There are many great restaurants in Seoul. Some of you may be wondering which ones Korean office workers choose for lunch. If you’re planning a trip to Seoul or are already here and want to experience a truly authentic Korean meal, we’ve carefully selected some local lunch in Seoul that we highly recommend. Located near Gwanghwamun and Jongno, these spots are easily accessible and surrounded by many tourist attractions, making them perfect for enjoying a leisurely meal followed by some sightseeing.
Last March, I visited a popular stir-fried pork restaurant in Gwanghwamun with a friend a place that has been beloved for a long time and has even appeared on famous TV shows. Then, in April, I visited a budae jjigae (army stew) spot located in an alley next to Jogye Temple, which BTS’s RM has also visited.
Oyang Sikgwan: The No.1 Jeyuk-bokkeum in Gwanghwamun
I walked all the way down from Myeongdong, but if you plan to visit this place directly, you can exit from Gwanghwamun Station (Exit 6) or City Hall Station (Exit 3). Since it is located in the alley right between those two stations, you can come out of whichever station is more convenient for you.
Oyangsikwan is a place where Jeyukbokkeum (spicy stir-fried pork) and Kimchi Durujjigae (spicy kimchi stew) are the signature dishes. It is a restaurant frequently visited by nearby office workers for lunch or dinner. When I visited, most tables were occupied by office workers. It is also a famous restaurant that was featured on the currently airing program “Jeon Hyun-moo Plan.” If you enter through the entrance and go down the stairs, the owner will guide you to a seat.
Must-Try Menu: ‘Oyang Jeongsik’
While there are individual meal options and special menus, the restaurant’s signature dish is the Oyang Jeongsik. It comes as a set with Kimchi Durujjigae, grilled Jeyuk, and an egg roll, which can be ordered according to the number of people in your party. Since I went with a friend, we ordered the Oyang Jeongsik for two (26,000 KRW).
Here is my personal tip
When ordering the Oyang Jeongsik or Kimchi Durujjigae, I highly recommend adding a side of ramen noodles (1,000 KRW). The combination of spicy kimchi broth and ramen is absolutely insane. I highly recommend you try this.
Once you place your order, they will bring you the basic side dishes. If you need more, you can use the self-service bar to get them yourself. You will notice a Korean-style rice cooker on one side of the self-service bar. You could say this is a thoughtful touch unique to Oyangsikwan. You can scoop up as much rice as you want, unlimitedly. However, since you shouldn’t overdo it, I recommend taking only as much as you can eat.
They placed the Kimchi Duru-jjigae in the center of the table to boil, and the remaining dishes—Jeyuk Jikhwa and Egg Roll—were served in order. These dishes might be challenging for those who can’t handle spicy food, but if you are visiting Korea, Kimchi Jjigae and Jeyuk Bokkeum are must-try foods. The Jeyuk Jikhwa was spicy yet had a strong smoky flavor, making it incredibly delicious. The sweet and salty flavors blended harmoniously, so I think even foreigners would enjoy it.
The Egg Roll is served quite thick. In Korea, ketchup is an essential dipping sauce when eating an Egg Roll! I’m not saying this just because I like ketchup, but if you order rolled omelets at a real Korean restaurant, they usually come drizzled with ketchup! It was fluffy and soft, and the flavors blended together perfectly with the ketchup.
My recommended way to eat it
Take a big spoonful of rice, soak it thoroughly in the kimchi stew broth, then add a piece of grilled pork and a piece of rolled omelet, and try eating them together! This is the true Trinity! This is the proper way to enjoy the Oyang Set Meal.
Uijeongbu Budae-jjigae & Tonkatsu: The Restaurant Chosen by BTS RM
The restaurant I’m introducing this time is the Uijeongbu Budae Jjigae & Tonkatsu house located in Jonggak. This is another place you can’t miss for a local lunch in Seoul. Come out of Exit 2 at Jonggak Station and walk straight ahead until you reach Jogyesa Temple; the restaurant is located in the alley on the left before you reach the temple. Since the way might be a bit tricky, please refer to the map I’ve uploaded to find your way. If you are planning a trip to Jongno near Jonggak Station, please check out this post: Seoul night route (Jongno ~ City hall) that tourists should walk.
The Spot RM Actually Visited!
I visited this place on April 8th, and I noticed a signature from BTS’s RM on the wall. He had been here just a few days before I arrived! I felt a bit regretful. However, knowing that a world-famous singer had visited made me anticipate that the food would taste even better.
Spicy Budae-jjigae
The signature dish here is Budae Jjigae, priced at 12,000 KRW per serving. While there are many stews that represent Korea, this is a dish I personally love. I have eaten it frequently since I was young, so I would say it is close to being my soul food. I visited with a friend, so we ordered two servings of Budae Jjigae. If you are visiting with three people, I think ordering two servings of Budae Jjigae and one pork cutlet would be just right!
Once you place your order, they bring out a variety of side dishes. They serve kimchi pancakes, stir-fried fish cakes, fried eggs, and more. If you need more, just ask a staff member, and they will bring you more. Feel free to ask the staff! The owner and staff are all very friendly, so don’t worry!
The table right next to ours was enjoying pork cutlets. Even from a distance, they looked incredibly huge, thick, and crispy. It made me determined to order the pork cutlets on my next visit.
My recommended way to eat it
Add ramen noodles to the Budae Jjigae and bring it to a rolling boil! Once it’s done boiling, scoop a ladleful of the sausages, ramen, and broth into a rice bowl. Then, mix it well. Once you’ve mixed it all, take a spoonful and you’ll feel that it’s truly, truly delicious! I guarantee it! I highly recommend it!
Uijeongbu Budae-jjigae Jonggak Google Maps
Today, I introduced Oyang Sikwan and Uijeongbu Budae Jjigae & Pork Cutlet, located in Gwanghwamun and Jonggak. If you are curious about what menus Korean office workers eat for lunch and dinner and what kind of food they enjoy, I recommend visiting these two places I introduced.
Also, if you plan to travel around Gwanghwamun or Gyeongbokgung Palace after your meal, visiting Oyangsik Gwan would be the optimal route; conversely, if you plan to visit Jonggak, Jongno, or Insadong, visiting Uijeongbu Budaejjigae & Donkatsu would be the best option. I will be back with more useful information in the next post. If you want to experience a different atmosphere from Gwanghwamun or Jonggak, please check out my post.
If you want to experience an atmosphere different from Gwanghwamun or Jonggak, check out my post “Chungmuro grilled fish near Myeongdong Station – Paid for myself“
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