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.

Jangwidong Yuseong Jip (장위동유성집) is located 200m away from Myeongdong Station, this restaurant specializes in beef sirloin grilled over charcoal. It is famous for its affordable prices and great tasting menu, which satisfies both locals and travelers. Spacious facilities (about 165 m²) and a comfortable atmosphere have also added to the establishment’s popularity. English service is available.

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.

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.

Cheonan Gomtang Restaurant has a long history and has only served gomtang (beef stew) for fifty years. It was famous from its early years when President Seung-man Lee visited it when Busan was the provisional capital of the country. The restaurant does not have any branches and its location in front of the City Hall makes it a favorite among former mayors, assemblymen, public officials and businessmen. The menu item that is popular throughout the years is the seolleongtang, a milky colored beef bone soup made with brisket and other cuts, simmered over a low flame over a period of several hours, and is typically eaten together with rice and several side dishes.

Bicena provides tasty Korean cuisine available only in Korea in a refined interior.  

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.      

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.

Opened in 1999, L'amitié is a French boutique restaurant, serving French cuisine made from the finest Korean ingredients for a perfect fusion of two cultures and tastes.

Yetchatjip is a famous teahouse that has also been used as a movie filming set. It is a great place to stop by for a cup of natural traditional Korean tea, or the traditional summer treat patbingsu, made with the old way with shaved ice and homemade red bean topping.