Jirisan is one of the representative Korean restaurants in Insa-dong, an area known for its traditional culture. One of the trademarks of this restaurant, besides its amazingly delectable bean and tofu dishes, is a wooden sign that welcome guests into a neat and cozy interior.Each day, fresh beans are ground at the restaurant to prepare dishes such as soybean paste, soft tofu, and bean-curd tofu stew. Bean-curds are prepared by using seawater, which gives the tofu a unique flavor. The fresh and clean taste of the tofu is one of the many reasons that choosey tofu aficionados flock to the restaurant.Not just limited to tofu, Jirisan presents customers with a full-range of side dishes such as kimchi, japchae (glass noodles with sautéed vegetables), cucumber kimchi, seasoned seaweed, braised lotus roots, roasted yellow corbinas (a type of fish), leafy greens, bean-curd stew, and more. The restaurant gives visitors a chance to experience a hearty traditional Korean-style meal, but has thoughtfully toned down its seasonings to appeal to a wider audience (particularly those not used to spicy foods).One of the recommended menu items is the Jirisan set meal, which offers diners the chance to sample foods that are popular in the Jirisan region. Adventurous diners may want to try the sea urchin soup or dried Pollack soup.The restaurant, originally a traditional Korean house, has been modified over the years to better suit the needs of its customers. The walls surrounding the structure were removed and a glass ceiling was installed to allow guests to enjoy the natural light of the sun as they sample some of the area’s best traditional Korean cuisine.

Itaewon is home to unique restaurants presenting a smorgasbord of various cuisines from around the world. Ali Baba is no exception to the vibrant food culture of Itaewon. With its homemade Egyptian-style cuisine, white walls, eye-catching decorations, and Arabian music, guests will almost as if they’ve left the country.Some of the most popular dishes at the restaurant are the hummus, falafels, and pitas. A variety of meat dishes that have been slightly altered to please the Korean palate are also available. Apart from the delectable cuisine, diners can also enjoy an after-dinner hookah (water pipe) as they sit back and relax with friends.

Following his mother’s footsteps, the son of the previous owner is now managing the family business. Opened during the early years of Jokbal Street, the delicious meat at this restaurant is fondly remembered by customers. While the meat itself has almost no fat, the fat portion is extremely soft and savory. This restaurant is also different from the others in that it provides kongnamul-guk (bean sprout soup) with the jokbal (steamed pork hock). Pyeongyang-style naengmyeon (cold noodles) and tteok-mandu-guk (rice cake-dumpling soup) are also delicious. Pyeongyang naengmyeon is cooked to suit South Korean tastebuds. Besides, the noodles and dumplings are hand-made. Despite the restaurants long history, the building of the restaurant is clean and well-maintained as it was being rebuilt after a fire in the 1980s. There are plenty of tables on the first and second floors to accommodate customers, and the third floor is reserved for large groups. Especially noticeable is the clean appearance both inside and out, despite the restaurant’s long history; probably because the building was rebuilt after a fire in the 1980s. Plenty of tables on the first and second floors accommodate customers, and the third floor is reserved for large groups.

Seven Springs delivers pleasure and well-being, as the food intends to serve an environmentally-friendly, healthy meal. The restaurant is styled with a pleasantly comfortable interior, while the open-kitchen allows guests to watch the chefs prepare the salads, for a more delightful dining experience.

Opened in 1953 by a woman known as Mabongnim, the restaurant takes pride in its 50-plus years of service. As Mabongnim gained popularity, other similar establishments opened nearby, and eventually, formed the now famous “Teokbokki Street.” The elderly proprietor is well known, even starring in a red-pepper paste (gochujang) ad in the 1990's.The secret of this restaurant’s tteokbokki lies in the fact that red pepper paste is mixed with Chinese soybean paste for a sweet and spicy taste, but has now been adopted by other Sindangdong restaurants. Nevertheless, there is something special about this restaurant’s fare. At present, Mabongnim’s daughters-in-law are running the restaurant.

Mijin is a restaurant specializing in spicy hot baby octopus and cool buckwheat dishes. Opened in 1954, the restaurant's 50-year history is a testament to the great taste of its dishes and the charm of the restaurant.The main ingredient, buckwheat, is delivered daily from Bongpyeong, the largest buckwheat producing region in Korea. Baby octopus is also delivered every morning from ports in Yeosu. Families and workers of surrounding companies are major customers of the restaurant, but celebrities and politicians also come to the restaurant to taste its food. Memilmuk (Buckwheat Jelly) and pancakes made with buckwheat and green onion are also delicacies of the restaurant.

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.

At Goam Sikdang, you can have refreshingly spicy budae jjigae, a stew of sausages, meat and vegetables. The budae jjigae at this restaurant tastes more authentically Korean than Itaewon-style budae jjigae, which usually includes processed cheese. This restaurant is famous in the Itaewon area for its delicious food.   spicy budae jjigae, a stew of sausages, meat and vegetables.            

Situated in Itaewon, Suji's provides guests with authentic American food. The brunch menus are favorites among many customers and long lines remain even after lunchtime, a sign of the restaurant's popularity. The blueberry pancakes, omelets, and Mexican brunch are especially popular dishes as well as the pancakes, sandwiches, and French toast. With an interior design as attractive as its delicious dishes, the restaurant draws a wide clientele, mainly foreign nationals.

Hangwachae is a vegetarian buffet restaurant in Insadong, which serves up dishes made with fresh organic vegetables. The owner of the restaurant first began cooking vegetarian dishes for her vegetarian husband. When her friends tasted her cooking, they encouraged her to open a vegetarian restaurant, which lead to the opening of Hangwachae. The owner prepares the food as if she were preparing it for her husband and friends, therefore the ingredients are all fresh and of high quality.Soup, rice, rice porridge, and Korean pancakes are offered as the basic menu and are also included in the buffet. The rice served is made with 20 different Oriental herbs. The buffet offers some 20 to 30 different dishes. For protein supplements, the buffet offers walnuts, homemade tofu, and muk (nut jellies). It also offers rice cakes and bananas. One of Hangwachae’s most famous dishes is the green salad served with cheonggukjang (thick soybean paste) sauce made with choenggukjang, milk, and papaya. The kimchi is flavored with fruit instead of pickled fish. Hangwachae only uses grape oil in its cooking.