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O'kim's Brauhaus
More Deutschland than Ireland, this is a huge but convivial place with an Oktoberfest atmosphere and live music at nightly (except Sunday). It serves up big platters of steak, ribs, sausages and seafood along with their own brewed-on-the-premises light or dark German-style beer. It's near the exhibition halls rather than in the mall.
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Opseoye
A lovely little garden surrounds this thatched hanok restaurant with a rustic interior. It specialises in hearty and traditional beef, mushroom and seafood casseroles plus dajinjal galbi - a giant beef patty.
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Outback Steakhouse
Steaks, grills and seafood star in this popular Aussie-themed restaurant with pine décor, music and a bar, which all combine to create a jovial and relaxed atmosphere.
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Pho Bay
A restaurant chain with simple but clean décor that specialises in fresh-tasting Vietnamese rice noodles. The big plus here is that you mix in whatever amount of bean sprouts, chillies, lemon and onion you want. Service can be slow at busy times.
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Plaza Fountain Buffet
The popular and smart buffet restaurant in the 63 Building puts on an impressive spread of Korean, Japanese and Western favourites. In the centre is a dancing fountain under a glass dome.
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Pulhyanggi
Sit on chairs or floor cushions at this long-running, 2nd-storey restaurant where the main attraction is the dozen or more items served up in the dinner sets. The mainly vegetarian sets offer traditional food such as sweet-and-sour mushrooms, sesame soup, acorn jelly, rice cakes and special teas. Dongdongju (fermented rice wine) is around ₩6000 .
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Richemont Bakery
An above-average bakery that is always coming up with new creations and offers a good value European breakfast for around ₩3500 . It also sells real bread, specialist chocolates and their own ice lollies.
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Sadong Myeonok
A busy, convivial, no-frills restaurant that serves deservedly popular mandugukjeongsik, which consists of four giant homemade dumplings, containing 10 different ingredients, that are served in soup with side dishes. Other options include a sweet bulgogijeongsik ( bulgogi with side dishes) hotpot, naengmyeon and oxtail soup. Soju (local vodka) and beer are around ₩3000 .
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Salam
One of the best Middle Eastern restaurants in Seoul, this authentic Turkish one is hidden away next to the mosque. Pide (thin pizza), kebabs, hummus, baklava and lots of other options are freshly made in the open-plan kitchen. The restaurant has neat tables and Turkish décor and music. Finish the very reasonable try-everything nine-course meal with a puff on a sheesha .
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Sanchon
This very famous and atmospheric restaurant owned by ex-monk Kim Yun-sik offers genuine vegetarian Buddhist temple food. Relax on floor cushions in a soothing ambience of flute music, candlelight and Buddhist art. Lunch and dinner offer the same set meal of 16 small dishes that include seasonal soups, mountain vegetables, pajeon, wild sesame porridge and medicinal tea. The food is truly unique and traditional dancers put on a show at .
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Sannaedeullae
Hidden away on the 3rd floor (above Pho Hoa), this restaurant serves up royal court cuisine such as sinseollo (steam boat) and gujeolpan (eight tiny snacks wrapped in minipancakes). Although just a starter, gujeolpan comes with sweet pumpkin porridge, soup, a salad bar of healthy greens, rice cakes and tea, and makes a right royal light lunch.
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Santorini
On the 2nd floor is this Greek taverna with a wide range of food that arrives at Mediterranean speed. With its friendly service and good food, it's a winner. The best bet is the slab of baby ribs, which are adult-sized and cooked to perfection but the tasty Moussaka or pork souvlaki is also worth a try.
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Seochogol
Behind Basic House is this unpretentious galbi restaurant with an English-speaking owner where the beef ribs are charcoal-grilled at your table, creating a smoky atmosphere. A bottle of soju provides the perfect accompaniment.
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Seojeong Restaurant
Tucked away off the beaten track, this traditional restaurant serves up a budget-priced banquet of 14 dishes in your own private room, which is decked out with scrolls, ceramics and paper-screen doors. Sit on legless chairs or cushions and enjoy japchae (stir-fried noodles and vegies), pajeon, beans, anchovies, chives and pickled walnuts, fish, rice, salad, two soups and all sorts of other vegetables.
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Sigol Bapsang
Sit amidst piles of rustic collectables is this restaurant offering countryside food (traditional Korean food from the days when Korea was a rural society). The restaurant occupies two buildings, both serving the same food. Try an around ₩7000 sigol bapsang - 20 mainly vegetarian side dishes along with spicy tofu soup and rice. Order a plate of bulgogi if you want meat.
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Sinsun Seolnongtang
This bright and clean restaurant with greenery is one of a chain that is famous for its seolleongtang (beef and vegie soup). But it also serves geranjjim, steamed egg with a spring onion and seafood garnish. In the lobby the vending-machine coffee is the cheapest in Seoul. There's another branch in Myeong-Dong.
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Solmoemaeul
Sit on the floor or on chairs on the narrow balcony to enjoy an excellent multicourse meal. Sweet pumpkin gruel, raw tuna, pajeon, decent bulgogi and a royal cuisine gujeolpan (eight individual snacks) with radish pancakes all arrive before the main dish, which is followed by a cup of traditional tea. It's a bit out of the way and not usually crowded.
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Soma 1095
If your Korean language skills are a little scratchy, the colour photos of the 40 well-presented meals available here will help you to choose what to eat, in this clean and busy budget eatery. Just remember to say maisseosseoyo ('it was delicious') when your done.
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Songtan Budaejjigae
Sit on floor cushions or chairs at this popular no-frills restaurant with dark décor that never closes. The budae jjigae (ham and vegetable stew) is cooked at your table. It comes with a potato side dish, but order rice or instant noodles to go with it.
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Sosim
A small, rustic, home-cooking basement restaurant serves mainly vegetarian meals, including organic rice, teas that take a year to make, and side dishes such as boiled peanuts. The set meals are best and can include mushroom soup, fish or pajeon . The helpful owner speaks some English.
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Taco
A cheap and cheerful little diner with five types of Mexican munchies that attracts plenty of foreigners. The flavoursome grub is cooked in front of you by the youthful staff. Burritos and fajitas are the best bet.
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Techno Mart Food Court
Forty stalls with loquacious staff compete with each other to pile up as much fun fusion food as possible on huge platters that are meant for sharing - an around ₩10000 platter feeds three hungry people. Browse the plastic replicas of the food and see the world's largest bowls of bibimbap and giant ice-cream concoctions on shaved ice or fruit.
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Temple Cooking Shop
Snack on genuine Buddhist temple food - dried seaweed and lotus root, seed and nut biscuits or potato crisps. It's run by Sanchon restaurant, which is owned by an ex-monk.
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TGI Friday's
Jack Daniel's chicken, steak, ribs and salad lures customers to this ever-popular American restaurant chain with 12 locations across Seoul. The bar adds to the cheerful and relaxed atmosphere, with a good selection of beers and wine available.
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Thai Orchid
It's been around forever but the Thai Orchid serves consistently good and reasonably priced Thai food. Up on the 3rd floor, it's still the expat favourite for when nothing but delicious coconut-based curries and nam pla (fish sauce) laden stir fries will do.
