7 Places to Find the Best Food in Seoul

S eoul is one of the most frequented tourist destinations, and a lot of it has to do with the culinary landscape of the city. 

According to Travel US News, Seoul is one of the best places to visit in Asia. The city is a metropolitan hub of happening clubs, live street performances, modern and contemporary architecture, and food street food markets that are live from noon to late at night.

Seoul offers a variety of exotic dishes, famous in the South Korean region. Follow our guide for the best food in Seoul to make the most of your trip.

1. Sannakji at Noeryangji Fish Market

Octopus is a common, and famous dish when we talk about exotic seafood. It’s appreciated for its salty flavor, and chewy texture. 

Sannajki is a sashimi twist on octopus. What makes it even more exotic is the tentacles are still squirming when the dish is served. 

And it’s eaten the same way. 

It’s a famous street food found at the Noryangji Fish Market. 

You can buy some, along with the other fresh sea produce, and have a local restaurant cook it for you on the first floor of the market. 

The flavor is naturally sweet, and not as chewy as regular octopus. 

2. Fried Chicken at Chicken in the Kitchen 

There’s an increasing trend for fried chicken in Seoul, and there are several variations of it. 

The Fried Chicken at Chicken in the Kitchen is famous for its red hot chili pepper flavor, and double-fried crispy skin. 

It’s crispy, and hot to bite into. As one begins to chew, the light, juicy, and pepper flavor pops in and lingers on even after you are done. 

Some more restaurants to check out for Korean fried chicken include Oksang Dalbit, Hanchu, and Ddobagi Chicken. 

3. Pizza at PPuri on the Plate

For our vegan readers or those with gluten sensitivity, PPuri on the Plate is the place for you!

Most of their menu is delish, and the restaurant is a locals’ favorite too for gluten-free, and vegan food. 

Their pizza is especially appreciated and recommended. 

The pizza dough is made with brown rice, and the sauce is cooked using fresh vegetables. It’s a sugar-free, organic delicacy. 

They also offer Sushi and follow a monthly pop-up schedule for a more interactive experience. 

4. Korean BBQ at Jeong Daepo 

Pork is big in Seoul. Beef is more expensive, so the country uses more pork than any other red meat. 

The specialty of Korean BBQ at most street vendors, and smaller cafes is that it’s cooked in front of you, and served fresh in lettuce. 

The area surrounding Gongdeok Station is full of vendors and restaurants selling Korean BBQ. Jeong Daepo is an old favorite for many locals and tourists, and one of the most frequented BBQ places on the street. 

5. Pajeon at at Gwangjang Market

The next on our list of the best food in Seoul is, of course, Pajeon! They are Koren savory pancakes.

Pajeon is a common choice for brunch, and dinner too for the locals!

It has a chewy pancake-like base made with rice flour but is a crispier texture compared to the traditional pancakes. 

You can choose between Green Onion Pajeon or Seafood Pajeon. It’s prepared with a variety of fillings, so each will taste different from the other. 

It’s served cut into squares, with kimchi and soy sauce on the side. 

6. Kimchi Jjigae at Omori Jjigae

This hot broth of kimchi comes like a hot pot, with tuna, macaroni, and cheese. 

Sounds different from the usual Koren hot pots? It is! 

It’s a pantheon of comfort food cooked together in a tangy broth. One can choose between vegetarian and non-vegetarian options (pork or tofu) as the main ingredient. 

Omori Jjigae is an old, hole-in-the-wall kind of establishment specializing in Kimchi Jjigae. You can google the nearest location to you (it’s a chain of restaurants) and try this sooner than later! 

7. Seolnongtang at Imun Seolnongtang

Imun Seolnongtang is one of the oldest restaurants in Seoul, and the first one to be registered in the restaurant category. 

The eatery is frequented for its ox bone soup – Seolnongtang; one of the best foods in Seoul. 

It’s a clear, and hearty soup made by boiling beef shank bones for a minimum of 6 hours a day. The flavors from the bones are extracted through the slow simmering process. 

Brisket, wheat noodles, and rice are then added to the soup. It’s seasoned with salt, pepper, and spring onions.

The seasonings are served on the table with diners to add as per their liking! 

We recommend adding a lot of spring onions as the sweetness of spring onions complements the overall warm flavors of the flavor very well. 

Locals enjoy Seolnongtang on a cold winter evening.