Restaurants/레스토랑 추천

Donburi

Donburi (돈부리)

There are lots of things on the menu, mostly okay, but just skip past it all and go straight for the salmon dishes!

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麵屋 三代目/멘야 산다이메 (Menya Sandaime)

麵屋 三代目/멘야 산다이메 (Menya Sandaime)

This is my current favorite ramen place, the perfect way to beat the winter cold.

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Vatos Urban Tacos

Vatos Urban Tacos

This just-opened taqueria is my new favorite, featuring incredible tacos at great prices, paired with excellent drinks. Located in Itaewon, it is bit of a trek for us, but it is worth it! As a bonus, for those of you still struggling with ordering in Korean, you can definitely use English here.

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울트라麺 (Ultramen)

울트라麺 (Ultramen)

Wintry winds got you down? A hot bowl of ramen will warm you right up.

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캘리포니아피자키친 강남점 (California Pizza Kitchen)

캘리포니아피자키친 강남점 (California Pizza Kitchen)

Oh CPK, what happened to you? CPK Korea is not nearly as good as CPK in the U.S., but there are still some bright spots. Read on to find out.

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새마을식당 논현본점 (Saemaeul)

새마을식당 논현본점 (Saemaeul)

This 70s-themed restaurant (Korea's 70s, that is) rocks great food and casual drinking atmosphere.

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소노야 신논현역점 (Sonoya)

소노야 신논현역점 (Sonoya)

If you're hungry, you've got 5 minutes and 5000원 and it's 5°C outside, I strongly recommend you hit up 소노야 (Sonoya)!

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버드나무집 서초본점 (Budnamujip)

버드나무집 서초본점 (Budnamujip)

The picture says it all: melt-in-the-mouth kalbi. A wonderful place to celebrate a special occasion with your favorite meat lover!

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bibigo (강남 삼성타운점)

bibigo (강남 삼성타운점)

For a fast, fresh, and even healthy lunch, try this bibimbap served in a hot stone bowl. While the dish itself may be familiar to many, the bibigo experience is worth a try.

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Suji's Restaurant & Bar

Suji's Restaurant & Bar

This weekend, enjoy a classic American brunch at Suji's, complete with bottomless coffee and, if you can handle it, a selection of cheesecakes! (And of course, they also offer lunch and dinner during the week.)

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해피소뿡이 (Happy Soppungi)

해피소뿡이 (Happy Soppungi)

These "toast" shops have been popping up lately in the subways. While their product is almost certainly not very good for you, it does make a tasty and filling (occasional) snack when you're in a rush!

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김대감봉평메밀촌 교보타워점 (Bongpyeong Memil Chon)

김대감봉평메밀촌 교보타워점 (Bongpyeong Memil Chon)

Naengmyeon, the chewy Korean cold noodle dish, does a great job of beating the summer heat, but by now you may be looking for something new. If you are looking for a similarly cold lunch and like the taste of buckwheat noodles give this makguksu a try!

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갓덴스시 강남점 (Gatten Sushi)

갓덴스시 강남점 (Gatten Sushi)

Expats in Korea know how hard it can be to find decent sushi. This looks promising: one of Japan's famous conveyor belt sushi chains has opened its first location in Korea.

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Taco Rico

Taco Rico

Back when I attended college in Southern California, tasty, cheap Mexican food was everywhere. In Seoul, 10,000km from Mexico, we are not as lucky. When you do find good Mexican fare, the prices take some getting used to! Still, when I need my taco fix, Taco Rico is it!

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Burger B (Apgujeong) (버거비 압구정점)

Burger B (Apgujeong) (버거비 압구정점)

Great burgers and great beer (pale ales and IPAs!), served in a relaxed atmosphere. Almost feels like home!

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교동전선생 (논현점) (Jeon Seonsaeng)

교동전선생 (논현점) (Jeon Seonsaeng)

While the name "Fritter Teacher of Gyodong" is a bit comical when translated, sure enough, this 막걸리 and chain store does seem to make the best jeon in town.

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교촌치킨 (Kyochon Chicken)

교촌치킨 (Kyochon Chicken)

Kyochon Chicken is one of the largest fried chicken chains in Korea, with over 1000 locations. They even have a few in the U.S. and China. They're a bit more expensive than the rest, but in this case, you get what you pay for.

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Vapiano (강남점) (바피아노)

Vapiano (강남점) (바피아노)

You can get good Italian food, including fresh pasta and the right cheeses, at a reasonable price! As long as you don't mind the dining hall-esque self-service system.

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The Butcher's Cut

The Butcher's Cut

It wasn't love at first bite, but this Gangnam burger joint (with ties to Smokey Saloon) has been getting better and better since it opened last year. Its back-to-basics burger almost satisfies my burger craving. Almost.

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땅 (Tang)

땅 (Tang)

Not your average Vietnamese restaurant! They aren't authentic, but then, they don't claim to be. Call it Vietnamese-Korean fusion.

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텟펜 강남점 (Teppen)

텟펜 강남점 (Teppen)

Celebrating a special occasion? Or just having a bad week? Live it up at Teppen! The lively Japanese atmosphere and great food are sure to brighten any mood and create happy memories.

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사보텐 (강남점) (Saboten)

사보텐 (강남점) (Saboten)

Yes, it's a chain, but no, I haven't found anything better, and actually, I'm not sure I need to! Saboten's katsu is excellent, as is just about everything else I've tried there.

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Quiznos

Quiznos

If you are looking for sub sandwiches, there are many Quiznos locations all around Seoul. Somehow, though, it feels like a waste if I go out to eat and end up at a sandwich shop. But if I'm sitting at home and want delivery? Oh ho, now sandwiches are fair game!

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부일갈비 (Bu-il Kalbi)

부일갈비 (Bu-il Kalbi)

This is a kalbi restaurant, but actually, we have only tried their kalbi once. Rather, we go for the 냉면 (cold noodles)!

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차이란 (삼성점) (Chai-ran)

차이란 (삼성점) (Chai-ran)

When Koreans say "Chinese food" they usually mean 자장면 (noodles with black bean sauce, often spelled 짜장면 these days). And if you are looking for the best 자장면, give 차이란 a try.

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아비꼬 (강남역점) (Abiko)

아비꼬 (강남역점) (Abiko)

Abiko says spicy Japanese curry is their specialty, and after trying it, we agree - it's perfect! Here, we review their newest location in Gangnam.

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강남교자 (Gangnam Gyoja)

강남교자 (Gangnam Gyoja)

Located in Gangnam, but at the end of a less-than-inviting side street, you won't find this restaurant unless you're looking for it. But this is my "mom-approved" place to get a taste of the famous 명동 칼국수 (Myeong-dong hand-made noodle soup) without braving the crowds (and stressed-out servers).

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아키노유키 (논현점) (Aki-no Yuki)

아키노유키 (논현점) (Aki-no Yuki)

That this gem of an izakaya is tiny and hard to find only makes us love it more.

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타누키 돈부리 (강남CGV점) (Tanuki Donburi)

타누키 돈부리 (강남CGV점) (Tanuki Donburi)

Donburi (like the Korean 덮밥) is a simple meal: just a bowl of rice with toppings. But oh, the toppings! Tanuki Donburi is not only our favorite donburi place, it is one of our favorite restaurants, period.

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백세주마을 (Bek Se Ju Village)

백세주마을 (Bek Se Ju Village)

This restaurant is run by one of Korea's traditional alcohol breweries, 국순당 (Kooksoondang). 백세주 (Bek Se Ju, 100-year wine) is one of their most famous drinks, sold worldwide. Made with 인삼 (ginseng), it could be considered a "healthy" drink.

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무봤나 촌닭 (Mubanna Chondak)

무봤나 촌닭 (Mubanna Chondak)

Although saddened by the disappearance of our local Kyochon Chicken, we were intrigued by the egg-themed chicken restaurant that appeared in its place. The funny name ("Did you see the radish, Country Chicken?") only heightened our interest, until one day, on a whim, we gave it a try. One bite and we knew we'd found a new favorite restaurant. (Sure enough, we've visited many times since then!)

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School Food (스쿨푸드)

School Food (스쿨푸드)

A rainy afternoon, a rainy evening... the kind of day you just feel too lazy to cook, and don't want to go out in the rain just to eat something. What to do? Oh right, we live in Seoul! Food is just a phone call away!

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678찜 (압구정로데오점) (678-jjim)

678찜 (압구정로데오점) (678-jjim)

갈비찜 (braised beef ribs) is pricey, making "shopping around" an expensive proposition. Fortunately, we scored a half-off coupon for 강호동 (Kang Ho-dong)'s 찜 restaurant, so we decided to check it out.

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유랑 (U-Rang [CLOSED])

유랑 (U-Rang [CLOSED])

Not your usual chicken and beer joint! A classy, but relaxed atmosphere, more sophisticated chicken dishes, and fresh draft Asahi that's a cut above any other restaurant.

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