If you’re visiting Seoul, don’t miss out on the Gangnam neighborhood! Things to do in Gangnam, a youthful neighborhood full of great places to eat, is a must if you want to experience the youthful culture of Korea. Today, we’re going to take a closer look at what Gangnam is all about and introduce you to some of the best Gangnam restaurants to experience.
Gangnam, the mecca of fashion and culture!
Gangnam is a center of culture, fashion, and entertainment. Gangnam has become a favorite among international tourists thanks to singer Psy’s “Gangnam Style.” There are many things to do and see in Gangnam, including COEX and Lotte World Tower, a cultural complex with numerous shopping malls, Bongunsa Temple, where you can experience temple culture, and Garosu-gil, where you can find famous cafes and restaurants. With a mix of tradition and modernity, you’re sure to find unforgettable things to do in Gangnam.
Recommended Gangnam restaurants
With so many people visiting Gangnam every day, it’s no surprise that there are so many different types of restaurants, from Korean food to Western, Chinese, Japanese, and Asian. Here are 10 Gangnam restaurants you won’t regret visiting.
1. A premium beef restaurant, <Woo Mi Hak>
- Address : 51, Apgujeong-ro 30-gil, Gangnam-gu, Seoul
- Business Hours : Mon-Sat 11:30 ~ 22:00 / Sun 11:30 ~ 21:00
- Break time : 14:30 ~ 17:30
Located in Apgujeong, Woo Mi Hak is a place where you can privately enjoy luxurious Korean barbecue such as Korean beef sirloin, Korean beef tenderloin, and Korean beef skirt steak. Woo Mi Hak is characterized by the fact that the beef is aged with ice water aging technique, making it juicy, yet moist and tender. It can be enjoyed as an a single dish, but the “omakase” menu, where you can try different Korean beef for each course, is also a popular option. If you’re traveling to Korea with family or colleagues, you can make a reservation for a group of four or more and enjoy a relaxing meal in a private room, so be sure to visit!
2. Where to get “real” cold noodles,<GWANGPYUNG Pyongyang Naengmyeon Galbi Samseong>
- Address : 45, Yeongdong-daero 106-gil, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, Korea
- Business Hours : Mon-Fri 11:00 ~ 22:00 / Sat 12:00 ~ 21:30 (Closed on Sundays)
- Break time (Mon-Fri Only) : 15:00 ~ 17:00
GWANGPYUNG Pyongyang Naengmyeon Galbi Samseong is a favorite Korean food in the hot summer! If you are curious about the combination of cool noodles and meat that you have seen in many Korean dramas and movies, we recommend GWANGPYUNG Pyongyang Naengmyeon Galbi Samseong. This Jeju buckwheat naengmyeon and pork ribs specialty restaurant has a clean interior and private rooms. Their signature dishes are Pyongyang Naengmyeon made with buckwheat harvested directly from Jeju and Bibijak Galdong Naengmyeon made with buckwheat and seasonal vegetables tossed in light perilla oil and soy sauce! Pair it with aged Jeju black pork ribs from Gwangpyeong-ri and pork ribs grilled over an open fire and you’ll truly know what happiness is all about.
3. Modern Korean bar with korean food, <Choonsikdang>
- Address : 17, Dosan-daero 23-gil, Gangnam-gu, Seoul
- Business Hours : Mon-Sat 18:00 ~ 02:00 / Sun 17:30 ~ 24:00
If you’re looking for a gangnam bar where you can eat fusion Korean food and have a few drinks in the evening, Choonsikdang is the place for you! Located on Garosu-gil in Sinsa-dong, Choonsikdang is a hip gangnam restaurant that is very popular among young Koreans as well as foreign tourists. They offer a wide variety of fusion Korean dishes such as Beef tartare, Flower Crab Tteokbokki, Nurungji Cream Risotto, Choice Budae Jjigae, and more. With a casual atmosphere and delicious Korean food and drinks, you’re sure to get into the spirit. Why not get a taste of young Korean culture at a hipster hangout?
4. Cheongdam Seafood Wine Bar, <Filleter>
- Address : 2F, 40-4, Seolleung-ro 148-gil, Gangnam-gu, Seoul
- Business hours : Mon-Thu 18:00 ~ 24:00 / Fri-Sat 17:30 ~ 24:00 (Closed on Sundays)
A must-visit place for seafood lovers, Filleter. The menu here consists of all seafood and was opened by Chef Jeong Se-wook, who is said to be a fish enthusiast. This gangnam restaurant uses shrimp, hanchi, octopus, and other seafood ingredients purchased on the day in a variety of recipes, and its flavorful seafood dishes have earned it a spot in the 2023 prestigious Guide. Filleter is only open for dinner, and as a wine bar, a bottle of wine per table is a mandatory order, so it’s worth noting when making a reservation.
5. A Japanese French restaurant, <AELGERIZM>
- Address : 2F, 8, Dosan-daero 49-gil, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, Korea
- Business Hours : 18:30 ~ 21:30 (Closed on Sundays)
Featured in the prestigious Guide Seoul 2023, Apgujeong Fine Dining, AELGERIZM is making a name for itself as a Japanese-French restaurant. Chef Yang Min-woo of AELGERIZM draws on his experience in Japan to create dense dishes that combine Japanese cuisine with Western flavors. Add to that the fact that the menu changes four times a year to match the four seasons of Korea, and you have a gangnam restaurant that utilizes seasonal ingredients to create delicious food. Currently, they only offer dinner courses, and to prevent no-shows, they take a partial deposit and refund it on the day. We want you to try a different fusion dish that you’ve never had before in your algorithm.
6. Mediterranean cuisine in Korea,<GIGAS>
- Address : 2F, 8-7, Dosan-daero 45-gil, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, Korea
- Business Hours : 18:00 ~ 22:30 (Closed on Sundays and Mondays)
What does Mediterranean food taste like in Korea? A modern Mediterranean restaurant run by Chef Haewan Jung, GIGAS is a gangnam restaurant that is farm-to-table and organic. The restaurant features recyclable containers because they are committed to eco-friendly and sustainable food! They serve modern Mediterranean cuisine using organically grown ingredients from their own farm. Currently, the restaurant is only open for dinner and offers course meals, not a la carte. Feel the freshness of our 100% natural ingredients with your senses at GIGAS.
7. Gangnam Fine Dining Specializing in Caviar, <CAVISTRY>
- Address : 1F, 21, Dosan-daero 37-gil, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, Korea
- Business Hours : 17:30 ~ 23:30 (Closed on Sundays)
There are gangnam restaurants where you can enjoy fine dining at reasonable prices. CAVISTRY is one of them! CAVISTRY offers a luxurious taste and atmosphere with caviar as the main ingredient. From the menu to the decoration, lighting, and interior, you can see objects reminiscent of caviar. It’s more like a gangnam bar than a full restaurant. If you’re looking for an atmospheric gangnam bar with caviar-infused dishes that are reasonably priced and served as a multi-course meal, we recommend CAVISTRY.
8. Pork that’s been aged for 506 hours? <Dot506>
- Address : 53, Yeoksam-ro 17-gil, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, Korea
- Business Hours : 11:30 ~ 22:00
Did you know that Korean barbecue is a must-try when you visit Korea? Dot506 is a place that sells aged pork that has been aged for 506 hours, just like the number behind their name. If you take a closer look at their menu, you’ll notice that the meat is labeled with a number, and that number represents the amount of time it has been aged. ‘A506 Aged Pork Belly’ means 506 hours, and ‘D806 Aged Pork Belly’ means 806 hours of aging. The flavor of aged pork belly is much deeper than regular pork belly, and in the case of 806 pork belly, the flavor is even deeper. It’s OK if you’re not good at grilling meat! You’ll still get the best Korean barbecue flavor because all of our employees grill the meat carefully.
9. Where wine meets art, <OPNNG>
- Address : B1F, Monopole, 22, Dosan-daero 34-gil, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, Korea
- Business Hours : 18:00 ~ 23:00 / Thu-Fri 18:00 ~ 02:00 (Closed on Sundays)
Wine meets art and music. This is OPNNG, a gangnam bar where the three elements work in fantastic synergy. This is a Cheongdam wine bar where you can taste high-level wines, but it’s not just a bar with a bustling feel, it’s also a tasteful space where art and music come together. The menu at OPNNG is constantly being updated, but you won’t be disappointed with any of their dishes, including tomahawk steak, sweet shrimp eggplant cold cappellini, and Korean beef chili congarnese and cheese panini! Enjoy a glass of wine poured by a talented sommelier, and you’re sure to have a great day.
10. The finest Korean beef courses, <TANHWA>
- Address : 2F, 628, Gangnam-daero, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, Korea
- Business Hours : 16:30 ~ 22:00 (Closed on Lunar New Year’s Day and Chuseok)
- Break time : 18:00 ~ 19:00
Tanhwa is a Korean beef omakase specialty restaurant that shows the essence of Korean barbecue. It is known as a place where many foreign tourists come to experience the authentic flavor of Korean beef. You can enjoy 9 types of beef in a 250g course meal per person. You’ll experience the magic of melt-in-your-mouth Korean barbecue with a never-ending supply of Beef tartare, marinated ribs, tenderloin, beef brisket, and more. Don’t worry about getting tired of the same cut of beef, as there are many different cuts. This is a gangnam restaurant where you can focus on the flavor of the beef in a private and cozy setting for about 2 hours.
What did you think of these 10 Gangnam restaurants? If you’ve ever wondered, “What are the things to do in Gangnam?”, we hope you’ll visit these restaurants and experience some unforgettable memories of your trip.