Top 5 Jongno Restaurants Foreigners Love — What to Eat Near Palaces, Insadong, Bukchon, and Gwangjang Market

Jongno is the oldest part of Seoul, and it eats like it. Within a few subway stops you can go from a century-old ox-bone soup house to a chicken-hot-pot alley to raw-beef stalls in a covered market — all a short walk from the palaces, Insadong, and Bukchon. For a first-time visitor, that's a lot of choice, so this guide narrows it to five restaurants many visitors love, picked to match your route, the kind of dish, and how adventurous you feel.

Two things up front. This is an editorial pick, not an official ranking — no "best in Seoul," no guarantees, and we point out who each place doesn't suit, too. And everything changes: hours, holidays, prices, menus, and Michelin listings shift year to year, so treat the details here as a starting point and confirm the current information before you go. We don't list live prices, star ratings as facts, or wait times, because those are exactly the things that go stale.

Quick answer: the five picks

Prices aren't shown on purpose — they change, and a couple of these places are known for value while others are more of a treat. Check the menu on arrival.

How we chose (and what "Top 5" means here)

"Top 5" here means our editorial pick for first-time visitors, not a league table. There's no official ranking of Jongno restaurants, and we're not claiming these are objectively the best. We chose them to be genuinely useful:

Popularity with tourists is a factor, but "loved by foreigners" here means popular with many visitors — not a measured rating. Where a place carries a Michelin listing, we say so with the year and the exact category, and we never call a Bib Gourmand a star.

1. Tosokchon Samgyetang — ginseng chicken soup near Gyeongbokgung

Korea Tourism Organization — Photo Korea

If you visit Gyeongbokgung, this is the easy first-timer lunch. Tosokchon is a large, much-loved samgyetang (ginseng chicken soup) house in Seochon, on Jahamun-ro in Jongno-gu, roughly a three-minute walk from Gyeongbokgung Station, Exit 2. It's set in a sprawling hanok, and even though it seats several hundred people, there's often a queue — a sign of how popular it is (we won't guess how long; it varies by day and season).

• Why it's on the list: mild, comforting, and about as approachable as Korean food gets — a whole young chicken stuffed with rice in a clear, gentle broth. No chili heat.
• What to order: the standard samgyetang, or the ogolgye (black silkie chicken) version, which is on the menu as a richer alternative — confirm it's available when you order.
• Good for: first-timers, families, anyone who wants a warm meal that isn't spicy. Card and cash are accepted, and there's English help with ordering.
• Nearby route: pair it with a Gyeongbokgung visit and a walk through Seochon or up to Bukchon.
• What to check: opening hours, breaks, and holidays before you go — don't assume it's always open.
• A note on comfort: it's a hanok, so while the entrance is broad and step-free, seating areas can involve steps and uneven stone floors. If you use a wheelchair or have trouble with steps, ask about seating first — it isn't fully accessible.

Koreans traditionally eat samgyetang on the hot boknal days of summer — an "fight heat with heat" custom. It's a lovely bit of food culture to know, but that's all we'll say: we don't make health or "stamina" claims about the dish.

2. Jinokhwa Halmae Wonjo Dakhanmari — chicken hot pot to share

Korea Tourism Organization — Photo Korea

A few stops east, near Jongno 5-ga and Dongdaemun, is Seoul's famous dakhanmari alley — a cluster of restaurants serving dak-han-mari, literally "one whole chicken." Jinokhwa Halmae Wonjo Dakhanmari is one of the best-known. A whole chicken simmers in a light broth at your table; you share it from the pot, dip pieces in a garlicky, mustardy soy sauce (dadaegi), and add kalguksu noodles or rice cakes toward the end.

• Why it's on the list: it's communal, warming, and perfect on a cold day or with a group.
• The contrast with #1: these are Seoul's two great chicken dishes, and they're opposites. Tosokchon's samgyetang is a rich, single-serving, premium bowl; dakhanmari is a lighter, clearer, shared broth you build as you go. Trying both tells you a lot about Korean chicken cooking.
• Good for: two or more people. It's a shared pot, so it suits groups better than solo diners.
• What to check: hours and whether the alley is busy; the dipping sauce has raw garlic and can be spicy — go easy at first, and remember it's a shared pot if that's a concern.

3. Buchon Yukhoe — raw beef in Gwangjang Market

Inside Gwangjang Market, the covered market famous for street food, there's a small yukhoe (seasoned raw beef) alley, and Buchon Yukhoe is its best-known name. As of the 2026 Michelin Guide it is listed as a Bib Gourmand — a good-value recommendation, not a star (Bib Gourmand and stars are different things). Verify the current listing, since these change yearly.

• Why it's on the list: it's a genuine market experience with a badge, and yukhoe is one of the dishes visitors are most curious about.
• What to order: classic yukhoe — silky, sweet-savory seasoned raw beef, often topped with egg yolk and pear. A version topped with live octopus is available for the adventurous; confirm the current menu.
• Important — this is raw: yukhoe is raw beef. It is not suitable for everyone — skip it if you're pregnant, immunocompromised, feeding young children, or simply uneasy about raw food. Don't assume it's "safe for everyone."
• Good for: adventurous eaters who want the market atmosphere.
• What to check: Gwangjang stalls can quote different prices, so agree on what you're ordering first. Our Gwangjang Market price guide covers how to avoid surprises.

4. Imun Seolnongtang — a gentle, historic bowl

Near Insadong and Jonggak, on Ujeongguk-ro, Imun Seolnongtang serves seolleongtang: a mild, milky ox-bone soup you season yourself at the table with salt and chopped spring onion. It's often cited as one of Korea's oldest restaurants, said to date to the early 1900s — a nice piece of history, though we'd treat exact "oldest" claims as "widely reported, verify." As of the 2026 Michelin Guide it is listed as a Bib Gourmand (a value recommendation, not a star) — confirm the current category, since it can change.

• Why it's on the list: it's about as gentle and unintimidating as Korean food gets, and steeped in Seoul history.
• What to order: seolleongtang. It arrives almost unseasoned on purpose — add salt and spring onion a little at a time until it tastes right to you.
• Good for: solo diners, first-timers, and anyone who wants something warm and not spicy.
• What to check: the soup itself is beef (see restrictions below), and the kimchi and kkakdugi (radish kimchi) on the side can be spicy and may contain fermented seafood.

5. Mijin — cold buckwheat noodles near Gwanghwamun

For something lighter, Mijin, an old buckwheat-noodle house near Gwanghwamun in the former Pimatgol area, is a refreshing change from all the soup. It's long-running and, as of the 2026 Michelin Guide, listed as a Bib Gourmand — again, a value nod, not a star; verify the current listing.

• Why it's on the list: cold memil-guksu (buckwheat noodles) are a clean, cooling counterpoint, especially in warm weather.
• What to order: the cold buckwheat noodles, served with a dipping broth or a light dressing.
• Good for: a quick, refreshing break between sights near Gwanghwamun and Insadong.
• What to check: if you have a buckwheat allergy, this dish is off-limits; the dipping broth (tsuyu-style) can contain fish or other seafood (such as bonito), so ask if that matters to you.

Alternatives if a pick is full or closed

Always have a backup — popular places have queues and days off. Each of these should be checked for current hours before you rely on it:

Match a restaurant to your route

Match a restaurant to your group

What these dishes actually are

If some of the words above are new, here's the plain-English version:

• Samgyetang — a whole young chicken stuffed with sticky rice, simmered with garlic, jujube, and ginseng in a clear, mild broth. Comfort food, not spicy.
• Dakhanmari — literally "one whole chicken," simmered at the table in light broth and shared, with a dipping sauce and noodles added at the end.
• Yukhoe — seasoned raw beef, silky and lightly sweet, often with egg yolk and pear. A raw dish.
• Seolleongtang — a milky ox-bone soup, simmered for hours, that you salt yourself. Very mild.
• Memil-guksu — cold buckwheat noodles, clean and slightly nutty, eaten with a dipping broth or dressing.

Ordering tips

• Menus at all five are pointing-friendly, and staff are used to visitors. You rarely need much Korean.
• Soups arrive under-seasoned by design — add salt and spring onion yourself, to taste.
• For shared dishes (dakhanmari, yukhoe), one order often feeds two; ask before over-ordering.
• Some places lean cash-preferred, especially market stalls — carry some cash and a card. See how to pay in Korea if you're unsure.

Dietary notes: halal, vegetarian, allergies

Be honest with yourself about restrictions here — this particular five is not an easy list for every diet:

• Halal: none of the five is certified halal, and that includes the chicken dishes — the meat isn't dhabihah, cooking wine may be used, and pots are shared. If halal matters, check each place directly and see our Korea food guide for Muslim travelers.
• Vegetarian: seolleongtang is beef, samgyetang and dakhanmari are chicken, yukhoe is raw beef — this list won't work for vegetarians. The honest answer near Jongno is to look at Korean temple cuisine (such as Balwoo Gongyang) rather than trying to adapt these dishes.
• Allergies and add-ons: buckwheat (Mijin) is a common allergen; dipping broths can contain fish or seafood; kimchi and side dishes may contain fermented seafood (jeotgal); and several dishes are eaten from shared pots, so cross-contact is likely. When in doubt, ask.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Chasing a viral clip instead of your route — a place that's trending may be a detour when a great option is next to where you already are.
• Not checking hours — several close on certain days or take breaks; a five-minute check saves a wasted trip.
• Not realizing yukhoe is raw — it's seasoned raw beef, not cooked.
• Assuming chicken means halal — it doesn't here.
• Assuming kimchi is vegetarian — it often contains fermented seafood.
• Arriving at peak with no backup — have an alternative from the table above.
• Over-ordering shared dishes — one pot often feeds two.

Three easy Jongno food routes

• Palace day (Seochon): Gyeongbokgung in the morning → Tosokchon samgyetang for lunch → a walk through Seochon's lanes. Add a rented hanbok at the palace if you like.
• Market day (Jongno 5-ga): Gwangjang Market for snacks and Buchon Yukhoe → the dakhanmari alley nearby for dinner. Two rich meals in a day is a lot — pace yourself and share.
• Old-Seoul day (Insadong): Imun Seolnongtang → Insadong's craft shops and tea houses → a light bowl of Mijin buckwheat noodles if you're still hungry.

FAQ

Are these the best restaurants in Seoul? No. This is an editorial pick for first-time visitors in Jongno, not an official ranking. Great food exists all over the city.

Do I need a reservation? Generally no — most run on queues rather than bookings. Balwoo Gongyang (an alternative) is the exception and usually needs one.

Which is best if I don't like spicy food? Samgyetang (#1), seolleongtang (#4), and buckwheat noodles (#5) are all mild. Watch the side dishes, which can be spicy.

Which is best for a group? Dakhanmari (#2) — it's a shared pot built for sharing.

Is anything here vegetarian or halal? Not reliably. None is certified halal, and the five are meat-and-broth dishes. Consider temple cuisine for a vegetarian meal, and check each place directly for halal.

Are they expensive? It varies, and prices change, so we don't list them. Some are known for value; check the menu on arrival.

The bottom line

Don't chase whatever's trending. Pick by where you already are, how adventurous you feel, and any dietary needs — a mild samgyetang near the palace, a shared chicken pot on a cold night, a market bowl of raw beef, a historic seolleongtang, or a cooling plate of buckwheat noodles. Confirm the hours and current details before you go, keep a backup in mind, and you'll eat well in the oldest part of Seoul.

Last verified on July 12, 2026

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