Guide to Michelin-Starred Restaurants in Seoul

There are many great restaurants in Seoul. But If you want to visit guaranteed restaurants, I recommend checking out the places featured in the Michelin guide. Among the Michelin-recommended restaurants, there are "Bib Gourmand" restaurants that offer excellent food at reasonable prices. For those who find it burdensome to spend a lot of money, but still want to try out some delicious places, please take note! We focused our research on Myeongdong, Hongdae, and Apgujeong, so it would be nice to explore them along with nearby shopping malls and cafes.

Myeongdong/Jongno

Keunkiwajip 큰기와 집

Keunkiwajip is a restaurant that received a Michelin 1-star rating and is famous for its soy sauce marinated crab. While renowned for their soy sauce marinated crab, they also offer other dishes such as bossam (boiled pork slices), galbijjim (braised beef short ribs), and grilled eel. If the price range for the soy sauce marinated crab feels burdensome, I recommend trying their "gejang bibimbap" (rice mixed with marinated crab) menu as well.

The reason this place is famous for its marinated crab is that despite being soy sauce-based, it doesn't taste too salty, and it has a spicy flavor from the use of Cheongyang chili peppers. The seasoning doesn't overpower the natural taste of the crab but rather enhances it with the right amount of seasoning. Moreover, the seasoned marinated crab combines sweetness and spiciness, which makes it perfect to eat with side dishes without being too spicy.

In addition to marinated crab, they also offer a variety of 12 side dishes that you can enjoy. Try adding the side dishes on top of the crab and wrap them together on a laver. After enjoying the crab meat, you can scrape the remaining rice from the crab shell and mix it with sesame oil for a more flavorful experience. Please note that on weekends, the ingredients may run out and close, so it's recommended to visit early in the opening hours. However, don't worry! With Creatrip, you can make a reservation without waiting and enter right away.

Reserve Keunkiwajip Below

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Information

Hours: Monday~Sunday 10:30~22:00

Address: 20-7 Bukchon-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul

Myeongdong Kyoja Main Store 명동교자 본점

Established for nearly 60 years, Myeongdong Gyoja specializes in Kalguksu(knife-cut noodle), and only offers four menus. Despite its simple menu, it has been selected as a Bib Gourmand restaurant for seven consecutive years. Its reasonable prices are also a reason why people keep coming back

There may be a waiting time, but the turnover is fast, so you can quickly get a seat. Unlike regular restaurants, Myeongdong Gyoja's knife-cut noodles have soft and chewy noodles with stir-fried meat, and the broth is rich and flavorful. The kimchi that comes as a side dish is also famous. When you feel the need for something refreshing, you can eat it along with the kalguksu(knife-cut noodles). Be aware that the kimchi has a strong spicy flavor since it contains a lot of garlic!

The dumplings have thin skins filled with flavorful ingredients and juice of the meat. When you eat dumplings, I recommend you to make a dipping sauce with soy sauce, vinegar, and black pepper. Be careful when eating the dumplings because the filling inside can be hot!

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Starting from April, the Kongguksu (cold soybean noodle soup) is a popular summer seasonal menu in Korea. When you enjoy the nutty soybean broth that has black soybeans along with chewy noodles, you can experience a delightful texture. If you want to try a special menu, be sure to try the Kongguksu! One great thing about this place is that when you order one serving per person, you can enjoy a free refill of one rice bowl. You can definately fill up your stomach!

If you visit this place, make sure to order the kalguksu(knife-cut noodles) and dumplings as a must-try combination. Depending on the number of people, you can also add bibim noodles or kongguksu(cold soybean noodle soup) to your order and enjoy them! There is also a second branch located nearby, so you don't have to wait for a long time. Head there and fill your stomach

Information

Hours: Monday~Sunday 10:30~ 21:00

Address: 29 Myeongdong 10-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul

Geumdwaeji Sikdang 금돼지 식당

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Geumdwaeji Sikdang is a samgyeopsal (grilled pork belly) restaurant that BTS visited. It is a popular restaurant featured in the Bib Gourmand guide, attracting not only the general public but also many celebrities.

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The must-try menu here is the samgyeopsal (pork belly) and moksal (pork neck). They are known for their rich juiciness and tender texture, making the meat quality stand out compared to other restaurants. While everyone may have different preferences for parts of meat, if you desire the rich and savory taste of fatty samgyeopsal, I recommend ordering the "bon-samgyeop" (original pork belly). If you want to try a leaner and softer cut, go for the "deung-moksal" (special part of a meat between pork neck and sirloin).

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blog.naver.com/linlinlinlin

One unique aspect of Geumdwaeji Sikdang is the basil wraps! The aromatic basil flavor perfectly complements the meat, creating a taste that surprises you since they go well together. Additionally, the tasty meat inside the kimchi stew is the best. At this restaurant, the staff personally grill the meat over charcoal for you, allowing you to experience the fullest juiciness.

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The registration for waiting starts at 10:30 AM, and you can enter the restaurant from 11:30 AM. Since it's a popular place with significant waiting times on weekdays and weekends, it's recommended to put your name on the waiting list and spend some time at a nearby cafe before going. It was featured in the Michelin guide, which guarantees its quality. So if you're looking for a samgyeopsal (pork belly) restaurant, I highly recommend this place.

Information

Hours: Monday~Sunday 11:30~23:00

Address: 149 Dasan-ro, Sindang-dong, Jung-gu, Seoul

Mapo/Hapjeong

Jinmi Sikdang 진미식당

Jinmi Sikdang, which has been introduced in the Michelin guide as a place where you can taste the best ganjang gejang (soy sauce marinated crab), focuses solely on selling this dish. They use only the finest and freshest blue crabs, resulting in plump crab meat and a delicious flavor. Many people visit this restaurant regularly due to its high quality and taste.

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Before the main dish of marinated crab is served, the table is filled with various side dishes. In particular, this place offers special dishes like ecklonia, steamed eggs, and soup which complement the marinated crab. These delicious side dishes are so good that the rice isn't enough. When enjoying the marinated crab, it's recommended to wrap it with ecklonia or laver. The soy sauce-marinated crab here is not salty at all, and it's filled with innards and roe, making it perfect to eat with warm rice.

After enjoying every last bit, including the rice stuck to the crab shells, you can finish the meal with Nurungji, where you mix the rice with warm water. With a price of 45,000 KRW, it's definitely worth it. For more detailed information about Jinmi Sikdang, you can check here. With Creatrip, you can enjoy Jinmi Sikdang without waiting in line!

Reserve Jinmi Sikdang Below

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Information

Hours: Monday~Saturday 12:00~20:00 (Break Time : 15:30 ~ 17:00), Closed on Sundays

Address: 186-6 Mapodae-ro, Mapo-gu, Seoul

Okdongsik 옥동식

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blog.naver.com/glass0-0Okdongsik Dwaejigukbap(Pork Rice Soup) is different from ordinary pork rice soup as it is made with a light and clear broth base. Only 100 servings are available per day, so if you can visit, it's recommended to go for breakfast or lunch, or brunch.

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One unique aspect of the rice soup (국밥) here is that the rice is served inside the soup. Try scooping a spoonful of the clean broth and place it on a thinly sliced piece of meat, topped with ssamjang (seasoned soybean paste). It's a satisfying and nourishing dish with no pork smell. Each grain of rice is chewy, allowing you to savor the full, hearty flavor.

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blog.naver.com/glass0-0

If you are visiting with two or more people, I recommend ordering the Kimchi Mandu (Kimchi Dumplings) as a side dish. The spicy flavor of the kimchi pairs well with the soup. Additionally, I suggest enjoying a glass of soju alongside a spoonful of the warm soup. The restaurant may be small and the turnover rate is not very fast, so if the wait is around the 10th group, you can expect to wait for about 50 minutes. However, it's definitely worth the wait as the flavors at Okdongsik are exceptional. If you're looking for a special experience with Korean rice soup, be sure to visit Okdongsik.

Information

Hours: Monday~Friday 11:00~20:00(Break Time: 15:00~17:00), Saturday~Sunday(11:00~21:00)

Address: 44-10 Yanghwa-ro 7-gil, Seogyo-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul-6 Mapodae-ro, Mapo-gu, Seoul

Apgujeong

Ggupdang

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Gupdang, a pork neck specialty restaurant, has been featured in the Michelin Guide for its pork neck that is aged for 15 days and grilled on a custom-made charcoal grill. It is highly praised for its rich juiciness. One unique way to enjoy it is by placing the meat and chili paste on a bed of rice, similar to sushi, allowing the savory juices to soak into the rice, enhancing the flavor of the meat.

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The must-try menu at this place is the "Moksal" (pork neck). The term "KOKUMI" is derived from the Japanese words "KOKU" (rich) and "MI" (taste), meaning a deep and rich flavor. True to its meaning, the Moksal here has a distinct texture and tenderness that sets it apart from regular pork neck meat, and that's why people keep coming back. The meat is also grilled by the staff, ensuring that you can enjoy it in its best condition.

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This place is especially known for its delicious rice, and many reviews mention that eating the rice alone is also tasty. If you're in the mood for soup, I recommend trying their Doenjang Jjigae (soybean paste stew).

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The pork here is as tender and delicious as beef, and it's known to be worth the wait. It may become your number one favorite destination for great meat when you visit! You can start registering for the waiting list from 1 p.m., so I recommend registering in advance and spending some time at a nearby cafe while you wait.

Information

Hours: Monday~Friday 15:00~22:50, Saturday~Sunday 14:00~22:50

Address: 615 Gangnam-daero, Jamwon-dong Seocho-gu, Seoul

Mandujip 뉴만두집

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Mandujip may seem expensive compared to typical dumpling restaurants, but once you try it, you'll understand why. It offers a unique and unforgettable broth flavor that you won't find anywhere else. The dumplings are served with only the broth, but the taste of the soup will linger in your memory.

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blog.naver.com/sykim0813

The handcrafted dumplings here have a thick skin, but you can barely taste the flour. They perfectly complement the light and savory broth, providing a fulfilling meal.

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A perfect complement to the dumpling soup is the nokdujeon (mung bean pancake) and gochujeon (spicy pepper pancake). The gochujeon (spicy pepper pancake) is filled with plenty of meat, making it a satisfying addition to the dumpling soup. On the other hand, the nokdujeon is a crispy and savory pancake with minimal grease. The combination of the crispy texture and the broth of the dumpling soup is delightful. A tip for ordering is to go for the banbanjeon(half nokdujeon and half gochujeon option), along with a bowl of dumpling soup. The dumpling soup can be divided into two bowls, allowing you to enjoy a variety of flavors along with the pancakes.

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If you're looking to try unique cuisine in Apgujeong, I recommend visiting this place for a different experience rather than the typical mandu-guk (dumpling soup) you can find elsewhere. Here, you can enjoy a clean and distinct flavor as they don't rely on artificial seasonings for taste.

Information

Hours: Monday~Saturday 12:00~21:30, closed on Sundays

Address : 338 Apgujeong-ro, Gangnam-gu, Seoul

Have you checked out the Michelin-starred restaurants in Seoul that offer affordable prices? As popular as these restaurants are among Koreans, I highly recommend giving them a try!

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