서울Seoul

Every regional cuisine has a branch in Seoul, but the city has its own classics too: ox-bone soups served since the Joseon court, market pancakes, cold noodles and late-night pojangmacha tents.

Getting there Two international airports, Incheon and Gimpo, connect to the city by the AREX train and the subway.

Photo: lazy fri13th · CC BY 2.0

Signature dishes

Soups & stews

설렁탕Seolleongtang

Milky ox-bone broth simmered for hours. You salt it yourself at the table.

Not spicyContains meat or fish

Beef

Pancakes & fritters

빈대떡Bindaetteok

Thick mung-bean pancake, fried crisp in plenty of oil at Gwangjang Market.

Not spicyAsk for a version without meat or fish

Pork

Seafood & raw

육회Yukhoe

Raw beef seasoned with sesame oil and pear, topped with an egg yolk.

Not spicyContains meat or fish

BeefRawEgg

Street food

떡볶이Tteokbokki

Chewy rice cakes in sweet-hot gochujang sauce, sold from every street cart.

SpicyAsk for a version without meat or fish

Seafood

Noodles & dumplings

물냉면Mul-naengmyeon

Chewy buckwheat noodles in icy beef broth. Cut them with the scissors on the table.

Not spicyContains meat or fish

BeefEgg

Grill & fried

불고기Bulgogi

Thin beef marinated in soy, pear and sesame. Sweet, savoury and loved by everyone.

Not spicyContains meat or fish

Beef

Also look for

마약김밥 Mayak gimbap, tiny addictive rolls

Where to eat it

Gwangjang Market 광장시장
Mung-bean pancakes, raw beef and mini gimbap under one roof since 1905.
Sindang-dong tteokbokki street 신당동 떡볶이 골목
A whole street of restaurants serving tteokbokki in a hot pot at the table.
Euljiro and Jongno 을지로·종로
Old printing alleys full of beer halls, pyeongyang naengmyeon and decades-old soup houses.

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