What to Eat in Seoul
Last checked: October 2026. Prices are Seoul averages and vary by restaurant.
Korean meals come with free side dishes, there's no tipping, and many places now take orders on a tablet. Here is what to eat, where to find it, and how a Korean restaurant works.
- Tipping
- Not expected
- Side dishes
- Free, with refills
- Quick lunch
- About 8,000–12,000 won
- BBQ
- Usually 2 servings minimum
15 dishes to try
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Pork belly BBQ 삼겹살
samgyeopsal
Thick pork belly you grill at the table and wrap in lettuce.
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Bibimbap 비빔밥
bibimbap
Rice topped with vegetables, chili paste, and usually an egg. Mix it all before eating.
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Knife-cut noodle soup 칼국수
kalguksu
Hand-cut wheat noodles in a warm broth.
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Cold noodles 냉면
naengmyeon
Chewy buckwheat noodles in icy broth (mul) or spicy sauce (bibim).
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Spicy rice cakes 떡볶이
tteokbokki
Chewy rice cakes in a sweet and spicy chili sauce.
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Fried chicken & beer 치맥
chimaek
Crispy double-fried chicken with draft beer. A Korean night out.
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Mung bean pancake 빈대떡
bindaetteok
A crispy pan-fried pancake of ground mung beans.
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Beef tartare 육회
yukhoe
Raw seasoned beef with pear and egg yolk.
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Mini gimbap 마약김밥
mayak gimbap
Small seaweed rice rolls with a mustard dip.
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Gimbap 김밥
gimbap
A seaweed rice roll, the everyday Korean snack.
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Ginseng chicken soup 삼계탕
samgyetang
A whole young chicken stuffed with rice and ginseng.
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Kimchi stew set 김치찌개
kimchi-jjigae
Spicy kimchi stew with rice and side dishes, the classic cheap lunch.
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Sweet pancake 호떡
hotteok
Griddled dough filled with brown sugar and nuts.
-
Shaved ice 빙수
bingsu
Milk ice topped with red bean, fruit, or matcha. Usually shared.
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Soju & makgeolli 소주 · 막걸리
soju · makgeolli
Clear spirit and milky rice wine. Makgeolli goes well with savory pancakes.
Food markets and food streets
Gwangjang Market
Line 1 Jongno 5-ga Exit8
- Official guides list both Exit 7 and Exit 8.
- The food alley is open 9:00–23:00 every day; the rest of the market closes on Sundays.
- Eat mung bean pancakes, mayak gimbap, and yukhoe at the counter stalls.
Tongin Market: coin lunch box
Line 3 Gyeongbokgung Exit2
- It's close to the palace.
- Buy old-style brass coins at the Dosirak Café (10 coins for 5,000 won, tray included). Then walk the market and trade coins for food to fill your lunch box. Try the oil tteokbokki.
- Open 11:00–15:00 on weekdays and 11:00–16:00 on Saturdays. Closed Mondays.
Namdaemun Market
Line 4 Hoehyeon
- Closed Sundays.
- Kalguksu Alley serves noodle soup with a side of cold buckwheat noodles. Braised hairtail fish (galchi-jorim) restaurants are nearby.
Mangwon Market
Line 6 Mangwon Exit2
- About 6 minutes' walk from the exit. It's near Hongdae.
- A local market known for sweet crispy chicken (dakgangjeong), croquettes, and fried stuffed peppers.
Myeongdong street food
- Stalls open in the late afternoon and are busiest after dark. Skewers and gimbap are about 5,000 won.
- Card payment is the official rule, but some stalls still prefer cash, so carry some won.
Euljiro Nogari Alley
Line 2Line 3 Euljiro 3-ga Exit4
- Dried pollack snacks and draft beer at plastic tables in the alley. Busiest after 18:00.
Noryangjin Fish Market
Line 1Line 9 Noryangjin Exit9
- Pick a live fish from a vendor, then pay a nearby restaurant to slice it as sashimi (hoe). Side dishes cost extra.
How eating out works in Korea
- No tipping. Prices include tax.
- Side dishes (banchan) are free and refills are free. Water is often self-service.
- Calling staff: press the call button on the table or say "여기요" (yeogiyo).
- Utensils are often in a drawer at the side of the table.
- Tablets and kiosks: many restaurants take orders, and sometimes payment, on a table tablet or kiosk. Some have an English option, but not all.
- Eating alone: Korean BBQ places usually want a minimum of two servings. Noodle, soup, and gimbap shops are fine for solo diners.
- Vegetarians: many soups and stews use meat or fish broth. Ask for bibimbap without egg, and note that jjajangmyeon contains pork.
Useful phrases
Tap any of these on the travel phrase cards page to show it full screen.
| Korean | Say it like | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 여기요! | yeogiyo! | Excuse me! (to call staff) |
| 이거 주세요 | igeo juseyo | This one, please |
| 안 맵게 해 주세요 | an maepkke hae juseyo | Not spicy, please |
| 고기 빼 주세요 | gogi ppae juseyo | No meat, please |
| 저는 채식주의자예요 | jeoneun chaesikjjuijayeyo | I'm a vegetarian |
| 땅콩 알레르기가 있어요 | ttangkong allereugiga isseoyo | I'm allergic to peanuts |
| 계산해 주세요 | gyesanhae juseyo | The bill, please |
Apps for eating in Seoul
- Baemin (food delivery): takes foreign credit cards and Apple Pay, has an English interface, and no longer needs a Korean phone number.
- CatchTable Global: restaurant reservations and waitlists in English. You sign up with Google or Apple and pay with a foreign card.
- Naver Map: the best map for restaurants in Korea. It translates reviews into English, and since June 2026 foreigners can verify with a passport to make bookings.
Cafés and convenience stores
- Seongsu-dong has cafés in converted factories. Ikseon-dong has cafés in hanok houses, near Insadong.
- Convenience stores (CU, GS25, 7-Eleven) are a cheap meal: triangle gimbap (try tuna mayo) with cup ramyeon.
Next steps
FAQ
Do you tip in Korean restaurants?
No. Tipping isn't expected, prices include tax, and side dishes and refills are free.
Can I eat Korean BBQ alone?
Many BBQ restaurants require at least two servings. Noodle, soup, and gimbap shops are fine for solo diners.
When is Gwangjang Market open?
The food alley is open 9:00–23:00 every day. The rest of the market closes on Sundays.