Gyeongju
This terrific night market is on the northeast corner of the Jungang Market, with a whole line of stalls selling all manner of food, from vegetarian pasta…
Must-see restaurants in South Korea
Southern Jeju-do
Jeju-do's less famous speciality meat – horse – is served in this splendid traditional restaurant housed in a spacious Hanok building. The food, which…
Itaewon & Yongsan-gu
There's no menu at this hidden-gem HBC hang-out – just a grill behind a hardwood bar where striploin steaks are sizzled to perfection (₩22,000). If butter…
Gangnam & Southern Seoul
An iconic chicken and beer bar, Hanchu is a Garosu-gil institution, though it's known more for its loud, crowded ambiance and its fried hot peppers than…
Mokpo
Though it may not look like much, this is one of Mokpo's finest hoe (raw fish) restaurants, where you can sample the local mineo (민어; croaker). Eat it as…
Jeollanam-do
This restaurant serves Damyang's signature dish: daetongbap (대통밥) – rice and nuts cooked inside a bamboo stem – plus bamboo-shoot doenjang (fermented…
Gangnam & Southern Seoul
Korean cuisine, while delicious, can overwhelm with punchiness. Min's Kitchen opts for fresh, delicate flavours in dishes such as shrimp bibimbap. The…
Incheon
Several stalls along this pair of covered arcades specialise in dakgangjeong (fried chicken in a sweet, spicy sauce). The best vendors usually have a line…
Gangneung
On a quiet road off Songjeong Beach, popular Pino goes for the concrete bunker/distressed industrial vibe with considerable aplomb, but beyond its…
Jeju-do
Delicious, authentic pizza from a wood-burning stove is served in a spacious, laid-back atmosphere with rock music in the background. A good selection of…
Chuncheon
This small place where you can either sit on the floor or take a table to eat platters of dakgalbi with big, chicken flavour. The owner will stir it all…
Itaewon & Yongsan-gu
Everything is made from scratch at this Thai eatery serving a small selection of regional dishes from across Thailand (yes, it does a pad thai). Chefs…
Chungcheongbuk-do
This traditional style place specialises in soft tofu, served up spicy and sizzling away in a stone pot. The trademark sundubu (₩7000) is delicious and…
Gyeongsangbuk-do
This excellent chain Japanese restaurant – described as a 'Japanese Urban Bistro' – is just the place for delicious rice dishes, hot pot, katsu breaded…
Seoul
Anh serves southern-Vietnamese-inspired dishes. While its pho is quite good, the standout meal is the bun thit nuong cha gio (grilled meat on noodles and…
Seogwipo
London-good succulent fish and chips come with a choice of cod or a local Seogwipo white fish, plus wedges or salad, and excellent tartare. Grilled…
Gangwon-do
This place in Jungang Market has a take out stall (No A06) and a sit-down restaurant opposite. Grab a Vietnamese banh mi baguette, a stuffed and fully…
Daegu
Located on Daegu’s famous jjim-galbi (slow-cooked beef ribs) street, this quaint restaurant has been serving spicy steamed beef for 40 years. The friendly…
Daegu
Spaghetti-shaped lines form at busy Angelo's, so find your spot and size up the photo menu. Always wanted to eat excellent pizza with chopsticks? Now's…
Seoul
Generous fresh fish and crab meals at this stand in the Noryangjin Market are a bargain. Try kkotge (spicy blue-crab soup), which includes side dishes…
Gwangju
There's a whole string of restaurants specialising in oritang (오리탕; duck stew) along the aptly named Duck St, but this 80-year-old joint, which seasons…
Jeju-si
There's an eclectic range of dishes on the menu, from sweet-potato pork cutlets to quesadillas to burgers, plus a decent selection of imported beers on…
Myeong-dong & Jung-gu
Books about Tibet and colourful crafts and pictures adorn this restaurant where you can sample the cuisine of the high Himalaya plateau, including momo …
Gwangju
Deservedly popular, Minsokchon serves up lean cuts of so galbi (소갈비; beef) and dwaeji galbi (돼지갈비; pork), set to sizzle over charcoal braziers set into…
Jeonju
This ‘veteran’ of the Jeonju dining scene has been dishing out delicious mandu (만두; dumplings) and noodle dishes such as kalguksu (칼국수) since 1977. The…
Northern Seoul
Serves a tasty fermented-bean-paste-and-tofu stew that comes with a big variety of nearly all vegetarian side dishes at a bargain price – no wonder it’s…
Jeollanam-do
In the evening, this market fills with 'covered wagons' – makeshift eating and drinking joints. Several serve haemul bokkeum (해물볶음, ₩30,000), a huge two…
Jeollanam-do
This popular restaurant serves abalone a bunch of different ways, but try what we dub a Korean version of surf-and-turf: wanggalbi jeonbokjjim (왕갈비전복찜;…
Seoul
An offshoot of Tuk Tuk Noodle Thai. An Astroturf lawn and some outdoor furniture fronts this Thai street-food restaurant where you can dig into a short…
Jeju-si
One of the better options on heukdwaeji geori 'Black Pork Street', a street dedicated to barbecue restaurants serving the island’s tastiest speciality,…
Incheon
Set back from the bedlam of Chinatown, this unassuming restaurant is the local pick for Incheon's tastiest mandu (filled dumplings), with a choice of pork…
Dongdaemun & Eastern Seoul
Centred on a cafe that serves dainty cakes, coffee and Fortnum and Mason teas, vintage-styled OR:ER feels throughout like an elegant old home. The 3rd…
Gwangju
Local fashionistas flock to this earthy corner cafe/restaurant to dig into thin-crust pizzas, pastas and healthy salads whilst flicking through fashion…
Gyeongju
Friendly and inviting Kisoya serves up a mouthwatering array of Japanese dishes with a Korean slant. Mains are generous set meals of the classics from…
Gyeonggi-do
Foresta's backdrop comprises a colossal floor-to-ceiling wall of books, with plenty of tables to enjoy house-roasted coffee, smoothies, sandwiches and…
Gyeongju
Opposite the entrance to Samneung, this 20-year-old restaurant specialises in mukun kimchi (묵은 김치), a spicy noodle-and-broth dish made with kimchi aged at…
Gwanghwamun & Jongno-gu
Daijangjangi means 'blacksmith', and that is exactly what the owner Lee Jae-Sung is. Some of his metal creations adorn the quirky interior of this hanok…
Gyeonggi-do
This impressively designed cafe is just the place to soak up Paju's literary vibes and work away on finishing that novel. It's across from the Asia…
Mokpo
Not in a seafood mood? Try the galbi (갈비) grills at this local favourite located in the city centre. There’s also a range of fan faves such as bibimbap…
Seoul
This adorable tapas bar whips up authentic and creative Spanish-style nibbles including light-as-a-feather tortilla and homemade anchovies. Wash them down…
