Jungsik
Credit: Jungsik back decades. Another must-try is gamjatang( spicy pork bone soup), which many locals consider to be the city’ s best hangover remedy. And judging by the fact that one of its most popular purveyors, Somunnan Gamjatang in the Seongsu neighborhood, is open 24 hours, one is inclined to believe the locals are spot on.
Chimaek, a blend of“ chicken” and“ maekju”( beer), is a notable experience in Seoul. Korean fried chicken is twice-fried to achieve a crisp texture, coated in soy-garlic or spicy red pepper sauce, and served with pickled radish. The experience typically involves friends, various chicken styles, cold beers, and extended evenings. Additionally, chimaek acts as a great equalizer in Seoul, with luxury cars often seen idling outside modest chicken shops where people order takeout. This reflects how fried chicken remains one of the most universally and democratically loved menu items.
Chef Mingoo Kang of Mingles
Credit: HUBLOT
Seoul’ s street food is equally intoxicating. Tteokbokki( chewy rice cakes in spicy-sweet gochujang sauce) is the most iconic staple, available from pojangmacha( street tent bars) citywide. Other essentials include hotteok( sugar-filled pancakes), eomuk( fish cake skewers in warm broth), twigim( Korean tempura), and bungeoppang( fish-shaped red bean pastries). Myeongdong and Namdaemun Market offer the widest selection, but every neighborhood claims its own treasures.
Alongside this lively street scene, a world of elegance unfolds. La Yeon, a two-Michelin-starred restaurant at The Shilla Seoul, offers a luxurious experience with its sophisticated hanjeongsik, reminiscent of Korean Royal Court cuisine, once reserved for Joseon kings. Conversely, Jungsik, also holding two Michelin stars, focuses on“ New Korean” cuisine, reimagining traditional flavors with contemporary techniques. Meanwhile, Mingles, Chef Mingoo Kang’ s three-Michelinstarred establishment, harmonizes tradition and innovation by combining Korean fermented flavors with European culinary methods to striking effect.
Michelin-recommended Samwon Garden in Apgujeong offers a different kind of prestige. This sprawling, garden-wrapped compound has served the city’ s most celebrated galbi since 1976, and its private rooms have hosted generations of business titans, politicians, celebrities, and media moguls. For more traditional experiences, Tosokchon, near Gyeongbokgung, has perfected samgyetang( ginseng chicken soup) to such a degree that chaebol families send drivers to pick up takeout, and Suyeonsanbang in Seongbuk-dong, a tea house in the former home of beloved novelist Lee Taejun, appeals to the literary sensibilities of the cultured local glitterati.
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