In an alley near the Embassy of the Republic of Poland, the Italian restaurant The Hanok Smith Likes can be found. The restaurant is famous for serving homemade Italian cuisine in traditional Korean house in Samcheong-dong.The Smith in the restaurant’s name refers to a blacksmith as well as Mr. Smith which is a common name like Cheolsu in Korea. The restaurant decided to pick the name Smith with the second meaning in mind. So, the concept is that Mr. Smith who is a virtual person cooks his favorite dishes in a hanok. One of the interesting aspects about this restaurant is that they serve hwadeok pizza (brick oven pizza) and pastas which are not the Korean dishes one might expect given the hanok exterior. They also serve salads, risotto, steak and wine at the restaurant. Particularly, the nighttime atmosphere of the restaurant offers a more serene and cozy experience thanks to the traditional hanok architecture.

Din Tai Fung Korea was named one the World’s Top 10 Restaurants by the New York Times. This restaurant chain has branches in Japan, China, Hong Kong, Singapore, Indonesia, and other Asian cities as well as in Los Angeles, USA. The Korea branch features handmade xiao long bao made of fresh ingredients from Korea and top quality dumpling stuffing. The dough only weighs 5g while the juicy stuffing weighs 16g. There are exactly 18 creases on the skin to add to the taste. It’s particularly popular among tourists from Taiwan, Japan, and other Asian countries.

Hwanghu Myeongga’s wonderfully healthy samgyetang (chicken ginseng soup) is made by boiling ground grain and over 19 medicinal herbs in one big pot for about 28 hours, giving the soup its unusually deep and rich color. Not just a delicious meal, this samgyetang is packed with natural health benefits thanks to its special mix of medicinal herbs.    

Hamo serves traditional meals from the Jinju region, using the full flavors of the local seasonings. All ingredients are delivered upon order, making each dish as fresh as possible. The restaurant interior is divided into private rooms of various sizes to allow guests to focus on their meal and companions without distraction.

Nampo Myeonok is a 40-year-old Korean restaurant serving the highest quality beef. It features a gorgeous dining area replete with comtemporary interior decorations. The chef selects only the freshest and watery radish to salt and place in a large pot with ground garlic, ginger, and Korean pear to make Dongchimi, the soup for the Naengmyeon or Cold Buckwheat noodles served here. This is where some of the highest-quality meat is served in a nicely blended combination of contemporary and traditional settings.*Best Korean Restaurant as designated by The Seoul Metropolitan Government.

Get off the subway at Gyeongbokgung Station (Subway Line 3), follow the wall of the Gyeongbokgung Palace and you'll find yourself facing a street with majestic trees whose foliage changes every season. This street leads directly to Samcheong-dong. As you enter Samcheong-dong and walk towards the Samchong-dong Tunnel, you'll come across Samcheongdong Sujebi, located right next to the Prime Minister Legation.Samcheongdong Sujebi became a hit among Japanese tourists, after being featured in a popular Japanese magazine. The main dish here is, of course, sujebi (a traditional Korean soup consisting of chunks of dough and various vegetables). It comes in a pot full of sliced pumpkin, clams, and potatoes. This delicious soup is so tasty that there's almost always people lined up outside the restaurant. Other popular items include dongdongju (traditional Korean liquor) and gamjajeon (a Korean potato pancake that uses only potato starch and no other ingredients). 

White Bear Makgeolli Bar & Brewery offers the largest selection of traditional Korean liquors in the country; boasting over 180 different varieties. The bar and brewery is located near Apgujeong Rodeo Street. The selection of liquors available is truly vast, with everything from the well-known to the obscure. The selection includes varieties of takju (unrefined rice wine), varieties of cheongju (refined rice wine) and soju. The culinary offerings tend toward fusion rather than traditional Korean fare. The menu offers anju (snacks) as well as entrees that pair well with traditional liquors. Craft beer is also sold on the B1 level.    

Libuk Sonmandu restaurant is located deep in the alleys behind Seoul City Hall in the Mugyo-dong area. It is famous for Kimchimaribap and Sonmandu (handmade dumplings). Kimchimaribap is rice in a soup of kimchi and ice cubes with various added flavorings that originated in North Korea. This is a refreshing dish for summer. Other items on the menu are Bindaetteok (mung bean pancake) and Mandujeongol (dumpling hot pot).

Bugeogukjip (formerly “Teojutgol”) is a restaurant behind City Hall in Seoul that has been serving up authentic dried Pollack soup since 1968. Despite a name change, the restaurant has proudly stood in this same location for decades, earning a strong reputation for its dried Pollack soup made using traditional cooking methods. Since the restaurant only serves one thing—dried Pollack soup—there are few preparations to be made and the meal arrives on your table in minutes. Customers are free to serve themselves basic side dishes such as kimchi and can have as many servings of rice as they’d like, allowing diners to enjoy a hearty meal at a low price. While the restaurant’s design and menu may be simple, Bugeogukjip takes pride in its long history and the careful efforts that have earned it a reputation as one of the most notable restaurants in Seoul.