7 Best Restaurants in Seoul 2024 | MICHELIN Guide Meal Under $40
Are you wondering what are the best restaurants in Seoul, South Korea? This guide showcases six exceptional Korean restaurants, all of which have been awarded the Michelin Guide’s Bib Gourmand. The Michelin Bib Gourmand refers to restaurants that offer amazing food at more reasonable prices. In Seoul, this means restaurants where you can enjoy Korean cuisine for 45,000 won ($34~40) or less. While not fine dining Michelin, I appreciate good food with great value. Here are the 6 must-visit restaurants in Seoul.
If you’re interested in Korean Street Food, check out Gwangjang Market First Timer Guide
Explore what to do around these restaurants. Check out this article: Things to do in Seoul
1. Kyewol Gomtang 계월곰탕
As the name suggests, this restaurant specializes in chicken gomtang, with all dishes made from chicken. Gomtang is a traditional Korean soup made with beef or chicken bones simmered for hours to create a rich and flavorful broth. Signature dishes include baekgomtang 백곰탕, honggomtang 홍곰탕, and chicken muchim 닭무침.
Address: 8 Seongdeokjeong 3-gil, Seongsu-dong 1(il)-ga, Seongdong-gu, Seoul, South Korea
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Wondering what to do around Kyewol Gomtang, Seongsu-dong? Check out this article Favorite Things to Do in Seoul.
2. Geumdwaeji Sikdang 금돼지식당
Geumdwaeji Sikdang is a Korean BBQ restaurant known for its specialty in serving premium cuts of high-quality pork belly. It has been selected as a Bib Gourmand restaurant in the Michelin Guide for five consecutive years. It’s rumored to be a favorite pork belly spot of the famous K-pop group BTS. Recommended dishes include the original pork belly, kimchi jjigae (kimchi stew), basil wraps, and Geumdwaeji highball 금돼지하이볼. Please note that the restaurant does not accept reservations.
Address: 149 Dasan-ro, Jung-gu, Seoul, South Korea
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Wondering what to do around Geumdwaeji Sikdang, Yaksu-dong? Check out this article Favorite Things to Do in Seoul.
3. Damtaek 담택
Damtaek is a cozy ramen restaurant tucked away in a quiet alley near Hapjeong Station, Mapo-gu. Indulge in authentic Japanese shio (salt) ramen in a vintage setting. Their signature dish is the shio ramen.
Address: South Korea, Seoul, Mapo-gu, World Cup-ro 8-gil, 34 1층
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Wondering what to do around Damtaek, Hongdae/Mapo-gu? Check out this article Favorite Things to Do in Seoul.
4. A flower blossom on the rice 꽃, 밥에피다
Located in a tranquil alley away from the touristy bustle of Insa-dong, A Flower Blossom on the Rice is a restaurant that caters to the health-conscious diners. The restaurant serves wholesome and quality home-cooked dishes using only certified organic ingredients sourced directly from Korean farm. Popular lunch menu items include vegan course meals and organic Hanwoo (Korean beef) bulgogi, as well as colorful bibimbap (보자기 비빔밥) served in beautiful bowl. In the evening, you can enjoy traditional Korean liquor such as makgeolli (rice wine) and Andong soju, as well as craft beer brewed in a Korean brewery, perfect for pairing with meal or snacks.
Address: 3-6 Insadong 16-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul, South Korea
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Wondering what to do around A Flower Blossom on the Rice, Insadong? Check out this article Favorite Things to Do in Seoul.
5. Jeongmyeon 정면
This place consists of about seven stainless steel tables and an open kitchen. “Jeongmyeon,” which means “noodles with meaning,” is a Korean-style rice noodle restaurant run solely by the chef. The menu consists of only two items: baekmyeon (white noodles) and hongmyeon (red noodles), but both have exceptional depth of flavor. The broth, made from seafood, pork, and chicken, offers a rich taste, while the thinly sliced tender pork, onions, and red peppers atop the rice noodles are visually enticing. Hongmyeon can be adjusted for spiciness, and a small bowl of white rice is served alongside, allowing you to enjoy a satisfying meal. Not only is the price reasonable, but the owners are meticulous and very friendly, making it feel like an omakase dining experience.
Address: 88 Neungdong-ro 13-gil, Hwayang-dong, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, South Korea
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Wondering what to do around Jeongmyeon, near Seongsu-dong? Check out this article Favorite Things to Do in Seoul.
6. Mattdol 맷돌
A Mexican cuisine restaurant that uses seasonal Korean ingredients. Their signature dishes include chef-made tortillas with salsa sauce and a taco set menu course. When you visit Mattdol, you can often see the chef pressing masa by hand, just as he learned in Mexico, to make tortillas. Trying the tortas and tacos made with these chef-made tortillas on the metate, you’ll notice that the texture and flavor are different from conventional tortilla dishes, providing a unique experience. The fusion of the chef’s learned and mastered cooking styles with seasonal Korean ingredients at Mattdol creates a Mexican cuisine that delights the palate with intuitive flavors.
Address: 63 Seongdeokjeong-gil, Seongdong-gu, Seoul, South Korea
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Wondering what to do around Mattdol, Seongsu-dong? Check out this article Favorite Things to Do in Seoul.
7. Hadongkwan 하동관
Since 1939, this famous family-owned restaurant has been offering rustic bowls of beef/ox bone soup. The soup is served in traditional brass bowls with rice already submerged in the hot soup. The broth has a distinct sweetness that comes from simmering a large amounts of beef for a long time, making it rich and pure. During busy mornings and lunch hours, customers often have to wait in line, and sharing tables with other patrons is also common. The restaurant operates from 7 a.m. until the ingredients run out.
Address: 12 Myeongdong 9-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul, 04538, South Korea
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Wondering what to do around Hadongkwan, Myeongdong? Check out this article Favorite Things to Do in Seoul.
