Hongdae is a popular area in Seoul, Korea, home to some of the best and most affordable restaurants in the city.
Restaurants in Hongdae range from the best local international cuisine to the most famous and affordable fast food spots.
Whether you’re looking for a romantic dinner spot, a great place to take the family, or a spot to grab some cheap breakfast, Hongdae has something for everyone.
From small, family-run restaurants to famous chains, there are restaurants for all tastes and budgets.
At night, the area is especially lively with its street vendors, food markets, and street performances, making it a great place to explore the local culture.
Whatever your culinary cravings, we have a list of the best restaurants in Hongdae to meet your needs.
Shin Migyeong Hongdae Dakgalbi
| Address | South Korea, Seoul, Mapo-gu, Wausan-ro 21-gil, 31-10 1층 |
| Phone Number | +82 2-2245-5222 |
| Operating Hour | Monday: 11:00 AM – 10:40 PM, Tuesday: 11:00 AM – 10:40 PM, Wednesday: 11:00 AM – 10:40 PM, Thursday: 11:00 AM – 10:40 PM, Friday: 11:00 AM – 10:40 PM, Saturday: 11:00 AM – 10:40 PM, Sunday: 11:00 AM – 10:40 PM |
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Real Customer Reviews at Shin Migyeong Hongdae Dakgalbi:
Andy Lochan05:00 05/04/23Probably some of the best Dakgalbi I’ll ever have until I come back to Seoul. Came in early as the first customer and within 30 minutes the entire place was filling up with locals. Great food and experience, highly recommend.Tip, always order the fried rice after with your remaining extra meat. A must have to the meal!! Muhammad Pandu08:43 03/05/23I never understood the concept of spicy chicken dipped in cheese, but Shinmigyeong definitely redefined the whole experience.There's a hot pan at every table. As we arrived, the pro-active staff poured pancake mixes into the pan, letting us fry them to our liking.The chicken portions were HUGE, and we had some difficulty finishing the whole pan. The pair next to us did not finish their meal.The cheese were high-quality and SOMEHOW the mix worked very well. I do think there's a bit too little cheese in the default serving, so I ordered one extra.I also recommend getting the fried rice after the chicken (if you have the stomach for it). My wife loved the fried rice so much.All in all, I'd recommend everyone to try this at least once for the ultimate comfort food. V A08:41 01/03/232 menu13,000/ person or 15,000 per person, one without cheese and one w cheese . The chicken is soft and good if u like spicy i recommend go for the maximum level. Their medium spice is not so spicy. The fry rice at the end is so good. Robert Jones07:58 07/07/22The food was very tasty, and the staff were nice and helpful. The portions were just right and the spice level (spicy) was flavorful. I love spice, so I probably should have gone for extra spicy though. They also have some nice drink options. It was also helpful for my group that a young man was there that spoke English, as we are not the best at the Korean language sadly. Melissa Eisner10:40 05/28/22This might have been my favorite meal in Seoul. Dakgalbi is so full of flavour, the rice and the cheese also awesome, and the beers! Fresh food and a fun environment. Staff was super helpful and could communicate well in English. Gusto Taco
| Address | 41 Wausan-ro, 서강동 Mapo-gu, Seoul, South Korea |
| Phone Number | +82 2-338-8226 |
| Operating Hour | Monday: Closed, Tuesday: 11:30 AM – 9:00 PM, Wednesday: 11:30 AM – 9:00 PM, Thursday: 11:30 AM – 9:00 PM, Friday: 11:30 AM – 9:00 PM, Saturday: 11:30 AM – 9:00 PM, Sunday: 11:30 AM – 8:00 PM |
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Real Customer Reviews at Gusto Taco:
Gabriel Carb18:52 03/04/23I tried this place for some good tacos. This place is in walking distance from very popular street of Hongdae. The staff speak English so ordering is great for foreigners. I wish they sold individual tacos because I would of ordered more but they only come in sets of a main meal. Overall I would definitely go back. Clarence Tan10:16 01/08/23Bored of korean cuisine? try abit of mexican.BIG TIP: EAT FIRST BEFORE YOU TAKE PHOTOS FOR SOCIAL MEDIA. 😆Crispy and fresh ingredients.Pork tacos and cheese fries are must-try.If you are just a couple, can just order 1 set for 1 pax and add ala-carte, don't need to order 2 sets. Sapna A11:19 11/03/22I’ve been in South Korea for 2 weeks and this is the best meal I’ve had without question. Originally thought it would be overhyped but boy was I wrong! My friend and I got the quesadillas and nachos set for 2 (we have big appetites) and neither disappointed. Our favourite was the chicken tacos - I cannot believe how much flavour it had! Cocktails were great too - FYI margaritas are definitely stronger than mojitos. You need to go here!!! Photos don’t do it justice Melissa Eisner01:21 06/25/22Great taco spot in Seoul. Definitely had the right flavours to remind me of Mexico. Had the pork tacos and a chicken enchilada and both were really nice. Solid beer selection as well, but the margaritas are KILLER!!! Woot woot! DK Hipkins10:25 12/24/21A very nice Mexican style restaurant in Seoul. Easy access from the Sangju Metro stop, literally 20 meters away from exit 1. We found the staff to be friendly and helpful and found the ambiance to be enjoyable. Kind of quaint and homey.The food is excellent. My wife and I shared the burrito set for two and we shared one beef and one pork burrito. It also came with two scrumptious pork tacos with soft corn tortillas. The hot sauce served with the burritos isn't overwhelming but adds a nice kick to whatever you put it on.Our son had the quesadilla set, which also came with two tacos. He gives it a solid two thumbs up. Our daughter had the Gusto cheeseburger. She shared a bite with me and it's definitely quality beef. Nice flavor and cooked with just a hint of pink. She didn't care much for the cheese that was fried on the griddle, but it wasn't burned or anything. Just not her preference.My wife enjoyed a rather powerful margarita. They definitely don't short you on the liquor, but it has an excellent flavor too.All in all, I would say if you're in Seoul and want something Mexican or Tex-Mex, this is a great place to visit. A little expensive, but it's also a big city and non-traditional food. Try it out. You'll enjoy it. Yoogane Chicken Galbi
| Address | 109 Eoulmadang-ro, Mapo-gu, Seoul, South Korea |
| Phone Number | +82 2-333-4655 |
| Operating Hour | Monday: 11:30 AM – 10:00 PM, Tuesday: 11:30 AM – 10:00 PM, Wednesday: 11:30 AM – 10:00 PM, Thursday: 11:30 AM – 10:00 PM, Friday: 11:30 AM – 10:00 PM, Saturday: 11:30 AM – 10:00 PM, Sunday: 11:30 AM – 10:00 PM |
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Real Customer Reviews at Yoogane Chicken Galbi:
Siqiang Yang10:02 11/28/22Affordable chicken galbi. A little spicy but manageable. This is a serving for 2 but it’s good enough for 3 pax. Unlimited banchan which is self service. We were not sure if we cook it well. It would be great if the staff were more attentive to cook for us. Ringo H13:15 11/26/22I recommended this restaurant. I had been this restaurant at sinchin 10 years ago. This restaurant still maintain the quality of the food. The food taste is same as 10 year ago. I gave 4 stars because the Restaurant needs to improve the sanitation. Jack12:38 11/05/22Ordered the half spicy (which wasn't spicy at all) half miso. It was so good. Nvr knew cheese and chicken goes so well together. Add in rice to stir in 1 pot will be the best recipe. Only thing is service staff a bit rude and waiting time for the chicken to cook is long. Rice balls are also great, while waiting for the chicken to cook. Sides are self served and unlimited. Overall good and value for money. HY14:05 09/29/22Not bad, staff are attentive, food is okay. Different staff came over to fry our meat for us. The cheese ring gets hard and sticky if you leave it out too long, so try to scoop it out while it’s hot. Sema Alim Dalgıç17:20 09/21/22Our favorite place to eat in South Korea. High in cayenne pepper. But very tasty and satisfying. We went to several different branches. All employees are super. Prices are affordable. Unlimited appetizers and water is great. 🤩 Ciuri Ciuri Italian Restaurant
| Address | 3, 13 Dongmak-ro 15-gil, Mapo-gu, Seoul, South Korea |
| Phone Number | +82 2-749-9996 |
| Operating Hour | Monday: Closed, Tuesday: 6:00 – 10:00 PM, Wednesday: 6:00 – 10:00 PM, Thursday: 6:00 – 10:00 PM, Friday: 6:00 – 10:00 PM, Saturday: 5:30 – 10:00 PM, Sunday: 5:30 – 10:00 PM |
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Real Customer Reviews at Ciuri Ciuri Italian Restaurant:
Jacqueline Calnea14:39 05/20/23Good Sicilian Restaurant, ambience was cozy, few tables .The food was good but for my taste bud it’s too Sweet and looking for the Sicilian Flavor, I still want to tThe chef says hello to one table but not to the next table, very unusual if you have few table. Devanshu Somani08:50 02/27/23This was a great Italian place to hangout. The food is good but really overpriced.The service that this place had was great though. The waitress was very helpful. Rod Rothwell10:51 02/12/23Great! Best Italian (Sicilian) food in Seoul! Serene02:48 01/04/23Very good Italian food in Seoul and the restaurant environment is very cosy. Ordered the arancini, lobster ravioli and the tiramisu, which are very good. Even the homemade bread at the start was superb. chris an11:17 04/13/21Authentic Italian food served by Italians. Great date spot with a cozy atmosphere. Our main dishes of gnocci (lobster + beef) was ok. Although I went at a non-busy time with only 1 table being occupied they didn't have some dishes which was disappointing. Our favorite dish was the canolli! Dookki Tteokbokki Hongdae
| Address | 8 Hongik-ro 6-gil, Mapo-gu, Seoul, South Korea |
| Phone Number | +82 2-325-0737 |
| Operating Hour | Monday: 11:00 AM – 10:00 PM, Tuesday: 11:00 AM – 10:00 PM, Wednesday: 11:00 AM – 10:00 PM, Thursday: 11:00 AM – 10:00 PM, Friday: 11:00 AM – 10:00 PM, Saturday: 11:00 AM – 10:00 PM, Sunday: 11:00 AM – 10:00 PM |
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Real Customer Reviews at Dookki Tteokbokki Hongdae:
Lucy08:45 04/09/23Rice cake buffet with fried dumplings and unlimited soft drinks. Loads of variety so very easy to customise a bowl to anyone’s tastes - the pre-made sauces make it easy for beginners who don’t know what they want. Would have been nice to have had some more vegetables/tofu in the buffet too? Overall really enjoyed the meal there and it’s very reasonably priced (though they charge extra for any food wastage so be mindful!) Sam Y12:08 01/25/23Adults, for only 9,900 won, can have ALL YOU CAN EAT DOOMI BUFFET. How do they stay in business? I’m not sure. Best value meal in seoul, especially considering a small serving will cost 5,000+ from street vendors.Included UNLIMITED- fried foods- main stuff to put in your Tteokbokki- soft drink! Including Sprite Zero and Coke Zero!!- Ice cream and toppings- Busan fish cake- and fried rice to DIYAbsolutely amazing. Irene08:19 01/04/23I felt a little lost with how to create a good sauce but it was great! The ingredients are frozen but always refilled superfast so you always have them available. You can put whatever you want it in and there are so many options (literally 8+ different kinds of rice cake - cheese is best) Sunny Yang04:28 12/21/22So good. So filling. All you can eat!! Wilma Chu12:26 11/15/22If you like Tteokbokki, this is the place to go. You can make it with whatever you like. There are so many options (I didn’t even know they had this many different kinds of Rice cakes & noodle options 👍🏻😂) it was fun to be able to make it for yourself. I would come again (next time I’m in Seoul) & it was AUCE for ₩9,900. Go hungry so you can try everything! James Cheese
| Address | 145-1 Eoulmadang-ro, Mapo-gu, Seoul, South Korea |
| Phone Number | +82 2-324-3305 |
| Operating Hour | Monday: 12:00 – 11:30 PM, Tuesday: 12:00 – 11:30 PM, Wednesday: 12:00 – 11:30 PM, Thursday: 12:00 – 11:30 PM, Friday: 12:00 – 11:30 PM, Saturday: 12:00 – 11:30 PM, Sunday: 12:00 – 11:30 PM |
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Real Customer Reviews at James Cheese:
Aïtzbea Hyau09:26 05/23/23Went there in 2017 then in 2021 and that place didn't change. It was as good as I remembered and I loved it. great food for a great price. I 100% recommend. Yin Wong11:01 04/07/23Chill vibes. Cheese corn and semi dried octopus was tasty Sean Chia09:51 01/13/23Absolutely cheesy overload . Will recommend. Easy to find with super big signboard. But there are 2 branches so make sure you know which one to go if you meeting someone. Servive was good too Mupp Ditt11:00 11/02/22I stumbled in here randomly walking around feeling hungry, which was the best luck I could have! I have no idea what it is called but you get really tasty moist ribs that you wrap in melted cheese OMG. BOMB. Staff is very friendly and are ok with English. Mixed foreigners and Koreans eating here. A B04:00 10/28/22Great food, good beer, cheap prices!BBQ ribs and cheese? What more could you ask for?Definitely a unique experience and one you should give a try! Tables fill up quickly so be prepared to wait or get there early. Hongdae Dakhanmari
| Address | 85 World Cup buk-ro 2-gil, Mapo-gu, Seoul, South Korea |
| Phone Number | +82 2-334-7326 |
| Operating Hour | Monday: 11:00 AM – 11:00 PM, Tuesday: 11:00 AM – 11:00 PM, Wednesday: 11:00 AM – 11:00 PM, Thursday: 11:00 AM – 11:00 PM, Friday: 11:00 AM – 11:00 PM, Saturday: 11:00 AM – 11:00 PM, Sunday: 11:00 AM – 11:00 PM |
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Real Customer Reviews at Hongdae Dakhanmari:
Aulia Maysita13:25 05/20/23Super yummy and warm. It tasted more like regular chicken soup rather than gingseng one. Great for tourist who are too tired or catch a cold to get energized. Ahjumma is friendly as well. C L09:40 11/26/22Chicken soup is rather light and requires seasoning with pepper. Basically they don't sell anything else. Lady boss only speaks korean but she was very hospitable and helpful. We were the only non locals. Small portion which feeds up to 2 pax (1 small chicken) costs 29000 won. Will try the shops at ddm next time. James Qi11:18 11/29/19Good chicken soup!! Very soothing and hot especially good for a cold day. Very reasonable prices and the chicken is delicious . Liau Li Ming14:15 05/22/19Chanced upon this shop and it was one of the best food we had for our recent trip. The yummy chicken soup is not spicy which is a great options after having too much spicy Korean food. Food ordering is easy as the order is just based on the number of person. The owner will show you how to eat the dish using body language. The portion is big and price is reasonable.也许喜欢白斩鸡都会爱这餐吧。 T Vs15:56 06/09/18Nice place and food. Friendly lady boss. Good job 진만두
| Address | 4-42 Wausan-ro 29-gil, Mapo-gu, Seoul, South Korea |
| Phone Number | +82 2-338-1117 |
| Operating Hour | Monday: 12:00 – 10:00 PM, Tuesday: 12:00 – 10:00 PM, Wednesday: 12:00 – 10:00 PM, Thursday: 12:00 – 10:00 PM, Friday: 12:00 – 10:00 PM, Saturday: 12:00 – 10:00 PM, Sunday: Closed |
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Real Customer Reviews at 진만두:
Albert Albert11:50 07/25/22Great Experience!The best place to enjoy some good dumplings with friends.If you visit Hongdae you must go to this place! Fede Torri09:42 05/06/22So, first a few things if you're a foreigner. The guy is super friendly and accepts International cards but alas, does not speak English. Just google translate the menu, or if you're truly lost ask him to order for you.Ask for tea (jasmine if doubting), not for cold water as you can get water by yourself anyways from the dispenser. The guy will do a cute tea ceremony for you!Finally, the place opens at 18.30. Be there a bit before as the place is familt-run and you will need to queue with the locals.I recommend the dumplings of course, get 2-3 sets depending on how hungry you are, they are delicious. Especially the pan fried gyoza are perfect.It's all worth it because the dumplings are the best I ate outside of China. Young-Jay Paik04:29 12/19/20One of the best dumpling restaurant in Seoul. The dumplings look plain and the skin looks thick, but as soon as you taste then you realize that looks can be deceiving. The soup in the dumpling is amazing and all the dishes I have tried at the restaurant is simply fabulous. A must try place in Seoul, especially when you love dumplings or Dimsum dishes!!! Nick Osborn08:03 01/02/20The dumplings here are better than any dumpling / mandu place I've been to in Seoul. The staff is very attentive to providing you the best eating experience as well. The hours are variable and you probably want to call them if you have a group of people coming over, but it appears to accept new customers in from 6 to 830pm. Chloe Banning16:57 02/26/18Great food, great service, great people! I highly recommend to anyone in the area. Best dumplings. Also, get a pot of tea. It’s a work of art. Witch’s Kitchen (Hongdae Branch)
| Address | 36-10 Wausan-ro 21-gil, Mapo-gu, Seoul, South Korea |
| Phone Number | +82 70-7723-1116 |
| Operating Hour | Monday: 12:00 – 8:30 PM, Tuesday: 12:00 – 8:30 PM, Wednesday: 12:00 – 8:30 PM, Thursday: 12:00 – 8:30 PM, Friday: 12:00 – 8:30 PM, Saturday: 12:00 – 8:30 PM, Sunday: 12:00 – 8:30 PM |
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Real Customer Reviews at Witch's Kitchen (Hongdae Branch):
20220정인서04:44 06/27/22It is a restaurant that sells steak, pasta, or pizza, and the steak is soft, and the pasta is savory and luxurious. Pizza stretches cheese well. But it’s too expensive and burdensome. 김보성12:58 01/16/21Incredible concept throughout the restaurant!! Halloween vibes in every detail including every menu option and plate presentation haha. I've been to one in CheonAn and this Hongdae store. The staff were much kinder here. Highly recommend for the experience and all the dishes!! Eugene Rastokin23:44 08/16/19You may take a few crazy photos in the lobby. That's all.If you don't want have your meal next to those selfies fans you must to wait to have a chance sit on a second floor.Food is well decorated but tastes just okay. Anastasia Favaron14:58 08/11/19pricey but sooooo good. definitely better to go as a couple or with ar least a friend, one bingsu is big enough to satisfy 2/3 people. _. Hoho06:04 04/20/19Hallowyn themed restaurant.Reasonable price with excellent taste!Good-mannered staffs and fun events Saemaul Restaurant Hongdae Seogyo Branch
| Address | 144 Eoulmadang-ro, Mapo-gu, Seoul, South Korea |
| Phone Number | +82 2-332-0120 |
| Operating Hour | Monday: 11:30 AM – 3:00 PM, 4:00 PM – 4:00 AM, Tuesday: 11:30 AM – 3:00 PM, 4:00 PM – 4:00 AM, Wednesday: 11:30 AM – 3:00 PM, 4:00 PM – 4:00 AM, Thursday: 11:30 AM – 3:00 PM, 4:00 PM – 4:00 AM, Friday: 11:30 AM – 3:00 PM, 4:00 PM – 4:00 AM, Saturday: 11:30 AM – 3:00 PM, 4:00 PM – 4:00 AM, Sunday: 11:30 AM – 3:00 PM, 4:00 PM – 4:00 AM |
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Real Customer Reviews at Saemaul Restaurant Hongdae Seogyo Branch:
Avogato130011:24 04/05/23Very crowded( your are sitting back to back with people) and loud. We wrote our names on paper up front and waited. There was not a long line at 6:15 on a Wednesday. When we left (7pm) the line was down the block. The meat is okay nothing to rave about. The worst was being seated the charcoal was turned on but our waitress didn't show up until 12 -15 min later. If you want K-bq without any special care this is it. Vgs photos22:03 03/17/23Unfortunately this was the worse meal during our travel through Seoul. Saying that it was not a bad meal as it was still an enjoyable experience. The lively restaurant with quick and efficient service. Was able to get a seat straight away. The banchan was nice and you payed slightly extra to have access to a mini buffet of veges that you could additionally bbq. However the pork we got on the day actually felt quite dry and was very tough. Happy Lucky09:17 11/19/22Visited 2 times, I didn't feel the waiters were very friendly, but they were responsive. Food was good. Except once the waiter took the wrong order, gave us samgeopsal instead of neck. The sides are free flow, which is nice. There are also other sides such as rice cake, sausage etc. Overall good experience despite the mishap of wrong order. Deborah Parker07:43 11/17/22Good food. The kimchi stew is perfect! Nice staff. Self serve bon chon after the first serving. Tong Limmontree20:06 06/22/22Good quality and reasonable pork BBQ in this area. The price is 15$ averagely per person. The restaurant has own toilets & wifi. Self service for all-you-can-eat condiments. Payment can be made either by credit card or cash. 
