6 Best Restaurants in Side Trips from Seoul, South Korea

This cavernous brunch cafe not far from Paju Book City looks like a factory on the outside, but inside, it's part library, part botanical garden, part public square. The bakery puts out an incredible selection of baked goods, most of them very sweet, along with unique desserts like a "dirty chocolate s'more bingsu." The coffee and non-coffee menu is extensive, though like their desserts, they err on the sweet side. There's also a dining menu, too, with some decent pasta dishes for the brunch crowd.

Hidden in a back alley of the retro but increasingly trendy Gaehangno neighborhood is this old-school tongdak (rotisserie chicken) joint. The place looks like it's been ripped from a 1980s film set, which only adds to the charm. The house specialty is an entire roasted chicken covered in Parmesan cheese, best washed down with inexpensive Korean draft beer. There's also a roasted chicken in rose sauce and a plain roasted chicken served with salad, too. If you're too good for cheap draft beer, they also offer local craft brews from Incheon Brewery. Outdoor seating on plastic seats is available. 

The food is worth the wait at this tried and true Chinese restaurant in Incheon's Chinatown. They serve they city's signature jjajangmyeon, Korean noodles in black bean sauce, as well as jjamppong, a Korean Chinese noodle soup with spicy broth packed with seafood and vegetables.

Located down the road from Heyri Art Valley, Mejukkoch is a restaurant inside a flower garden. The flowers are not just for show, though; they also feature prominently in the cuisine as both garnishes and ingredients. The only thing on the menu is the Meju Flower Soban, a Korean table d'hôte meal, albeit with slight modern embellishments, with delights like buckwheat crepes filled with cucumber, lotus root, and sliced pork wrapped in leaves. The dishes are so beautiful you won't want to eat them, but you should.

Founded not long after the port of Incheon opened to foreign trade in 1884, this market is now largely known for its delicious street food, especially its dak gangjeong (tangy joints of chicken, in this case boned), Chinese dumplings, and crunchy balloon bread, as well as Korean street classics like tteokbokki and Korean dumplings. Some of the older, more popular places have long lines, especially on the weekend, but the crowds just add to the ambiance. A serving of gangjeong will run you between ₩15,000 and ₩20,000.

After a stroll in Songdo Central Park, grab a bite to eat at this restaurant owned by a Canadian chef. TVs showing sports are a fitting accompaniment to the massive burgers, pizzas, sandwiches, and beer on the menu.