Located in Chungmuro, Jingogae (진고개) has been in business for 40 years and by word-of-mouth has become well-known for its traditional food. The most famous dishes are the bossam kimchi (rolled kimchi), galbijjim (steamed ribs), and gaejang jeongsik (seasoned raw crab).All dishes are made using traditional cooking methods and the restaurant's menu is full of many nostalgic foods, making this a great restaurant option for international visitors hoping to experience the true flavors of Korean cuisine.

Following extensive years in researching about kimchi and its scientific benefits, Samkim has succeeded in producing its own unique brand of kimchi that is unique in flavor and quality.Many dishes at the Samkim restaurant combine kimchi and pork belly ('samgyeopsal' in Korean) since kimchi researchers found that the two foods seem to complement each other perfectly (hence, the name was made combining the two words' first syllable). According to researchers’ findings, kimchi raises your metabolism rate slightly as you eat, reducing the amount of fat that the body takes in while eating the pork belly.To apply its kimchi findings, Samkim opened restaurants all across the country, starting with its flagship restaurant in Myeong-dong. Some of the most popular dishes among both foreign and local diners are the kimchi stew, kimchi pancake and rolled kimchi.

Woonsan (Formerly, Yongsusan) is a traditional Korean restaurant located in the basement of the Seoul Finance Center. For the past 30 years, the restaurant has been serving up Gaeseong-style (Old capital of Goryeo Dynasty), which is said to be experienced using each of the five senses. Though the restaurant offers a variety of traditional course meals, the best-selling course is Haewon Jeongsik. This special set meal typically starts with porridge for soothing the stomach and then moves on to more substantial dishes like Kimchi, mung bean jelly, vegetable dishes, pork, beef, jeon (Korean-style pancakes), Gujeolpan (a platter of nine delicacies), Tteokgalbi (grilled short rib meat patties), rice steamed in bamboo, and desserts. Private rooms are also available in various sizes for business meetings or special family gatherings.

Slobbie is a place for those urbanites who are seeking “slow” food and a "slow" lifestyle that are part of the Slow Food Movement. This eco-friendly organic restaurant directly sources its food ingredients from local producers and uses healthy, wholesome and MSG-free cooking techniques to produce fresh dishes, draft rice wine, homemade deserts and traditional tea. Slobbie also houses an Eco Shop selling eco-friendly items; All Right Table, a cooking class; and Work Room with Kitchen, which hosts open kitchen sessions. The restaurant also publishes "Slobbie Life," a bi-monthly magazine. During the last week of every month, Slobbie holds its "Together Day," where small and medium-sized shops hold a collective campaign under diverse themes. Subsribe to the restaurant's "Eating Proper Meals" program, and you’ll get a coupon with a 10% discount covering 10 to 15 meals.    

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.      

The owner of Pho'na Thai personally visited Ho Chi Minh City after falling in love with Vietnamese Pho, and began working at a restaurant there. In his spare time, he would visit popular restaurants in the area and noted the unique taste of each dish, then he opened his own restaurant, here in Korea. The pho of Ho Chi Minh City has been internationalized, and the most popular restaurant, Phobo, has stopped stressing the traditional taste of the olden days and now makes refreshingly spicy pho, to fit the tastes of its customers. Pho'na Thai has also followed in Phobo's footsteps, developing a refreshing taste that Korean's love. Every summer, the owner makes a trip to Vietnam to fix any imperfections in the taste of the noodles and to develop new menu items, furthering the restaurant's popularity. (All ingredients are directly imported from Vietnam).

Situated in Gongneung-dong, Jeil Bean Restaurant has specialized in bean dishes for over 25 years. Using high-quality beans produced in Hongcheon (Gangwon-do), fresh beans are ground at the restaurant using millstones. There are a number of delicious dishes on the menu at Jeil Bean, from bean stew to dishes using tofu. Particularly popular is the cold bean noodles with rich broth that is a beloved summer dish among Koreans.

“Pro Ganjang Gejang” is a restaurant serving soy sauce marinated crab (ganjang gejang). This restaurant opened in 1980 as the first ganjang gejang restaurant in Korea. Since its opening in Sinsa-dong, it has grown in popularity not only among Koreans, but also among foreign visitors. It opened branches in Samseong-dong in Seoul, Haeundae in Busan, and in Tokyo and Osaka in Japan.  

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.

Bonsushi is an 'Edomae Sushi' specialty restaurant, serving the elegant tastes of Tokyo to businessmen at affordable prices, with menu sets starting at 10,000 won. In order to serve dishes at affordable prices, fresh fish, shellfish, and 15 other dishes, including the hard-to-come-by 'Okonomi' are constantly in rotation at this sushi restaurant.