Quick Info

What Korean Food Should You Try in Seoul?

Seoul is a good place to try many different types of Korean food, from grilled meat and chicken dishes to traditional soups and market food.

• Samgyeopsal – Korean BBQ pork belly
• Dakhanmari – Chicken hot pot
• Jjimdak – Soy-braised chicken
• Gomtang – Korean beef soup
• Jokbal – Braised pork
• Dakgalbi – Spicy stir-fried chicken

Quick Info

Location: Seoul, South Korea
Areas: Jongno, Gwangjang Market, Dongdaemun, Seongsu & Gyeongbokgung
Food: Korean BBQ, Dakhanmari, Dakgalbi, Jjimdak, Gomtang, Gukbap, Bindaetteok & more
Best For: Travelers looking for local Korean food in Seoul
Price Range: Budget to Mid-Range

Seoul has everything from busy food markets and Korean BBQ restaurants to small neighborhood restaurants serving dishes that locals eat every day.

I visited these places myself while eating around Seoul.

Some are close to major attractions such as Gyeongbokgung Palace, Dongdaemun, and Gwangjang Market, while others are in neighborhoods such as Seongsu.

Rather than choosing restaurants serving similar food, I picked places where you can try different Korean dishes.

Here are 10 local Korean food experiences to try in Seoul.

1. Jangin Dakgalbi – Jongno & Myeongdong – 장인닭갈비

Dakgalbi is one of the Korean foods I recommend trying in Seoul.

Chicken is cooked on a large pan with cabbage, rice cakes and a spicy sauce. Cheese is also a popular addition and goes especially well with the spicy chicken.

10 Best Restaurants in Jongno, Seoul: Must-Try Dakgalbi & Korean Food Near Gyeongbokgung Palace

After eating most of the chicken, you can add fried rice and mix it with the sauce left on the pan.

Jangin Dakgalbi has locations in both Jongno and Myeongdong. The Jongno main branch is convenient when visiting Gyeongbokgung, Insadong or Jongno, while the Myeongdong location is easy to visit while shopping or sightseeing around Myeongdong.

Best for: Dakgalbi, cheese dakgalbi and travelers looking for a Korean chicken dish in central Seoul.

2. All-You-Can-Eat Samgyeopsal & Galbi – 명륜진사갈비

Korean BBQ can be expensive, but an all-you-can-eat restaurant is a good way to enjoy different cuts of pork at one meal.

$15 Korean BBQ Buffet in Jongno Near Gyeongbokgung Palace – All-You-Can-Eat

You can grill samgyeopsal (pork belly) and galbi (marinated pork ribs) directly at your table and eat them with lettuce, garlic, kimchi and Korean dipping sauces.

The best part is that you can order more meat without paying for each additional portion.

I recommend starting with samgyeopsal and then trying the marinated galbi, which has a sweeter flavor.

It’s especially good for groups or travelers who want to eat plenty of Korean BBQ without spending too much.

Best for: Samgyeopsal, pork galbi and all-you-can-eat Korean BBQ.

3. Naju Gomtang – Gyeongbokgung – 나주곰탕

For something warm and simple, try a bowl of Korean Gomtang near Gyeongbokgung.

Naju Gomtang is a clear beef soup served with sliced beef.

Naju Gomtang Near Gyeongbokgung Palace – Korean Gomtang & Galbitang in Seoul

The Gomtang comes with rice inside the soup, while Galbitang has larger beef ribs and rice served separately.

It is an easy Korean meal to try after visiting Gyeongbokgung Palace or Seochon.

Best for: Gomtang, Galbitang and a simple Korean lunch.

4. Samhaejip – Jongno 3-ga – 삼해집 보쌈

Samhaejip is an old-school Korean restaurant located in the food alleys near Jongno 3-ga Station.

The restaurant is especially known for bossam — tender boiled pork served with kimchi — and oyster bossam is one of its signature dishes.

Best Oyster Bossam Restaurant in Jongno – Must-Try Korean Food in Seoul

One of the interesting things about eating here is that bossam is served with gamjatang, a hot and hearty pork-bone soup. It makes the meal feel much more generous, especially when sharing with friends.

The atmosphere is casual and local, and the surrounding Jongno 3-ga alleys get lively in the evening with office workers and groups having dinner and drinks.

Best for: Bossam, Korean drinking food, and travelers looking for an old-school local dining experience in Jongno.

5. Bongchu Jjimdak – Jongno

Jjimdak is Korean braised chicken cooked in a savory-sweet soy-based sauce.

The chicken is served with vegetables and glass noodles, and the soy sauce gives the dish plenty of flavor without making it very spicy.

Jjimdak Near Gyeongbokgung – Where to Eat in Jongno, Seoul

This makes jjimdak an approachable Korean chicken dish for travelers who are not comfortable with spicy food.

I also like eating some of the remaining sauce with rice.

Bongchu Jjimdak in Jongno Tower is near Jonggak Station, so it is easy to reach while exploring central Seoul.

Best for: Jjimdak, non-spicy Korean food and meals to share.

6. Halmaejip – Jongno Jokbal – 할매집 족발

Halmaejip is a long-running local restaurant in Jongno known for jokbal, Korean braised pig’s feet.

Best Jokbal Food in Jongno – Halmaejip Near Gyeongbokgung

The pork is tender and served in thick slices, making it easy to share at the table.

I like eating it with kimchi and the side dishes served together with the meal.

The restaurant has an old-school local atmosphere that feels very different from modern Korean BBQ restaurants.

Best for: Jokbal, traditional Korean food and a local Jongno meal.

7. Happy Restaurant – Seongsu Samgyeopsal – 행복한식당

Samgyeopsal is one of the classic Korean BBQ experiences.

Happy Restaurant near Seongsu serves thick pieces of fresh pork belly that you grill directly at the table.

Once cooked, you can eat the pork with salt or make a ssam by wrapping it in lettuce with garlic, kimchi and other side dishes.

Best Korean BBQ in Seongsu – Must-Try Samgyeopsal (Pork Belly) Restaurant

Doenjang jjigae with rice is also a good way to finish a Korean BBQ meal.

The restaurant feels more like a neighborhood BBQ restaurant than one of Seongsu’s trendy new spots.

Best for: Samgyeopsal and a traditional Korean BBQ experience.

8. Suwon Wonjo Galbi – Seongsu – 수원원조갈비

If you want Korean BBQ with more flavor from the marinade, try pork galbi.

Suwon Wonjo Galbi serves marinated pork ribs that are grilled directly at the table.

The marinade becomes slightly caramelized as the pork cooks, giving the meat a savory and slightly sweet flavor.

Best Korean Restaurant in Seongsu – Affordable Local Pork Galbi BBQ

Eat it with rice or put a piece of pork inside lettuce to make a Korean ssam.

Samgyeopsal and pork galbi may both be Korean BBQ, but the taste and texture are quite different.

Best for: Pork galbi, Korean BBQ and groups.

9. Hando Samgyeopsal – Jongno – 한도삼겹살

Hando Samgyeopsal offers another side of Korean BBQ: naengsam, or thinly sliced frozen pork belly.

Unlike thick fresh samgyeopsal, the thin slices cook very quickly.

Best Korean BBQ in Jongno – Must-Try Pork Belly Restaurant in Ikseondong, Seoul

Eat the pork with Korean side dishes and vegetables, then finish the meal with fried rice.

The old-school restaurant atmosphere is also part of the experience and feels different from modern Korean BBQ restaurants.

Best for: Naengsam, old-school Korean BBQ and dinner in Jongno.

10. Korean Hanjeongsik – A Full Korean Meal – 양반댁

Hanjeongsik is worth adding to a Seoul food trip because it is very different from ordering one bowl of soup or grilling meat.

Must-Try Korean Restaurant Near Gyeongbokgung Palace – Traditional Royal Set Meal

A Korean set meal usually arrives with rice, soup and several different side dishes.

Depending on the restaurant, you may get grilled fish, bulgogi, japchae, vegetables, kimchi, jeon and other Korean dishes.

For someone visiting Korea for the first time, it is an easy way to see several parts of a traditional Korean meal on one table.

Best for: Travelers who want to try many Korean dishes in one meal.

Which Korean Food Should You Try?

For your first Korean BBQ experience, try Samgyeopsal or Pork Galbi.

If you want chicken, there are three completely different styles on this list: Dakhanmari is cooked in broth, Jjimdak has a savory-sweet soy sauce, and Dakgalbi has a stronger spicy flavor.

For a warm Korean soup, try Gomtang or Sundae-guk.

Gwangjang Market is better if you want to walk around and sample several foods rather than sit down for one large meal.

And if you want many Korean dishes served together, Hanjeongsik is the easiest way to experience a wider variety in one sitting.

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More Places to Visit in Seoul

1. Gyeongbokgung Palace

Gyeongbokgung is one of Seoul’s major historical attractions and is easy to combine with restaurants around Jongno and Seochon.

Best Things to Do Near Gyeongbokgung Palace – Hidden Food Spots & 1 Day Seoul Itinerary (2026)

2. Gwangjang Market

Come for the market atmosphere as well as the food.

You can continue walking toward Jongno, Cheonggyecheon or Dongdaemun after eating.

Best Food in Gwangjang Market – 5 Must-Try Spots Near Gyeongbokgung

3. Dongdaemun & DDP

Dongdaemun is especially easy to combine with Dakhanmari Alley.

After eating, walk toward Dongdaemun Design Plaza and explore the surrounding shopping area.

Best Things to Do Near Dongdaemun – DDP, Markets and Street Food

4. Seoul 1-Day History Route

Explore Seoul’s history in one day from Gyeongbokgung Palace and the National Palace Museum to Seodaemun Prison and Deoksugung Palace.

This route combines major historical sites in central Seoul and is easy to pair with restaurants around Gyeongbokgung and Jongno.

Seoul 1-Day Itinerary: Gyeongbokgung, Seodaemun Prison & Deoksugung – History Route

5. Jongno 1-Day Walking Route

Explore central Seoul on foot from Gyeongbokgung and the National Palace Museum to Jongno, Naksan Park and DDP.

This walking route combines Korean history, local streets, food and one of Seoul’s best sunset.

Best Jongno 1 Day Itinerary – Palaces, Street Food & Hidden Gems in Seoul

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Final Thoughts

There is much more to Korean food in Seoul than Korean BBQ.

Dakhanmari in Dongdaemun, street food at Gwangjang Market, Gomtang near Gyeongbokgung, Jjimdak in Jongno and Dakgalbi in Seongsu all offer completely different experiences.

These are the kinds of places I enjoy visiting because each meal shows a different side of everyday Korean food.

You do not need to try all ten in one trip.

Pick a restaurant near the area you are already exploring and add one local Korean meal to your Seoul itinerary.

Leave a Review & Help Other Travelers

Have you tried any of these Korean restaurants or foods in Seoul?

Share what you ate, where you visited, and your tips for other travelers looking for local Korean food in Seoul.