Yeonnamdong Food Guide | Locals' Recommendations

Today we want to show you around Yeonnamdong and some of the best places to eat here! There are so many amazing and delicious eateries here, and also a wide variety of cuisine to enjoy aside from traditional Korean fare. Let's take a look at the places that we think have earned a place on the list of must-eats in Yeonnamdong!

Happy Cheese Smile
해피치즈스마일

Happy Cheese Smile has multiple branches in Korea, with their specialty being tteokbokki and fried pork cutlet. This shop is quite a popular lunch and dinner spot in Korea for its cheap prices and large portions.

The interior is elegant and simple, with plenty of seating available in its spacious dining area. You will no doubt be able to dine with friends very comfortably here!

The tteokbokki here is different from the usual tteokbokki you may be used to seeing, because it is fried then spread out over the sauce. The spicy sauce is delicious and flavorful, and you can choose your spice level as well.

The pork cutlet is a huge, mouth-watering deep fried pork tenderloin that is beautifully crisp on the outside and juicy and tender on the inside. When dipped in the accompanying sauce, it is even more delicious.

Address: 서울 마포구 동교로 244-1 2층
2F, 244-1 Dongyo-ro, Mapo-gu, Seoul

Hours: 11:30-21:30

Price:
Smile Fried Tteokbokki (스마일 튀볶이) 9,000 won
Donkaseu Plate (돈가스 플레이트) 14,000 won

How To Get There: 6 minutes by foot from Exit 3 of Hongdae Station (홍대입구)

RAT THAT
랫댓

If you're craving pizza in the Yeonnamdong area, look no further than RAT THAT Pizza House, which was featured on SBS's Today. It is very popular and there are often long lines of people waiting to get their pizza fix.

We came in the evening and the atmosphere was great, but we did have to wait for a while as there were many people who also chose to dine here.

At this restaurant you can order a half-and-half pizza (반반피자) so you can try two different types of pizza, which is very convenient. We ordered a half garlic potato (갈릭포테이토피자) and half chicken skin pizza (닭껍지피자). Chicken skin pizza might sound weird, but it was delicious and super crispy. The garlic potato pizza was pretty good, but a bit sweeter than what we expected.

Address: 서울 마포구 동교로 243-4
243-4 Donggyo-ro, Mapo-gu, Seoul

Hours: 13:00-22:00
Last order 21:00

Price:
Half-and-Half Pizza (반반피자) 26,000 won
Cola 3,000 won

How To Get There: 6 minutes by foot from Exit 3 of Hongdae Station (홍대입구)

GOD EAT
갓잇

GOD EAT has many branches in Korea and specializes in Mexican-style food that is highly regarded by netizens.

We had heard it gets very busy during peak lunch and dinner hours, so we decided to try and beat the rush by going when they first open. The interior is decorated in a Mexican-inspired style with a casual, warm, and friendly atmosphere.

We ordered the Absolute Set for 2, which looks very appetizing, doesn't it? The ingredients are fresh and the salsa and guac are delicious!

If you need your taco fix, check out GOD EAT!

Address: 서울 마포구 성미산로 161-13
161-13 Seongmisan-ro, Mapo-gu, Seoul

Hours:
Every Day 11:30-21:30 (Break time 15:00-16:30)

Price: Absolute Set for 2 32,000 won

How To Get There: 13 minutes by foot from Exit 3 of Hongdae Station (홍대입구)

Choisajangne Dak
최사장네닭

Choisajangne Dak, meaning Mr. Choi's Chicken, is a famous restaurant in Yeonnamdong where many celebrities eat, in particular Infinite member L comes here often.

Upon entering, you can immediately see and feel the atmosphere of a traditional Korean restaurant, and the walls are filled with celebrity autographs.

We ordered the spicy chicken stew, in Korean called dakdoritang (닭도리탕), for 2-3 people. The serving was rather large and it was a bit spicy, but delicious and perfectly balanced. Eating hot chicken with onions, potatoes, and carrots is a must!

Address: 서울 마포구 연남로 4-1
4-1 Yeonnam-ro, Mapo-gu, Seoul

Hours: 11:00-22:00 (Closed Thursdays)
Closed New Years and Chuseok

Price: Spicy Chicken Stew (닭도리탕) for 2-3 people 24,000 won

How To Get There: 4 minutes by foot from Exit 3 of Hongdae Station (홍대입구)

Oneul Geudaewa
오늘그대와

The name of this restaurant means "Today I'm with you", which immediately gives such romantic vibes, doesn't it? The cuisine here is European-inspired, which also adds to the romance of the place.

The space is warm and elegant, and is absolutely perfect for a date.

We ordered the mushroom pasta with cream sauce, spinach risotto, and ragu pasta, which were all delicious and rich in flavor. The creamy mushroom pasta was served with sliced potatoes, making it a very hearty and filling dish that we think is definitely worth trying!

Address: 서울 마포구 동교로 262-13
262-13 Donggyo-ro, Mapo-gu, Seoul

Hours: 11:30-21:30

Price:
Mushroom Cream Pasta (버섯크림파스타) 18,000 won
Spinach Cream Risotto (시금치크림리조또) 17,000 won
Ragu Pasta (라구파스타) 22,000 won

How To Get There: 9 minutes by foot from Exit 3 of Hongdae Station (홍대입구)

Banh Mi Phuong
반미프엉

In the past few years, more and more Vietnamese restaurants have been appearing in Korea, with Banh Mi Phuong being one of them. The exterior is decorated in a Vietnamese style, with bright and attractive colors.

The price and portion sizes are good, as is the atmosphere, so we think this place is worth a visit for sure!

We ordered a Combination Banh Mi (모든반미) and Bo Sot Vang (반미솟방). The ingredients were fresh, with bold Vietnamese flavors. The sandwich on its own was very filling, but combined with the beef stew was deeply satisfying because of the rich combinations of flavors. We highly recommend this combo!

Address: 서울 마포구 성미산로29길 20
20 Seongmisan-ro 29-gil, Mapo-gu, Seoul

Hours: 11:00-21:00

Price:
Combination Banh Mi (모듬반미) 9,000 won
Banh Mi Sot Vang (반미솟방) 11,000 won

How To Get There: 12 minutes by foot from Exit 3 of Hongdae Station (홍대입구)

Gamnamujib Gisa Sikdang
감나무집기사식당

Gamnamujib, meaning persimmon tree house, is a very famous gisa sikdang, or taxi driver's restaurant. Restaurants like these characteristically offer nutritious foods and fast service, with long service hours since they originally catered to taxi drivers who had very busy schedules with odd hours.

If you want to read more about the fascinating history of the gisa sikdang, click here.

Gamnamujib has been around for a long time and is loved by many people, and it was even featured on the variety show Infinite Challenge.

The most famous menu item here is the stir-fried pork, dwaeji bulbaek, and of course there are numerous side dishes to accompany the main dish. If you want delicious traditional Korean food, then you need to visit Gamnamujib!

Address: 서울 마포구 연남로 25
25 Yeonnam-ro, Map-gu, Seoul

Hours: Open 24 Hours

Price:
Stir-Fried Pork (돼지불백) 10,000 won
Stir-Fried Squid (오징어볶음) 11,000 won

How To Get There: 8 minutes by foot from Exit 3 of Hongdae Station (홍대입구)

Hong Kong Daepaedang
홍콩대패당

For a change of pace, why not try some Hong Kong-style food at Hong Kong Daepaedang?

The food and atmosphere makes it feel like you've traveled to Hong Kong from the heart of Seoul! From the bright colors, to the smells, to the taste of the food, it's like being at a food stall in Hong Kong.

And for Creatrip members, you can can get 10% off the entire menu with our coupon! Just remember to show your coupon to staff when you order.

For all the details and coupon, click here.

Address: 서울 마포구 양화로23길 10-8 2층
2F, 10-8 Yanghwa-ro 23-gil, Mapo-gu, Seoul

Hours:
Tue-Sat 11:00-21:00 (Break 15:00-17:00)
Sun 15:00-21:00
Mon Closed

Price:
Pork Tomato Gratin (돼지고기토마토그라탕) 16,000 won
Hong Kong Style Braised Chicken half chicken (홍콩식닭찜 반마리) 19,000 won
French Toast (프렌치 토스트) 5,500 won
Red Bean Bingsu Drink (팥빙수 음료) 6,800 won
Lemon Iced Tea (아이스 레몬티) 4,800 won

How To Get There: 1 minute by foot from Exit 2 of Hongdae Station (홍대입구)

That wraps up our list of must-eats in Yeonnamdong! Of course there are so many other amazing places to choose from, but these are just a few of the ones we and other locals really love and wanted to share with you. Were there any places that caught your eye? Let us know in the comments what your thoughts are! If you have any questions or concerns, please leave a comment below or send us an email at help@creatrip.com! You can follow us on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook to stay updated on all things Korea!