Located in Insa-dong in Jongno, Tobang is a folk restaurant offering affordably priced meals. It is widely known through word-of-mouth and is particularly beloved for its Sundubu Jjigae (soft tofu stew) and Kimchi Jjigae (Kimchi stew). The rice and all the side dishes (except for the pickled crab) can be refilled for free upon request.

Yangchulbuk Restaurant is a casual eatery specializing in Korean-style beef intestine barbecue. Its branch located in Seongnae-dong is owned by the parents of Park Shin-hye, a talented K-star who has been the lead in several K-dramas, including The Heirs, Doctor Crush, and Pinocchio. Portraits of the K-star and figurines of her beloved puppies are displayed inside the restaurant. Ingredients are sourced daily from local meat suppliers and side dishes (banchan), including the mukbap (chilled acorn jelly rice soup) are made in-house every day. In her free time Park Shin-hye is known to enjoy dining at the restaurant with her colleagues.  

Founded and opened by Monk Jeongsan, Sanchon is a vegan-friendly restaurant that mainly serves temple foods. The dishes found here are a results of Kim Yun-sik, who was inspired by the simple, clean and healthy diet that a Buddhist practitioner taught him years ago. Now, being a top authority on vegetarian food in Korea, Kim Yun-sik helped perfect the standard and quality of temple food.  The dishes are made with all natural ingredients such as vegetables and mountain herbs, and are cooked without chemical additives. The actual dishes served vary by season, and in order to meet the tastes of the general public, the restaurant includes "five spices" (garlic, shallots, mountain leeks, etc.), which monks are typically not allowed to eat. Those who would like their food without these ingredients are asked to make their request at least one day prior to visiting.

Serving a varied menu featuring grilled beef, haejangguk (a spicy soup), and shabu shabu, Saebyeokjip is open 24 hours and is often crowded with people. The ddarogukbap (a kind of soup made with meat, coagulated ox blood, and bean sprouts) tastes great and is the recommended remedy for curing a hangover. An order of yukhoe bibimbap (white rice topped with garnished raw beef) includes a bowl of seonjitguk (soup made with coagulated ox blood). The shabu shabu is quite satisfactory for the price, so it is popular. The restaurant is packed in the morning, with people sobering up, and in the evening, with people who come for the grilled meat.  

Anthracite Coffee Roasters is well-known cafe in Hapjeong-dong that brings new meaning to the term industrial chic. Anthracite's building was once a shoe factory and the cafe has maintained any of the factory's industrial elements and added modern decor.  Beer and coffee are among the menu selections offered at Anthracite and one of the most popular coffees is the Butter Fat Trio. The coffee roasts are named after famed authors, so visitors can order a "Natsume Sōseki" or a "Pablo Neruda." Anthracite's pastry chef bakes the cafe's desserts on the premises. Patrons can choose from cakes, financiers, madeleines, and cookies.  

Located behind the Hamilton Hotel in Itaewon, Maple Tree House (Danpungnamujip, 단풍나무집) is a meat restaurant where diners can enjoy grilled meat in an elegant, wine bar-like ambience. The restaurant's main dish is Cheongyeop, which is pork grilled over a charcoal fire and wrapped in fermented sesame leaves. There are many repeat customers (including international guests) who come back for the succulent grilled meat, unique sauce, and great service. Though the restaurant in Samcheong-dong is the main restaurant, there are also two branch restaurants in Dogok-dong and Itaewon.

Opened in 1981, this diminutive restaurant has been attracting customers with its mouthwatering ramyeon noodles for more than 20 years. The restaurant’s unique ramyeon recipe includes an ultra-spicy broth with lots of red pepper seasoning, chewy noodles, egg, and bean sprouts. Even Koreans, who are used to eating spicy kimchi, sometimes shed tears while eating this fare. Besides the food, the ambience is fun, with interesting messages written by customers attached to the ceiling and the walls. The restaurant has created its own jargon that is recognized only by regular customers: ramyeon is called ppal-gye-tteok (spicy red soup with egg and rice cake), and yellow pickled radish is called pineapple, to name a few of the coined terms. The menu board lists the price of ramyeon as W30,000 confusing first-time visitors. But don’t panic: an extra zero (0) was just added for fun! TIP: (1) Take some souvenir pictures using the walls and the ceiling as a background (2) Try putting some cold rice in your ramyeon for an interesting, less spicy taste.

Also referred to as “Tto-tteok,” Ttobogetji Tteokbokki is a popular tteokbokki restaurant that has many branches in Hongdae. Upon order, tteok (rice cake), egg, eomuk (fish cake), and three different vegetables are served together with an order of tabletop tteokbokki. Additional menu such as noodles, fried potatoes, and fried rice are also available.

Since its opening in 2004, the restaurant has become well known for its authentic Uzbekistan lamb, beef, and chicken dishes prepared by a Uzbek chef. It’s located near the subway station on Sinpo Culture Street. Operating Hours  11:00 – 23:00 Menu  Some menu items may differ slightly in price and are subject to change without notice. Yang Galbi Jjim (Braised Lamb Ribs): 7,000 won Kkochi Gui (Grilled Kebab) - Lamb, Beef, and Chicken: 3,000 won (Per skewer) Lamb Soup: 6,000 won Ppang soge Gogi (Bread with Meat): 2,000 won Sogogi Bokkeumbap (Stir-fried Rice with Beef): 6,000 won Sogogi Donggeurangttaeng (Pan-fried Beef Patties): 8,000 won Recommended Menu for Foreigners  Sogogi Donggeurangttaeng (Pan-fried Beef Patties): 8,000 won Yanggogi Gamjatwigim (Lamb with French Fries): 8,000 won Dakgogi Jjim (Braised Chicken): 7,000 won Sogogi Bokkeumbap (Stir-fried Rice with Beef): 6,000 won Additional Taxes  VAT Included Discount Information  Restaurant Coupon: Order the same dish 10 times and get an additional order for free. Maximum Seating Capacity  60 seats Credit Cards  Accepted Reservations  Reservation Available Assistance for Foreigners  English, Arabic Smoking / Non-Smoking  Non-Smoking

* A 15-Year-Old Traditional French RestaurantLA-SCALA is a French restaurant that first opened in August of 1989, and now boasts 15 years of experience serving genuine French cuisine that has been constantly refined with new sauces and a diverse menu.* European Grace, A Luxurious Atmosphere, and Friendly ServiceLA-SCALA invites all guests for a variety of purposes such as family get-togethers, business meetings, or dining with that special someone; as LA-SCALA presents the exclusive melodies of its own private band.The live, classical music restaurant LA-SCALA, has seating arranged in the shape of a dome so that the stage can be viewed from all areas on the 1st and 2nd floors. Live musical performances include a classical music trio, soprano, an aria duet of tenors, and various pop-song performances which liven-up the ambience of the restaurant. The steak is also to die for.