Jongno is home to a number of famous haejangguk restaurants, and Cheongjinok (청진옥) is considered the forerunner among them. Opened in 1937, the restaurant has been run by three generations of the same family. Beef bones are simmered for more than 24 hours to make a rich broth, and soybean paste is added to neutralize the meaty odor. Ingredients added to the broth include various vegetables, clotted beef blood, beef intestines, and rice. Always crowded, Cheongjinok is open 24 hours a day.      

Nerd On Earth is a bar which Im Seul Ong, a member of the boyband group 2AM and actor, has opened in Itaewon. The ‘Nerd Bar’ (for short) is located in the deep corners of Itaewon, which shows Seul Ong’s taste in bars; he prefers somewhere dark and comfortable. You can feel a unique vibe from the blue and red lights blending together, with the mystical music playing in the background, and you can dine on various ‘high quality’ snacks as you drink. For example, menu items such as the “Nerd Wrap,” which is a wrap with Argula leaves, dried tomato, and ricotta cheese, and ‘Beef Brisket Spicy Seafood Noodle Soup,’ which has a spicy flavor, with generous portions of beef brisket are the menu items that lots of people order in the Nerd Bar. When you climb the rooftop, you can see the panoramic view of Itaewon. All of the above make it a must-stop location.  

Palais de Gaumont is a topnotch French restaurant that opened in the affluent area of Cheongdam-dong, Seoul in 2000. The owner, who majored in film, named the restaurant after Leon Gaumont, a pioneer of motion picture technology, and the Gaumont Palace. It aims to spread a new concept of Korean food culture image as fine dining for ten decades of tradition and thus has been applauded as a special restaurant.

Nolboo Yuhwang Ori Jinheukgui Jamsil Branch specializes in yuhwang ori jinheukgui (Grilled Herb and Mineral-fed Duck Wrapped in Mud) and smoked whole barbecue duck served with wine or other types of alcoholic beverages. You need to make a reservation because it takes hours to cook a duck in clay. The restaurant has rooms for group dining.

Poom Seoul is a Korean restaurant serving traditional banga cuisine (cuisine of the royal or noble class) with a modern twist. The restaurant offers a different menu every season, using only the highest quality seasonal ingredients and placing priority on food safety, quality producers, and high meat grades. Diners can feel the care taken by the chef by the exquisite beauty and flavor of each dish that is served as part of the course meal. Vegetarian course meals are also available and private rooms can be reserved for groups of 6 to 16 people. Diners must make their reservation and place their orders at least one day prior to visit.

The rainbow-colored roll cakes are produced twice a day at 12:30 and 16:30 in the afternoon. They are so popular that they are practically sold out within 10 minutes on weekends and 1 hour on weekdays! The seven colors on the cake seem so vivid that it almost feels like it is filled with artificial pigments. However, the cake is colored by 100% natural ingredients filled with earl grey custard crème, making it an irresistible favorite dessert among the young. If you are not a fan of roll cakes, Frank's has a great selection of other delicacies such as the brioche packed with reach butter flavor, freshly baked ciabattas and croissants with soft and flaky layers. They might be 'less colorful' and attractive compared to their signature rainbow cakes but they are also steady sellers of Frank's. ☞ Baking Time [Rainbow Roll] 12:00 and 16:30 everyday [Cow Roll] 12:00 every Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday  

Mingles creates a new taste based on traditional Korean cuisine. It offers various selections depending on one’s favorite flavors through a tasting guide introduced on the menu board.

Operated by a Japanese chef, Aoi Tori is a bakery during the day but transforms into a bar in the evening that serves alcoholic beverages and meals. As soon as one takes a step inside, the open kitchen will grab one’s attention while the sweet aroma of freshly baked goods builds up an appetite.

Bonjour Hawaii is an exotic fusion restaurant. Just by looking taking a glance at parasol rooftop which is by its main entrance, you can tell that the restaurant exudes exotic atmosphere/mood. The interior, small details, and the traditional Hawaiian music will have you mistaken that, in fact, you are at a cafe in Hawaii somewhere. It’s main dishes include, “BBQ Sunset Platter,” (It is a dish that has a set of ingredients: sausage, potato, chicken kebab, shrimp, Korean style pork), and “Cream Curry Udon,” which is just one of its many unique dishes on Bonjour Hawaii’s menu. Also, a pizza so addicting that it is nicknamed, “Drug Pizza,” is its specialty pizza called, “Sushi Pizza,” together with a fruit punch cocktail, you do not have to be jealous of someone who just went on a trip to Hawaii.     Through the restaurant’s appearance in the drama, “Doctors,” it created curiosity in the viewer’s mind. Since after the appearance it has become Hongdae’s, “hot place,” through words by mouth. Specifically, Bonjour Hawaii took on a role of a cafe that the main character Yoo Hae Jung (Park Shin Hae), operated. Back then, the restaurant was called, “ Suni Hawaii,” and Hong Ji Hong (Kim Rae Won), Ryu Hye Jung (Park Shin Hye) who are couples in the drama, “Doctors,” had scenes where they were drinking beer, while enjoying their date.  

At Samjeon Hoejeon Chobap, you can sit back and relax as fresh sushi dishes such as eel sushi, tuna sushi, salmon sushi, and shrimp sushi come by you on the conveyor belt. The system allows you to avoid waiting for food and pick and choose your favorite dishes. Sushi dishes are made of fresh fish delivered daily so you can rest assured that you’re eating only top quality sushi.The restaurant is conveniently located in central Seoul in the Gwanghwamun area near major landmarks such as City Hall, the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts, and Cheonggyecheon, making the restaurant a convenient stopover during a busy day of touring.