Essentials
Money in Korea
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Read guide →Korean cuisine (hansik) is built around balance — fermented sides (banchan), a steaming bowl of rice, and a main dish that changes with the season. Meals are served all at once rather than in courses, and sharing dishes at the table is the norm. The depth of flavor comes from slow-fermented pastes like doenjang (soybean) and gochujang (chili), which form the backbone of soups, stews, and marinades across the country.
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.
Don't come! SEVERELY OVERPRICED, definitely not worth the price. Meat and side dishes all taste mid yet pricy. The restaurant is too quite and no music making the atmosphere very awkward. The service is fine, they will do the kbbq for you. Overall wasn't satisfied. You can definitely get better food in other kbbq restaurant.
Coffee costs 2,000 won. I'm letting you know this because many people mistakenly assume it's free and end up paying later. The cup holder isn't even the right size; it's self-service, like pressing the machine button and using the cup holder, so you might think it's free! If I'd known it was a fee, I probably wouldn't have had it. Later, I found out it actually says 2,000 won on the back. It seems like the free coffee is only the mix-and-drink coffee you get inside.
Korean blogger posts. Links open original posts on Naver.
My husband and I went to eat pork ribs at the charcoal grill restaurant Majangjeom, which is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Since it is a butcher shop, you can just choose the meat you want and there is no separate table fee. 🥩🍖 The pork ribs with soybean paste seasoning base are grilled on Gangwon-do charcoal, so they have a great aroma and the meat juices are amazing. 🥓🍗It is not too sweet, so you can eat it without getting tired of it. I ordered kimchi stew and it was so delicious that I ate a whole bowl of rice like crazy. 🥘🍵🍚 The dongchimi served as a basic table d'hôte was so generous and delicious. They say it is aged in a cave and it is really refreshing and delicious. 🥗The pickled onions, lettuce, and other side dishes were fresh and there was a self-service bar so we could refill them conveniently. 🥬 It is a spacious store with private rooms, a separate annex, and a huge parking lot, so it is a great place for meetings and group dinners. 😍 Every Monday to Thursday, they also serve meat sashimi slaughtered on the same day. Since they say it's for sale, I want to try it 👍
