13 Best Restaurants in Itaewon and Yongsan-gu, Seoul

A neighborhood institution better known for its friendly staff and welcoming space than its coffee per se, Berkeley Coffee Social offers Americanos, lattes, and a few non-caffeinated options. There is a wide communal table for remote workers looking to get some work done and couch seats for getting in some leisure time. The space is dog-friendly, so you’ll often see local residents stopping by with their pups on their afternoon walk.

A popular Korean barbecue restaurant near Samgakji Station, sophisticated Mongtan produces their unique flavor by pre-cooking meat over straw before the final finish on a pan grill. There is an in-house butcher of sorts, and visitors can watch as their cuts of meat are pulled from the fridge and scored before cooking. While the restaurant serves a mean samgyeopsal (pork belly), their specialty is the woodae-galbi (aged, bone-in beef ribs) which is a slightly sweet, smoky meat served with charred scallion and a thick rice-cake. Naengmyeon (cold, buckwheat noodles) and doenjang-jjigae (soybean paste stew) are common additions to the meal. While there is little to complain about in terms of taste and service, a table is difficult to come by and waits can take up to two hours.

This casual Korean eatery takes the statement “mother’s cooking is best” to a whole other level. Opened in 2013, Parc combines Korean home cooking, inspired by the owner-chef’s mother, with modern aesthetics. Since the restaurant aims to use ingredients in season, the menu changes every few months with a handful of exceptions. The 7 namuls platter, Parc’s take on bibimbap, and the galbi (grilled beef ribs) are two safe bets. The restaurant is known for their banchan (side dishes) and, unlike many Korean home cooking restaurants, always have one or two vegan options on the menu.

Often at the top of lists ranking the best foreign food in Seoul, Casablanca is a Moroccan sandwicherie that serves ​​shakshuka, salads, and soups in addition to sandwiches. Although all of their sandwiches are delicious, the lamb chili with spiced lamb, tomato, and lettuce served on a baguette is a neighborhood favorite. Across the street, Casablanca has a second location better for longer stays called Cafe Morococo. The latter serves tangines, lemon chicken, and perfect-for-everyone chicken over rice. Wahid Naciri, who owns both of these establishments, was a professional chef in Rabat before his life in Korea and is simply the nicest person.

A well-known name in Korea’s coffee industry, Champ Coffee has several locations in Seoul, including this small cafe in the backstreets of Itaewon. Their standard Americano is perfect for anyone who appreciates medium-dark beans without any acidity, but they are best-known for their rich and creamy lattes. They have a solid flat white and their signature, the Queens Coffee, is an odd but addictive espresso topped with a bit of berry syrup. Tack on a macadamia-cranberry cookie to your brew as all the baked goods are delicious. The space, unlike many in Seoul, isn’t great for sitting for long periods of time.

A fried chicken and beer joint that’s been in operation since 1996, Eongteoli Fried Chicken serves classic, Korean-style fried chicken. While they also have spicy Korean-style sea snail salad on the menu, the signature is the extra crispy namesake, a whole chicken cut up in pieces with a thick, slightly-salted crust. It comes with a tangy sauce for dipping, a plate of salad, and a small dish of white, pickled radish. Ordering a beverage (commercial beer or a soda) is a must. Be warned, the ambiance is divey, hole-in-the-wall chic to a tee. The elderly couple in charge can come across as gruff but go the extra mile with a smile, and with a kind word they open up easily.

Opened by New York transplant Eugene Kim in 2015, Gino’s NY Pizza serves authentic New York–style pizza pies. Signature pies include the Brooklyn's Best (Italian sausage, red onions, parmesan, and fresh basil on plum tomato sauce) and the New York Supreme made with roasted garlic. Their classic pies (pepperoni and regular cheese) don’t play second fiddle to the signatures, and the buffalo wings and garlic knots also on the menu make for delicious additions to any meal. There may be a wait for those waiting to dine in on the weekend, but the pizzas travel well for those looking for take-out options. Gino's also has a more spacious location in Apgujeong. 

A fiery name for a memorable coffee, Hell Cafe is located off the beaten path in Bogwang-dong. The cafe gets its reputation thanks to its owner, Kwon Yo-seop, a barista famed for his drip coffee. The classic cappuccino and Hell Drip are the two most popular orders and they’re typically ordered with the cafe’s signature tiramisu, rumored to be one of the best in the country.

While an Alabama-style barbecue restaurant may seem out of place in the middle of Seoul, the offers at Linus are so good that many believe it’s a step above, even by American standards. Opened by Linus Kim in 2014, the restaurant has essentials like pulled pork, brisket, and spare ribs as well as Southern comforts like deep-fried okra and macaroni and cheese. Many American-style barbecue restaurants have opened in Korea in the past few years, thanks to Linus setting the bar, but the tangy, barbecue sauces set this Itaewon location apart from the rest.

Dining at this rotating restaurant at the very top of N Seoul Tower is mostly about the 360-degree views and sophisticated ambience, but the French-Korean cuisine is also decent, if pricey. Multi-course meals include an amuse bouche, main, and dessert; dishes could include seabass with bouillabaisse, Korean steak, and lobster thermidor. There are three seatings for dinner, so reservations are required. Admission to the observatory is included in the price of your meal.

One of the first well-known Western-style vegan restaurants in Seoul, Plant opened in 2013 as the brainchild of former designer and blogger Mipa Lee. Although Plant was first a small cafe for baked goods, its popularity from vegans and non-vegans alike has helped grow the menu and the space. Still operating as a 100% plant-based restaurant, the beloved menu includes a hummus and roasted squash salad, lentil veggie bowl, and mushroom burger in addition to its wide range of desserts. Today, Plant has two locations: this one near Itaewon Station and another in Yeonnam-dong, Hongdae.

While a delicious and hearty salad can be difficult to come by, one place that does it right is Root Everyday, a salad cafe that also makes sandwiches, soups, and rolls. Their salads center proteins like chicken, salmon, and tofu with two favorites being the shrimp poke bowl and the Thai steak bowl. Their root avocado roll made with avocado, brown rice, red peppers, and cabbage is a fresh, light meal for anyone needing a break from heavy holiday eating.

One of the best places for Western-style dining, Summer Lane is an Australian, all-day brunch eatery located in the backroads of Hannam-dong. Popular menu items include the bacon waffle eggs benedict, smashed avocado, and the DIY option which allows you choices of sourdough bread, eggs any way, tomatoes, spinach, and bacon among others. With high ceilings and a bright decor, the dog- and kid-friendly space is a favorite among early birds, especially since the restaurant opens at 7:30 am (a rarity for a Western restaurant in Korea).