This post is also available in:
Latest update: 14 November 2025
Seoul and food are inextricably linked. But let me be honest: after three days in Seoul, I can’t claim to have the best restaurant tips for you. That would take weeks, maybe months. What I can share? My first experiences with Korean food culture. The things I tried, the places I went, and especially what I thought about them. Read/eat and learn!
Street food at Gwangjang Market
The best way to get acquainted with Korean food? A food tour. I join a tour with Secret Food Tours, and our guide Jae takes the small group to Gwangjang Market. And what an experience that is.
The market is overwhelming. Stalls as far as the eye can see, steam rising from hot pans, people shouting. And food everywhere that I don’t recognize. This is precisely why a guide is so handy: otherwise, I wouldn’t know where to start.
What I try at the market
Kimchi Mandu
We start with kimchi dumplings. Kimchi consists of fermented vegetables (often cabbage) that are pickled with spices like chili and ginger. You see it more and more in the Netherlands, too. These Kimchi Mandu are savory and full of flavor. A good start!
Napjak Mandu
Flat fried dumplings. Crispy and tasty, a bit lighter than the kimchi version. And now I know that ‘mandu’ means dumplings. My Korean is progressing fast!
Nokdu-jeon
Golden yellow, savory mung bean pancakes. Looks simple but tastes surprisingly good. Many stalls at the market make this, but we eat it at a place that was featured on Netflix Chef’s Table. Here. Many places at the market have “as seen on TV” posters hanging, by the way. So, I’m not quite sure if it’s a unique selling point.
Yukhoe
Beef tartare, Korean style. Delicate and melts on your tongue. It’s served with a raw egg and Korean pear. You can see the sesame seeds and we add more sesame oil ourselves. The sesame oil in South Korea is delicious! The Yukhoe is one of the tour highlights for me, but I also immediately notice cultural differences between tourists. Some are horrified by a raw egg, while I don’t see it as much of a problem.
Tteokbokki
Spicy rice cakes that you really have to chew. I’m a bit indecisive about this one. It’s mainly the texture I don’t enjoy; the taste is good.
Eomuk
A kind of pancake on a stick, simmered in broth with a strong fish flavor. This one’s not for me. But Koreans clearly like it a lot, because I see eomuk at many market stalls and eateries during my trip.
Nakji Tangtangi
Fresh octopus, lightly seasoned and served raw. Bold and lively, says guide Jae, because the octopus is still squirming on the plate. I say: chewy and not my thing. It definitely involves a lot of chewing. But it is fun to try, of course.
Sikhye
A sweet, fermented rice drink. Also quite refreshing though. The rice is fermented with malt and it’s supposed to be good for your digestion. It’s a popular drink in South Korea that you can also buy in supermarkets.
Yakgwa
Traditional honey cookies for dessert. Sweet and a bit sticky, but tasty. And I finished it before I took the photo, oops!
You can try all these dishes (and many more) at Gwangjang Market, by yourself or with the Secret Food Tour.
Traditional teahouse in Ikseon-dong
We end the food tour in Ikseon-dong, at a traditional teahouse. Not regular tea from a bag, but unique flavors that you can order both hot and cold.
You can choose from different options like ssanghwa-cha (a warming tea), omija-cha (made from five-flavor berries), or saenggang-cha (ginger tea). I go for the green plum tea, and it’s almost more like soda than tea.
The coffee culture in Seoul
Coffee is big in Seoul. I mean, really big. You can find coffee shops everywhere, from small spots to hip specialty coffee bars. Koreans take their coffee seriously.
Something I notice: you first find a seat, then you order. People just put their phone or bag down at a table (sometimes on the third floor) and then calmly go downstairs to order. Apparently, no problem here.
And another thing: cinnamon on coffee is a thing. I don’t like that, so when ordering, I try to make it clear that I don’t want cinnamon. With varying success. The most effective method turns out to be saying “cinnamon no” while crossing my arms in an X gesture. It often results in laughs, but it works haha.
There are hundreds, if not thousands, of coffee cafés in Seoul. So you don’t need to actively look for coffee; coffee will find you. Here are a few suggestions anyway:
- Comfort. Enjoy a beautiful view of the city from the rooftop. Tip: you can enter through the rooftop, that’s the easiest route. Naver (the alternative to Google Maps in South Korea) sent us via a road below, but going up via the rooftop is much better. Google Maps location
- Rain Report. Here they’ve created permanent rain in the small courtyard. People often enjoy doing whole photo shoots there. The coffee is good, but mainly it’s the installation that attracts people here. Google Maps location
The salt bread hype
Salt bread, or sogeum-ppang, has gained immense popularity in South Korea in recent years. They’re soft, fluffy rolls with a subtly salty taste. Koreans are crazy about them, so I obviously want it too.
During the food tour, after the market, we go to the atmospheric streets of Ikseon-dong. Here we stop for sogeum-ppang, or salt bread. A modern treat that has quickly become a local favorite, Jae explains.
And yes, be prepared for a line. On social media, you can see plenty of videos of people happily standing in line for this bread. At this particular shop, you can take the bread without filling, or filled with, for example, pistachio cream or a version with truffle and whipped cream.
I take the pistachio (and that reminds me of a filled cornetto from Italy), and my travel partner takes the latter. Truffle and whipped cream may sound like an unusual combination, but it works surprisingly well. The bread itself is nice and soft, and the combination of salty elements with the sweet filling is an interesting mix.
Later, I also try the salt bread at Jayeondo Sogeumppang in Yeonnam. Hello long line! Here, there’s only one thing on the menu: salt bread. And everyone wants it. So do we. For 12,000 won (approximately $8.50), you receive a bag containing 4 salt breads.
Queue up and order through a vending machine. There’s a lady there to help keep things moving as quickly as possible. Then you get in the second line to pick up your order. But because everyone orders exactly the same thing, it actually goes pretty fast. The salt breads are still warm in the bag.
Do I get the hype? Um, tasty rolls, but a bit plain. Just soft white bread, slightly salty, in croissant-like shape. The version from Ikseon-dong with filling is, in my opinion, tastier.
Korean BBQ: how does it actually work?
Korean BBQ is a must in Seoul, of course. But how does it work exactly? I find out that it varies per restaurant. Sometimes we barbecue ourselves, sometimes it’s done for us.
At the first restaurant we visit, we’re a bit unsure. Can we BBQ ourselves? Well, we weren’t supposed too. Oops. The staff grills the meat for you, turns it at the right time, and cuts and snips (with scissors, yes) it into bite-sized pieces. Apron on and enjoy.
We pay € 89/$100 (for two people) at HWASEOL (Google Maps location), which isn’t cheap for a Korean dinner, but it is an extensive meal with tender beef. You don’t just get the meat, but also all kinds of side dishes (banchan). Kimchi, pickled vegetables, lettuce to wrap your meat in – it’s quite an experience. And when we arrive there’s a line with Koreans, so that seems like a good sign!
Note: at many Korean BBQ restaurants you have to order for at least two. Check your options if you’re alone.
Dumplings at Yeonnam Dumpling
Simple but tasty. That’s the best description of Yeonnam Dumpling. It’s a Chinese-oriented dumpling place where everything is on the table in no time.
We order spicy dumplings, pan-fried dumplings, crab toast, and a cucumber dish for the vitamins. The crab toast is a gamble, and it turns out to be a good one. It’s like a kind of grilled cheese sandwich, but now with crab, nice and greasy, and served with garlic sauce. The food here is delicious in general, it’s just served (and eaten) very quickly. It’s really order, eat, pay, leave. Perfect for a quick bite.
Ramen at Ramen Fighters
At Ramen Fighters, it’s also simple but good. I order noodles with chicken, not spicy. Ordering is done through a vending machine at the entrance. You eat at the bar, and the cook stands cooking right in front of you.
When we got stuck ordering, the cook came to help immediately. Friendly and fast. The food is exactly what you expect: a good bowl of ramen for not too much money.
Desserts: trying bingsu
Bingsu is a Korean dessert made from shaved ice. At Dear Daon I order the custard version. It’s a large portion, so luckily my friend and I decided to share it. We get a small cup of caramel sauce that we stir through halfway. And, what’s it like? Very tasty. Bring on the bingsu! This is the first, but definitely not the last bingsu in South Korea!
Drinking in Seoul: challenging
Something I didn’t expect: at many places in Seoul, you can’t just have a drink in the evening. You have to order something to eat with it, which is not what I’m used to in the Netherlands. That makes it harder to go out for drinks somewhere.
Craft Hans
One of the few places where we could have only drinks is Craft Hans in Hongdae. It’s a craft beer café and turns out to be a popular spot for foreigners. A safe choice if you’re just looking for a beer.
Funny detail: We first thought the name Hans was amusing to see in South Korea, but it turns out to be related to Han’s. Not German Hans.
Howl in the Bar
After searching extensively for a place where we could just have a drink without mandatory food, we ended up at Howl in the Bar for a cocktail. It’s really a hole-in-the-wall in terms of size, but the cocktails are good. It’s just not that atmospheric, but we were perfectly happy with that.
How ordering works in Seoul + other food tips
A few practical things that are handy to know:
Vending machines everywhere
At many places, you order through a vending machine, sometimes you have to pull a number for a table at a machine when you enter. The order machines are sometimes at the entrance, sometimes at the table. Usually, you can select English as the language; otherwise, you’ll need your translation app.
Pay first, then eat
Often, you pay first and only then get your drink or food. The reverse of what you might be used to.
Aprons
At Korean BBQ, and for some other dishes, you’re offered an apron. Not very fashionable, but very practical.
Cutlery and chopsticks
There’s often a drawer in the table for cutlery (usually only a spoon), chopsticks, and napkins. Good to know before you start searching the entire place.
Chair and storage box in one
The chair is often also a storage box for your coat or bag. Just fold open the seat.
Brave the line
In my hometown of Amsterdam, I would never join the so-called TikTok lines, but in South Korea, it seems completely normal. So I sometimes even join without knowing exactly what I’m standing in line for. Usually it works out well!
The best food tips for Seoul?
I really enjoyed the food in Seoul. Everything is different from home, and that’s what makes it fun. Not everything is equally tasty to me (I’ll skip that living octopus next time), but it’s worth trying everything.
The coffee culture is fantastic, street food is everywhere and always fresh, and Korean BBQ deserves repeating (one more time, one more time!). And yes, sometimes it’s confusing how ordering works and what you’re exactly eating, but that’s part of it too.
Are these the best tips for Seoul? No, I was there too briefly for that. But they are the places I went and the things I tried. And maybe that gives you enough inspiration to go exploring yourself.
Because that’s actually the most fun about eating in Seoul: just pick a stall that looks good, order something you have no idea what it is and see if you like it. Sometimes it’s disappointing, sometimes it’s surprisingly tasty. Enjoy your meal!
More South Korea inspiration
Useful links for your South Korea trip
- Accommodation. Always handy is Booking.com, but compare prices. Trip is often much cheaper in South Korea. Rather stay in a hostel? Try HostelWorld.
- Activities. You can book the best tours and activities with GetYourGuide, Klook and Viator. You can book ‘free’ walking tours at Freetour and cool food tours at Secret Food Tours.
- Attractions and museums. For 5% off museums and attractions, use discount code KIMOPREIS22 at Tiqets.
- Car rental. Compare your options at Discover Cars and Rentalcars.com.
- Flights. Compare all your options! Be sure to check Expedia, Kiwi and Trip.
- Guide books. I love the practical guides by Lonely Planet, for sale at Amazon.
- Package deals. Rather go on a catered trip? Check out your options at Expedia and CheapOair for example.
- SIM card. Beware of unexpectedly high phone and internet costs. Buy a local SIM card when you arrive, or arrange one online via Airalo. Use the code THISIS8469 for a discount.
- Train and bus. Buy your train tickets directly on the Korail site and intercity buses also directly via this site. Some trips can also be booked on
Klook or via12Go . For local transport in the city, you use a T-Money card.
Some of the links on this site are affiliate links. If you buy something through these links, I might receive a small commission.
