Essentials
Money in Korea
Best exchange rates, ATMs & how to pay
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.
Yeongdeungpo-gu's Times Square mall and Yeouido financial district generate a diverse food scene of department store restaurants, business lunch spots, and the Han River cycling culture that has made outdoor food and coffee culture a fixture of the waterfront.
I stumbled upon this barbecue restaurant while traveling alone to Korea for a concert. I went in just 15 minutes before closing time, and the owner was incredibly kind, even giving me a special seat. The Chinese staff who served me were very friendly. They had a wide variety of side dishes, and the barbecue, steamed eggs, and soybean paste stew were all delicious. You need to order at least two servings, so the portions were too much for one person and I ended up taking some home.
