Updated October 8, 2024
As a Korean who grew up next to Hannam, I’m super excited to share my guide to the 15 Best Restaurants in Hannam!
In this South Korea restaurant guide, we’ll go over the best eateries for all occasions, from down-to-earth hole-in-the-walls like Yetnai Guksi that I’ve been frequenting for yearsss, to dessert omakase JL Dessert Bar and everything in between.
Hannam is a hip, bougee neighborhood where you can find some of the best food in one-of-a-kind joints and find your next gem at boutiques and the flagship stores of major brands.
With that, let’s dive into the Best Restaurants in Hannam!
Best Restaurants in Hannam
Best Korean Restaurants in Hannam
1. Nanpo Hannam (난포 한남): Clean Korean Flavors
Savor clean Korean flavors with beautiful plating at Nanpo Hannam, where cheerful 80s Korean music takes you back in time.
The Lotus Rice Rolls plopped atop the Strong Soybean Paste are literally the cutest things I’ve seen (12,000 KRW, 9 USD). The lotus leaves literally glisten and taste healthy and light against the fermented flavors of the doenjang paste.
The crispy Shrimp Potato Pancake is generously garnished with shredded cheese (19,000 KRW, 14.50 USD). For umami lovers, try the rich Abalone Sesame Oil Noodles – everything is chewy, the noodles, the abalone (16,000 KRW, 12 USD)…
Address: 18 Itaewon-ro 49-gil, Yongsan District, Seoul, South Korea
2. Yetnal Guksi (옛날국시): Korean Hole-In-The-Wall
While working in Hong Kong during covid, the food I missed most from the US was… bagel sandwiches 💀
Sometimes it’s the simple things we miss most.
Yetnal Guksi has been that place for me for years. I dream about the scent of sesame oil on their small but tightly packed, long Kkoma Kimbap (8,000 KRW, 6 USD). I think about the pickled, tangy burdock and how it audibly crunches in your mouth.
That’s just the start of the meal.
I gotta order the Hand-Pulled Dough in Seafood Soup and take my time picking apart the little clams and sinking my teeth into the satisfying round bits of dough noodle (10,000 KRW, 7.60 USD).
On days that I’m extra hungry, the Hand-Pulled Dough in Perilla Seed Soup is a must (10,000 KRW, 7.60 USD). The soup is a thick white concoction of ground up perilla seeds. The first thing you’ll notice is the umami of the seeds (if you love the scent of toasted nuts, you’ll love this, too), which transpires into the addictive salty heartiness of the soup.
Embarrassingly, I am not a major fan of kimchi, but my mom loves it – it’s self-service, like the water.
Address: 17 Noksapyeong-daero 32-gil, Yongsan District, Seoul, South Korea
3. Gongi (공기): Contemporary Korean Dining
Treat yourself to delicious contemporary Korean dining at Gongi.
The Beef Cube Steak, or cubes of Korean striploin with a dash of wasabi on top, is not to be missed (38,000 KRW, 29 USD).
The Fried Eggplant & Shrimp is fried in a sticky, thick glutinous rice flour and smeared in gochujang, or Korean chili paste (26,000 KRW, 20 USD).
Their set menu is a great way to try out a variety of dishes (68,000-120,000 KRW), although many of them are available a la carte if you’re not too hungry. The seating at Gongi is pretty private and quiet, and the elevated ambiance makes it a perfect place for a date or dining with family.
You can make a reservation on Catchtable.
Address: 4 Itaewon-ro 45-gil, Hannam-dong, Yongsan District, Seoul, South Korea
4. Soseoul Hannam (소설한남): Korean Fine Dining
Head Chef Eom Tae-cheol (엄태철) recreates traditional Korean cuisine into memorable delicacies that leave an imprint like a chapter of a so-sul, or novel – the Korean namesake of this Michelin one-star fine dining restaurant.
Soseoul tickles with pickled and tangy flavors, like that from fermented oriental melon and aged kimchi. Chef Eom then balances those flavors with delicate seafood delights like sea urchin, caviar and charcoal-grilled octopus.
The service at this fine dining restaurant goes above and beyond. The eight-course Lunch Course is a deal for the quality and experience at 140,000 KRW (115 USD) and the nine-course Dinner Course is 220,000 KRW (167 USD).
You can make a reservation on Catchtable here or send an email to soseoulhannam@gmail.com.
Address: South Korea, Hannam-dong, Hannam-daero 20-gil, 21 18 KR Seoul Yongsan-gu B-dong 1F
5. Nari’s House (나리의 집): Delicious Korean Pork Belly KBBQ
You have have heard of Korean barbecue, but have you tried Nari’s nengssam, or pre-frozen pork belly?
This legendary Korean BBQ place is the originator of nengssam. Freezing the pork belly shortly before it’s grilled makes the meat chewier and retain less of porky gamey scents.
Nari’s House is an authentic, old-school Korean BBQ place. There’s portable propane gas burners on the tables topped with reflective tin foil.
As famous as Nari’s House is for pork belly (15,000 KRW, 11.40 USD), they are also famous for cheonggukjang, or their fermented soybean paste stew, which comes with a boatload of tofu and is a hefty portion for two (7,000 KRW, 5.30 USD).
Don’t sleep on the delicious banchan, either! The egg rolls and bean sprouts with japchae (stir-fried sweet potato starch noodles) are sssssooo good!
Pro Tip: Don’t forget to grill the shin kimchi, or extra-fermented sour kimchi next to the meat!
Address: 245 Itaewon-ro, Yongsan District, Seoul, South Korea
6. Hannam-dong Hanbang Chicken (한남동한방통닭): Old-School Rotisserie Chicken
Rows of rotisserie chicken by the storefront rotate slowly on the spit, casting a spell on passersby. Hannam-dong Hanbang Chicken has perfected their recipe for over 20 years, vowing to bake their chicken only over oak firewood, after stuffing it with sticky rice, sweet and bitter jujube, and fragrant and smooth ginkgo nut.
Hannam-dong Hanbang Chicken’s rotisserie chicken softly melts in your mouth and is extra juicy. It’s easily one of the best chimaek restaurants (chicken + beer, or mekju) in the area and a great alternative to your typical Korean fried chicken place.
It’s no wonder the walls of this humble locale are filled with celebrity signatures from over the years.
Address: 65-7 Dokseodang-ro, Hannam-dong, Yongsan District, Seoul, South Korea
7. Hannam Bugeotguk (한남 북엇국): Old-School, Soothing Soup
Hungover? Haejang, or smooth your insides with Dried Pollack Soup (9,000 KRW, 7 USD) like a Korean.
If you upgrade to the Dried Pollack Soup and Boiled Pork Slice Set Menu (13,000 KRW, 10 USD), Hannam Bugeotguk will keep refilling your soup and rice. Deal is it not?!
It’s an experience eating at this old-school family-operated Korean eatery, where celebrity signatures and menus handwritten in Sharpie-like marker humbly decorate the walls. There’s several locations around Seoul now, but this OG location is the one to go to.
Address: 65-7 Dokseodang-ro, Hannam-dong, Yongsan District, Seoul, South Korea
Best International Cuisine in Hannam
8. Manao (마나오): Authentic Thai Food
Manao offers authentic Thai fare in a moody, date worthy setting full of treasures from the source. It’s no wonder they’ve been recognized on the Michelin Guide Seoul 2025.
Manao means “lime” in Thai, and you can experience the refreshing, distinct flavor of tangy lemongrass explode in your mouth with the savory shrimp in the Kao Pad Goong Seafood Fried Rice (26,000 KRW, 20 USD).
The Tom Yum Goong (36,000 KRW, 27 USD) with shrimp, scallop and cuttlefish comes is also a must-try.
Manao offers to set menus for two – The Traveler with their classic recommended dishes (147,000 KRW or 110 USD for two), and The Explorer, with signature dishes like the Nua Yang prepared with Korean sirloin aged for 28 days (175,000 KRW, 130 USD).
The super friendly staff at Manao even keep stain remover on hand 🙂
Address: 2F, 21 18-gil, Hannam-daero, Yongsan District, Seoul, South Korea
9. La Ferme (라페름 한남): Health-Aware Italian Food
La Ferme offers health-aware, heartwarming Italian food in a simple, clean and modern interior that’s great for friend get-togethers.
You can taste each of the ingredients in the dishes, which intentionally incorporate superfoods like quinoa and pumpkin. The fresh veggies make for delicious salads, too.
The Mushroom Ragu Pasta dances with flavor, with scents of truffle and golden enoki, the savoriness of anchovies and capers, and subtly nutty grana padano (22,000 KRW).
The Couscous Chicken Steak is perfectly sous vide over charcoal and very tender, and plopped on top of a heap of quinoa (26,000 KRW).
Best Restaurants in Hannam with Delicious Drinks
10. Bourgogne Hannam (부르고뉴 한남): French Wine Cave
Push open the heavy wooden door to stone walls and oak caskets in dim lighting at the French wine bar Bourgogne.
Bourgogne doesn’t have a written down wine list, but they’ve carefully curated over 600 carefully wines, ranging from 150,000 to 10,000,000 KRW per bottle (110 – 7600 USD). Wiiiide range must I say 🤪But worry not, the experienced sommeliers do an excellent job finding the perfect wine for your preferences.
Pair your wine with the Duxelles Cream Pasta, topped with fragrant pine mushroom (28,000 KRW, 21 USD).
11. Thirsty Thursday (써스티써스데이): Whiskey with Tasty Drunchie Food
Thirsty Thursday is a cozy whiskey bar with a kicker anju menu (it’s what we Koreans call drunchie food – we eat a ton while drinking!).
They’ve got a personalised omakase for whiskey lovers that consists of 2-3 different whiskeys (50,000 KRW, 37 USD). If you’re not super familiar with whiskey, worry not – the friendly bartender is keen to walk you through everything.
Once the whiskey hits (they’ve got cocktails, too!), balance it out with the Sesame Oil Sea Urchin Noodles (25,000 KRW, 18 USD), which is just full of flavor and different textures playing together.
If you’re more of a sweet tooth, the mouth-watering homemade Tiramisu is the way to go (13,000 KRW, 10 USD).
12. Hannam Ggochi (한남동꼬치): Beer and Skewers
Experience Korean local drinking and foodie culture at this little neighborhood corner, where beer pours in as you grill skewers on a charcoal stove burner right on your table (fire risk, who?).
You can buy sets of skewers and it’s pretty good value for the price, like their #1 recommendation, the Jukdanghan (“just enough”) Skewer Set (19,900 KRW, 15 USD).
Pair that with a Draft Beer (8,000 KRW, 6 USD), and you’re on your way to becoming a Korean.
Best Dessert & Coffee Shops in Hannam
13. JL Dessert Bar (제이엘 디저트바): Dessert Omakase
Whether you’re stopping by for a sweet or indulging in a five-course dessert tasting menu, JL Dessert’s pastry chef Justin Lee is sure to delight with his tastefully plated concoctions, drawing from his experience working at fine dining restaurant Clooney in Auckland.
Lee was recognized with the Pastry Talent of the Year Award by La Liste in 2024.
For the full experience, you can pick between the Classic Menu or the Seasonal Menu (65,000 KRW, 48 USD). While both set menus are updated periodically – the Classic’s leveraged savory ingredients like tomato and parmgiano, and dulcey (blond chocolate) with raspberry and oat.
The Seasonal Menu makes use of in-season fruits like kumquat and strawberry.
Each dish is paired with drinks from campagne, sauvignon blanc to whiskey.
You can order a la carte, too, like the Foie Gras with Pear and Lemon Verbena Ice Cream (22,000 KRW). Do note that there’s a minimum of one drink and one dessert per person, but the drink option includes coffee and tea.
You can make a reservation on Catchtable.
14. Tartine Bakery Hannam (타르틴베이커리 한남점): Incredible Tarts and Pies
There’s always room for dessert, isn’t there?!
Head over to Tartine and enjoy their incredible pies and desserts. I’ve never had something quite like Tartine’s Banana Cream Tart (12,000 KRW, 9 USD), full of perfectly over-ripe banana slices that are delicious with the oozing caramel, atop the flaky layers of pie crust.
This loft-style coffee shop has high ceilings, adorned with paper lanterns also found at their hometown locations in SF.
15. Peer Coffee Bar (피어커피 바): Espresso Bar
This light-filled espresso bar offers an intentional selection of coffee beans in a minimalist setting. Peer has the gamut of drinks, from a Cortado (5,000 KRW) to Con Panna (5,000 KRW).
But if you’re a coffee aficionado, I’d recommend giving the tasting menus a try.
The Espresso Course comes with two drinks – an espresso, an espresso-based drink like the Salted Caramel, plus a sweet Butter Bar (12,000 KRW, 9 USD).
The Brewed Course instead includes a brewed coffee of your choice (12,500-18,500 KRW or 9.50-14 USD).
All of Peer’s drinks come with a cute paper card that describes the aromatic profile of the bean and drink.
Peer is perched atop a hill, from which you can see Namsan Tower. It’s quiet and not very commercial, but you’re on the right way to this hidden gem!
Best Restaurants in Hannam (Conclusion)
In this article, we went over the 15 Best Restaurants in Hannam.
These restaurants include Korean food spots with reasonable prices, as well as special places where you can enjoy fine dining incorporating fresh seasonal ingredients.
- Nanpo Hannam (난포 한남): Clean Korean Flavors
- Yetnal Guksi (옛날국시): Korean Hole-In-The-Wall
- Gongi (공기): Contemporary Korean Dining
- Soseoul Hannam (소설한남): Korean Fine Dining
- Nari’s House (나리의 집): Delicious Korean Pork Belly KBBQ
- Hannam-dong Hanbang Chicken (한남동한방통닭): Old-School Rotisserie Chicken
- Hannam Bugeotguk (한남 북엇국): Old-School, Soothing Soup
- Manao (마나오): Authentic Thai Food
- La Ferme (라페름 한남): Health-Aware Italian Food
- Bourgogne Hannam (부르고뉴 한남): Italian Wine Cave
- Thirsty Thursday (써스티써스데이): Whiskey with Tasty Drunchie Food
- Hannam Ggochi (한남동꼬치): Beer and Skewers
- JL Dessert Bar (제이엘 디저트바): Dessert Omakase
- Tartine Bakery Hannam (타르틴베이커리 한남점): Incredible Tarts and Pies
- Peer Coffee Bar (피어커피 바): Espresso Bar
Thanks for checking out my guide to the Best Restaurants in Hannam!
Leave a Reply