Seoul's food scene is a glorious mix of traditional flavors and modern trends. Whether you're craving sizzling K-BBQ or a picture-perfect dessert, there's a neighborhood for it.
1. Myeongdong (For Street Food & K-BBQ)
The king of street food. Come here with an empty stomach and feast on everything from lobster tails to 32cm-long ice cream cones. It also has a ton of great, affordable Korean BBQ joints.
2. Itaewon (For International Flavors)
Seoul's most diverse neighborhood. If you're tired of Korean food (is that possible?) and want authentic pizza, burgers, or Turkish kebabs, this is your spot. Great for groups with picky eaters.
3. Gwangjang Market (For a Traditional Experience)
One of the oldest and largest traditional markets in Korea. Sit on a bench and eat fresh bindaetteok (mung bean pancakes) and mayak gimbap (mini seaweed rice rolls). A must-see, as featured on Netflix!
4. Seongsu-dong (For Trendy Cafes)
Often called the "Brooklyn of Seoul." This former industrial area is now home to the city's coolest cafes, bakeries, and brunch spots, often in converted warehouses. Perfect for a coffee date.
5. Sindang-dong (For Tteokbokki)
An entire street dedicated to tteokbokki (spicy rice cakes). Here, you get a huge pan to cook at your table and can add all sorts of extras like ramen, dumplings, and cheese. Cheap, filling, and fun.
6. Mapo-gu (For Galbi & Jeon)
This district (which includes Hongdae) is famous for its grilled meat restaurants. Mapo's Jeong-daepo is legendary for its pork galbi. The Gongdeok Market area is also famous for its jeon (savory pancake) alley.