Best Restaurants in Seoul for Solo Travelers
Seoul, South Korea is brimming with delicious and exciting food options. It can be difficult, though, to know where to go and how to partake of all the great food this city has to offer if you are traveling alone. Below I’ve listed some of the best restaurants for solo travelers to Seoul! Don’t forget to check out aesthetic cafe recommendations in Seoul next!
Myeongdong Kyoja is nestled in the heart of Myeongdong, a bustling and central area of Seoul. There are only four items on this restaurant’s menu, but all four items are great options- the mandu (dumplings) are so delicious and super-filling, and the kalguksu (knife-cut noodle soup) is especially good on cool days. There is plenty of seating for customers dining-alone, although you will be seated next to and across from others dining-alone, with small partitions in-between. It’s a really fun experience! The place is usually very busy, but the line to get in goes pretty quickly. There are also robots moving around the restaurant, helping out the waitstaff in delivering food! This a great place for dining-alone, and a restaurant I always come back to!
two locations in Myeongdong:
29 Myeongdong 10-gil, Jung District, Seoul, South Korea
8 Myeongdong 10-gil, Jung District, Seoul, South Korea
Hongojib is the perfect spot to enjoy some Korean BBQ on your own. Most BBQ places require at least two people, but this restaurant allows you to have your own personal barbecue experience! The menu is an interactive screen located at your seat, and it even has English as a language option. The menu has a wide variety of meats and combinations, plus the service is quick. You cook the meat on your own personal grill, which makes for a really fun experience! The waitstaff are helpful too for any questions you have along the way. Located in the lively and fun area of Hongdae, you can fuel up on delicious barbecue then enjoy some shopping at the unique stores in the area. This the perfect restaurant for solo travelers who still want the KBBQ experience!
1 Donggyo-ro 30-gil, Mapo-gu, Seoul, South Korea
Ssada Gimbap is a fantastic option for solo travelers! The menu offers a variety of delicious gimbap, but it also has other Korean food options, such as bibimbap and dongaseu (pork cutlet- highly recommend!). For non-Korean speakers, you can order at the register. The Myeongdong location makes it especially easy to order as well- paper menus are laid out on a table by language. You just choose the menu in your language, fill it out, and take it to the register to order and pay. Then you can find a seat and they will call out your number when ready.
locations:
26 Myeongdong 8ga-gil, Jung District, Seoul, South Korea
644-11 Yeoksam-dong, Gangnam District, Seoul, South Korea
7-1 Gwancheol-dong, Jongno District, Seoul, South Korea
Hong Kong Banjeom 0410 is a Chinese restaurant chain started by the very famous Korean chef, Jong Won Paik. The menu has many delicious noodle options- I recommend the jjajangmyeon (pictured here). This restaurant has a nice, relaxed environment with plenty of seating and great spots for a solo-diner. In the Myeongdong location that I visited, you will first get a seat and then will place your order and pay at the host stand. Your food will be brought out to your table when ready. There are also multiple locations in this chain. Super easy and super delicious!
locations:
7-4 Myeongdong 10-gil, Jung District, Seoul, South Korea
44 Wausan-ro 23-gil, Mapo-gu, Seoul, South Korea
11 Jangchungdan-ro 13-gil, Jung District, Seoul, South Korea
Gwangjang Market is a popular place for authentic Korean food. It might seem a little intimidating, but-trust me- it is a very easy place to navigate as a solo traveler! Once you walk into the market, there will be a lot of vendors and food options to choose from. Once you find a booth with food you would like to try, the vendor will help you find a seat (on a bench right in front of their booth) and you will order directly from them. Because there are so many vendors in one place, you can easily try multiple types of food, and move from one booth to the next!
88 Changgyeonggung-ro, Jongno District, Seoul, South Korea