What to Eat in Seoul - The 15 Must Try Foods and Where to Find Them
I went to Seoul for what was supposed to be a full on beauty trip. Facials, laser treatments, skincare shopping, the whole thing. But let’s be real I ended up eating my way through the city too. Seoul is one of those places where every corner smells like something sizzling and delicious. Between the skincare appointments and late night street food runs, I made it my mission to try everything I could get my hands on. These are the must eat foods in Seoul and exactly where you can find them.
1. Korean BBQ
What to order marinated galbi or thick cut pork belly
Where to get it Baekjeong or Maple Tree House
Why it slaps table top grilling with shared banchan and lettuce wraps
Tip ask for a half marinated half plain combo to compare
2. Tteokbokki
What to order rice cakes with fish cake and extra cheese
Where to get it Jaws Tteokbokki or Sindang Tteokbokki Town
Tip add fried dumplings and dunk them in the sauce
3. Hotteok
What to order brown sugar cinnamon stuffed pancake
Where to get it Namdaemun Market or Myeongdong street stalls
Tip eat it burning hot for the caramel pull
4. Kalguksu hand cut noodle soup
What to order chicken or clam broth with knife cut noodles
Where to get it Myeongdong Kyoja
Tip the kimchi here is legendary and very garlicky
5. Bindaetteok mung bean pancake
What to order pancake fried to order with kimchi or pork
Where to get it Gwangjang Market rows of sizzling griddles
Tip pair with makgeolli rice wine
6. Mayak gimbap
What to order addictive mini seaweed rice rolls with sesame dip
Where to get it Gwangjang Market
Tip great as a walk and snack item while you browse stalls
7. Samgyetang ginseng chicken soup
What to order whole young chicken stuffed with rice ginseng jujube
Where to get it Tosokchon near Gyeongbokgung
Tip sprinkle salt and pepper mix at the table then sip the broth first
8. Kimchi jjigae
What to order bubbling kimchi stew with pork belly and tofu
Where to get it any 24 hour kimchi jjigae spot in Hongdae or Yeoksam
Tip pour stew over your rice for peak comfort
9. Naengmyeon buckwheat cold noodles
What to order mul naengmyeon in icy broth or bibim version spicy
Where to get it Eulmildae or a local Pyongyang style shop
Tip add a splash of vinegar and mustard to taste
10. Jokbal soy braised pork hock
What to order half spicy half classic
Where to get it Jangchungdong Jokbal Alley
Tip wrap with perilla leaves and dip in salted shrimp sauce
11. Fried chicken and beer
What to order half half original and yangnyeom sweet spicy
Where to get it BHC, BBQ Chicken, or a small neighborhood pub
Tip late night is the move and it always comes with pickled radish
12. Sundae gukbap
What to order blood sausage soup with chives and perilla
Where to get it a gukbap alley in Gangnam or Jongno
Tip season the broth at the table with the salted shrimp and chili
13. Jeon assorted savory pancakes
What to order seafood pajeon and kimchi jeon
Where to get it Tongin Market or a makgeolli house
Tip rainy day food pairs perfectly with makgeolli
14. Street skewers odeng and grilled meat
What to order fish cake skewers in hot broth and charcoal chicken skewers
Where to get it Myeongdong at night
Tip sip the free broth while you snack
15. Bingsu shaved ice
What to order injeolmi soybean powder or seasonal fruit
Where to get it Sulbing or a cute Garosu gil cafe
Tip share one the bowls are massive
Neighborhood mini guide
Myeongdong easy street food crawl and kalguksu
Gwangjang Market old school market for bindaetteok and gimbap
Hongdae youth vibes fried chicken and late night tteokbokki
Insadong and Bukchon tea houses and traditional snacks
Itaewon global eats and bars
What a typical food day can look like
Breakfast mayak gimbap and odeng broth at a market
Lunch kalguksu at Myeongdong Kyoja plus the house kimchi
Snack hotteok in Namdaemun or Myeongdong
Dinner Korean BBQ with naengmyeon on the side
Dessert bingsu in a cafe
Practical tips
Cash is handy markets and street stalls can be cash friendly although cards are widely accepted
Lines move fast if you see a long line it is probably worth it
Ordering many places have photo menus or kiosks with English
Spice scale medium in Seoul can still be pretty spicy
Food safety street food turnover is high which keeps things fresh
Seoul completely stole my heart. I went for the skincare but I stayed for the food. There’s just something about grabbing a hotteok on a freezing night or sharing Korean BBQ with a table full of side dishes that feels so special. If you’re planning a trip soon, save this list because every single thing on it is worth it. And if you’ve already been, tell me your favorite Seoul food spot so I can add it to my list for next time because I already know I’m going back.
