[Seoul] If you are looking for street food and eateries in Seoul with Michelin recommendations, you are at the right place.
This food guide lists Seoul restaurants awarded the Michelin Bib Gourmand.
The Bib Gourmand distinction is a nod to restaurants that offer not just quality food, but do so at a reasonable price.
In Seoul, this recognition is bestowed upon eateries where you can savour exceptional dishes for less than 45,000 Won (about SGD46), offering a gourmet experience that is accessible to all.
Interestingly, the Michelin spotlight shines bright on noodle dishes, from the chewy resilience of udon to the refreshing zest of naengmyeon (cold noodles), to the earthy depth of buckwheat noodles.
This representation underscores a timeless truth: Korea’s love for noodles remains unwavering.
Among the celebrated eateries, Myeongdong Kyoja 명동교자 stands out with its famed Kalguksu noodles, Woo Lae Oak 우래옥 for North Korean style Cold Noodles, Bongsanok 봉산옥’s Mandu Dumpling Soup, to Oreno Ramen 오레노라멘‘s Creamy Tori Paitan Ramen.
Myeongdong Kyoja 명동교자
29, Myeongdong 10-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul (Myeong-dong 2-ga)
서울특별시 중구 명동10길 29 (명동2가)
Tel: +82-2-776-5348 (Main outlet)
Opening Hours: 10:30am – 9pm (Mon – Sun)
Kalguksu Noodles & Dumplings Shop With Michelin Bib Gourmand
Having been around for more than 40 years, Myeongdong Kyoja claims to be the founders of handmade Kalguksu noodles, which literally means noodles made by cutting flour dough into thin slices by knife.
There are two outlets in Myeongdong itself, both enjoying good popularity.
It occupies a 3-storey shop-space, completely filled when I visited, despite having a rather lean menu.
There were just 4 items on sale – Kalguksu ‘chopped noodle’ soup (10,000 Won), Bibimguksu spicy noodle soup (10,000 Won), Mandu Dumplings (11,000 Won), Kongguksu noodles in cold soybean soup – available during summer time.
The one dish that I really enjoyed and would recommend (more than the Kalguksu) would be the Bibimguksu – cold soft wheat noodles tossed in this special spicy red pepper paste sauce.
Read more at: Myeongdong Kyoja 명동교자 (Myeongdong, Seoul)
Menten 멘텐
12-3, Chungmuro 2(i)-ga, Jung-gu, Seoul 동북빌딩
서울특별시 중구 삼일대로 305 동북빌딩
Opening Hours: 11:40am – 2:30pm, 5:40pm – 8pm (Mon – Sat), Closed Sun
Tantanmen and Shoyu Ramen Specialty Shop
Menten 멘텐 is a one-chef ramen place known to serve only 2 dishes: Shoyu Ramen and Tantanmen.
It is listed with a Michelin Bib Gourmand.
When you finally enter the shop (long queue warned), place your order via a kiosk machine of Soy Sauce based Shoyu or Tantanmen.
Each ingredient of the Shoyu Ramen (11,500 Won) is precisely prepared, from the clear broth to the tender chashu (Japanese braised pork belly), sous vide chicken, bamboo shoots, and semi-soft-boiled eggs with a runny yolk.
Menten’s take on Tantanmen, a Japanese version of the Chinese Sichuan Dan Dan Noodles, features ramen noodles in a bright orange spicy peanut broth topped with minced pork.
These two were vastly different bowls, yet I enjoyed both a lot. But if I were to choose one, I would probably go for the Tantanmen as it would be harder to find such good quality ones around.
Read more at: Menten Ramen 멘텐 (Myeongdong, Seoul)
Ha Dong Kwan 하동관
10-4 Myeong-dong 1-ga, Jung-gu, Seoul, Korea
서울시 중구 명동1가 10-4
Opening Hours: 7am – 4pm (Mon – Sat), Closed Sun
Gomtang Beef Soup Restaurant At Myeongdong
For serious cravings of Gomtang, wander off to a busy Myeongdong side street and look for Ha Dong Kwan 하동관.
Gomtang 곰탕? This is a traditional Korean beef bone soup served with sliced meats and rice, which was consumed by the noble class in the past due to its nutritious value.
The soup is cooked by using various parts of the beef – usually brisket, along with radish to boil.
Ha Dong Kwan has been in business since 1935 and has remained simple and old-fashioned throughout the years.
This family-owned eatery uses quality ingredients, consistently sourcing its beef from the same supplier for decades.
That rich, pure beef broth with a mild sweetness is a result of long and slow hours of boiling beef parts and radish.
Freshness is key here since they never use artificial flavours or leftover soup.
Read more at: Ha Dong Kwan 하동관 (Myeongdong, Seoul)
Ggupdang 꿉당 – Sinsa
615 Gangnam-daero, Jamwon-dong, Seocho-gu, Seoul, South Korea
서울특별시 성동구 성수이로20길 10 경협회관 104호
Opening Hours: 3pm – 11pm (Mon – Sun)
Korean BBQ Restaurant At Sinsa Worth The Wait
Ggupdang 꿉당 is one of those Korean BBQ places in Seoul that has very positive reviews matched with long line of customers waiting with anticipation.
The restaurant offers a wide variety of pork options (only pork), but the main items that stand out are the “Kokumi” Moksal (pork shoulder blade) at 18,000 Won and Samgyeopsal (pork belly) at 18,000 Won for a serving of 180 grams.
There are also Gabeurisal (a piece of ‘sirloin’), Galmaegisal (diaphragm muscles), and Kkupsal (grilled back ribs).
The “Kokumi” Moksal is one of the more special cuts carnivores enjoy for its predominantly savoury taste.
The meat, known as moksal in Korea, comes from the pig’s neck and has a low-fat content.
A side dish that supplements most mains is Kokumi Rice – I didn’t order it at first, and the ordering staff gave a surprised look ”You must have it – it’s delicious.”
It consists of soft rice made tastier with meat juice. Put some of the grilled meats on top, and then you should understand why.
Read more at: Ggupdang 꿉당 SEOUL (Sinsa-dong, Seoul)
Okdongsik 옥동식
44-10 Yanghwa-ro 7-gil, Seogyo-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul (Hapjeong station, Exit 2)
서울특별시 마포구 양화로7길 44-10
Opening Hours: 11am – 3pm, 5pm – 10pm (Mon – Fri), 11am – 8:30pm (Sat – Sun)
Famous-Yet-Limited Dwaeji Gukbap (Pork Soup Rice)
The star of Okdongsik is the Dwaeji Gukbap 돼지국밥, a pork and rice soup. It is a beloved comfort food that people in Busan usually consume to cure hangovers.
Chef Ok Dong-sik’s rendition of the much-loved Dwaeji Gukbap has been quite a revelation locally.
The dish has a long and storied history in Korea, with variations found throughout the country and different families and regions adding their unique twists to the recipe.
Listed with a Michelin Bib Gourmand, the recipe celebrates classic flavours but gives them a more nuanced appeal, changing all presumptions one might have about the pork and rice soup dish.
The Michelin Inspectors describe the bowl as “Think bacon-thin slices of silky tender pork meat piled on a bed of rice, all submerged in his trademark consommé-like clear broth. The ‘extra large’ portion comes with double the amount of meat.”
They only make 100 bowls of Dwaeji-Gukbap daily. So, if you want to try this delicacy, get here early.
Read more at: Okdongsik 옥동식 (Hapjeong, Seoul)
Woo Lae Oak 우래옥
62-29 Changgyeonggung-ro, Jung-gu, Seoul, South Korea
서울특별시 중구 창경궁로 62-29
Opening Hours: 11:30am – 9pm (Tues – Sun), Closed Mon
Renowned Restaurant For Pyeongyang Cold Noodles And Bulgogi BBQ Beef
This Michelin Bib Gourmand restaurant is renowned in Seoul for serving authentic Korean cuisine, including Pyeongyang Naengmyeon (cold buckwheat noodles) and Bulgogi (marinated beef).
The restaurant has a rather ‘old-school’ atmosphere, with traditional Korean decor and private dining rooms for a more intimate dining experience.
Grilled right at the table, the Bulgogi Beef (37,000 Won for 150g) is a must-try dish with added fun and interactive elements to the dining experience.
The top-grade Hanwoo Korean beef is marinated in a sweet and savoury soy sauce-based marinade, giving it a tender and juicy texture.
The Naengmyeon (16,000 Won) is a cold noodle dish perfect for the hot summer months.
While the broth was refreshing, I found this to be rather light. The soup was very clean-tasting though, a reason why is because the chefs remove the fats during the broth-cooking process.
Read more at: Woo Lae Oak 우래옥 (Jung-gu, Seoul)
Tuk Tuk Noodle Thai 툭툭누들타이
161-8 Seongmisan-ro, Mapo-gu, Seoul
서울특별시 마포구 성미산로 161-8 1F
Opening Hours: 11:30am – 9:30pm (Mon – Sun)
Most Popular Thai Restaurant With Michelin Bib Gourmand
The name may suggest the restaurant only offers noodles, but there are a lot more – offering a wide variety of traditional Thai dishes, including Curries, Stir-fries, Rice and desserts.
From the moment you step inside, you may feel like you’ve been transported to the streets of Bangkok (minus the humidity and traffic). Except that they were playing K-pop music.
The Michelin inspectors commented, “If you want to feel the authentic taste and aroma of Thailand, try Thai sausages, or spicy and sour ‘larb moo’ – stir-fried minced pork. While you are tasting the dishes, the joy of your daily life will increase by a span.”
I suppose trying their signature Yeonnam Galbi Noodles (13,000 Won) was a must. A bowl of dish comprises two tender king pork ribs, rice noodles, and an immensely palatable full-bodied broth.
Guests wanting to go with a Thai classic should opt for the Pad Thai (13,000 Won).
While looking pale, the dish excels in gastronomic poise wherein you get to taste sweet, savoury, spicy, and tangy without any one overpowering the other.
Moreover, tamarind in the recipe gives it a sour and zesty underlining, differentiating the Pad Thai from others you might have had elsewhere.
Read more at: Tuk Tuk Noodle Thai 툭툭누들타이 (Yeonnam-dong, Seoul)
Piyang Kong Halmoni 피양콩할마니
30 Samseong-ro 81-gil, Daechi 4(sa)-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, South Korea
서울특별시 강남구 삼성로81길 30
Opening Hours: 11.30am – 10pm (Mon – Sun)
Must-Have Stone-Milled Ground Soybean Stew By North Korean Grandma
Founded by a North Korean grandma, Piyang Kong Halmoni 피양콩할마니 is known for their traditional stone-milled ground soybean dishes for over 40 years, prepared in North Korean-style.
A no-frills casual eatery, stepping into the store was like transporting back to the 1980s. Complete with store signage turned yellow, tons of makeshift hand-written menus, and notices on the wall.
For individual diners, there a four soybean stew flavours to choose from – Kong Biji (Original), Kimchi Biji (Kimchi), Mukong Biji (Radish) & Bosot Biji (Mushroom) (KRW11000, SGD11.75).
I had the sharing Kong Biji Hotpot (small) for 2 pax (KRW29000, SGD30.90), which came served with a bubbling cauldron of Biji topped on minced pork, kimchi, leek and enoki mushrooms.
A first time for me, I thought its texture and taste combination was comforting, akin to having a bowl of congee and especially suitable for consumption in cold weather.
It was like creamy mashed tofu broth, but with savoury meat bits and mild spiciness from kimchi embedded within.
Read more at: Piyang Kong Halmoni 피양콩할마니 (Gangnam-gu, Seoul)
Buchon Yukhoe 부촌육회
165-11 Jongno 4(sa)-ga, Jongno-gu, Seoul, South Korea (outside Gwangjang Market)
서울특별시 종로구 종로 200-4 1F
Opening Hours: 10am – 4pm, 5pm – 9pm (Mon – Sun)
Well-Known Korean Raw Beef Restaurant At Gwangjang Market
Tucked right outside the popular Gwangjang Market is Buchon Yukhoe 부촌육회, arguably one of the best yukhoe houses in South Korea.
Yuk-hoe (육회) in Korean means raw meat, and this dish makes use of marinated raw lean beef. Consider it the Korean version of the Western dish beef tartare.
You can order Yuk-hoe which is Korean-style raw beef (19,000 Won) as is or with Chopped Live Octopus (32,000 Won). They also offer Gan & Cheonyeop (15,000 Won) of raw beef liver & omasum; and Sannakjitangtangyi (15,000 Won) which is Chopped Live Octopus.
The Yuk-hoe (19,000 Won) came with high-quality beef sliced very thinly and marinated in a mixture of soy sauce, sesame oil, and other spices. The serving also includes pear slices, sesame seeds, and a striking raw egg on top. Give it a good mix before eating.
While I cannot say that I fancy this a lot (some psychological barrier to get across first), I can imagine why people would love this dish.
The beef slices had a slimy but tender texture, were fresh-tasting, made tastier with the sweetness from the pears and fragrance from sesame oil.
Read more at: Buchon Yukhoe 부촌육회 (Jongno-gu, Seoul)
Oreno Ramen 오레노라멘 – Hapjeong
14 Dongmak-ro 6-gil, Mapo-gu, Seoul, South Korea
서울특별시 마포구 독막로6길 14
Opening Hours: 11:30am – 3pm, 5pm – 8:30pm (Mon – Sun)
Oreno Ramen 오레노라멘- Insadong
159, Anguk-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul 1F
서울특별시 종로구 율곡로 49-4 1F
Opening Hours: 11:30am – 3pm, 5pm – 8:30pm (Mon – Sun)
So Delicious Creamy Tori Paitan Ramen
True to the Michelin Bib concept, every dish here is only 11,000 Won (SGD11.75, USD8.90) but delivers authentic Japanese ramen flavours, with fresh noodles and stocks prepared in-house daily.
Chef Shin Dong-woo’s over 20 years of experience in the ramen business led to the success of this concept, which now has 5 outlets all over Seoul including Insadong.
Menu is practically simple with 4 different ramen, which includes the classic Tori Paitan (11,000 Won), Kara Paitan (11,000 Won), Shoyu Ramen (11,000 Won) and Shio Ramen (11,000 Won).
The most popular choice is the Tori Paitan Ramen (10,000 Won), and I would highly recommend you to have this because it was so good.
Made with a rich and velvety smooth chicken stock, the soup was slightly foamy, smooth, rich with light fragrance from the shallots.
Chicken slices were cooked sous-vide, so expect it to be uber tender and flavourful. The noodles are long and thin, cooked till soft, and almost reminded me of the mee-kia back in Singapore.
Read more at: Oreno Ramen 오레노라멘 (Hapjeong, Seoul)
Mandujip 만두집
338 Apgujeong-ro, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, South Korea
서울특별시 강남구 압구정로 338 (신사동)
Opening Hours: 12pm – 4pm, 5:30pm – 9pm (Mon – Sat), Closed Sun
Humble Eatery Famous for Its Pyeongyang-Style Dumplings
For over 30 years, Mandujip 만두집 which literally means “House of Dumplings” has been serving large Pyeongyang-style stuffed Mandu or Korean-style dumplings in the heart of Gangnam district.
Interestingly, when I entered the eatery 5 minutes after opening, it was already almost full and packed. Service was relatively fast, like clock-work, but the customers just kept on coming in.
There are Mandu Soup (14,000 Won), “Biji” or Soybean Meal (9,000 Won), Mandu Hot Pot (65,000 Won), and combination of Bindaetteok and Gochujeon or Red Pepper Pancake (22,000 Won).
The beloved Mandu or Dumpling Soup (14,000 Won, SGD14.90) with 6 large pieces, was made with a clear but deep-flavoured brisket broth splashed with a spicy seasoning.
The soup was rather interesting in taste – clear, mildly salty and spicy, and was just so familiar. My dining partner said it reminded of a particular brand of ramyeon soup.
The dumplings tasted quite rustic and homemade like how an ajumma would serve her guests. No frills, skin slightly on the thick side, with clean and fresh taste.
Read more at: Mandujip 만두집 (Gangnam-gu, Seoul)
Hwanggeum Kongbat 황금콩밭
9 Mapo-daero 16-gil, Seoul, South Korea
Tel: +82 2 313 2952
Opening Hours: 11:30am – 3pm, 5pm – 9pm (Mon – Fri), 11:30am – 9pm (Sat – Sun)
Homemade Bean Curd Specialty Restaurant Hidden in Ahyeon-dong
Their famous gushingly creamy bean curd is made from scratch daily using local soybeans. For the experienced gourmand, you can taste a heightened nuttiness thanks for the extra thick soymilk and reduced levels of the coagulant.
Aside from donning a Michelin Bib Gourmand distinction, the small shop Hwanggeum Kongbat also earned the MICHELIN Green Star for their sustainability efforts.
Hwanggeum Kongbat prioritizes local ingredients and use a diverse range of fresh ingredients from Sobaeksan or Jeju Island.
Some of the food offerings include Tofu Soup (25,000 Won, SGD26), Braised Tofu In A Pot (25,000 Won), Tofu and Kimchi Hotpot with Pork Belly (30,000 Won), and Omogari Cheonggukjang (36,000 Won).
I had the Tofu Mushroom Hotpot with Beef (36,000 Won) which was loaded with silky sliced tofu, sliced tender Korean beef, and huge portion of golden mushrooms and fresh greens.
There is a huge dollop of gochujang sauce that you would mix it in to give the stew a mild-spicy beany taste. Nothing too fancy or super flavourful, but wholesome food that was nourishing.
Read more at: Hwanggeum Kongbat 황금콩밭 (Mapo-daero, Seoul)
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