Korean-recommended must-try foods! Top 10 must-visit famous restaurants in Korea

Image / Internet & Korea New Bride, Text /Korea New Bride

This is a comprehensive guide to the top famous restaurants recommended by locals in Korea for must-try dishes, serving as an introductory reference for travelers to Korea who don’t know where to start planning their food itinerary or worry about ending up at a disappointing restaurant. The sources of this collection include not only personal tasting experiences, but also enthusiastic recommendations from Korean friends and family, as well as references to popular food rankings on Korean culinary websites. Of course, only those that are truly delicious and popular made it into this recommendation list!!!

1. Tosokchon Samgyetang ??? Nam Family
Located next to Gyeongbokgung Palace, this restaurant became famous because it was a favorite of the late former South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun. It’s loved not only by VIPs but also by the general public, and has since become one of the must-visit popular restaurants for tourists in Korea. Tosokchon gets crowded during meal times and holidays, with waits of 15–30 minutes, so it’s recommended to avoid peak hours to skip the long lines.

▲ The snow-white, rich broth is made from over 30 types of medicinal herbs and grains, along with red dates, glutinous rice, four-year-old ginseng, ginkgo, garlic, and a young chicken stuffed with glutinous rice, all slow-cooked to absorb the essence of the ingredients. The restaurant also provides a small cup of ginseng wine to add to the soup for extra aroma. When eating the chicken, seasoning with salt and pepper enhances the flavor. Price: Samgyetang 15,000 KRW (other dishes not recommended, especially black chicken and roasted chicken which are tough, and the pancakes are just average)

▲ Pro tip: Eating samgyetang with both napa cabbage kimchi and radish kimchi makes it even more enjoyable. It helps cut through the richness of the soup and adds variety while eating with the chicken.
&How to get there
Address: 85-1, Toegye-ro 27-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul
Business Hours: 10:00–22:00
Take subway Line 3 to Gyeongbokgung Station (Exit 2), walk straight and look for the GS25 convenience store, then turn left into the alley right in front of it — that’s Tosokchon.

2. Sinmapo Guksu ?? BBQ Restaurant

▲ The signature dish is seagull meat guksu (actually pork diaphragm, also known as pig’s stomach in Taiwan), which tastes similar to beef ribs, and the iron plate egg is also a highlight.

▲ Pro tip: Don’t miss the crispy intestines and pig skin, a favorite of Korean drama leads.
For more details, see the Korea New Bride's article → Must-visit famous restaurants in Korea - Sinmapo Guksu BBQ Restaurant

&How to get there
Hongdae Branch: Exit 4 of Hongdae Station, turn right at Seven Springs, walk straight and take the second intersection (a three-way junction) — that’s the Hongdae BBQ Street.

3. Samcheong-dong Heochuwon (Hanmaju?) Rice Cake Hot Pot

A super popular spicy stir-fried rice cake shop near Gyeongbokgung Palace. It’s been featured by numerous online platforms, newspapers, magazines, and TV shows. The name “Heochuwon” means “eat and pay then leave,” which is straightforward and fun.

▲ Cheese seafood rice cake hot pot is cooked with a sweet and spicy base, featuring rice cakes, abalone, squid, fish cake, and Korean glass noodles. It tastes similar to spicy stir-fried rice cakes but isn’t as thick. The addition of cheese tones down the spiciness, resulting in a sweet yet mildly spicy flavor.
Price: Rice cake per person portion 4,000 KRW, and you can add your favorite toppings.

▲ Pro tip: Be sure to add a portion of noodles, because noodles soaked in the sauce are incredibly delicious.
&How to get there
Main Store Address: 66-4, Anguk 3-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul (17-19)
Subway Line 3, Anguk Station Exit 1. Turn right after seeing OLIVE YOUNG, walk straight along the stone wall road (with Gyeongbokgung Palace on the left), and turn right at the alley behind the CU convenience store.

4. Hongdae Pig’s Trotter Restaurant Haenghaeng Pig’s Trotter (?)

▲ Pig’s trotters are a beloved Korean street food, especially when paired with soju, making them a great choice for after-party snacks. The trotters are refreshing, not greasy, with a Q-texture and chewy bite, and are rich in collagen, making them a great beauty food for women.

5. Sinseon Seolleongtang ?? Restaurant
The popular Korean drama "Brilliant Legacy," starring Lee Seo-jin, features a character who runs a chain of Seolleongtang (ox bone soup) restaurants. This character was modeled after the "Godfather Seolleongtang" shop, and several branches were used as filming locations. One of these branches was located in Qùǚ (year), and the original decor from that time is still preserved today.

▲ The broth, simmered from beef bones, turns a rich milky white—so white it resembles snow—which is why Koreans call it "Seolleongtang" (snowy soup).

▲ Packed with nutrients, Seolleongtang is not only one of Korea’s nourishing tonic soups but also makes a great hangover cure to warm you up the next morning or a satisfying breakfast option.
Price: 700–15,000 KRW

▲ Pro tip: Start by tasting the original flavor of the Seolleongtang broth, then adjust the seasoning with salt and pepper to your liking. Mix in some steamed rice to create a delicious soup rice dish. (Koreans often add radish kimchi juice as well.)

&How to get there
Hongdae Branch: Walk straight out of Exit 9 of Hongik University Station, and you’ll see Godfather Seolleongtang at the first major intersection.

6. Authentic Jeonju Bibimbap – Gogung (?? ?? ??))
Rated as one of the "Hi Seoul Proud Korean Restaurants," Gogung has been operating for over 30 years and is known for using traditional Jeonju bibimbap recipes, which are said to have originated from royal palace cuisine served to kings. To recreate an ancient royal atmosphere, Gogung uses log-style designs reminiscent of traditional Korean houses and serves food on authentic brassware, historically used only by royalty and nobility.

▲ Seasoned blanched vegetables—including shredded cucumber, zucchini, carrots, radishes, mushrooms, seaweed, bellflower root, bracken, spinach, and bean sprouts—are combined with either raw beef or other meats. A raw egg yolk is added for extra richness, though the dish can also be made vegetarian without meat or eggs.

▲ When stirred, the bibimbap rice blends the sweetness of the vegetables with the spicy-sweet flavor of the gochujang (Korean chili paste). The slightly burnt rice at the bottom adds a delightful crunch, making this bowl a medley of delicious flavors.
Myeongdong Branch Address: 12-14, Jungnim 2-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul (behind Sejong Hotel)
Subway Line 4, Myeongdong Station Exit 10, in the alley behind the Sejong Hotel.

7. Zhongxunlan Grilled Stone Plate Samgyeopsal
Samgyeopsal (pork belly) is a beloved Korean comfort food, and restaurants serving grilled pork belly can be found everywhere. However, the hottest spot lately is Zhongxunlan, which uses patented heat-conducting stone plates to sear the pork belly at high temperatures. This method renders the fat crispy while keeping the meat tender and juicy without drying out.

▲ 180g pork belly
Price: 12,000 KRW, includes side dishes such as doenjang jjigae (soybean paste stew), steamed egg, hamburger steak, pumpkin, shrimp, and more.

▲ Don’t let the photo fool you—this isn’t a case of false advertising. The stone plate is as big as a tabletop, large enough to grill a whole suckling pig if needed.

▲ Pro tip: After enjoying the grilled pork belly, finish off with a delicious kimchi fried rice for the perfect meal finale.
Official Website
&How to get there
Subway Line 2, Gangnam Station Exit 11. Turn left at the first intersection, then right at the next to reach the restaurant.

8. Hearty Potato Spare Ribs Soup

▲ After work, Koreans often gather for drinks. The first stop is usually grilled meat or sashimi, followed by fried chicken and beer for the second round. By the third round, after drinking quite a bit, they crave a warm, hearty soup. Spicy potato spare ribs soup becomes the go-to choice to soothe the stomach and satisfy the craving for bold flavors.

9. Dongdak Bibimbap Chicken (???岔)
Dongdak is a famous Korean restaurant chain specializing in Andong jjimdak (braised chicken), with branches across South Korea. Its Hongdae Branch #1 is particularly renowned for its deliciousness.
Andong jjimdak originated in the 1980s in Andong Market, North Gyeongsang Province. The dish is made by stir-frying chicken at high heat, then braising it with soy sauce, chili, spices, potatoes, carrots, and other ingredients. Once the flavors meld, sweet potato glass noodles are added.

▲ Andong jjimdak is quite spicy, but it pairs well with cold radish soup, which helps tone down the heat while enhancing the overall flavor and appetite.
Price: 20,000–35,000 KRW
Pro tip: Add some crispy rice to your dish and mix it with the Andong jjimdak sauce for an extra burst of flavor.
&How to get there
Hongdae Branch Address: Exit 9 of Hongdae Station, turn right at the Innisfree intersection, and you’ll see the Phoenix sign in about three minutes on foot. The shop is on the second floor.

10. Dengcun Knife-Cut Noodles + Hot Pot
Dengcun Hot Pot is also a chain, with branches in Hongdae, Gangnam, and Busan. It uses a spicy mushroom-based broth, infused with minced garlic, potatoes, and water dropwort, resulting in a refreshing yet not overly spicy flavor—even those who don’t enjoy spicy food will find it agreeable.

▲ Three-Way Hot Pot: enjoy hot pot, knife-cut noodles, and fried rice all in one meal.
Price: Starts from 6,000 KRW per serving.

▲ Thinly sliced Korean beef is briefly swished in the pot for a few seconds, then dipped in a sauce made with sour citrus and wasabi—tangy and slightly spicy, both delicious and satisfying.
Pro Tip: Start with vegetables, then cook the beef, followed by adding handmade noodles. The noodles can be served in the broth as soup noodles, or fished out and mixed with the provided sour citrus sauce for dry noodles. Finally, ask the staff to use the remaining broth to make fried rice.

※For more exciting content, see 【Korea Newbie Bride】