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.
Gangnam-gu is Seoul's upscale business and entertainment district south of the Han River. Home to K-pop entertainment companies, COEX Mall, and the Apgujeong-Rodeo shopping strip, it attracts young professionals, tourists, and K-drama fans. Restaurants here tend toward the polished and premium, with a density of international cuisine, high-end Korean dining, and trendy cafés.
For the high prices you expect food to be seasoned right and served with care. Neither of these expectations were met. The servers were dismissive and practically threw the food on the table. When brought up to the management, they were worse saying it must be our informality with Korean culture? So dismissive and poorly trained staff. The Peking duck was good as usual but everything else was oily and not seasoned properly. Spend your money elsewhere and save yourselves from a poor meal.
Korean blogger posts. Links open original posts on Naver.
The Peking duck was good, but the caviar is poor quality
