What to Do in Seoul, South Korea

By Food & Wine
Updated March 08, 2017
Credit: © Ken Lee
Take a tour with Ken Lee of the best food and sites to experience in Seoul, from tasty street food to secret villages and stunning park views.
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Hongdae

Credit: © Ken Lee

Hongdae is where all the new food and fashion trends are born. Being a campus area, there are tons of cafés and restaurants to choose from, as well street food vendors scattered across the area.

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Ddeokggochi

Credit: © Ken Lee

Similar to ddeokbokki, these rice cakes are fried and coated beforehand, then served on skewers. You can add different flavorings to spice things up.

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Tornado Potato

Credit: © Ken Lee

The Tornado Potato is made using a spiral slicer. It’s often eaten by students and coated in flavors like chile, barbecue, cheese and sweet onion. These are hard to find, so when you come across one you should definitely give it a try.

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Myeong-dong

Credit: © Ken Lee

Myeong-dong is a popular shopping district, bustling every day until late at night. With bright lights and dynamic music, it’s vibrant and active throughout the year and it's alleys are full of restaurants to try.

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Gyeran-Bbang (Egg Bread)

Credit: © Ken Lee

This fresh steamed bread–based snack with a boiled egg inside is a popular Korean snack that can be found in most neighborhoods.

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Korean Squid Lollipops

Credit: © Ken Lee

The latest craze in Korea is deep-fried squid coated in various savory powders, including chile, paprika and sweet onion. Despite looking pretty unappetizing, it’s a national success—even making news headlines.

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Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art

Credit: © Ken Lee

The Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art is a multi-purpose facility that seeks to accommodate every type of artistic endeavor. Every few months, the exhibitions change on a large scale, creating a fresh look and perspective all year round.

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Korean Hot Dog

Credit: © Ken Lee

The equivalent of the American corndog, some vendors like to coat them in sugar and ketchup, or even add cubes of fried potato into the batter mix to give them a plumper look.

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Insa-dong

Credit: © Ken Lee

Insa-dong is known as the cultural hub of the city, with many restaurants that serve traditional Korean food. When you finish lunch or dinner, take a look at the spiral mall called Ssamziegil and immerse yourself in the unique arts and crafts boutiques.

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Grilled Squid

Credit: © Ken Lee

Yes, more squid, but this version—which you shred with your fingers—is a bit easier on the eyes. You can buy this at the movies instead of popcorn.

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Hodugwaja (Walnut Snack)

Credit: © Ken Lee

The walnuts are hidden inside these toasted breads, which are usually filled with sweet red bean paste. It is so popular that the snack has its very own store.

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Eomuk (Fish Cake)

Credit: © Ken Lee

A mixture of grounded fish, starch and sugar that is usually served on skewers in a cup of hot broth. It’s cheap, delicious, filling and can be found in any Korean supermarket.

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Bukchon Hanok Village

Credit: © Ken Lee

This village has preserved its traditional houses and attracts tons of visitors. It provides an amazing view, showing how the modern and traditional clash in Seoul’s cityscape.

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Assorted Twigim

Credit: © Ken Lee

Twigim means anything deep-fried, ranging from squid to sweet potatoes to rice cakes and more. An alternative to potato chips, perhaps? These are often bought to be shared or brought home as a side dish.

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Samcheong-dong

Credit: © Ken Lee

Samcheong-dong is another hip area full of unique restaurants, themed cafés and small boutiques. It is also where traditional and modern styles meet, making it one of the most unique places to visit in Seoul.

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Hotteok

Credit: © Ken Lee

Hotteok is a popular pancake filled with melted brown sugar and cinnamon (but it’s not available during the summer).

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Ddeokbokki

Credit: © Ken Lee

Ddeokbokki is one of the most iconic street foods in Korea. They are rice cakes in a hot broth of devilishly red spicy sauce and can be found in almost every neighborhood. Although cheap, it's also delicious and so filling it can serve as a meal by itself.

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Bungeoppang (Fish Bread)

Credit: © Ken Lee

This is probably one of the most iconic Korean street foods, largely inpart due to its cute fish shape and sweet aroma. These adored fish breads are filled with sweet red bean paste or custard, but are only available during fall and winter, so make sure you buy them while you can.

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Churros

Credit: © Ken Lee

Churros are long, thin doughnuts coated with sugar. These are just as popular as the squid lollipops and are often served with dips of different flavors, such as chocolate, cream cheese, apple and more.

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Cuttlefish Pancake

Credit: © Ken Lee

This grilled cuttlefish pancake has an incredible crunch. It’s so popular that it’s being sold in supermarkets alongside potato chips.

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Naksan Park

Credit: © Ken Lee

This romantic park located on a hill off Hyehwa shows the top half of Seoul’s cityscape. You can walk along the fortress wall and see the stunning night view if you take a stroll here in the evening.

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Ewha Womans University

Credit: © Ken Lee

The main roads that connect to the university from the station are lined with street food vendors, so you can literally hop from one stall to another and grab your dinner on the go. Added bonus: the architecture of this university is also quite stunning.

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