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.
Gangdong-gu in southeastern Seoul is a family-oriented district known for its community markets and traditional Korean restaurants. Cheonho Market offers one of Seoul's best selections of traditional banchan, grilled fish, and home-style Korean cooking away from the tourist circuit.
This is a place where I often get takeout noodles. The broth is rich and the meat is tender and delicious. It's my favorite restaurant in the area.
Even though it's up from 7,000 won to 8,000 won, it's still the best value among the neighborhood noodle restaurants. -------------------------- Revised in 2025 The basic sundae gukbap is now on sale for 7,000 won, making it a great value. I also tried the cypress steamed rice while it was on sale (12,000 won), but it was only worth 5,000 won and so-so. If the sale ends and it's the regular price (9,000 won), I won't go back. The 10,000 won sundae gukbap restaurants around here have more ingredients, a wider variety of side dishes, and are tastier. There's no reason to go back now that the sale ends in May 2025.
