The 10 Best Restaurants in Jongno District, Seoul

After working around the world in England and New York City, Chef Yonaguni Susumu followed his Korean wife back to Seoul and decided to open OKitchen 3. Susumu trains local chefs at his restaurant and inspires them to think outside the box and encourage them to experiment with ingredients and recipes.

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Located at the foot of Inwangsan Mountain in Seoul, this lovely Korean restaurant does not only serve exquisite food, but it also has an intriguing history. The traditional Korean building was built during the Joseon period and was home to a prince called Daewongun. Just like you’d expect from a royal building, the restaurant specializes in Korean royal court cuisine. Meals are prepared with locally grown Korean ingredients with recipes passed down from generation to generation. If you are looking for a truly amazing food experience in Korea, this is a great place to go.

Situated across from the Seungok Museum, DAN.A specializes in pasta. Not only is the pasta absolutely delicious, the atmosphere of DAN.A is also absolutely beautiful. Guests can enjoy a variety of pasta dishes reasonably priced in a traditional Korean house. Some of the pasta dishes are served in ttukbaegi, a Korean hotplate combining Eastern and Western cooking styles.

The concept of Juban refers to the pairing of food and alcohol in Korean and is something Chef Kim Taeyoon is very passionate about. That’s why he created Sajik-dong Juban in a lovely revamped hanok house. He also brings back new inspiration for fusion dishes from his world tours and incorporates them into his dishes. The goal of the menu is that every single dish can be beautifully paired with liquor.

One of Song’s Kitchen’s specialties is their unique cheese and seafood tteokbokki (Korean rice cakes). The rice cakes are topped on a pizza dough and then carefully baked with cheese in the oven. Song’s Kitchen also has more traditional pizza varieties on the menu, such as gorgonzola pizza or smoked mushroom pizza. Whichever you prefer, you’ll never leave with an empty stomach.

Part of the Four Seasons in Seoul, you can be sure that Boccalino will blow your mind. The Italian restaurant was also awarded a Michelin star due to their impeccable service and delicious dishes. The staff at Boccalino work hard to make your visit unforgettable. Some of their most popular meals include gnocchi al tartufo, whole grilled lobster with fresh pizzaiola Sauce and slow roasted Jeju pork belly with carrot and orange purée.

One of the best Vietnamese restaurants in Seoul, Plus84 has been in business for many years now. It has become such a popular place that it opened a second location in Seoul’s foreigner district of Itaewon. If you are craving authentic pho or banh mi, Plus84 will make you happy.

Power Plant is an interesting place in Seoul. It houses several Western restaurants, such as Manimal, Coreanos, Lobster Shack, and Gilberts. The best part is that the open space allows you to order a dish from each restaurant all at once. While prices aren’t cheap, you certainly get what you pay for. The vast variety of food is ideal for a night out with picky friends.

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Nature Kitchen is the ideal place for newcomers to Korean cuisine. The restaurant offers a variety of Korean dishes in a buffet-style atmosphere. On top of that, Nature Kitchen’s concept is to provide dishes from the eight most famous provinces of Korea in a healthy way. We say it’s the best place to take friends and family visiting Korea for the first time to explore the local options.

With the increasing number of Muslim visitors and foreigners living in South Korea, the demand for Halal restaurants has also risen. Potala meets this need. The restaurant specializes in Tibetan food presented in a beautifully decorated space. Besides Tibetan dishes, Potala also offers dishes from India and Nepal. Moreover, the menu offers a vast selection of Halal meals ideal for Muslim visitors.