“Spain†is a country rich in agricultural, livestock, and fishery products thanks to abundant sunshine and a natural environment surrounded by the sea on three sides. Known as a country of big eaters who eat 5 meals a day, Spain is also a foodie country where you can relax and enjoy food, with a culture called siesta where people take naps to work efficiently. Spain, which consists of more than 50 states, has developed a variety of cuisines and cooking methods according to the climate and local specialties of each region. Typical Spanish foods include “tapas,†which refers to a small amount of food that is simply eaten with alcohol before a meal; “jamon,†which goes through a drying and aging process by salting pork thighs; “paella,†which is stir-fried seafood and vegetables and cooked with rice and spices; and “chorizo,†a sausage made by mixing pork with garlic and paprika powder. A country of sun and passion! Here are 5 of the best emerging Spanish restaurants in Seoul that have a variety of colors and flavors.
Spanish restaurants include Samcheong-dong Gahoe-dong Tereno, Sinsa-dong Garosu-gil El Plato, Gwacheon L Olive, Hyochang Park Sookdae The Chef, Gwanghwamun El Cubito, Seongsu Chicharo, Cheongdam Moscola, Hannam-dong El Choco de Tereno, Mapo Gongdeok Moontapa, Sinnonhyeon Station Sobremesa, Yeonhui-dong Little Spain, Seochon Caye de Gomis, Seochon Seogyo-dong downtown, Hongdae Seogyo-dong downtown, Itaewon Noksapyeong There are Rat, Garosu-gil Spanish Club, Seochon Tapas Gourmet, Nakseongdae El Tapeo, Seoul National University Sharosu-gil Moztapas Lounge, Gangneung La Cosina by Lee Sung-yong, Hongdae Sangsu Carrino, Busan Haeundae Spanish Club, Daegu Beomeo-dong Spanish Restaurant España, Yeonnam-dong GastroSpain, Hongdae Hapjeong Spanish Night Market, Dosan Park Ojeon, Dunsan Kerencia, and Gwangju Dongmyeong-dong Estrella.
1. Refreshingly enjoyed Spanish course meal, Cheongdam “Moscolaâ€
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Image source: kathhhhsung's Instagram
Image source: mozkorra_seoul's Instagram
“Moscola†is a Spanish fine dining restaurant run by Chef Choi Kyung-hoon, who worked at the Michelin-starred restaurant “Suveroa†in San Sebastián, Spain. The interior of the store consists of 15 seats and operates on a 100% reservation system. The “tasting course,†which is prepared as a course meal without a single item, is the signature menu and a single menu. Starting with an amuse-bush consisting of four components: tartar, croquette, hilda, and chistola, lobster salad, rice dishes, pea stew with Iberian pork ribs, raw cod dishes, foie gras, gazpacho, main dish, and dessert will be served one after the other. The main dish served on the French rack can be changed to Iberian fresa, Spanish-style grilled baby pork, and Korean beef sirloin steak for an additional fee.
[Shikigami Tip]
â–²Location: 3rd Floor, 5 Hakdong-ro 59-gil, Gangnam-gu, Seoul
▲Opening hours: 18:00 — 22:00 every day, closed on Sundays
â–²Price: Tasting course 90,000 won
â–²Review (Shikigami Gourmet Navigator): I've been to many other fine dining restaurants, but I went to Spanish for the first time, and I really enjoyed the 4 amuse bushes. It is said that the menu changes every 3 months, but the winter tasting course was so delicious that I'm already looking forward to the next change.
2. A combination of fresh tapas and natural wine, the holy water “Chicharoâ€
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Image source: txt itxarro_seoul's Instagram
Image source: Txitxarro_seoul's Instagram
“Chicharo†is a place where you can enjoy the high quality food of Chef Lee Kyung-seop, who has worked in famous restaurants around the world, including Spain, Belgium, Australia, and the United Kingdom. In a small space, the interior with 5 tables creates a cozy yet comfortable atmosphere. They mainly serve tapas dishes, and have a variety of natural wines that go well with each food. The signature menu, “Oyster, Chorizo, Lemon,†is made by putting thinly sliced chorizo on top of oysters soaked in olive oil and sprinkled with lemon juice. The combination of oysters, which have the rich flavor of the sea, and slightly spicy chorizo provides an even richer flavor. Glass wine is not sold separately, and you must order 1 bottle of wine per table.
[Shikigami Tip]
â–²Location: 22, Wangsimni-ro 14-gil, Seongdong-gu, Seoul
â–²Opening hours: Wednesday to Saturday 18:00 to 00:00, Sunday 14:00 to 23:00, closed on Mondays and Tuesdays
â–²Price: Oyster, chorizo, lemon 15,000 won, chorizo, scrambled egg price 10,000 won
â–²Testimonial (Eating Ugly Hot Bar): There are so many types of natural wines, so it's fun to pick and eat. The store also had a nice atmosphere, so it was a great place for a date, and the oyster dish in particular was the perfect combination with white wine because the oysters were so fresh.
3. 'El Choco de Tereno' in Hannam-dong, Itaewon competes with the original taste of fire
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Image source: _sopii_ on Instagram
Image source: Briannbaekban's Instagram
“El Choco de Tereno†is a new place opened by Chef Shin Seung-hwan, who runs the famous Spanish restaurant “Tereno†in Bukchon. You can find Basque-style grilled dishes where ingredients such as fish and meat are cooked only over charcoal, bringing out the natural flavor of the ingredients and the original flavor of the fire. The signature menu is “TXULETON,†where a rib sirloin slightly dried on charcoal is grilled until golden brown and then cooked again in the oven to make the most of its rich meat flavor. The rich, juicy steak is great to enjoy even more with chimichurri sauce and piquillo pepper. “ARRAIN,†which grills white fish such as flounder and flounder and is grilled and seasoned with garlic and chili oil is also popular. The combination of crispy fish skin and moist yet light fish meat is excellent.
[Shikigami Tip]
â–²Location: 73, Dokseodang-ro, Yongsan-gu, Seoul
▲Opening hours: 18:00 — 00:00 every day, closed on Mondays
â–²Price: TXULETON (100g) 15,000 won, ARRAIN 40,000 won
â–²Review (Ringo Ame Shikigami): When I heard that Chef Tereno opened a restaurant in Hannam-dong, I immediately ran over and tried it! No matter where you go, meat is always the best! I ate it while saying that, and I felt that fish dishes could be as tasty as meat. I definitely recommend trying the fish dishes!
4. A feast of colorful colors and flavors, Itaewon Noksapyeong 'Reliato'
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Image source: lovelymin_07_10's Instagram
Image source: lovelymin_07_10's Instagram
'Leriot' is located in a hillside alley at Noksapyeong Station. The green plants placed all over the interior, which makes use of the feel of natural wood, create an exotic feeling. The signature menu “SEAFOOD PAELLA†is served with plenty of seafood such as mussels, clams, and Jeju crayfish on top of saffron and yellowish rice. It's fun to eat deep-flavored rice seasoned with shrimp stock and a variety of seafood to suit your taste. “IBERICO FRENCH RACK,†which includes an Iberico French rack grill cooked using a sous vide method and grilled vegetables mixed with basil pesto, is also a popular menu. The tender meat and the fragrant basil-flavored vegetables go together in harmony.
[Shikigami Tip]
â–²Location: 51, Noksapyeong-daero 40-gil, Yongsan-gu, Seoul
▲Business hours: Monday — Wednesday 17:00 — 22:30; Thursday 17:00 — 23:00; Friday — Saturday 11:00 — 23:00; Sunday 11:00 — 22:30; B/T (Friday — Sunday) 15:30 — 17:00
â–²Price: SEAFOOD PAELLA 24,900 won, IBERICO FRENCH RACK 29,800 won
â–²Testimonial (I grow edible moss): I like Spanish food, so I ate paella very often, but the paella here is steamed! The perfect blend of seasoning and umami makes it impossible to stop spooning! I liked not only the color but also the taste.
5. Enjoy 'Calle de Gomis' in Seochon, a small Spanish place to enjoy in Seoul
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Image source: vin_rinee's Instagram
Image source: syrupark's Instagram
“Caye de Gomis†is a Spanish food specialty restaurant run by Yuri Al and Han Kyung-min, who live in Spain. They took their name from the neighborhood “Gomisu†where the couple lived together. The signature menu is “shrimp tapas,†which uses plump shrimps. They have everything from “gambas al haiyo,†which is cooked with garlic, shrimp, and red pepper in olive oil, to “gambas braised crema,†which uses butter, shrimp, parmesan cheese powder, and cream cheese to make the most of its savory flavor, and “gambas al jac,†where you can enjoy the spiciness of shrimp simmered with pimiento powder and garlic, so you can enjoy choosing according to your taste. There is also an extensive list of Spanish beers, so it's a great place to go with food.
[Shikigami Tip]
â–²Location: 34 Jahamun-ro 9-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul
▲Opening hours: 18:30 — 00:00 on weekdays, 16:30 — 00:00 on weekends, closed on Mondays
â–²Price: Gambas Con Crema 13,000 won, Avocado Harmon 7,000 won
â–²Testimonial (Shikigin Caffeine Party): If I go here, I always eat Spanish beer and gambas together, but alcohol is very alcoholic. The store is cozy, and the boss knows a lot about Spain, so time is running out when I talk about it. If you want to avoid too much noise, please note that only up to 4 people can enter!