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Read guide →Western food has been localized in Seoul over decades, emerging as something distinctly Korean in the process. Demi-glace pork cutlets, cream pasta with kimchi, and French-style brunch menus sit alongside Italian pizza and American burgers in Seoul's eclectic restaurant landscape. Many younger Korean chefs trained abroad and returned to open restaurants that blend European technique with Korean ingredients and sensibility.
Seongdong-gu's Seongsu-dong has transformed from an industrial zone into Seoul's most talked-about food and culture district. Nicknamed 'Seoul's Brooklyn,' it hosts artisan roasters, pop-up restaurants, and concept cafés in renovated factories alongside high-end boutiques. The food scene rewards curiosity — the best spots are often down an alleyway or behind an unmarked door.
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