Essentials
Money in Korea
Best exchange rates, ATMs & how to pay
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.
Nowon-gu in northeastern Seoul is a large residential district known for its community-focused dining culture. Local restaurants here serve the kinds of meals families eat daily — doenjang jjigae, guk-based soups, grilled fish — without the theatrics of trendier areas. It's a neighbourhood that rewards those looking for genuine everyday Korean food at prices that haven't been adjusted for tourists.
