In June 2026, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang spent several days in Seoul, and the parts that went viral were not the chip deals — they were the meals: fried chicken and beer, grilled pork belly with somaek, and a bowl of cold noodles. This guide does two things: it lays out what was actually reported, by day, with sources, and then a traveler-friendly version you can walk without chasing mobbed tables. The food itself is the real takeaway, and all of it is in the what-to-eat guide.
These details are pieced together from news reports from early June 2026 — they are not an official schedule, and specifics can change. Treat this as cultural context, not a celebrity tracker.
Why this trail exists
The running joke started earlier: in late October 2025, Huang shared fried chicken and beer with Samsung's Lee Jae-yong and Hyundai's Chung Euisun at a chicken shop in Gangnam — a "gganbu" (close buddy) moment that stuck. By his June 2026 trip, the spots he visited were drawing curious crowds, with locals half-joking that sitting where he sat brings good luck. It is a fun phenomenon; it is also why the actual restaurants are now packed, which the traveler version below works around.
What he did, by day (June 2026)
Reported, not official — and the order zigzags across the city.
- Friday — Hongdae. Huang started at a gaming cafe (PC bang) run by the esports team T1 in the Hongik University area, where he met T1's players including Lee "Faker" Sang-hyeok. That evening he shared grilled pork belly and somaek with the heads of SK, LG, and Naver at a samgyeopsal restaurant near Hongdae; crowds gathered outside.
- Saturday. He taped an episode of the tvN talk show You Quiz on the Block.
- Sunday — central Seoul, then Jamsil and Gangnam. Lunch was Pyongyang-style cold noodles (naengmyeon) with Hyundai's Chung Euisun. In the afternoon he threw the ceremonial first pitch at a Doosan Bears game against the Kiwoom Heroes at Jamsil Baseball Stadium, in a number 93 jersey (for Nvidia's 1993 founding). He capped the day with chimaek — a "second gganbu" chicken-and-beer with SK's Chairman Chey Tae-won at a Kkanbu Chicken branch in Gangnam.
- Monday. Company and university visits, back to the AI business he came for.
A traveler-friendly version
His real route crossed the city late at night and back, which is not how you would want to walk it. Reorganized by area, the same food makes an easy one- or two-day crawl — and you do not need the exact viral tables, which you usually cannot reserve anyway. Any good neighborhood spot delivers the same experience.
Hongdae, evening
Start with the youth-culture hook: Hongdae is full of PC bangs and esports culture, so duck into one to see how Koreans game. Then have samgyeopsal at any busy grill house — you cook it at the table and wrap each bite in lettuce. Finish with chimaek at a regular fried-chicken pub. Full ordering help is in the Korean barbecue guide and the chimaek guide.
Central Seoul, lunch
Do a sit-down naengmyeon lunch at one of the old Pyongyang cold-noodle houses — chewy buckwheat noodles in an icy broth, a Seoul classic that is refreshing in warm weather. It pairs naturally with a morning in the palace district.
Jamsil and Gangnam, night
Catch a KBO baseball game at Jamsil if the season is on — Korean baseball is a food-and-cheer spectacle, and fans famously bring or order fried chicken to their seats. Wrap up with chimaek near the stadium or in Gangnam.
What to order
Short, polite phrases go a long way at a grill house or chicken pub. Tap Listen to hear them.
Useful phrases for the food on this trail
For samgyeopsal grill houses and fried-chicken pubs.
Samgyeopsal is sold per portion, usually with a two-serving minimum.
Polite삼겹살 이인분 주세요
sam-gyeop-sal i-in-bun ju-se-yo
Two servings of pork belly, please.
Korean audio isn't available on this device or browser — use the romanization above to say it.
Lettuce for wrapping is refilled for free — just ask.
Polite상추 더 주세요
sang-chu deo ju-se-yo
More lettuce, please.
Korean audio isn't available on this device or browser — use the romanization above to say it.
A note on drinking
Somaek (beer and soju) and chimaek beer feature heavily in the story, but the alcohol is optional — the food carries the night, and a soft drink is completely normal. A few practical points:
- The legal drinking age in Korea is 19, and staff may ask for ID (your passport).
- Drink-driving is strictly enforced — if you drink, take the subway, a bus, or a taxi.
- There is no need to overdo it; this is a relaxed, shared meal, not a contest.
Dietary reality
- Samgyeopsal and chimaek are not vegetarian, and naengmyeon broth is often beef-based.
- Fried chicken batter and soy sauces mean gluten and soy; halal versions are uncommon outside areas like Itaewon.
- Markets and grill houses are easy to point-and-order at, even without Korean.
A note on the hype
The specific restaurants from the news are now busy and often cannot be reserved, and a few are local spots that were never built for tour groups. Enjoy the story, but spread out: the dishes — not a particular table — are what make the trail worth doing, and you will eat better at a calm neighborhood place than in a queue.
Common mistakes
- Treating it as a fixed celebrity itinerary; it was reconstructed from reports and the real order was impractical.
- Crowding one small, much-photographed restaurant when the same food is everywhere.
- Letting sauced chicken sit — eat it hot, while the crust is crisp.
How to plan the food trail
This route works as a one-day eating tour or stretched across two evenings:
- Evening 1 — Hongdae: Start around 6 p.m. A PC bang visit is optional; samgyeopsal at a busy grill house is the first food stop. Finish with chimaek at a fried-chicken pub; Hongdae's bar streets fill up from 9 p.m. onward.
- Day 2, lunch — central Seoul: Cold noodles (naengmyeon) work best as a sit-down lunch on a warm day. Pyongyang-style naengmyeon (buckwheat noodles in icy broth) is the variety in the story; look for specialist restaurants near Gyeongbokgung or in the old-town neighborhoods.
- Evening 2 — Jamsil or Gangnam: If it is baseball season (April–October), a KBO game at Jamsil Baseball Stadium is the setting. A night game with fried chicken and beer in the stands is the full Jensen experience; tickets are affordable and easy to get. If no game is scheduled, the Gangnam chimaek stop is the main event.
The dishes — samgyeopsal, naengmyeon, and chimaek — are available all over Seoul. You do not need to find the exact reported locations. Any busy neighborhood spot delivers the same meal.
Frequently asked questions
Where did Jensen Huang eat in Seoul?
Based on Korean news reports from June 2026: grilled pork belly (samgyeopsal) and somaek in Hongdae (with tech executives); naengmyeon cold noodles for lunch; and chimaek (fried chicken and beer) in Gangnam. He also attended a KBO baseball game at Jamsil. The exact restaurants are reconstructed from media, not an official itinerary.
Can I eat at the same places Jensen Huang did?
The specific restaurants are now crowded and some cannot be reserved — and the experience depends on the food, not the address. The same dishes (samgyeopsal, chimaek, naengmyeon) are available at hundreds of good neighbourhood spots across Seoul. Avoid queuing at mobbed famous spots; a calm, local alternative is almost always better.
What is chimaek?
Chimaek (치맥) is Korean fried chicken (chi-ken) paired with beer (maek-ju). It is a national comfort food — crispy twice-fried chicken (often in two halves: plain and spiced) eaten with beer or soju, at a pub, at a restaurant, or at the baseball stadium. See the chimaek guide for how to order and what to expect.
What is somaek?
Somaek is a mixed drink: a shot of soju poured into a glass of beer (the name is a portmanteau). It is the standard group-drink at Korean barbecue and fried-chicken restaurants. Non-drinkers are not expected to participate; a soft drink is completely normal.
Is this trail good for someone who doesn't know Korean BBQ?
Yes — samgyeopsal is beginner-friendly. You order the pork belly, the staff grill and cut it for you, and you wrap each bite in lettuce with garlic and sauce. Full guidance is in the Korean barbecue guide. Chimaek requires even less knowledge — just pick a flavour (original or spicy) and order beer.
Sources
- The Korea Herald — Jensen Huang and Faker meet, celebrate mutual risenews_report
- The Korea Herald — How Jensen Huang wins over young Koreansnews_report
- The Korea Times — Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang visits Seoul for robotics, AI, gamingnews_report
- Seoul Economic Daily — Jensen Huang Dons Doosan Jersey, Holds Second “Gganbu” Meeting With SKnews_report
- The Asia Business Daily — “Sit Here and Get Rich?” The Table Where Jensen Huang Satnews_report
- Visit KoreaOfficial tourism site
Information is compiled from official sources. Details such as prices, hours, and schedules can change — confirm time-sensitive facts before you travel.
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