7 top places to eat like a local in Seoul – try stand-up BBQ and Korean specialities like jjukkumi, siraegi, sujebi and patjuk
Ever tried Seoul’s seo seo galbi (Korean stand-up barbecue)? How about jjukkumi (baby octopus), patjuk (red bean porridge) or siraegi (dried radish leaves)? We’ve got a foodie itinerary for your next trip to the Korean capital
From fine dining to down-to-earth eateries, here are seven places to eat like a local in Seoul.
1. Korean Folk Village Market Pub
The Korean Folk Village Market Pub opened on October 30 inside the Annyeong Insadong building, a recently built multistorey culture complex similar to the neighbouring Ssamzigil in Insa-dong, a traditional street frequented by tourists. This “market pub”, which is a culinary branch of the existing Korean Folk Village located on the outskirts of Seoul, serves Korean traditional food with modern plating, in a spacious and neatly designed environment.
The modeum jeon (assorted pancakes) is worth a try along with the other jeons (pancakes), and the jangteo sogogi-gukbap (market beef soup) is also a great addition to the pancakes. Koreans like to eat jeon with makgeolli (rice wine) or dongdongju (another variety of rice wine) so give it a try. They also serve ihwaju, a yogurt-type makgeolli that you eat with a spoon, which is not easily found in other restaurants.
4F, 49 Insadong-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul
Tel. 02-6954-2858
2. Sudam
Looking for a formal meal in fine-dining style but with an affordable price? Sudam is the answer. The Samseong-dong based restaurant serves a variety of dishes in small portions much like Spanish tapas, but instead they come one after another – like French fine dining. The most basic option for lunch is a 12-course meal for one person, but don’t gasp – the price is amazingly cheap considering the wide selection.