Korean restaurants are known for being some of the best food money offers. I am fortunate that studying abroad in Seoul has shown me some of the best restaurants. Additionally, not only are they yummy, but they are insanely affordable!
In this blog post, I will review my favourite Korean restaurants in Seoul. However, not all of them are Korean food, but restaurants in Korea! You can find everything from Korean BBQ to vegetarian food in Seoul.
Keep reading to discover some of the best affordable Korean restaurants and how to find them. Finally, you can also see my ratings out of 5 and the best options for you!
Michelin Kalgukusu – 4/5
Address: 서울 종로구 북촌로5길 78
[Naver Map]
Hwangsaengga Kalguksu
서울 종로구 북촌로5길 78
I visited this Michelin-recommended place in Seoul, and I could write an entire blog post about Michelin-guided Korean restaurants in Seoul. I think I’ve visited a decent handful of them.
Kalgukusu is a traditional hand-cut Korean noodle dish made in a creamy broth with vegetables and even Mandu (Korean dumplings). The noodles are made of wheat and are often consumed in summer.
We had this in the middle of winter, and I would highly recommend it. I enjoyed it warm. It is a comforting dish with a robust and salty taste. I just discovered that the broth includes anchovies, which explains the strong taste.
The restaurant is traditional; you sit on the floor with floor heating (one of the best things in Korea!) and eat your food on traditional wooden tables. Moreover, they also serve the dish with Kimchi (some of the best I’ve ever had!). Lastly, the only reason for the ⅘ rating is that the aftertaste was too strong for me – it’s still a must in Seoul!
Dak Galbi – 5/5
Address: 서울 마포구 와우산로21길 31-10 1층
[Naver Map]
Sinmigyeong Hongik Univ. Spicy Stir-fried Chicken
서울 마포구 와우산로21길 31-10 1층
Ahhh, Dak Galbi! YOU HAVE TO TRY THIS in Seoul! It is one of my favourite Korean Restaurants, and as a former vegetarian – this dish convinced me to be a meat eater just for my exchange 😉
Furthermore, I’m sure you can find this if you search “Korean restaurant near me” if you are visiting – there is Dak Galbi in most places in Seoul at least.
Dak Galbi is a dish that combines gochujang-sauce marinated stir-fried chicken and cheese as the base. It can be made with vegetables, tteokbokki, ramen, rice, and other toppings!
We usually opt for ramen and extra tteokbokki when we go here because it soaks up the marinade well. Additionally, you can also choose the spice level from 1-5; we usually go for 2 because the spice hits hard (this comes from an Indian who thinks she can handle her spice).
Lastly, this has a 5/5 rating because the waiters are so helpful to foreigners, the chicken always tastes amazing, and overall, it’s a great atmosphere. I recommend taking a group of friends here as it is a family-style meal.
Korean BBQ (Truly Korean Restuarants) – 4.5/5
Address: 서울 마포구 어울마당로 146-1
[Naver Map]
Hongik Charcoal Grilled Short Ribs Salted Grill
서울 마포구 어울마당로 146-1
I could only have a Korean restaurant recommendation post if I put in my favourite Korean barbeque place in Hongdae. On the outside of the restaurant, it says “ney York Times.” I’m not sure why – maybe they were featured in an NYT article? I would understand why; the charcoal grilled ribs are amazing.
I didn’t understand the hype the first few times I had Korean BBQ near me. It felt like the meat was pretty flavourless, just grilled meat. That quickly changed after I ate Korean BBQ at this restaurant.
All the marinated meat is delicious, and the garnishes they offer are countless. Not to mention, the kimchi fried rice is some of the best I’ve ever had.
I only rate this 4.5 instead of 5 because the waiters always rush us out… I don’t know if this is normal for their restaurant since it is usually busy (upon further thought, maybe it’s because of the charcoal and it takes a long time to heat/cool down). Other than that, the service is great!
Mara Gongbang – 4/5
Address: 서울 마포구 양화로18길 12 2층
[Naver Map]
Mara Gongbang Hongik Univ. Branch
서울 마포구 양화로18길 12 2층
This isn’t your typical Korean restaurant; it’s not Korean at all. This a Japanese-inspired shabu-shabu restaurant. Shabu Shabu is a hot pot dish; it usually has a creamy and spicy broth, and you can put your toppings in it.
Building your bowl is my favourite part of the restaurant. They have various noodles, vegetables, meat, fish, and other things to add to your bowl. Not only this, but they price your bowl based on the weight. To sum up, the fewer things you put in, the cheaper it is!
You can also choose the spice level for the broth; we usually just get the regular stir-fried broth and a low spice level. It’s great to share or get your bowl if it is too big for you.
There is also a station with a dipping sauce you can make; they have minced garlic, a peanut-based sauce, soy sauce, sugar, salt, scallions, and more to add to the mix. You can make this vegetarian by adding only veggie toppings, but the broth is meat-based.
This is also a ⅘ because it can be hit or miss depending on what you put into your soup. The broth always hits the spot, but the toppings can change the hot pot.
Poke Bowl – 5/5
Address: 서울 서대문구 신촌로 83 현대백화점신촌점
[Naver Map]
Hyundai Dept. Store Sinchon Branch
서울 서대문구 신촌로 83 현대백화점신촌점
Another Korean restaurant that does not have Korean food. This Poke Bowl place is in a food hall on the top floor of a mall.
The build-your-own bowl is so yummy. It includes two proteins!! There are already a lot of toppings in the bowl, from different vegetables and grains to choose from. The view is also what gives this Poke Bowl place a top rating.
It has a skyline view of Sinchon, and you can sit right next to the window and enjoy your lovely poke bowl. It isn’t the cheapest food in Seoul, but it is delicious!
Conclusion- Korean Restaurants
To conclude, I am so lucky to have Korean food near me; it’s all delicious and relatively affordable. I will miss going out to eat regularly when I return to university.
It’s officially my last week in Seoul – I can’t believe it. If I haven’t already, I’ll return to each place to have one last meal!
If you enjoyed this post, comment below if you want me to review Michelin Korean restaurants. I’ve been to a few of these Michelin guides, and I think it’s enough for a blog post!
Thanks for reading this far; I appreciate you!
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