Seoul Korean Food

Jinmi Sikdang is a specialty restaurant known for its exclusive focus on gejang (marinated crab), using only the finest blue crabs from the Seohae Coast. The restaurant prides itself on preparing only the amount of crab needed for the day, ensuring freshness, so it's advisable to make reservations before visiting, especially during peak hours. Known for its consistent quality and unwavering taste, Jinmi Sikdang continues to receive steady love from its customers.

Oegojip Seolleongtang is a restaurant specializing in seolleongtang (ox bone soup) made exclusively from Grade 1 Korean beef. It's also recognized by the Michelin Guide as a top-notch dining destination. Renowned for its insistence on using only the finest ingredients, particularly in selecting beef for seolleongtang, suyuk (boiled beef slices), and yukgaejang (spicy beef soup). The restaurant exudes a cozy Korean-style dining atmosphere, and it's conveniently located near COEX, Bongeunsa Temple, and Seonjeongneung Royal Tomb.

Bongmilga is a Pyeongyang naengmyeon (Pyeongyang cold buckwheat noodles) restaurant located near Gangnam-gu Office, also recognized by the Michelin Guide. One of its proud features is the meticulous process of boiling the broth for five hours starting from 5 AM. Its signature dish is the Pyeongyang memilguksu (Pyeongyang buckwheat noodles) served cold, and it also offers onmyeon (warm noodles), hanu gomtang (Korean beef bone soup), and other items. Side dishes include memil jeon (buckwheat pancake), Pyongyang mandu, and suyuk (boiled pork slices). Nearby, visitors can explore the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site, Seonjeongneung Royal Tomb.

Timhowan is a specialized Chinese restaurant focusing on dim sum, located near Gangnam COEX. It has been selected by the Michelin Guide. Its signature dim sum includes the fresh shrimp-made har gow (shrimp dumplings), along with char siu bao bun (baked BBQ pork buns), shaomai (pork & shrimp dumplings), sacheonsik wantang (pork dumplings in hout & spicy sauce), and buchaegyo (spinach dumplings with shrimp). Additionally, there are dishes like sacheonsik wantang bibimmyeon (pork & shrimp dumpling in hout & spicy noodle), dakgogi beoseot jjim (chicken, cordycep flower & mushroom), Hong Kongsik tangsugi (sweet & sour fried chicken), cheonggyeongchae (poached fresh bok choy), and gongsimchae (seasonal vegetable). Nearby attractions include COEX, Bongeunsa Temple, and Seonjeongneung Royal Tomb.

Ojang-dong Hamheung Naengmyeon originated when grandma Han Hyesun, who migrated from Hamgyeongnam-do to Seoul during the Korean War, began selling Hamheung-style "nongma guksu (starch noodles)," eventually naming it Hamheung naengmyeon (Hamheung cold buckwheat noodles). Its signature dish, bibim naengmyeon (spicy buckwheat noodles), features chewy noodles infused with a tangy-sweet seasoning, showcasing the expertise behind its preparation. Alongside the flavorful broth served as a base, the menu also includes variations like hoe naengmyeon (cold buckwheat noodles with raw fish), mul laengmyeon (cold buckwheat noodles), suyuk (boiled pork slices) and mandu.

Mapo Yangji Seolleongtang, opened its doors in 1977. The distinctive feature of this seolleongtang (ox bone soup) establishment is its clear broth with minimal meat odor, showcasing the rich flavor of deeply boiled beef bones and the sweetness of beef brisket. Served in a hot pot, it is accompanied by freshly cooked rice and hot soup. In addition to the signature dish, they also offer variations like naejangtang (offal soup), kkoritang (oxtail soup), joktang (ox feet soup) and doganitang (ox knee soup).

Hyunudon is a specialty udon restaurant and noodle factory near Sinsa Station, led by Chef Park Sanghyun, renowned for his mastery of udon. The restaurant gained fame for its deep-fried dish and cold udon with bonito soy sauce, showcased as a delicious dish on various TV programs. Their main offerings include mentaiko ankake tamagotoji udon (pollack roe and egg udon) and tempura bukkake udon (cold udon with bonito soy sauce). Additionally, popular choices include curry deopbap (curry with rice), ebiten mochi bukkake udon (deep-fried shrimp, rice cake and cold udon with bonito soy sauce), toriten bukkake udon (deep-fried chicken drumsticks and cold udon with bonito soy sauce), and tenzaru udon (tempura and zaru udon).

Hapjeongok is a gomtang (beef bone soup) specialty restaurant located near Hapjeong Station. Using domestically sourced beef brisket and bones, they prepare around 100 servings of soup each day. The signature dish is the rich and subtly fragrant gomtang, complemented by menu items such as yukhoe (beef tartare) and suyuk (boiled pork slices) that go well together.

Jinmi Pyeongyang Naengmyeon is a renowned Pyeongyang naengmyeon (Pyeongyang cold buckwheat noodles) specialty restaurant run by Chef Im Sekwon, who has accumulated years of experience in Jangchung-dong. Its signature dish is the naengmyeon (cold buckwheat noodles), offering a clean broth and chewy noodles. Additionally, they offer menu items such as jeyuk (spicy stir-fried pork), mandu, and bulgogi that complement the noodles perfectly. Renowned to the extent of long queues, it was selected for the Michelin Guide Seoul 2023.