Food Guide | INSADONG

Insadong, always a vibrant area with tourists and locals browsing around for things to do, eat and drink, has preserved Korea's traditional looks while mixing them in with modern touches. As if to accommodate the large crowds, the area is abundant in options when it comes to eateries. We've listed our favourites down below, so be sure to check them out before you plan your trip to Insadong!

Gaeseong Mandu Koong (개성만두 궁)

• Address: 서울 종로구 인사동10길 11-3
• Hours: Mon-Sat 11:30-21:30, Last order 20:40; Sun 11:30-20:00, Last order 19:30

A Michelin Guide restaurant run for 3 generations and over 50 years, Gaeseong Mandu Koong handmakes fresh mandus (dumplings) in-house every day. To add onto this effort, they also make their refreshing kimchi banchans (side dishes) themselves too. If you want a taste of flavourful, plump mandus in hot soup, definitely try this place out.

Insadong Geuzip (인사동 그 집)

• Address: 서울 종로구 인사동12길 3
• Hours: 11:00-22:00

Already a popular destination among international travellers, Insadong Geuzip serves authentic Korean meals inside a hanok building. One thing to keep in mind is that the prices tend to be a bit steep.

Insadong Garlic Bossam (인사동 마늘 보쌈)

• Address: 서울 종로구 인사동8길 12-5
• Hours: 11:00-22:00, Break 15:00-17:00, Last order 21:00

Get set meals for 2-4 people which include bossam (boiled pork), pajeon (green onion pancake), kimchijjim (braised kimchi), nakji-bokkeum (stir-fried octopus) and a pot of makgeolli (rice wine). If you're feeling for something filling and diverse, this restaurant offers great combinations of local cuisine.

Jeongseon Halme Gondraebap (정선 할매 곤드레밥)

• Address: 서울 종로구 인사동8길 13
• 11:00-21:00

Gondraebap refers to rice cooked with thistle. The fragrance of the thistle rice is really something. Pair it with ganjang-gejang (soy sauce-marinated crab) and a vareity of side dishes that come with it.

Osegye Hyang (오세계향)  ⭐VEGAN

• Address: 서울 종로구 인사동12길 14-5
• Hours: Weekdays 11:30-21:00, Break 15:30-17:00; Weekends 11:30-21:00, Break 16:00-17:00

Osegye Hyang is the perfect place for people with dietary requirements, serving only vegetable-based dishes. Try meat-free authentic Korean cuisine here. You'll likely find what you're craving as their menu is quite extensive.

Seoul Wonjo Agujjim (서울 원조 아구찜)

• Address: 서울 종로구 삼일대로 436-1 
• Hours: 11:00-02:00

This local delicacy of agujjim (spicy braised monkfish) is full of flavours and textures. You can also try their haemuljjim (spicy braised seafood) to try a wider variety. One order is generous in amount and serves around 2-3 people.

Insadong Pot Sujebi (인사동 항아리 수제비)

• Address: 서울 종로구 인사동8길 14-1
• Hours: 11:30-21:00
• Break: Weekdays 15:30-17:00, No Break on Weekends, Last order for lunch at 14:50

Get a pot full of hot sujebi (hand-pulled dough soup) starting at just ￦6,000! In addition to the original flavour, they also serve spicy and perilla seed flavours. If you're feeling for a drink, get dongdongju (rice wine) and haemul-pajeon (seafood pancake) to complete your combination!

Which one would you be inclined to try the most? Which one the least? If you get to try any of these places, we'd love to hear your thoughts as well.

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