6 Restaurants Worth Visiting in South Korea
One of the things I was most looking forward to on my trip to South Korea was eating all the delicious food!
Alongside exploring all the markets and cafés, I wanted to try as many different Korean dishes and restaurants as I could. From traditional Korean favourites to Korean BBQ, seafood and some delicious fusion dishes, there was always something new to try.
After visiting so many different places, here are some of the restaurants that really stood out to me and are worth adding to your South Korea itinerary.
Tip: If you're planning your own South Korea itinerary, I'd recommend saving these restaurants in Naver Map before you go. I've also included their Instagram where I could, so you can check menus, opening hours and the latest updates before your visit.
1. Favourite Ikseon (익선취향)
📍 Location: Ikseon-dong, Seoul
This restaurant was actually on my list before we even arrived in South Korea. I had seen so many people recommending it on Instagram, especially for their famous pork belly rosé pasta, so I knew I wanted to give it a try.
We visited with the kids while exploring Ikseon-dong, and thankfully, they loved it too! We ordered the pork belly rosé pasta along with a few other dishes to share, and everything was delicious. The pork belly rosé pasta was definitely the standout for me - creamy, full of flavour and topped with generous pieces of pork belly.
Another thing that surprised me was how affordable it was. For the amount of food we ordered, I thought it was really reasonably priced, especially considering how popular the restaurant is.
The service was also really quick when we visited. We were lucky enough to go at a quieter time, so we didn't have to wait and our food came out quickly. I've heard that it can get quite busy at other times, with people lining up to get a table, so I think we definitely timed our visit well.
If you're already exploring Ikseon-dong, I'd definitely recommend adding this one to your list. It's a great option if you're travelling with kids or someone who might prefer something a little more familiar than traditional Korean food, while still getting to experience one of Seoul's beautiful hanok neighbourhoods.
Find them:
2. Kyochon Pilbang (교촌필방)
📍 Location: Itaewon, Seoul
We tried a lot of Korean fried chicken while we were in South Korea, but Kyochon Pilbang was definitely one of the most unique experiences.
Hidden away in Itaewon, this isn't your typical Korean fried chicken restaurant. It's designed like a secret speakeasy, and even getting inside is part of the fun! Instead of a regular restaurant entrance, you have to find the large brush outside and pull it down to open the hidden door.
Once you're inside, there's another hidden entrance that leads into the restaurant, which makes the whole experience feel like you're discovering a secret place in the middle of Seoul.
The food was delicious, and there were plenty of drinks to choose from, making it such a fun place to visit with friends. We enjoyed the atmosphere just as much as the food - it felt like more than simply going out for chicken and drinks.
If you've already tried plenty of Korean fried chicken during your trip and want to do something a little different, I'd definitely recommend Kyochon Pilbang. It's the kind of restaurant you'll remember because of the whole experience, not just the food.
Find them: 📸 Instagram
3. Baeknyeon Tojong Samgyetang (백년토종삼계탕)
📍 Location: Bukchon, Seoul
One of the Korean dishes I really wanted to try during our trip was samgyetang - Korean ginseng chicken soup.
Baeknyeon Tojong Samgyetang is a restaurant specialising in this traditional dish and has a long history of serving samgyetang. The restaurant has also been featured in the Michelin Guide and by the Seoul tourism website.
Samgyetang is made with a whole young chicken stuffed with ingredients such as glutinous rice, ginseng and garlic. It's warm, comforting and definitely one of those Korean dishes that I think is worth trying at least once when you're visiting.
We visited while exploring the Bukchon area, making it an easy restaurant to add into a day of sightseeing. After walking around the traditional hanok streets, sitting down to a warm bowl of samgyetang was exactly what we needed.
If you're looking to try something a little more traditional during your trip rather than sticking to the usual Korean BBQ or fried chicken, I'd definitely recommend giving samgyetang a try.
Find them:
4. Ikseon Dimibang (익선디미방)
📍 Location: Ikseon-dong, Seoul
This was another restaurant I visited during my first time exploring Ikseon-dong, and it was so yummy!
We ordered lots of different dishes and shared everything amongst us, which is one of my favourite ways to eat when travelling. It meant we could try a little bit of everything, and honestly, everything we ordered was absolutely delicious.
I also really loved the atmosphere here. The restaurant is tucked away amongst the beautiful hanok streets of Ikseon-dong, so it had such a lovely vibe and felt like the perfect place to sit down and enjoy a meal. The restaurant is known for its Western-style dishes with Korean touches, so there was plenty of variety for everyone to enjoy.
For us, it was the perfect meal after a day of shopping and exploring. We could sit down, relax, share a few different dishes and just enjoy being together.
If you're spending the day wandering around Ikseon-dong, I'd definitely recommend keeping this one in mind for lunch or dinner.
Find them:
5. Noraba (노라바)
📍 Location: Aewol, Jeju Island
If you're visiting Jeju and love seafood, put this one on your list!
Noraba is located along the Aewol coastline and is famous for its seafood ramyeon. And when I say seafood, I mean they don't hold back!
The seafood ramyeon comes loaded with fresh seafood, including ingredients such as prawns, mussels, scallops and abalone. They also offer an octopus ramyeon, which is another popular choice.
What makes this even better is the location. You're right by the Jeju coast, so you can enjoy your meal while taking in the coastal atmosphere.
This is definitely not your average bowl of instant noodles. The seafood adds so much flavour to the broth, and the generous portions make it a really memorable meal.
If you're exploring Aewol, I'd definitely recommend adding Noraba to your itinerary - just keep in mind that it can get busy, and some dishes can sell out, so going earlier is a good idea.
Find them:
6. Dongeopang Sanbangsan Branch (돈고팡 산방산점)
📍 Location: Sanbangsan, Jeju Island
If there's one food I would tell you that you have to try in Jeju, it's Jeju black pork!
Jeju is famous for its black pork, and having Korean BBQ is such a fun experience when you're travelling with family or friends.
Dongeopang's Sanbangsan branch is a great option if you're exploring this part of the island and want to stop for a proper Korean BBQ meal.
I loved being able to sit down after a day of exploring and enjoy a meal together. Korean BBQ is one of those experiences where the food becomes part of the fun - cooking the meat at the table, ordering different sides and sharing everything together.
The location also works well if you're exploring Sanbangsan and the surrounding area, so it's an easy one to add into your Jeju itinerary rather than making a special trip just for the restaurant.
If you're a meat lover, definitely don't leave Jeju without trying the island's famous black pork.
Find them:
Final Thoughts
One thing I quickly discovered during our time in South Korea was just how much food is part of the travel experience. Every day seemed to bring another opportunity to try something new - whether it was sitting down for Korean BBQ, trying traditional samgyetang, eating seafood ramyeon beside the Jeju coast or discovering another little restaurant tucked away in the streets of Ikseon-dong.
I also loved that there was so much variety. You can have a traditional Korean meal one day, Korean fried chicken the next and then find an amazing fusion restaurant serving different pastas.
These six restaurants were some of the ones that stood out to me during our trip, but this list only scratches the surface. There are still so many Korean dishes and restaurants I want to try on my next visit.
If you're planning a trip to South Korea, I hope this guide gives you a few places to add to your itinerary - and encourages you to try something new while you're there.
Because honestly, some of the best travel memories are made around a table with good food.
Happy eating!
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