Must-see restaurants in Itaewon & Yongsan-gu

  • Casablanca Sandwicherie

    Itaewon & Yongsan-gu

    These mouth-watering, deep-filled sandwiches served on wide, half-loaves of pillowy bread are beloved by locals and expats. Try the wickedly seasoned (and…

  • Passion 5

    Itaewon & Yongsan-gu

    A luxe spin-off of the Paris Baguette chain, Passion 5 is the Rolls-Royce of Korean bakeries, offering a Fortnum & Mason–like experience as you wander the…

  • Linus' BBQ

    Itaewon & Yongsan-gu

    The portions are more modest than your typical Southern smokehouse, but the pulled pork and beef-brisket rolls with 'skinny ass' fries are some of the…

  • Plant Cafe & Kitchen

    Itaewon & Yongsan-gu

    Vegan wraps, avocado burgers, chickpea tagines and peanut stews are just some of the virtuously delicious highlights at this popular vegan hang-out…

  • Morococo Cafe

    Itaewon & Yongsan-gu

    Cute North African–themed spot offering a chalkboard of half a dozen halal dishes like carrot salad, claypot lamb and the popular 'Morocco Over Rice' (…

  • HBC Gogitjib

    Itaewon & Yongsan-gu

    Hungry revellers flock here for the nightly all-you-can-eat barbecue deal (₩16,900 per person), which includes beef ribeye and all the pork cuts on the…

  • Tartine

    Itaewon & Yongsan-gu

    This humble bakery-cafe just off Itaewon's main party strip bakes the best pecan pie this side of the Pacific, along with cranberry cheesecake, butter…

  • Coreanos Kitchen

    Itaewon & Yongsan-gu

    Lively KoMex restaurant specialising in 'skizzles' (essentially fusion fajitas) served on tabletop skillets in epic sharing portions. Tacos come in pairs;…

  • Pho for you, restaurant exterior

    Pho for You

    Itaewon & Yongsan-gu

    This stripped-back canteen space ladles up huge plastic bowlfuls of pho dense with tender beef brisket and ribbons of rice noodles. The dark, deeply…

  • Motor City, restaurant exterior

    Motor City

    Itaewon & Yongsan-gu

    One of the few places in Seoul where you can get a square, deep-dish, Detroit-style slice is aptly-named Motor City. The tomato-sauce base is good enough…

  • On Ne Sait Jamais, cafe exterior

    On Ne Sait Jamais

    Itaewon & Yongsan-gu

    This alleyway cafe-bakery claims to be the originator of a bizarre trend that spread through Seoul circa 2017, namely, modelling your venue on a…

  • Root exterior

    Root

    Itaewon & Yongsan-gu

    It didn't take Itaewon long to get on the food-bowl trend. Step up Root, serving zesty salad and poke bowls with a Korean twist from its sunny 2nd-floor…

  • Gino's, restaurant exterior

    Gino’s NY Pizza

    Itaewon & Yongsan-gu

    This wildly popular upstairs kitchen bakes an authentic range of New York–style pies along with appetisers like garlic knots, wings and messy fries. The…

  • Downtowner, restaurant exterior

    Downtowner

    Itaewon & Yongsan-gu

    Foodies queue daily for the much lauded burgers here, painstakingly assembled (with Instagram in mind) and wrapped in cute zebra-striped paper. Pimp up…

  • Maddux, pizza shop exterior

    Maddux Pizza

    Itaewon & Yongsan-gu

    Keep your eyes peeled for those 'za-loving Ninja Turtles at this hip alleyway pizzeria serving jumbo-sized New York slices on paper plates. Choose from…

  • La Ferme, restaurant exterior

    La Ferme

    Itaewon & Yongsan-gu

    Le Ferme (French for 'the farm') packs them in for superfood-rich detox dining with a French twist. Quinoa, tofu, avocado and mango feature in the…

  • Nekkid Wings

    Itaewon & Yongsan-gu

    Get your hot wings basted a dozen different ways at this alleyway eatery, from classic buffalo to Korean-inspired 'Amazinger' (spicy ginger), soy wasabi…

  • Plant Bakery

    Itaewon & Yongsan-gu

    This low-key vegan cafe on a quiet backstreet specialises in delicious dairy-free cakes, muffins, brownies, scones and cookies (some sans gluten too). The…

  • Baker’s Table

    Itaewon & Yongsan-gu

    German-run brunch hot spot serving stacked sandwiches and a mighty range of sweet and savoury pastries (it's generous with the free nibbles, so pop in and…

  • Vatos

    Itaewon & Yongsan-gu

    Itaewon's original KoMex eatery still does a roaring trade in soft corn tacos filled with galbi short rib and sides of kimchi carnitas fries, along with…

  • Just BLT

    Itaewon & Yongsan-gu

    This open-fronted eatery sexes up the good old BLT with extra thick, house-cured bacon and a big choice of flavoured mayos, served on toasted white bread.

  • Pipit Burger

    Itaewon & Yongsan-gu

    Harking back to the original San Bernardino McDonald's, this '50s-themed diner only grills one type of burger, but it's a beast. You can add bacon, double…

  • Olde Knives

    Itaewon & Yongsan-gu

    There's no menu at this hidden-gem HBC hang-out – just a grill behind a hardwood bar where striploin steaks are sizzled to perfection (₩22,000). If butter…

  • Bua

    Itaewon & Yongsan-gu

    Everything is made from scratch at this Thai eatery serving a small selection of regional dishes from across Thailand (yes, it does a pad thai). Chefs…

  • Original Pancake House, restaurant interior

    Original Pancake House

    Itaewon & Yongsan-gu

    Go large at this '50s-themed American diner franchise with towering plates of syrupy pancakes, chicken and waffles and egg-heavy breakfasts. It's pricey…

  • Zelen

    Itaewon & Yongsan-gu

    Run by Bulgarians, this long-lived Itaewon restaurant whips up Balkan standards like shopska salad (billed as 'Bulgarian kimchi' for its comparative…

  • Kiki Chanting

    Itaewon & Yongsan-gu

    A hip take on a Hong Kong diner, this stripped-back canteen serves roast pork belly, ribs, barbecue char sui and chicken over rice, along with noodle…

  • Lou Loudi

    Itaewon & Yongsan-gu

    Decked out like a whimsical Parisian cafe, Lou Loudi caters for the Hannam-dong socialites with picture-perfect slices of cake and specialty teas served…

  • Rose Bakery

    Itaewon & Yongsan-gu

    Join the fashionistas at this expensive cafe on the ground floor of the Comme des Garcon boutique for avocado toast, eggs-benny and scrumptious croissants…

More destinations you need to see