Imun Seolnongtang has been serving its hearty seolleongtang for nearly a hundred years since it first opened in 1907. Even its name has a long history: the word imun comes from Imun-gol, the now-obsolete name of the restaurant’s location, and seolnongtang, an old variation of the word seolleongtang. During the Japanese colonial rule, the restaurant’s regular customers included Gijeong Son, the marathon gold-medalist at the 1936 Berlin Olympics. To make the rich seolleongtang broth, beef meat and bones are simmered for more than 15 hours. Try putting rice and minced green onion in your seolleongtang for a warm and tasty experience. Kkakttugi (diced radish kimchi), provided as a side dish, is also delicious. TIP: Kkakttugi and kimchi are available through self-service. Pay for your meal in advance.
Kamong is a cafe, which is owned and operated by the sister of Kai from the Korean boy band EXO. Kamong, which means ‘Dreaming Kai,’ is also known as a gathering place/meeting spot for Kai’s fans. One of the most popular menu items is the ice cream waffle, which has assorted fresh fruits added to it. On the cups, napkins, and other small props in the cafe, you can find that there are copies of drawings and messages that Kai drew/wrote himself. Frequently, people bump into Kai and other EXO members visiting the cafe.
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.
Osegyehyang is a vegetarian restaurant location in Insadong, a street known for its traditional culture and crafts. It serves various dishes that cater to the needs of vegetarian customers.
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.
CJ Foodworld at CJ Cheil Jedang Center in downtown Seoul is the food industry's first flagship store to be established. It is designed to reflect the history of industry giant CJ Group, as well as to present opportunities for future generations. As such, it features the CJ The Farm, where rice crops and beans are grown and treated, and 17 food and dining businesses, owned by CJ Group, on the first and basement floors. In addition to dining, there are plenty of opportunities for shopping, cooking and sightseeing at CJ Foodworld.
Seoul(Songpa-gu) , Jamsil・Seokchon Lake・Olympic Park
Yongsusan (용수산) is famous for traditional Gaesung-style dishes such as meat soup with sliced rice cake, kimchi mixed with pears, chestnuts, Chinese dates, pine nuts and small octopus, boiled pork wrapped in vegetable leaves and kimchi, and abalone dishes. Savory cuisine coupled with a unique dining atmosphere make this restaurant a visitor favorite.
*Best Korean Restaurant as designated by the Seoul Metropolitan Government
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.
Seoul(Gangdong-gu) , Jamsil・Seokchon Lake・Olympic Park
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.