience, the area around Mapo and the chicken pojangmacha alleys offer table after table of Koreans eating samgyeopsal, dakgalbi, and fried chicken with soju and beer in an atmosphere that captures Korean dining culture at its most vibrant.
Best restaurants in Seoul tip: Come in a group of 4+ for the full best restaurants in Seoul communal dining experience — Korean food culture is designed for sharing.
Best restaurants in Seoul price: ₩20,000–₩40,000 per person including drinks
Best Restaurants in Seoul: Quick Reference Guide
| Restaurant | Cuisine | Price | Neighborhood |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gwangjang Market | Street food | ₩3,000–8,000 | Jongno |
| Myeongdong Kyoja | Noodles | ₩10,000–12,000 | Myeongdong |
| Tosokchon | Samgyetang | ₩18,000 | Gyeongbokgung |
| Noryangjin Market | Seafood | ₩20,000–50,000 | Noryangjin |
| Palsaik | Korean BBQ | ₩15,000–25,000 | Multiple |
| Sanchon | Temple food | ₩35,000 | Insadong |
| Maple Tree House | Premium BBQ | ₩30,000–60,000 | Itaewon |
| Jungsik | Fine dining | ₩150,000+ | Gangnam |
| Gaon | Fine dining | ₩300,000+ | Gangnam |
| Pojangmacha | Street food | ₩5,000–15,000 | Citywide |
Best Restaurants in Seoul: Practical Tips
Make reservations for fine dining. The best restaurants in Seoul at the higher end book weeks in advance. Use Naver Reservations or the restaurant’s website directly.
Go early or late for popular spots. The best restaurants in Seoul at budget price points have queues. Arriving at 11:30 AM or after 1:30 PM avoids peak lunch crowds.
Use Naver Maps for reviews. Google Maps reviews are unreliable in Korea. Naver Map reviews from locals are the most accurate guide to the best restaurants in Seoul.
Learn basic ordering phrases. Even minimal Korean makes the best restaurants in Seoul experience significantly better. Read our Korean Phrases for Travelers Guide before visiting.
Eat where locals eat. The best restaurants in Seoul for authentic food are rarely the ones with English menus prominently displayed outside. Follow the queues of Koreans.
Ready to explore Seoul’s food scene? Read our complete Korean Food Guide and Things to Do in Seoul Guide for the full Seoul experience.