“Itaewonâ€, which encompasses the Itaewon-dong, Hannam-dong, and Bogwang-dong areas in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, is a gathering place where you can meet various foreign cultures and products from Europe, Southeast Asia, and Africa. Here, where you can experience food from around the world, there are many restaurants that catch young people's footsteps with their unique flavors and unique interiors. The Sapporo style lamb rib restaurant, which was selected by the Michelin Guide after one year of opening, is famous for its soft, bland lamb ribs, a fusion restaurant where you can enjoy both yukkashi and pasta, a gnocchi restaurant full of European sensibility, and a sashimi specialty store that boasts a crisp texture! If you don't visit during opening hours, an open attack where you have to wait a long time is a must! Here are the 5 best restaurants in Itaewon.
1. Soft Sapporo lamb ribs, 'liberal arts meal' in Itaewon, Seoul
Image source: Blairelee's Instagram
Image source: Miningning's Instagram
[Shikigami Tip]
â–²Location: 238 Itaewon-ro, Yongsan-gu, Seoul
â–²Business hours: Weekdays 17:00 – 23:00, Saturday 13:00 – 23:00, Sunday 13:00 – 22:00
â–²Price: Lamb ribs 28,000 won, French rack 28,000 won
â–²Testimonial (My Neighbor's Dog): This is the first lamb that doesn't smell like this. The softer it melts and the more you chew, the more savory flavor it gets! The atmosphere was luxurious and everyone was satisfied.
2. 'La Sandok Osteria' in Itaewon, Seoul, the creative world of pasta
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Image source: Shikigami Contents Team
Image source: Shikigami Contents Team
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â–²Location: 62-9, Itaewon-ro 54-gil, Yongsan-gu, Seoul
â–²Business hours: Weekdays 11:30 – 21:00 (Friday 22:00), Saturday 12:00 – 22:00, B/T 14:30 – 17:30, Sunday 13:00 – 20:00 (no B/T), closed on Mondays
â–²Price: Lamb lasagna 20,000 won, mentaiko koni spaghetti 19,000 won
â–²Testimonial (Food for two): It's a one-person chef restaurant, so it may take some time. Eating pasta after waiting is the best!
3. Pasta and yukhoe all at once! , 'Classic House' in Itaewon, Seoul
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Image source: Shikigami user Maigumi
Image source: Shikigami user Maigumi
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â–²Location: 14-1, Bogwang-ro 59-gil, Yongsan-gu, Seoul
â–²Business hours: Sunday to Thursday 17:00 to 24:00, Friday and Saturday 17:00 to 01:00
â–²Price: Regular restaurant yukhoe 20,000 won, spicy cream pasta 17,000 won
â–²Review (): Spicy cream pasta, yukhoe, and mango beer seem to be the most popular menu items! The mango beer was great because it was savory; the spicy cream pasta and yukhoe were also really, really great; I want to go eat them again!
4. Corn pizza popping in your mouth, 'Pipe Ground' in Itaewon, Seoul
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Image source: dan.a's Instagram
Image source: ziweon's Instagram
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â–²Location: 66, Hannam-daero 27-gil, Yongsan-gu, Seoul
â–²Business hours: Weekdays 16:00 – 22:00, weekends 12:00 – 22:00, B/T (weekend) 15:00 – 17:00, closed on Mondays
â–²Price: 19,000 won for corn, 19,000 won for half/half
â–²Testimonial (Gem Shikigami looking for a friend): Seeing the Instagram photos here made me feel like a chimney. It was as good as I expected, hehe, it's the best supplement for chocolate cream as a supplement to the signature drink! The sweet flavor is balanced by the acidic coffee. From the rabbit carvings at the entrance to the trees stacked on top of each other, it's a beautiful place with a winter feel.
5. Memorable frozen samgyeopsal, 'diving bridge' in Itaewon, Seoul
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Image source: YOLONG1125's Instagram
Image source: YOLONG1125's Instagram
[Shikigami Tip]
â–²Location: 81 Jangmun-ro, Yongsan-gu, Seoul
â–²Opening hours: 18:00 – 01:00 on weekdays, 17:30 – 01:00 on weekends, closed on Tuesdays
â–²Price: Samgyeopsal (160g) 13,000 won, cheonggukjang 6,000 won, fried rice 3,000 won
â–²Testimonial (Three Meals of Shikigami): This place is really crazy… Everyone is prepared to wait a long time, and reservations are also possible for 4 people or more (although almost all are full), I recommend that method. The quality of the cold sashimi here is good, and the staff kindly explains how to eat it, but I recommend that you order the minari/shishito pepper and bake it! The savory and rich cheonggukjang is also delicious!
6. 'Gnocchi Bar' in Itaewon, Seoul, a gnocchi specialty store with a European sensibility
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Image source: ran.rann's Instagram
Image source: Gudadak's Instagram
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â–²Location: 41-4, Hannam-daero 20-gil, Yongsan-gu, Seoul
â–²Opening hours: Tuesday 17:30 – 21:30, Wednesday – Sunday 11:30 – 21:30, B/T 14:30 – 17:30, closed on Mondays
â–²Price: Squid ink gnocchi made with spicy oil sauce and seasonal clams 19,000 won, crispy fried cheese gnocchi and gorgonzola cream 20,000 won
â–²Testimonial (Shikigami Eclipse 369): Originally, it was an Italian gnocchi that I enjoyed eating, but I was really excited even before I went to the store that was a collaboration with Boork. The atmosphere is full of European sensibility, and the taste is unmistakable! Gnocchi is now at a gnocchi bar!
7. Chewy and chewy sashimi, 'Toojip' in Itaewon, Seoul
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Image source: Shikigami user Munju
Image source: Shikigami user Bambi
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â–²Location: 12, Itaewon-ro 19-gil, Yongsan-gu, Seoul
â–²Business hours: 14:00 – 05:00 every day
â–²Price: Aged sashimi (2 people) 50,000 won, wrapped mackerel 9,000 won, kimchi ramen soup 9,000 won
â–²Testimonial (Shikigami Bambi): I wanted to eat aged sashimi, so I looked for it, but I went there because the restaurant nearby was famous! The chewy sashimi was so delicious! The portion is a little small, so you have to eat a side to eat to your heart's content! Still, it was nice to be able to enjoy a variety of things little by little, and there is a set menu tailored to the number of people, so the menu is simple! But that doesn't mean you have to do it with the number of people, so you can eat a variety of things evenly! It's a bit pricey because it's aged sashimi, but if you like aged sashimi, it's worth a visit!