Local Flavors: the best places to eat and drink in Seoul

15.08.2024 - 10:49 / lonelyplanet.com

Aug 14, 2024 • 5 min read

The Korean culinary scene is diverse, an amalgamation of traditional ingredients, imported flavors and experimental fusions. With so many quality restaurants in Seoul, the odds are that even the most unprepared visitor will randomly stumble into something delicious – particularly when it comes to the not-so-social media-driven mom-and-pop shops. If you’d like some direction, though, here are some of my favorites, both for getting together with friends and going solo.

Because most Koreans eat the same foods for breakfast that they have for lunch and dinner – rice, soup and banchan (side dishes) – there isn’t much that distinguishes a Korean breakfast spot from any other Korean eatery, aside from it being open at the appropriate time of day. That said, Western-style breakfast and brunch are popular for weekend meals with friends, and my go-to is the Australian brunch cafe Sunday Arvo. Tucked away in the hilly alleys south of Namsan Park, this spot serves up excellent eggs benedict and blueberry pancakes. Walking around Seoul, you’ll notice bagels are trending here, and for that, my favorite is SF Bagels in Yeonnam. One of the first on Seoul’s bagel scene, SF is known for its delicious, daily-made organic sourdough bagels, accompanied by cream cheese spreads and fruit compotes. There’s no seating, so take your bagel to go and enjoy it in nearby Yeontral Park. 

Coffee is everywhere in Seoul – I mean everywhere – with a concept cafe to suit any mood, so it’s not hard to find a good cup of brew (unless it’s before 9am, in which case you’re probably going to have to settle for a chain). In Haebangchon, I like hole-in-the-wall Le Cafe; with just a few tables and a friendly owner-barista, it’s a cozy, relaxing setting to take a beat from a busy day. Over in Yeonnam, there’s Coffee Nap Roasters, notable for its uniquely designed floor that transitions, brick by brick, into a seating area. Fritz Coffee Company is another popular roastery, now with five locations (the first being in Mapo-gu), that’s known for not only its quality coffee but also its delicious pastries and bread – get the ham and cheese croissant. Also head to the original location of Anthracite Coffee in an old shoe factory in Hapjeong (there are six total) to try the Butter Fat Trio; with notes of dark chocolate and nuts, it's one bold choice among its range of literary-named blends.

For the perfect homestyle Korean lunch, head over to Nan in Hapjeong, which serves a simple set menu of the day (check their IG in advance), including a main, rice and banchan. Or, you can never go wrong with Myeongdong Kyoja: its kalguksu are some of the best knife-cut noodles in Seoul. When I’m in Haebangchon, a stop at either Morococo or