Check out my guide to the 15 Best Restaurants in Seongsu-dong, the Brooklyn of Seoul 💕
Seongsu-dong is a historically industrial area known for its leather and shoemaking artisanry. You’ll still spot artisans in Seongsu Handmade Shoe Street today, although many of them now make their income primarily from hosting leather workshop classes.
Like Brooklyn, Seongsu-dong is full of former old brick buildings and shoe factories that have been transformed into cool cafes and popular restaurants, like Daelim Changgo and Daesung Galbi.
There’s a ton of renowned restaurants in Seongsu-dong that offer both traditional Korean cuisine and modern fusion fare, and hot places that offer seasonal menus and generous wine tastings.
Where is Seongsu-dong?
Seongsu-dong is a neighborhood in the eastern part of Seoul, north of the Han River in South Korea.
Seongsu-dong Galbi Alley, located between Ttukseom Station and Seoul Forest Station, is fuming with hot KBBQ spots.
Right near Seongsu Station is Seongsu-dong Cafe Street, which is full of stylish cafes where you can experience the caffeine and chatter crazy side of Korean local culture 🤪
The Konkuk University areas flank the eastern edge of Seongsu-dong.
With that, let’s dive into the best restaurants in Seongsu-dong!
15 Best Restaurants in Seongsu-dong (From a Korean!)
Best Korean Restaurants in Seongsu-dong
1. Nanpo (난포)
Nanpo is a Korean fusion restaurant named after an archipelago of remote Japanese islands. They’ve got big portions of clean, modern and uniquely plated Korean cuisine in a vibey setting.
80s Korean music plays in the background as you watch the chefs prepare glistening fermented soybean Doenjang Paste Rice Rolls (강된장쌈밥: 12,000 KRW, 9 USD).
Nanpo’s Korean food wins not by making it excessively salty and spicy, but by incorporating fresh ingredients and intermingling flavors in a unique way.
The Shrimp Potato Pancake is very visually appealing and exciting to tear apart (19,000 KRW, 14 USD). While I’m the kinda gal to request over hard eggs 💀 I loved how the poached egg added weight and richness to the otherwise very crispy pancake.
Oooooooh – the banchan, or complimentary side dishes, are on point. I think it was my first time trying pickled Chinese artichoke, which looks like a conch shell. Eat up, since the staff will refill your banchan, in line with Korean custom!
Address: South Korea, Seoul, Seongdong-gu, Seongsu-dong 1(il)-ga, Seoulsup 4-gil, 18-8, Geumgang Nanpo
2. Malbang Rice Soup (말방국밥 성수본점)
Malbang Rice Soup is made with the know-how of 93 year-old Grandma Lim Soo-Ja, who ran a rice soup shop in coastal Geongju for 50 years. “You need to use the beef from a female cow, even though it’s so much more expensive. That’s how you’ll get the deepest, beefiest broth,” Grandma Lim told her grandson, who opened Malbang in 2024.
The rice soup at Malbang is authentically prepared in the Gyeongsang Province way of life. The Korean Beef and Rice Soup is full of hearty beef that’s been slow-cooked for over 48 hours (10,000 KRW, 7.50 USD).
You get to enjoy all of this in a traditional Korean venue inspired by memories of Grandma Lim, like going to the Buddhist temple with her. I love the rice-papered walls, the retro wooden panelling and the globular paper lanterns at Malbang Rice Soup.
Address: 1st floor, Malbang Gukbap Seongsu Main Branch, 281-1, Seongsu-dong 2-ga, Seongdong-gu, Seoul, South Korea, Gwangnaru-ro 8-gil, 9 KR
3. Daban (다반 성수점)
Familiar like the tea (da) and rice (ban) that’s ever present in Grandma’s home, Daban is a modern Korean fusion restaurant that crafts seasonal ban-ssang, or a collection of small dishes that form a traditional Korean meal.
Experience authentic Korean life by trying the Seasonal Ban-Ssang (~23,000 KRW, 17 USD), which typically consists of rice, a plate of meat or seafood, soup, pickled banchan and a lil’ sweet something for dessert.
You can feel the love in Daban’s clean, colorfully plated a la carte dishes. The Aged Kimchi Seaweed Rolls are rolled in light-green gamtae, which is a stringy seaweed that is typically sourced from Jeju Island (15,000 KRW, 11 USD).
Address: South Korea, Seoul, Seongdong-gu, Seoulsup 4-gil, 18-10 1/F
4. Geum Geum (금금 성수점)
Growing up, I was always in the mood for pasta, Japanese and Chinese food if I was gonna eat out. Now that I’m older, I’m obsessed with these modern Korean restaurants that conjure up incredible dishes from the small-in-number but big-in-flavor Korean base ingredients.
Geum Geum’s dishes leverage 5 base Korean seasonings: doenjang (soybean paste), gochujang (red chili paste), soy sauce, sesame oil and sesame seeds.
The Barley Doenjang Meat Noodles (13,500 KRW, 10 USD) deliver the savory satisfaction of dan dan noodles and are protein-packed, with juicy slices of boiled pork belly and tried tofu cubes. Mix it all together like you would bibimbap!
The Sesame Oil Whole Wheat Noodles (9,500 KRW, 7 USD) explode with the rich flavor of sesame oil, and the al dente noodles refreshingly pop in your mouth.
Address: 11 Seongsui-ro 12-gil, Seongdong-gu, Seoul, South Korea
5. Somunnan Gamjatang (소문난 성수 감자탕)
In the US, people crave fatty and bready foods to cure a hangover. Koreans typically haejang (해장), or clear up a hangover, with soupy stews like gamjatang.
Since 1983, this 24 hour spot has helped countless Koreans haejang and recharge.
You’ll keep reaching for Somunnan Gamjatang’s surprisingly light and soothing Pork Bone Potato Stew. It’s got huge portions of slow-cooked pork that come off the bone so softly – don’t forget to dunk it in the soy sauce!
You can order the stew in sizes small, medium and large, but a small is plenty for two (29,000 KRW, 22 USD).
I’d highly recommend adding a side of hand-pulled noodle bits called sujebi (3,000 KRW, 2.25 USD), as well as ugeoji (4,000 KRW, 3 USD), which are the outer leaves of cabbage that hearty and good for the soul.
Address: 45 Yeonmujang-gil, Seongdong-gu, Seoul, South Korea
6. Daesung Galbi (대성갈비)
Daesung Galbi is the OG Korean barbecue restaurant that forged Seongsu-dong Galbi Alley.
Although Daesung is now located in a modern building, you’ll still rub elbows with elderly Koreans who’ve been frequenting this spot for a long time.
They’re most famous for their Pork Galbi, which has fully absorbed a bunch of sauce and comes with more meat and less bone than their competitors (20,000 KRW, 15 USD).
Yes, the meat prices not the cheapest, but it comes with plenty of banchan and veggies, including complimentary Kimchi Stew with generous amounts of pork.
Address: 26 Sangwon 1-gil, Seongdong-gu, Seoul, South Korea
7. Hobo Shikdang (호보식당 성수직영점)
Hobo Shikdang is a women-owned KBBQ spot with especially fresh and tender meat, as well as consistently attentive and friendly staff that do all the grilling for ya.
The Garlic Galbi comes with a mountain of garlic, but worry not, you won’t be eating it fresh just like that. The staff will toss the garlic in together with the naturally fruit-sweetened Hobo Sauce and boil it all together, before marinating the meat live on the grill (14oz is 59,000 KRW, 44 USD).
The meat at Hobo Shikdang comes a fragrant basil sauce and a shiitake mushroom wasabi sauce, which add uniqueness to the otherwise classic Korean BBQ experience.
Address: 97 Achasan-ro, Seongdong-gu, Seoul, South Korea
8. Grandma’s Recipe (할머니의 레시피)
If you’re like me and can’t really cook (Hello, Trader Joe’s?), sometimes you just long for a well-balanced, nutritious meal.
If you’re traveling and tired of eating out, do yourself a favor and head to Grandmother’s Recipe, where traditional Korean fare and the wide variety of pickled and mouth-watering banchan (side dishes) will entice your appetite and satisfy your itch for a lovingly homecooked meal.
For just 15,000 KRW (11 USD), the Bibimbap Bulgogi Set comes with a simple but healthy bibimbap and crispy, pan-fried bulgogi. If you love the texture and burnt flavor of smash burgers, this is for you!
Address: 44-12 Seoulsup 2-gil, Seongsu-dong 1(il)-ga, Seongdong-gu, Seoul, South Korea
Best International Cuisine in Seongsu-dong
9. Ardor (아도르)
The two passionate chefs at Ardor, an intimate Italian restaurant, wake up early to make everything from scratch. This hidden gem is perfect for dates and for foodies, all at a very reasonable price for the gastronomic experience.
The Bisque pasta dish comes with round paccheri (like rigatoni, but shorter and wider) that oozes with an enriching, seafoody bisque and bouncy, fresh octopus. But do note: the menu is seasonal so the Bisque might not be there next time!
The chefs are serious about wine and their suggestions are on point.
You’re required to order a drink with your meal after 5pm, although a single glass of wine or beer (they have a non-alcoholic option, too) is just fine.
Address: 1st floor, 4-13 Seongsuil-ro 3-gil, Seongdong-gu, Seoul
10. Matches (매치스성수)
Whether you’re an oenophile 🍷 or you just order the second cheapest red wine by default 🫣, Matches has got your back. They hold your hand through the process and are super generous with offering tastings!
Matches has a whole bunch of tasty and interactive anjus to pair your wine with, like their Campfire Onion Soup (15,800 KRW, 12 USD), which comes on atop a few slowly burning twigs, and the Burning Red Scallop Gratin (26,000 KRW, 19.50 USD), which of course they’ll torch in front of ya.
Address: 36 Ttukseom-ro 13-gil, Seongdong-gu, Seoul, South Korea
11. Zesty Saloon (제스티살룬 성수)
One thing I missed a lot after moving to the US was eating fish and octopus on the reg. Koreans incorporate a decent amount of seafood into their everyday diet, and so it makes sense that the Wasabi Shrimp Burger is one of Zesty Saloon’s most popular menu items (11,300 KRW, 8.50 USD).
The shrimp patty is thiiiick and you’ll find whole pieces of shrimp hiding in there! The pinch of spiciness from the wasabi balances out the fried burger patty nicely, the way capers and a hint of lemon make the softness and flavor of salmon even more palatable. You can pick how much wasabi sauce you want, between less, medium and more. Personally, I think less is just enough!
Zesty Saloon is a restaurant owned by Lee Young-ja, a comedian, personality and foodie I’ve been watching on TV for a while.
Address: 13 Seoulsup 4-gil, Seongdong-gu, Seoul, South Korea
12. Le Freak (르프리크 성수)
I knew Koreans could fry chicken, but I didn’t know we could make fried chicken burgers like this…
The Nashville Hot Chicken Burger (13,500 KRW, 10 USD) is HUGE – the chicken patty is thick, it’s juicy and the tangy coleslaw and dill pickles keep you going.
Plus, this pub-style restaurant has decent service and is located in a moody, date-worthy venue with burgundy channelled sofas.
Address: 9-16 Yeonmujang 5-gil, Seongdong-gu, Seoul, South Korea
Best Coffee Shops & Bakeries in Seongsu-dong
13. Saltbread in Seaside (자연도소금빵in 성수)
Salt bread is all the craze in Korea right now. It’s basically a buttery slab of bread that’s moist like Hawaiian Sweet Rolls, but crispy and flaky on the outside – kinda like a fried croissant.
The sogum-ppang (as it’s pronounced in Korean) from Saltbread in Seaside is super popular. It’s especially buttery and crispy for sogum-ppang, and has a warm glean akin to that of a fresh, well-oiled Old Fashioned donut.
Yummmm. You’ll need to buy 4 at a time (12,000 won, 9 USD), but that’s no worry; I assure you, they’ll be gone in no time.
Saltbread in Seaside bakes their butter bread fresh 6 times a day. I’d highly suggest visiting right around these baking times: they are 9am, 12:30pm, 2pm, 3:30pm, 5pm and 6:30pm.
Address: 56-1 Yeonmujang-gil, Seongdong-gu, Seoul, South Korea
14. Daelim Changgo (성수동대림창고갤러리)
Daerim Warehouse, pronounced Daelim Changgo in Korean, was a rice mill starting the 70s, until it became a warehouse in the 90s.
Founder Hong Dong Hee breathed a second life into this unassuming, old red-brick building by turning it into a legendary coffee shop + dessert spot + gallery in 2011. Daelim Warehouse is one of the OG Seongu-dong cafes that’s made this neighborhood hip.
The ceilings are high in this former warehouse. Treat yourself to a Geisha Signature, Daelim’s creamy Einspanner made with wonderfully aromatic coffee beans from Ethiopia (17,000 KRW, 13 USD).
If you’re fully caffeinated already, try Daelim’s Strawberry Milk (9,000 KRW, 7 USD), a cute Korean drink with plenty of sweet and tangy fresh strawberry chunks.
There’s a tasty variety of bread and desserts, from Basque Cheesecake to Lemon Pound Cake.
Address: 78 Seongsui-ro, Seongdong-gu, Seoul, South Korea
15. Cheonsang Gaok (천상가옥)
Calling all matcha and doggo lovers to bright and airy Cheongsang Gaok, a lovely cafe with white draped ceiling curtains in Seongsu Yeonbang.
The Matcha Cream Latte (6,500 KRW, 5 USD) doubles up on cream, with whip on top of a thick layer of heavy cream.
Cheongsang Gaok also has delicious and beautiful desserts. Do try the Black Sesame Cake and Dubai Chocolate Croissant (10,900 KRW, 8 USD), which is peppered with pistachio.
Craving something extra heavy and satisfying? The Crookie – cookie plus croissant – has got your back (6,900 KRW, 5 USD).
Cheongsang Gaok also has a few menu items for your beloved doggo, like the Puppy Spanner (3,000 KRW, 2.25 USD).
Address: 14 Seongsui-ro 14-gil, Seongsu-dong 2(i)-ga, Seongdong-gu, Seoul, South Korea
Best Restaurants in Seongsu-dong (Conclusion)
In this guide, we went over the most popular cafes and the best restaurants in Seongsu-dong.
After walking around all the different places and shopping spots in Seongsu-dong, like the iconic flagship stores of brands like Ader Error and Dior, you’re going to be craving a bite.
I can guarantee that these places will fuel you up with great coffee and delicious food when you most need it!
- Nanpo (난포)
- Malbang Rice Soup (말방국밥 성수본점)
- Daban (다반 성수점)
- Geum Geum (금금 성수점)
- Somunnan Gamjatang (소문난 성수 감자탕)
- Daesung Galbi (대성갈비)
- Hobo Shikdang (호보식당 성수직영점)
- Grandma’s Recipe (할머니의 레시피)
- Ardor (아도르)
- Matches (매치스성수)
- Zesty Saloon (제스티살룬 성수)
- Le Freak (르프리크 성수)
- Saltbread in Seaside (자연도소금빵in 성수)
- Daelim Changgo (성수동대림창고갤러리)
- Cheonsang Gaok (천상가옥)
Thank you for checking out the 15 Best Restaurants in Seongsu-dong! I hope you enjoy these spots as much as I do 🫶
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