The best restaurants South Korea

With its traditional architecture (like most buildings here) and its cosy wooden interior, it is one of the key places to taste the great local speciality, Ssambap, a rice dish served with meat, fresh vegetables and a host of garnishes, wrapped in salad leaves, much like a spring roll. The other two stars of the place are Gondalbi-Bibimbap whose originality is the anchovy and soy sauce and Yukbuchon-Yukgaejang, a royal dish made from the famous Gyeongju beef.

There are two culinary stars on the island, one aquatic and one pork. This is the second one we're reveling in here, the famous and only black pig of Jeju. The meat is really of exceptional quality (and much more delicious than its counterparts that can be eaten on the peninsula). Put your meat on the grill, salivate, enjoy! For those with a sweet tooth, you can enjoy unlimited banchan (small side dishes) and you can help yourself at the self corner /셀프 코너' as many times as you like!

For a simple but tasty meal, we do not hesitate to come here. The restaurant's most famous dish is galguksu (thick, hand-cut noodles served in a large vegetable broth). Here, the dried seaweed and red pepper that are added, in addition to making the dish delicious, colour it very nicely. Without hesitation, this dish is served with mandu (steamed ravioli, vegetable fillings, rice vermicelli and pork meat). The place is good, the price very reasonable and the food is good for the body.

It is not easy to find, but this restaurant in an old Korean house is worth a detour. It is called "my aunt" in Korean and really gives the impression of being received in someone's home: It seems moderately organized, the kitchen is in the center of the house, the small rooms around. The dishes are mainly there to accompany traditional alcohols such as yakju (distilled alcohol of plants). . (modeun buchim) and galbi are excellent. Simple, delicious and user friendly.

This panoramic restaurant (grill, buffet, café, chic brasserie) in the futuristic tower overlooking Jongno has a very chic, uncluttered, elegant and colourful decoration. The Franco-Asian fusion restaurant specializing in grilled meats is refined but quite expensive. Yet it offers a truly breathtaking view of Bugaksan and the Gyeongbokgung. The café is an affordable restaurant-bar with a breathtaking view of the south, Jongno and Namsan. He offers jazz concerts. Very crowded, you'd better think about making a reservation.

Located in a large traditional Korean house with a nice garden, this restaurant is the most famous in the city for ssambap (a kind of wrap made from salad and rice, which can be garnished as you wish). The mistress of the house, a sort of national monument of the ssambap, will welcome you warmly, but before 8:30 pm. The food is hearty, fresh and delicious, but you can't drink alcohol. It doesn't matter, because it's easy to be intoxicated by the divine flavour of the different dishes.

Head for China Town, for an escapade in the land of the Middle Kingdom. In this restaurant with its traditional architecture and bright red façade, you can enjoy Chinese dishes revisited in the Korean style, which have become very popular. Here, jjajangmyeon (soybean paste noodles) and jjambong(spicy seafood noodles) are not only succulent, but also generously served. To accompany these noodles, chabssaltangsuyuk (fried pork in sweet and sour sauce) is highly recommended. In fact, it's a very famous assortment of dishes.

In this restaurant always full of people (and therefore sometimes quite noisy) we serve... fish (what a surprise!). Fish, yes, but exquisite. Different menus are proposed with a minimum of 3 courses for lunch and 5 for dinner. Stewed, spicy, or raw... from the first bite, you'll feel your wings grow so good (or your fins, as the case may be). It is recommended that you go there at noon, as it is slightly less crowded than in the evening. A very good address that is all the rage in the city!

Impossible to miss this restaurant with its candy-pink façade! You can enjoy succulent risottos and noodles, all enhanced with local seafood! Apart from the quality food, one also appreciates the beautiful sea view and the decoration of the restaurant, arranged so that there are small photo spots! A nice nod to one of the island's specialties with tangerines hanging from the ceiling. Here we come as much for the food as for the place itself. And as it is written on the walls 제주 늘 좋다, Jeju is always good!

For over 70 years, Hadongkwan has been faithful to his recipe for gomtang (beef meat and bone soup),one of the main soups in Korean cuisine. This rich, milky broth is highly nutritious and would even be excellent for the skin. We recommend that you dip your rice in it, add green onions, or even pieces of kimchi to add a spicy touch to this dish (Korean style)! If you want to try it, look no further, it's a must! Good value for money.

Finally a grill restaurant on Seoul that changes a little from the ordinary and traditional samgyeopsal. Yes, because the beef offered here comes in the form of small rolls that are generously filled with vegetables and herbs (onions, leeks, green onions ...). To complete all this, the menu also includes fried rice which is prepared in front of our astonished eyes, the juices of the meat are then mixed with the rice and the stew. You'll fall over so much it's so good, we guarantee it! A little bit of people to be expected.

Where would South Korea be without its famous barbecue restaurants... This address is particularly divine and very famous (the queue outside the restaurant proves it). You can taste the Jeju black pork, renowned for its finer taste, its quality, but also its moderate fat content: we are a taker! The soft crackling of the meat while grilling, its unbeatable softness... This is an address not to be missed! To avoid spoiling anything, the team can take care of the cooking for us! All you have to do is enjoy yourself.

Situated in the middle of the market, this restaurant with its traditional-style front is known by all the locals for its sundaegukbap (a hot soup served with rice and sundae, the Korean black sausage with pig intestines, a close cousin of the black pudding). Rather rustic dishes but really surprising and delicious. Also, for once the dish is not spicy, which will not displease those who are put off by spicy food. It's good, cheap and well located: try it urgently and you won't regret it!

This stall on the corner of Jungang Market will delight strollers looking for a solid, comforting snack. With its small counter lined with stools and overlooking steaming pans, it's hard to miss. The specialty is Juk, a traditional rice porridge said to be the country's oldest dish! Because of the fish market, it is served with abalone - but there are also vegetarian versions (mung beans, squash) and a sweet version with red beans. Dry pancakes are also highly recommended!

For those who wish to discover Japanese cuisine while eating something other than sushi, you've come to the right place. This small but chic Japanese restaurant, whose popularity is growing steadily, offers simple but delicious Japanese dishes prepared for you. We can only recommend the speciality of soba noodles, especially the surprising version with avocado and basil. Grilled a la plancha, they promise an explosion of flavour. A little waiting is nevertheless to be expected before having a table.

This is the main reason to stop in town even if the house does not look like a mine from the outside, but when you enter its small covered courtyard, you can feel the authenticity of the place. We eat in small closed rooms, sit on the floor and order: bulgogi or galbibaekban. We recommend the latter. Then comes the table covered with dozens of small dishes of vegetables, gimchi, shellfish, soup, grilled fish and delicious beef meat grilled over a wood fire. One of the jewels of Jeolla's gastronomy!

This restaurant is a real institution in the city. It is often crowded and it is better to go there for lunch than for dinner! We enjoy the local speciality of the jjimdalk 찜닭. Although this dish is found all over Korea, it is certainly the best here. These are chicken with vegetables and sweet potato starch noodles, all gently and deliciously braised in soy sauce (which gives them a touch of caramelization). A real treat highly recommended!

Bukchon Son Mandu is renowned for its Mandu. These traditional Korean ravioli are a delight for the taste buds and here, our favorites are the deep-fried Mandu (튀김 만두), with their perfect crispy crust. It's a small store and there's sometimes a queue, as their ravioli are famous all over the capital! But the line moves quickly, so don't let the number of people fool you. You can also order your meal to go if you don't want to wait.

This restaurant is the den of green tea. The district is full of them, so why deprive yourself of them! No matter what dish you choose, it will be enhanced with the famous infusion plant. Beef patties, rice and even grilled pork can be eaten with tea. The cold naengmyeon noodles are especially surprising and delicious. There is also traditional makgeolli rice alcohol with tea flavours. This is a rather original experience is highly recommended provided you like the taste of course.

Don't be surprised by the queue in front of this restaurant, their sujebi (soup with hand torn pasta pieces and vegetables) is famous and very sought after! Little flavour tip, if you want to spice up the dish a bit, we advise you to add some kimchi. Gourmands will be able to accompany their gamjajeon soup (Korean pancake of potatoes and green onions) for a successful match (one for two is enough). In addition to being cheap, the portions are generous which makes this restaurant good for everything!

Here is the king of chicken, especially Samgyetang, the famous Korean potted chicken. Chickens are cooked, stuffed with rice, jujube and ginger, in water. The dish is particularly healthy, nutritious and good. So there's no reason to hesitate. Since 1960, this restaurant has withstood the upheavals in the neighbourhood. The decoration is thus non-existent, the neon lights are unmistakable, and this on both floors. You can also eat baked chicken.

Located on the pier, under the Sun-ma-ul café, this little canteen offers a variety of seafood specialties. It's run by a local grandmother who doesn't speak a word of English, but offers her big smiles and warm service to visitors from the four corners of the world - as evidenced by the dozens of multicolored notes pasted on the wall. The atmosphere is typical and unpretentious, and the portions are hearty and reasonably priced. We recommend the crab noodle soup, to be enjoyed with gloves and scissors!

Welcomed by a pretty mountain of traditional jars, once inside, thanks to the large bay windows, you will discover an absolutely exquisite panorama of the mountains and the river. This is what we call without any possible mistake a restaurant with a view! On the table, we are served a spicy crab soup that remains in our memory. In addition, the small side dishes are very tasty. The paradisiacal setting and the excellent food make for a very good time at this safe address in the city. A quality that comes at a price.

This fine restaurant, triumphantly popular in the city, specializes in galbitang (갈바탕). It's an exquisitely flavored soup with generous chunks of beef and green onions (among other things). The perfect dish for winter! For those wishing to eat spicy food, the restaurant also offers a tasty version of galbijjim (갈비찜), featuring delicately braised beef ribs. An address to be visited with eyes closed, but with taste buds ready to marvel!

Spicy crab is another marine nugget specific to the city. You can enjoy a delicious one in this restaurant. Tasting suggestion: make a crab bite with rice, wrapped in a dried seaweed leaf. This is the most recommended way to enjoy this crab and certainly the best way. This method makes it possible to soften a little the chilli pepper in the dish because it stings a lot. The side dishes all have a very mild flavour to prevent customers from spitting fire at the end of the meal.

Since 1966, this restaurant has been the must in the industry. According to the Koreans themselves, it serves the best kalguksu in the whole city, if not the whole country. We gladly agree with them because the declension proposed here is divine. The noodles (cut with a knife) are presented in a chicken stock and are accompanied by mandu (pork and leek filled ravioli). It's all sprinkled with a little ground meat. If there is ONE restaurant to visit in Seoul absolutely; it's this one! It is advisable to get there early, otherwise the wait is long.

There are many restaurants serving bibimbap in Gwangju, since it's the local specialty, so it's important to choose wisely. This one is a sure bet. With its charming atmosphere, fast service, reasonable prices and, above all, tasty cuisine, this has been one of the city's bibimbap institutions since 1973. You can try different types of bibimbap (beef, vegan, egg, etc.). Also on the menu are panjeon (a seafood pancake) and tteokgalbi (marinated pork ribs).

Idong Galbi is the succulent speciality of the Pocheon region and it is therefore not by chance that we find this village, which is actually a wide and long street. The "village" started in 1960 with only two small restaurants, but it now includes about ten, all strangely similar. All the establishments are of equal value. Here you can quietly enjoy this dish made of beef marinated in soy sauce that we will kindly come and grill. A truly unforgettable delicacy!

Those looking for a restaurant serving hansik (include Korean food) will be delighted to have lunch or dinner here. The star dishes at this address are undoubtedly the bibimbap. The base of rice and marinated vegetables will be garnished with your choice of cooked or raw beef, marinated chicken and many others. Very affordable prices, indisputable taste quality, this restaurant has really everything to please. You will even be able to taste an artisanally distilled soju and a sweet rice drink (식혜/ sikhye).

Nestled in a revisited romantic hanok, Seasoning is an elegant and charming address for lovers of Italian-Asian fusion cuisine, with an emphasis on inventive pasta dishes, including seasoning pasta (the house's signature dish) which is highly recommended. We meet trendy young people and couples in love in full date (you will surely see the ladies with a bouquet of flowers). If you are very hungry, choose rice dishes over pasta dishes, as they are much more generously served!

It is one of the most popular small restaurants in the neighborhood for its simple but really delicious dish: doenjang-bibimbap, which is a mix of two of the most famous (and healthy) Korean dishes: doenjang jjigae (soup made from fermented soybean paste) and bibimbap (rice with various pickled vegetables). Fresh, tasty, it's a real find that we share with you here. And the price of the dish can only bring everyone together. The other dishes are of the same kind but it is this one in particular that is worth the trip.

The speciality of this house, with its obvious blue colour, is a fish soup with seafood. The aquariums that can be seen at the entrance and the octopus still alive that is brought to us are guarantees of an undeniable freshness. The most sensitive souls could be put off by this octopus trying to get out of its cooking dish. But you can't make an omelette without breaking eggs and the delicious iodized taste of this spicy soup will quickly make you forget everything. A bit expensive, but the quality is worth the price.

Fewer than a dozen dishes for this restaurant that doesn't look like much. A minimalism compensated by a simple but deliciously tasty cuisine. Three types of dishes: salads, pasta and rice. We particularly recommend two of them: the avocado and salmon rice and the aspargus oil pasta. Simple ingredients, but beautifully presented. You can also finish your meal with a cup of coffee or tea. For a very pleasant brunch! As there aren't many tables, we recommend reserving in advance.

A very nice restaurant with an unmistakable front. He specializes in galbi, grilled prime rib. These are simply succulent! A real treat for carnivores. To accompany this meat dish, we advise you to order cold noodles. Both promise a truly successful culinary marriage. We don't hesitate to order a small bottle of chilled soju. His very friendly boss has given his awards to all the wallets! Which is of course a great pleasure for us.

On the menu? Bibimbap or mulnaegmyeon. Bibimbap is particularly good. As a reminder, it is a hot rice base that is garnished with various ingredients such as spinach, soya sprouts, mushrooms and, in its most authentic version, raw beef. Small precision, as a side dish (very numerous though) we will serve you among other things small roasted insects. We let ourselves be tempted by a touch of exoticism in our meal! It is a very good establishment (often crowded at lunchtime) to eat well and cheaply.

We'll go to this bakery to taste the famous Chalboribbang, a small pastry consisting of two thick pancakes made from barley flour. These two delicious crepes contain a surprising filling of red bean paste. A real local pride! You can eat them on the spot, of course, but you can also take some home in your suitcases as a souvenir (the shop has attractive gift boxes). We just deplore the excessive use of plastic packaging...

This restaurant offers an immersion in the world of camping: wooded walls, oil lamps, camping chairs... The decoration is pushed in its theme which makes the place really nice! We eat simple but quality dishes such as stews, fried chicken... And we can choose between traditional Korean dishes or more modern dishes from different origins. Pork ribs with barbecue sauce and pineapple rings are particularly succulent and highly recommended. The very pleasant staff contributes to having a very good time.

Seoulites love this small restaurant where we are greeted by a hundred autographs of various Korean celebrities who have come to eat here. We come to this wooden restaurant to discover two specialties in particular: kimchi mari guksu, a cold kimchi noodle soup from North Korea, and tteokgalbi, a marinated ground beef patty that was found in the royal kitchen. Avoid lunchtime if possible, you may have to wait until you get your table.

Located on the outskirts of the city, this large, modern restaurant is so popular that it's not uncommon to have to wait more than 1 hour before you can get your feet under the table. The reason for this success? Their incredible recipe for dalgkalbi (sautéed chicken, vegetables and chilli). To end the meal on a high note, there's nothing better than fried rice. The rice will be fried in the same dish used for the chicken, so it'll soak up its flavors. Your patience will be amply rewarded, but we recommend that you choose off-peak hours to avoid the crowds.

Here, surrounded by a myriad of Korean grandfathers, you can enjoy the city's specialties, the sundae and ojingeo sundae. The first is a kind of blood sausage (typically Korean), steamed and very dark in colour, in which we find cow intestine, noodles and vegetables. On paper it is surprising and not very stewy, but in the mouth it is really delicious. The second is a marine version prepared with squid, just as delicious. Ideal with a glass of makgeolli (milky looking rice wine).

This is one of the most popular milmyeon restaurants on the island and you can see why. This dish of buckwheat noodles served in a cold beef broth, is authentically good and refreshing (a sure bet in summer). For those who prefer, they can also order a spicy version without broth. For a caliente meal. Suck it in noisily and enjoy it when you eat, in Korea this is allowed! Still a little room in the stomach? Thin slices of boiled pork will satisfy you.

Here, lovers of barbecued beef will feel like they're in paradise! Here you can enjoy hanwoo (hanu) beef, a Korean breed of high quality and extreme delicacy. Here, we dine Korean-style on the floor in a simple, yet warm setting. For those who do not speak Korean, menu in English with pictures.

An address of quality and which does not fail to make it known (as attested by the many autographs of Korean celebrities who have come to eat here). A bit expensive if you come in a group, but it's worth the expense.

This restaurant is famous for its cold buckwheat noodles served in a broth called makguksu. This dish is one of the city's specialties. You can accompany your noodles with a tasty fried chicken in sauce, called dalkbokeumtang. The two go perfectly together (the freshness of the noodles balances the spiciness of the chicken) and it's a real treat. This restaurant, although very good, is slightly off-center, to the southeast of the center. But you can find these noodles in other restaurants in the center too.

A veritable Busan institution, this well-known (and therefore quite touristy) restaurant has been open since 1948. It specializes in wandang (a kind of thin-skinned Korean dumpling ) served in an unspiced but very fragrant soup/broth. Different versions are available, but we recommend the one with udong (thick noodles). You can order one of the sets and accompany your wandang with kimbap or yubu chobap (rice stuffed into a fried tofu shell). A place where you can eat well and cheaply.

This large wooden restaurant, with the look of a Japanese Izaka, attracts crowds of young (and not so young) people who come to share a hotpot, the specialty, late into the night. We recommend the kimchihotpot (if you don't mind the spices) or the Korean bouillabaisse. A very festive (and often very noisy) atmosphere reigns here, to the sound of fashionable tunes and the laughter of Koreans who have already had a few drinks. The perfect place to start a long night, because yes, it's a 술집(suljib = drinking house) more than a restaurant per se.

Housed in a picturesque Hanok, Dosol Maeul is an establishment renowned for its excellent Surisan Hanjeongsik, a traditional Korean meal consisting of more than fifteen small dishes, the famous banchan. We strongly recommend that you accompany this 100% sacramental meal with a bottle of makgeolli, a typical Korean rice wine. Whether for its enchanting setting or its delicious cuisine, everyone will find what they are looking for, a real nugget at more than reasonable prices! Well, typical and cheap, it's the ideal equation!

In the country where barbecues are king, here we serve the prince of pigs, the famous black pig of Jeju. It roasts under the eyes, smells like a nose and melts on the tongue. Highly recommended, it is necessary to test the pork and kimchi combo which remains unbeatable and timeless in the eyes of the Koreans. Nevertheless, simply served with coarse salt, the meat remains delicious. The crowded canteen atmosphere makes us feel at home. On the first floor is a café with the same name as the restaurant, which will be perfect to close this delicious pork meal.

This is Jeonju's bibimbap king. It's where you eat sitting on the floor, in a traditional wooden setting, right in the heart of Hanok village. How does bibimbap work? Hot rice with a multitude of vegetables (carrots, mushrooms, bean sprouts, etc.), to which red chili paste is added to spice things up. Atop all this goodness often sits an egg yolk. The more adventurous will order the raw beef bibimbap. The Korean way is to mix everything together before tasting with a spoon.

One of the good tables in town to taste the famous tteokgalbi (minced and marinated ribs of beef reconstituted in a kind of galette) cooked on the grill. A tasty combination of meat, spices and coal. A little culinary tip: we recommend that you also order a bowl of naegmyeon (냉면), the famous cold noodles. Their freshness and lightness will perfectly counterbalance the "fat" of the grilled meat. And to sink it all, a few soju shots are really welcome. Good and very affordable establishment.

In the land of barbecues, those who don't really like meat or are vegetarians may feel a little disappointed... But there are also a few establishments in Korea that offer grilled fish. This restaurant is one of them and it has dedicated its sign to grilled eel. It's a real delight, because the fish goes wonderfully with the banchans (small side dishes) served there. The eels, which are of indescribable delicacy, are sure to seduce you. To be tested without any hesitation!