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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.
Gwangjin-gu's Konkuk University area has a dense concentration of restaurants catering to students — affordable, diverse, and open late. The area is a reliable destination for budget Korean dining: tteokbokki, kimbap, and pork cutlet restaurants line the streets near the university gates.
Sundaeguk might be a bit overwhelming for beginners. For those who are more experienced, this is a truly excellent restaurant. The taste and amount of meat are excellent for the price. However, the salt content is low, so you'll need to add salt.
This is a great old school Soondaegook place. The owners have their own pride. Sooyook and Gookbab is decent. A famous celebrity introduced this place as well.
Korean blogger posts. Links open original posts on Naver.
I visited Tasty Sundaeguk near Jayang Station in Gwangjin-gu. It's already famous after being featured on Sung Si-kyung's "Eat It!", but luckily, we arrived before 6 p.m. and there was no wait. We ordered the special Sundaeguk and a mixed bowl of tripe and head meat. The tripe and head meat came out first, and they were chewy and moist, even with just a pinch of salt. The head meat was moist, and the accompanying geotjeori (Korean pickled vegetables) and kkakdugi (radish kimchi) were also delicious. They went perfectly together. After a glass of makgeolli, the special Sundaeguk (Korean sundaeguk) arrived, and the amount of ingredients was incredible. It was so filling that I couldn't stop eating. I was worried that the tripe would have a bit of a gamey smell, but it was surprisingly light. We enjoyed it simply with salt and shrimp paste. I recommend adding the seasoning sauce later. The owner was very friendly, and it was a great value for money. We enjoyed a hearty meal.
