Old-school favorites in Seoul

Family places, counters and bakeries that have fed the neighborhood for years, with what to order at each.

8 places in Seoul · by Chef Amazing · updated October 20, 2026
Photo: Wasiul Bahar, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons

1. 1

   Oilje

   Yongsan District

   Order: Perilla-seed miyeok-guk (seaweed soup) with rice cooked in a cast-iron pot

   29 Hangang-daero 62da-gil, Yongsan-gu, Seoul 04382 · Map · Add to Chef Amazing
2. 2

   Andeok

   Jongno District

   Order: Beef naengguksu (cold noodles) or mandutguk (dumpling soup)

   18 Jahamun-ro 17-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul 03035 · Map · Add to Chef Amazing
3. 3

   Eunjujung

   Eulji-ro, Jung-gu (Bangsan Market alleys)

   Order: Kimchi jjigae at lunch (about 10,000 won); grilled pork belly at dinner

   32, Changgyeonggung-ro 8-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul 100-330 · Map · Add to Chef Amazing
4. 4

   Okdongsik

   Mapo

   Order: Dwaeji-gukbap with its clear broth and kimchi dumplings

   Map · Add to Chef Amazing
5. 5

   Chanyang-jip

   Jongno 3-ga, Jongno-gu

   Order: Seafood kalguksu (knife-cut noodles), with the sour and fresh kimchi on the side

   5 Donhwamun-ro 11da-gil, Seoul (Donui-dong, Jongno-gu; Korean: 서울특별시 종로구 돈화문로11다길 5) · Map · Add to Chef Amazing
6. 6

   3rd Samgyetang

   Seocho District

   Order: Samgyetang, the whole-chicken ginseng soup, finished with mung bean and pine nut purees and mugwort paste

   56-3 Banpo-daero 28-gil, Seocho-gu, Seoul · Map · Add to Chef Amazing
7. 7

   Myeongdong Kyoja

   Myeongdong

   Get: Kalguksu (knife-cut noodles in broth) and dumplings

   Order: Kalguksu (knife-cut noodle soup) and mandu, with the garlic-heavy house kimchi

   Also on the list: Long lines in Seoul.

   29 Myeongdong 10-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul 04537 · Map · Add to Chef Amazing
8. 8

   Tosokchon Samgyetang

   Near Gyeongbokgung Palace

   Get: Samgyetang (ginseng chicken soup)

   Order: Samgyetang with regular chicken or black silky fowl; seafood and green onion pancake (haemul pajeon)

   Also on these lists: Long lines in Seoul, New and hot in Seoul.

   5 Jahamun-ro 5-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul · Map · Add to Chef Amazing