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Seoul Food Adventures: Hidden Gems and Must-Try Restaurants!

Get ready to tantalize your taste buds! I’ve been exploring Seoul’s vibrant culinary scene and uncovered some truly exceptional restaurants that deserve your attention. Forget the tourist traps and prepare for an authentic Korean food experience.

First Stop: Soulmate Restaurant in Yongsan – A Spicy 낙지제육 (Nakji Jeyuk) Revelation!

A friend told me about this incredibly delicious place in Yongsan, Seoul. I have to admit, I was skeptical. But without exaggeration, it was shockingly good! At first, I thought it would just be a decent eatery, but the flavor – especially the middle notes and the final kick – were absolutely addictive. Located near the BTS Hybe building, Soulmate restaurant is easy to find and offers a unique dining experience.

Finding Soulmate:

After exiting, walk straight. Pass the ramen restaurant I introduced before, cross the street and turn left. Continue straight, cross another street and turn right. Then, walk straight and you’ll see it on your left.

Even though it was past dinner time, the restaurant was still bustling. Soulmate also offers breakfast! Don’t be fooled if you see empty tables in photos – that’s just strategic timing for photoshoots during off-peak hours or closing time. This place is legit.

While they have a meat menu for dinner, most people come for their signature dish: 낙지제육 (Nakji Jeyuk) – spicy stir-fried octopus and pork. Naturally, that’s what I ordered!

The banchan (side dishes) were simple but delicious. And they serve kim! I love restaurants that serve kim – it’s a perfect accompaniment to rice. This isn’t the flimsy kind, but crispy, flavorful kim. And the best part? Everything, including rice, is unlimited! They bring the first serving, and then you can refill yourself. They also serve a comforting siraegi doenjangguk (soybean paste soup with dried radish greens). It’s savory and perfect.

The Star of the Show: 낙지제육 (Nakji Jeyuk)

As soon as the Nakji Jeyuk hit the table, the smoky charcoal aroma filled the air. I even asked if they used artificial smoke flavoring (목초액), but they assured me it’s 100% grilled over charcoal. While I’ve had plenty of 오징어제육 (Ojingeo Jeyuk – squid and pork), I realized this was my first time trying 낙지제육 (Nakji Jeyuk). It’s a novel concept, as 낙지제육 (Nakji Jeyuk) is harder to find than regular 제육볶음 (Jeyuk Bokkeum – stir-fried pork). This is likely due to 낙지 (nakji – octopus) being more expensive and yielding less meat than 오징어 (ojingeo – squid).

While the amount of 낙지 (nakji) wasn’t overwhelming, the flavor was phenomenal. Regardless of whether it’s squid or octopus, the sauce is the real star. It’s not based on gochujang (Korean chili paste), but rather a soy sauce base with Cheongyang chili powder and fresh Cheongyang peppers. The result is a perfect balance of savory, spicy, and incredibly addictive flavors that hit your tongue and brain at the same time.

Anyone who knows my channel knows how much I love 제육볶음 (Jeyuk Bokkeum). I’ve reviewed countless restaurants serving it. And this one? It’s easily in my top two. The smoky flavor was incredible, and it was a drier style of 제육볶음 (Jeyuk Bokkeum), which I prefer. The pork quality was also excellent – they use a mix of samgyeopsal (pork belly) and front leg meat, unlike many places that use front and back leg meat.

The 낙지 (nakji) was perfectly cooked, not rubbery at all. It seems they add it towards the end of cooking the pork, along with onions, garlic, and scallions. The vegetables were also cooked perfectly. The rice was amazing and I ended up eating five bowls! It pairs perfectly with the 낙지제육 (Nakji Jeyuk) and even soju. If you love dry-style 제육볶음 (Jeyuk Bokkeum), you have to try this place. It’s incredibly delicious!

I was so impressed by the 낙지제육 (Nakji Jeyuk) that I also ordered 갈치조림 (Galchi Jorim – braised hairtail). The broth was fantastic – spicy and incredibly flavorful. The hairtail was thick and large. Of course, it may not be Korean hairtail, but it’s still delicious. The radish was also perfectly cooked and soaked in the broth. The dried radish greens (siraegi) were amazing – I could have eaten a bowl of rice with just those! If you love mukeunji galchi jorim (braised hairtail with aged kimchi), skip Namdaemun Market and come here. Whether you’re in Seoul, Busan, or even America, it’s worth the trip!

Google Search Assessment of Soulmate Restaurant Location (BTS Hybe Building Area, Yongsan):

A Google search for restaurants near the BTS Hybe building in Yongsan reveals numerous options, ranging from casual eateries to upscale dining. Reviews often mention a mix of Korean and international cuisine, catering to the diverse crowd in the area. Based on the general sentiment, the area is a popular spot for food lovers. The concentration of office workers and fans visiting the Hybe building ensures a steady stream of customers for restaurants in the area.

Second Stop: 청양 (Cheongyang) – Hearty 떡만두국 (Tteok Mandu Guk)

Next, I traveled to 청양 (Cheongyang) to introduce you to a delicious 떡만두국 (Tteok Mandu Guk – rice cake and dumpling soup) restaurant.

Finding the Restaurant:

Exit from Cheongyang Station exit 2, walk straight, cross the street, turn right, walk straight, turn left, and walk straight again. You’ll see the Nogari sign, turn right and the restaurant will be there. I previously introduced this place as a 냉면 (naengmyeon – cold noodles) restaurant, but their dumplings were so good that I figured their 떡만두국 (Tteok Mandu Guk) would also be delicious. It’s a small shop, and in the winter, they put up tents outside.

The owner is always friendly. I ordered the 떡만두국 (Tteok Mandu Guk) and they happily prepared it for me. Their 냉면 (naengmyeon) is also very good, by the way. The 떡만두국 (Tteok Mandu Guk) is the most expensive item on the menu. The only side dish is 겉절이 (fresh kimchi), which is cool and refreshing. They brought out mustard, vinegar, and sugar for the 냉면 (naengmyeon).

The 떡만두국 (Tteok Mandu Guk) looked exactly how I wanted it to look. It was topped with stir-fried beef, kim, and green onions. I initially thought the price was a bit high, but the broth justified it. They use beef bone broth made with brisket. The depth of flavor is different from regular beef bone broth. The rice cakes are store-bought but still chewy and delicious – definitely not old rice cakes. The dumplings, as you saw earlier, are handmade. They only gave me kimchi dumplings, but you can choose what kind you want. The kimchi dumplings weren’t too spicy, which makes sense since their 냉면 (naengmyeon) is quite spicy. They contain kimchi, pork, glass noodles, and onions. They are very good and worth the trip. They pair perfectly with the 겉절이 (fresh kimchi). The broth and dumpling filling together are amazing. You should definitely eat rice with the leftover broth. As expected, the 떡만두국 (Tteok Mandu Guk) is as good as the dumplings. If you love 떡만두국 (Tteok Mandu Guk), I recommend this place.

Third Stop: Chungmuro – Makgeolli and 황해도 빈대떡 (Hwanghae-do Bindaetteok)

Finally, let’s head to Chungmuro for some 막걸리 (makgeolli – Korean rice wine) and 황해도 빈대떡 (Hwanghae-do Bindaetteok – mung bean pancake).

I visit 황해도 빈대떡 (Hwanghae-do Bindaetteok), located in Inhyeon Market in Jung-gu, Seoul, whenever I miss my late grandmother, who was from Hwanghae-do. I usually go there for the second or third round of drinks. They don’t have prices listed, and I don’t know the individual item prices. Instead, they charge ₩7,000 per person if you order 막걸리 (makgeolli) or soju.

The basic side dishes are provided. Then comes the anju (food to eat with drinks), which is a platter of sliced pork and assorted jeon (Korean pancakes) for ₩14,000. The pork is high-quality, chewy, and savory. The assorted jeon are also delicious. Their 황해도 깻잎전 (Hwanghae-do perilla leaf pancake) is incredibly aromatic, and the kimchi pancake, 동태전 (dongtaejeon – pollack pancake), and 고추전 (gochujeon – chili pancake) are all amazing. It’s a good place for 혼술 (honsul – drinking alone) before 5 PM, but it gets crowded after 6 PM. So, I recommend going before 5 PM if you want to drink alone. There’s nothing better than enjoying 막걸리 (makgeolli) or soju with this platter.

Last Stop: Ikanmekjip (간맥집) in Chungmuro – Late Night Cravings

Ikanmekjip (간맥집) was originally Jinhwa Foods (진화식품). This branch is located on the second floor of the alley next door. When the weather is warm, it’s a great place to sit outside. The first location had no seats, so I went to the second location, which was more spacious.

Feel free to grab peanuts from the kitchen or cucumbers from the fridge. The cucumbers are very fresh. All the anju (food to eat with drinks) are delicious and affordable. I tend to crave carbs when I drink a lot, so this is where I go to satisfy those cravings, and of course, to drink more alcohol. Alcohol and carbohydrates are a deadly combination for belly fat, but I can’t help it! I usually order ramen, 짜파게티 (jjapagetti – black bean noodles), and 떡구이 (tteokgui – grilled rice cake), which is a carb-lover’s dream.

The ramen and 짜파게티 (jjapagetti) are both delicious, but I recommend the 떡구이 (tteokgui). I eat the ramen and 짜파게티 (jjapagetti) first, then enjoy the 떡구이 (tteokgui) with soju. The 떡 is the same as the ones used for tteokbokki (spicy rice cakes), so it doesn’t evoke the same nostalgia as grilling garaetteok (long cylindrical rice cake) over a charcoal brazier, but the taste is similar. The 떡구이 (tteokgui) makes a great anju (food to eat with drinks) for soju. They also provide a store-bought jocheong (traditional Korean sweetener), which you can dip the 떡구이 (tteokgui) in. I highly recommend the 떡구이 (tteokgui) with soju.

I hope you enjoyed this food tour! If you found this video helpful, please subscribe, like, and turn on notifications!