When I arrived in Seoul, my first thought was what restaurant I would try first (and definitely not about how exhausted I felt after travelling for 24+ hours – flying from the East Coast is not for the weak…).
Jokes aside, the street below our dorms was teeming with restaurant after restaurant, and I started to wonder how I would get to try everything. As a super forward thinker, I was already getting upset that I was only here for four months!
I’ve consumed a fair share of media about the amazing food in Korea, so trying as many new restaurants while here was at the absolute top of my list.
Now that I've been here for about a month, I’ve compiled a small list of some of my favorite restaurants so far near the Korea University dormitories for your convenience. Whether it be a friend’s recommendation or a chance place I stumbled upon, I guarantee a solid five-star rating for each place on this list!
1. Nan Ban (난반)
Naver Maps Address: 서울 동대문구 제기로2길 15 1층
I chanced upon this Japanese restaurant with the help of my Language Exchange buddy, a person I was paired with through the school to help exchange each other’s native languages! After a long day of looking at cherry blossoms and chatting at a cafe, we were so ready to have dinner. Among the many spots she knew of around the school, Nan Ban was her recommendation.
Nan Ban is only a 6-minute walk from Korea University, but not many students actually know about it. She said, “This place is hidden, but it’s a hot spot among my friends because the food is so good, and the prices are reasonable!”
At first bite, I already knew that I could trust her with more recommendations. The combination of egg yolk, thinly sliced beef, rice, and green onions was one I didn’t know I needed. I think the photo speaks for itself!
My dish: Gyudon
Her dish: Myeongran Oil Pasta
2. Quan Bui
Naver Maps Address: 서울 성북구 고려대로27길 28
After trying three different Vietnamese restaurants in Seoul, the best pho I’ve had in Korea so far has been from Quan Bui – which is conveniently only 8 minutes from campus!
Located right down the Anam hill in the same alleyway as Mega Coffee, Quan Bui has cozy, traditional decor that instantly makes you feel like you’re in Vietnam.
As someone who is Vietnamese, my standard for the food is quite high. It’s not easy to find authentic-tasting Vietnamese food anywhere, and to find something that hits the pho cravings so close to the dorms was a miracle! I will say, there were dishes from other cultures on the menu (like the Basil Rice), but I came for the pho, and was not disappointed.
My dish: Beef Brisket Rice Noodles
Their dishes: Beef Brisket Rice Noodles, Basil Pork Rice Bowl (Pad Khao Moo Sap)
Side dishes: Fried Bananas, Spring Rolls
3. Bamboo Cafe
Naver Address: 서울 성북구 안암로 73-3 1층
Not a restaurant, but this is my absolute favorite cafe in the Seongbuk-gu area! I’m pretty sure the owner recognizes me from how many times I’ve gone here…
I first passed by this cafe with a few friends before we grabbed dinner, and knew we had to go after we finished. The sign was what first caught my eye, but when you go through the entrance, it becomes a bamboo forest.
For all you night owls, the cafe is also open until midnight! A section of it even becomes a pub/bar area.
What I recommend: The Crimson Latte or Jeju Matcha Latte – I’ve gotten them on multiple occasions, and it's the best every time!
Surprisingly, every restaurant that has seemed to make it to this list is not Korean cuisine. While, of course, there are amazing Korean eateries in the area, it’s incredible to see how diverse the food is so close by. It’s super convenient to eat around campus when there are so many options!
If there’s one thing that’ll get my steps in for the day, it’s going to be the food. I genuinely don’t think I’ll be able to try every restaurant in the area – but it makes going up and down the infamous Anam hill so worth it!