Food is at the core of Korean culture. Shared meals provide opportunities to bond with locals at night markets or village taverns.
Nudake offers a cafe experience with Instagram-worthy aesthetics: its minimalist interiors and decadent croissant treats make for a delightful visit.
1. Mingles
Since opening its doors, Mingles has been at the forefront of Korea’s fine dining scene. Redefining modern Korean cookery by merging traditional and contemporary elements, the restaurant can be found in Seoul’s trendy Cheongdam-dong district serving set menus for lunch and dinner with reservations available for reservations.
Chef Kang Mingoo uses an assortment of ingredients, such as fermented mother sauces and vinegar, to craft flavorful dishes at Mingles Restaurant. Michelin recognized Mingles as being among the top restaurants in Korea 2024; additionally this year Mingles earned their third Michelin star- a significant milestone for this unique establishment.
Restaurant cuisine at this luxurious eatery is perfectly complimented by its warm and uncluttered environment, creating a luxurious dining experience for diners. Additionally, diners will find an assortment of sweet desserts perfect for rounding off any meal in style; their Jang Trio dessert stands out with its umami caramelization from Doenjang sauce, saltiness from Ganjang pecan nuts, and fiery chili kick from Gochujang; you won’t forget this unique taste that you won’t soon forget.
2. Cafe Onion
Cafe Onion quickly established itself as one of Seoul’s premier coffee shops since opening its doors in 2017. Their success can be attributed to their unique style that blends modern aesthetics with aged textures such as water-damaged concrete and discolored steel; creating the ideal mix of industrial chic and Korean culture that makes them so beloved among Instagrammers everywhere.
Yu Zu-hyung, CEO and founder of Onion Cafe, had in mind to create an environment reminiscent of Brooklyn. “My inspiration came from breathing new life into old buildings while using them for something entirely new,” Yu explained.
This theme can be seen at each of the cafe’s other locations as well. Anguk in particular stands out, being located inside an exquisitely restored traditional Korean Hanok home. Though regular Westernized seating is available here, visitors usually line up to take one of the limited traditional benches around the courtyard instead.
3. Zest
Zest offers an exquisite gastronomic journey that is both delectable and memorable. Their knowledgeable staff possesses extensive expertise when it comes to Korean cuisine and are more than happy to recommend new dishes as well as accommodate special dietary requirements. Their restaurant is also renowned for their impressive wine collection curated by their sommeliers which perfectly complements each dish on offer.
Zest prides itself on creating a zero waste policy, using every part of fruit or vegetables that comes through their doors for sustainable practices – for instance, hallabong peels are used in their house gin distillation while pulp is fermented into cordial or sauerkraut products. Their commitment to sustainability earned them Time Out Seoul’s Bar of Tomorrow 2023 Award.
37 Grill is an esteemed steakhouse located at the heart of Seoul’s business district. Offering classic Korean fare like bibimbap and bulgogi as well as innovative modern creations like deokja (butterfish topped with chile leaf namul and pickled green plums). 37 Grill also stands out for its impeccable service.
4. Big Lights
Vegans love this restaurant for its selection of chickpea and chicken quinoa salad as well as seafood quinoa stew. Plus, brunch and luncheon reservations can be booked here with prices ranging between 10,000 Won to 20,000 Won per table.
Tartine Bakery boasts multiple locations in Seoul, but their Hannam branch stands out for their delicious baked goods and breakfast sandwiches – particularly their popular Dirty Choco Croissant featuring chocolate dough that has been lavishly covered in cocoa powder!
As Korean barbecue’s popularity continues to increase, creative venues like this grilled meat spot in Anguk neighborhood are providing exciting new twists to traditional recipes. Sourced from various local farms and using special cooking techniques that create signature dishes like Kimbap braided pork from Sancheong County; its minimalist space perfectly compliments this hearty food.
5. Geumdwaeji
Geumdwaeji (translated to Golden Pig) is one of Seoul’s best-known BBQ restaurants, known for its white tiled, multi-story establishment and long lines during peak hours as proof of its unsurpassed quality. There is no reservation policy at Geumdwaeji; all guests sit at tables equipped with cast-iron grills sizzling away protein over coal briquettes.
At Nunkkon Moksal and Bonsamgyeop, their menu specializes in pork cuts such as the popular Nunkkon Moksal and Bonsamgyeop cuts that pair beautifully with their fragrant basil wraps. Their flavorful and tender meat can also be found paired with their specialty Kimchi stew which has been slowly braised to perfection over the course of hours to give customers an unforgettable dining experience.
All dishes at Geumdwaeji are charcoal grilled for maximum flavor and texture, using clean briquettes free from hydrogen sulfide which help enhance their flavours of grilled meats. Their chefs use clean briquettes that do not produce harmful hydrogen sulfide gas emissions to further amplify these flavours of their cuisine. All meals come with refillable side dishes such as the popular cold noodles in chilling broth known as Naengmyeon; to enhance your dining experience further they offer drinking games such as Titanic (Place an empty shot glass inside a full beer glass filled with beer; the first person who sinks his/her shot wins). A Suntory highball would pair perfectly with your meal!
