Eating Our Way Through Seoul: Best Foods You Have to Try

Seoul tells its story through food — a vibrant, pulsing city where every street corner sizzles, steams, or sparkles with something delicious. Late-night barbecue joints lure you in with smoky aromas, while bubbling pots of gamjatang warm you from the inside out. The city’s cuisine moves as dynamically as its skyline. Eating here means more than satisfying hunger; it invites you to step into a rhythm of shared tables, bold flavors, and centuries-old traditions reimagined for today. To taste the heart of Korea, you dive in dish by dish, bite by bite.

Eomukguk

Walking in Myeongdong Night Market, we couldn’t resist a skewer of eomukguk. The steaming fishcake soup that seems to be every Seoulite’s winter companion. The vendor lifted the skewers from the broth, the fishcakes curled and tender, dripping with a savory dashi-like stock made from anchovies and kelp. A paper cup of the hot broth together with the skewer was purely simple, salty, and restorative, like warmth in liquid form.

Standing there in the chill of Myeongdong’s night air, alternating between spicy rice cakes and comforting sips of soup, we felt like we had stumbled right into the essence of Korean street food: balance, comfort, and joy on a stick.

Hotteok

Hotteok landed in our hands like golden pockets of comfort, their crisp, pan-fried shells breaking open to reveal warm, chewy centers. At Namdaemun market we tried three versions, each one a revelation: the sweet red bean filling, earthy and velvety; the honey and sesame, sticky with nutty sweetness that lingered on the tongue; and finally, the savory japchae, its glass noodles slick with soy and vegetables.

That last one won us over — unexpected, satisfying, and layered with flavor — proof that even Seoul’s simplest snacks can surprise you.

Gamjatang

Gamjatang doesn’t whisper — it roars. The bubbling cauldron arrived at our table, a fiery red broth flecked with chili, garlic, and sesame seeds, cradling tender pork spine that slipped from the bone at the touch of chopsticks. Potatoes soaked up the heat and richness, while napa cabbage, perilla leaves, and green onions cut through with freshness.

Each spoonful carried both depth and warmth, the flavor building slowly until it left a gentle burn and a longing for the next bite. Traditionally eaten late at night or as a hangover cure, gamjatang embraces you with rustic heartiness. We nearly ordered a medium pot, but thankfully a kind warning steered us toward a small — still more than enough.

Korean BBQ

Korean BBQ is less a meal and more a performance — a sizzling, smoky feast that unfolds right at the table. The grill crackles to life as marinated cuts of beef, pork, or chicken hit the heat, sending up aromas that make patience almost impossible. With each turn of the tongs, the meat sears to perfection, ready to be tucked into crisp lettuce leaves with a swipe of ssamjang, a few slivers of garlic, and maybe a curl of kimchi for punch. Around the grill, the table fills with endless banchan — little plates of pickled, spiced, and seasoned side dishes that keep the flavours shifting with every bite.

It’s communal and captures the heart of Korean dining: food meant to be shared, savoured, and celebrated together. As a result, we love KBBQ, we had it for dinner twice out of the 3 nights we were there.

Knife-Cut Noodles from Kalguksu Alley

Down a narrow stretch of Namdaemun Market, Noodle Kalguksu Alley hums with the rhythm of rolling pins and bubbling pots, every stall serving up the same beloved dish: knife-cut noodles. The dough is sliced into uneven ribbons right before your eyes, tossed into broth that smells of anchovy, garlic, and kelp, then ladled into bowls that steam against the cool market air.

The noodles are thick, chewy, and satisfyingly rustic, clinging to the savoury broth, while a pile of kimchi on the side adds just the right spark of heat. It is simply a dish that captures the comforting, unpretentious heart of Seoul.

Pajeon

Pajeon, the seafood pancake with its long green scallions weaved through batter, while chunks of squid, shrimp, and sometimes mussels peek out, each bite carrying the briny sweetness of the sea. The texture is the best kind of contrast — crunchy at the edges, soft and savoury in the middle — especially when dipped into the tangy soy-vinegar sauce served alongside.

It’s a dish made for sharing, often paired with a cloudy glass of makgeolli, the slightly sweet rice wine that cuts through the richness. Eating pajeon feels communal, hearty, and a little celebratory — the kind of food that turns a rainy evening into an occasion.

Korean Fried Chicken

Korean fried chicken is pure indulgence — a glorious clash of crunch and flavour that redefines what fried chicken can be. Each piece is double-fried to shattering crispness, the skin so delicate it crackles at the first bite, while the meat inside stays impossibly juicy.

Then comes the magic: sauces that range from sticky-sweet soy garlic to fiery gochujang heat, glazing the chicken until it shines under the lights of a late-night Seoul eatery. Served with icy beers or fizzy soju, and often alongside a pile of pickled radish for sharp contrast, it’s not just fast food — it’s a ritual, a comfort, and a cornerstone of the city’s nocturnal rhythm.

At our hairdresser’s urging, we found ourselves at Oppadak in Myeongdong — and it proved a recommendation worth repeating thanks for. The place buzzed with locals, a sign we were in for something good. Soon baskets of chicken arrived, golden, glistening, and impossibly crisp. Oppadak’s twist — frying the chicken in olive oil — kept it lighter, the crunch delicate but addictive. We kept reaching for more, grateful that sometimes the best finds come not from guidebooks but from casual wisdom in a barber’s chair.

From sizzling Korean BBQ to comforting bowls of kalguksu and late-night street food in Myeongdong, Seoul is a city that truly eats with its heart. Every meal feels like an experience — shared tables, smoky grills, and flavours you keep craving long after the trip ends. Whether you’re here for a few days or a few weeks, the best way to explore Seoul is bite by bite. Come hungry, be curious, and don’t be surprised if you find yourself planning your next meal before you’ve finished the last

👉 Don’t miss out on all our great finds and detailed guide for the best 4 day Seoul Itinerary!