Eating grilled meat alone can be just as satisfying too！ Recommended “6 Solo Dining Spots in Hongdae, Seoul”

Text & Photos／Travel Notes by Xi (FB link)

In fact, Seoul isn’t really the best place for solo dining, do you agree? Axi once had an interview assignment in Seoul for a full 20 days. To save on transportation costs, she went around alone the whole time—even meals were eaten solo. She thought it wouldn’t be a big deal, but then realized that in their culture, eating alone can seem strange. People might assume you have no friends, and some restaurants even refuse to serve solo diners... Thinking back, it’s kind of pitiful.

Knowing that some friends may have had similar experiences as Axi, this time we’ve specially put together several features on solo dining, recommending some great solo eateries where you can enjoy your meal in peace and comfort—no awkwardness even when you’re flying solo. In the following, we’ll scout out popular restaurants where you can dine alone in different tourist districts, giving you more options and ideas. Even when you’re alone, you can still have your own kind of romance. First up, let’s kick off the solo dining series in the popular tourist spot of Hongdae!

1. ?An Jeop Sang Songchon Hanok House

When it comes to Hongdae, the first place that comes to mind is this Songchon Hanok House. Back then, this was actually the first solo diner Axi tried. The location is a bit tricky—it’s between Hapjeong and Hongdae, and tucked away in a small alley. It’s a local favorite among solo dining spots.

Songchon is run by an elderly lady, and all the food served is made by her hands—authentic traditional Korean cuisine with home-style flavors. Plus, the prices are very reasonable, ranging from 3,000 to 7,000 won. Whether it’s breakfast or dinner, the price is the same, and they offer set meals that come with rice, soup, and side dishes. The taste, quality, and price are all very down-to-earth.

For those who aren’t sure what to try, Axi recommends the traditional bibimbap or the beef broth set meal—both are great choices.


[INFO]
Address: 395-32, Seogyo-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul
Phone: 02-333-0862
Hours: 11:30–21:30
Transport: Exit 4 of Hapjeong Station, walk about 8–10 minutes.

2. Hongik Kanjang Gejang

Even if you’re in Korea alone, you’d still want to eat kanjang gejang (soy sauce crab), right? But many all-you-can-eat places require a minimum of two people, and if you go for à la carte, the prices might feel a bit steep to handle on your own. Axi found out that there’s a kanjang gejang all-you-can-eat place in Hongdae called Hongik Kanjang Gejang where you can enjoy the all-you-can-eat experience solo.

The restaurant offers it in set meal form—a single all-you-can-eat set is 17,800 won, and you can refill unlimited soy sauce crab and soy sauce shrimp. The meal also comes with steamed egg, savory pancakes, and crab hot pot to enjoy as well. You can really feast on your own!

[INFO]
Address: 232-12, Seongsan-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul
Hours: 11:30–22:00
Transport: Exit 1 of Hongdae Entrance Station, walk about 12–15 minutes.

3. Sinsa Dormitory Canteen

Grilled meat—Axi’s all-time favorite. How can you visit Seoul without having it? If you’re looking for more affordable grilled meat, check out Sinsa Dormitory Canteen, a highly cost-effective restaurant. This place has branches in many popular tourist areas, including Hongdae, which is located near Exit 8 of the subway station.

The Hongdae branch is open 24 hours, but operating hours vary by branch, so be sure to check before you go. Even if you don’t understand Korean, don’t worry—the restaurant provides Chinese menus. The most affordable option is definitely pork belly, starting at just 8,000 won, so ordering a few plates doesn’t feel too pricey.

However, compared to pork, Axi actually recommends pork skin. The crispy seasoned pork skin, dipped in soybean powder, is incredibly flavorful and a must-order for Axi’s solo grilled meat meals (lol, she still thinks Sinsa’s the best for now). Also, the pork kimchi soup rice is one of the signatures, priced at 6,500 won per serving.

[INFO]
Address: 331-18, Seogyo-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul
Phone: 02-332-0120
Hours: 24 hours
Transport: About 4 minutes on foot from Exit 8 of Hongdae Entrance Station.

4. Rio Brazil

For friends who are temporarily tired of Korean food, you might also want to try a Western-style restaurant run by Koreans. Rio Brasil is a steak-specialty restaurant where, during dinner, you can feast on steak for just 30,000 won. You can even specify how you’d like your steak cooked when ordering, which is super considerate. Axi thinks medium-rare (cooked to medium) tastes the best. Apparently, they have a 10,000-won all-you-can-eat lunch option, but she hasn’t tried that yet...

In addition, the appetizers are also all-you-can-eat, such as pickled radish, onion salad, mashed potatoes, and fried rice—you can ask the staff to refill any of them, and it feels like you could get full just on the sides. And aside from steak, items like chicken wings, sausages, and bacon are also available as main courses you can order freely.

[INFO]
Address: B1, 358-15 Seokyo-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul
Phone: 02-323-4440
Hours: 10:00–22:00
Transportation: About 8 minutes on foot from Exit 9 of Hongik University Station.

5. Tteokbokki at Jubak Tteokbokki – A Must-Try Snack in Hongdae

There’s a must-try snack spot in the parking street of Hongdae called Jubak Tteokbokki, a famous eatery even frequented by celebrities. EXO’s Chanyeol once recommended it on the show “Showtime” on a variety program. Open until 6 a.m., it’s a popular late-night meal option for locals.

Eating alone here is totally fine — you can order as much as you want. Just place your order outside, then find a seat inside. Their signature tteokbokki (₩3,000 per serving) is chewy yet not mushy, and pairing it with a bowl of fish cake soup (₩2,000 for three pieces), Ah Xi found this to be a surprisingly great late-night dining spot.

[INFO]
Address: 407-21 Seokyo-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul
Phone: 02-337-9933
Hours: 11:00–06:00
Transportation: About 8 to 10 minutes on foot from Exit 9 of Hongik University Station.

Bonus: Korea’s Alternative Dining Style — Eating for Two, Alone

This shop, called SimSeunTang (Mart Ttukbaegi), is a budae jjigae (Korean army stew) restaurant opened by a well-known celebrity, and it’s extremely popular among locals and stars. Just look at the autographed celebrity photos on the walls to gauge its fame—Ah Xi spotted signatures from IU and 2PM members there. Why feature this place? Because they welcome solo diners, allowing you to order a regular stew or, more popularly, a set menu—but you have to order the two-person portion.

They do accept single diners, but you have to order for two. Actually, this dining practice is quite common in Korea. But Ah Xi still doesn’t quite get why there’s such a restriction—would offering a single portion really be that difficult? Still, at least there’s the option to order double, pay a bit more, and eat more. Some restaurants won’t even allow that and will turn you away just for being alone. (Sighs)

The stew ingredients here are quite traditional, but the way you eat it is somewhat unique—you can mix in the rice provided, and the butter on the table is meant to be stirred into the rice. It’s a fun way to enjoy the meal.

[INFO]
Address: 355-210 Seokyo-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul
Phone: 07-4100-8318
Hours: 17:00–01:00
Transportation: About 10 minutes on foot from Exit 9 of Hongik University Station.
Price: Single portion stew ₩8,000, two-person set starting from ₩19,500

Xi, a travel book author and travel memory sharer.
Has so far published five travel books, mainly about Taiwan, Japan, and Korea. Studied in Taiwan and always aims to uncover different sides of these places.

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