Neon-lit restaurant alley in Euljiro, Seoul

Photo: Dohyuk You · Unsplash License (Unsplash)

KVIBE IDOLS › Food guides › Seoul › Seoul's oldest restaurants (Jongno & Euljiro)

🍜 KVIBE Eats · Korea food guide

Seoul's oldest restaurants (Jongno & Euljiro)

Koreans call long-running restaurants "nopo" (old shops). Jongno and Euljiro, the old downtown, still have several that have served the same dish for generations.

What to eat

Where to eat

Imun Seolnongtang이문설농탕

Since 1904

Founded in 1904 and described by the Michelin Guide as the first restaurant officially registered in Seoul. Mon–Sat 08:00–15:00 & 16:30–21:00, Sun to 20:00.

Address
38-13 Ujeongguk-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul
서울 종로구 우정국로 38-13
Getting there
Jonggak Stn (종각역, Line 1)
Price
₩ (Michelin Guide price tier)
Hours
Check current hours on Naver/Kakao Map before you go
How to order · Say it in Korean설렁탕 하나 주세요. 소금 좀 주세요.Seolleongtang hana juseyo. Sogeum jom juseyo.One seolleongtang, please. Some salt, please.
Naver MapKakao Map · Street viewGoogle Maps

Cheongjinok청진옥

Since 1937

Haejangguk since 1937 — one of Seoul's oldest active restaurants. A rich beef-bone broth with cabbage and seonji (blood curd); ask for it without seonji if you prefer.

Address
32 Jong-ro 3-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul
서울 종로구 종로3길 32
Getting there
Jonggak Stn (종각역, Line 1) / Gwanghwamun Stn (Line 5)
Price
₩
Hours
Check current hours on Naver/Kakao Map before you go
How to order · Say it in Korean선지 빼고 주세요.Seonji ppaego juseyo.Without the blood curd, please.
Naver MapKakao Map · Street viewGoogle Maps

Jinokhwa Halmae Wonjo Dakhanmari진옥화할매원조닭한마리

Since 1978

The original 1978 shop of Dongdaemun's dakhanmari alley: one whole chicken boiled at your table; add rice cakes, potatoes and noodles. Daily 10:30–01:00 (last order 23:30).

Address
18 Jong-ro 40ga-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul
서울 종로구 종로40가길 18
Getting there
Dongdaemun Stn (동대문역, Lines 1·4) / Jongno 5-ga Stn
Price
₩₩
Hours
Check current hours on Naver/Kakao Map before you go
How to order · Say it in Korean닭한마리 하나에 칼국수 사리 추가요.Dakhanmari hana-e kalguksu sari chuga-yo.One dakhanmari, and add noodles.
Naver MapKakao Map · Street viewGoogle Maps

Euljiro Nogari Alley (Manseon Hof)을지로 노가리골목 만선호프

After work, the printing-shop alley fills with plastic tables: cheap draft beer and grilled nogari with spicy sauce and mayo. Manseon Hof is the best-known pub (listed 12:00–24:00).

Address
19 Eulji-ro 13-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul
서울 중구 을지로13길 19
Getting there
Euljiro 3-ga Stn (을지로3가역, Lines 2·3) Exit 4
Price
₩ · nogari ~₩1,000+ each
Hours
Check current hours on Naver/Kakao Map before you go
How to order · Say it in Korean생맥주 두 잔이랑 노가리 주세요.Saengmaekju du janirang nogari juseyo.Two draft beers and nogari, please.
Naver MapKakao Map · Street viewGoogle Maps

Nearby audio guides

🎧 Cheonggyecheon Stream🎧 Gwanghwamun Square: King Sejong & Admiral Yi🎧 Insadong & Ssamziegil

Korean dishes explained

A bowl of Korean cold noodles (naengmyeon)What Is Naengmyeon?Naengmyeon explained: buckwheat noodles in icy beef broth (mul) or spicy sauce (bibim). Pyongyang vs Hamheung …Samgyetang ginseng chicken soup at Tosokchon, SeoulWhat Is Samgyetang?Samgyetang explained: a whole young chicken stuffed with sticky rice, ginseng, jujube and garlic, simmered in …Neon-lit restaurant alley in Euljiro, SeoulJokbal & BossamJokbal (soy-braised pig's trotters) and bossam (boiled pork belly wraps) explained: how to wrap with kimchi, s…Spicy Korean kimchi stew with tofu and scallionsGamjatang (Pork Bone Soup)Gamjatang explained: a spicy stew of pork spine, potatoes, perilla seeds and greens — one of the fastest-risin…Marinated raw crab with green chilli in a metal bowlGanjang Gejang (Soy-Marinated Raw Crab)Ganjang gejang explained: raw crab marinated in soy sauce, nicknamed "bap-doduk" (rice thief). How to eat it —…Neon-lit restaurant alley in Euljiro, SeoulSeolleongtang & GomtangSeolleongtang and gomtang explained: milky or clear beef-bone soups you season yourself with salt and green on…Soju bottles chilling in ice beside a Korean BBQ grillSoju & Makgeolli GuideKorean drinks explained: green-bottle soju, fruit soju, makgeolli rice wine with jeon pancakes, somaek (soju +…

All food guides

Food stalls inside Gwangjang Market, SeoulGwangjang Market food: what to eat and whereSeoul's oldest daily market (1905): where to eat bindaetteok mung bean pancakes, yukhoe beef tartare and mayak…Fish cake skewers simmering at a Myeongdong night market stall, SeoulMyeongdong street food and where to eatMyeongdong street food stalls plus two legendary restaurants: Myeongdong Kyoja kalguksu (since 1966) and Hadon…Samgyeopsal pork belly on a Korean BBQ grillBest Korean BBQ in Seoul (the old-school way)Where to eat Korean BBQ in Seoul like a local: Mapo pork galbi at Choi Daepo, crispy bassak bulgogi at Yeokjeo…A bowl of Korean cold noodles (naengmyeon)Best naengmyeon (cold noodles) in SeoulWhere to eat Pyongyang-style naengmyeon in Seoul: Woo Lae Oak (1946), Pildong Myeonok and Eulmildae — subtle b…Samgyetang ginseng chicken soup at Tosokchon, SeoulSamgyetang and the Tongin Market lunchbox near GyeongbokgungAfter Gyeongbokgung Palace: ginseng chicken soup at Tosokchon, the coin-lunchbox at Tongin Market, and Korea S…Tteokbokki rice cakes simmering in spicy sauceSindang-dong Tteokbokki TownThe home of pot-style tteokbokki: Sindang-dong Tteokbokki Town and Mabongnim Halmeoni Tteokbokki (since 1953),…

Food guides by topic

Food stalls inside Gwangjang Market, SeoulBest food in SeoulA local guide to the best food in Seoul: Gwangjang and Namdaemun markets, Korean BBQ in Mapo, naengmyeon and c…Hot pot and dishes on a table in Euljiro-dong, SeoulHow to order at a Korean restaurantKorean restaurant etiquette for visitors: how to call staff ("jeogiyo"), table bells and kiosks, self-serve wa…

Places are long-running, well-known institutions checked against public listings (Michelin Guide, Wikipedia, tourism sites) in October 2026. No paid placements. Hours and prices change, so check the map app before you go.

← All food guides · KVIBE IDOLS home