Koreatown Food Tour

Annyeonghaseyo! In the past, we have recommended you visit Koreatown multiple times. You can find our awesome night market article here. You may wonder, if I visit Koreatown, what and where should I eat, and obviously everyone struggles with this question. We were on a quest to find the most delicious food for your family and friends, and here is the list of food and drinks we think you should try too. Enjoy the article and start planning your trip to check out these delicious destinations. 

 

Jjajangmyeon and Spicy Seafood Soup

 

Jjajangmyeon, black bean sauce noodles, is one of the popular dishes you have to try when you visit Koreatown. There are several restaurants that sell the noodle dish but the most authentic and delicious place is in a hidden corner of the shopping mall Seoul Plaza. 

 

 

The pair that you shouldn’t break up when you order is Jjajangmyeon (30 RMB) and sweet & sour pork (S-65 RMB, M-95 RMB). If you have extra room after having jjajangmyeon, you might also enjoy Spicy Noodle Soup (35 RMB) which comes in a generous amount, and is great for a hangover (from personal experience). 

 

 

Address:  Rm 100, 1000 Hongquan Road, Jingting Building a.k.a Seoul Plaza

 

Ginseng Chicken Soup

 

Samgyetang (ginseng chicken soup, 68 RMB) is a nourishing soup that's made with a small chicken, tasty and tender with its ginseng flavored meat. This hearty and comforting soup is an iconic summer dish among Koreans. It's a popular food that helps to fight the summer heat. But don't worry if you don't get to it before summer ends, Samgyetang is a nutritious dish which you can enjoy all year around. 

 

 

P.S. the soup comes with 10 ml of alcohol on the side for you to pour into the soup. Using it is optional. 

 

Address: 3F, 1078 Hongquan Road, Jingting Tiandi Life Plaza

 

Fish Cake Soup

 

Another comfort food for you to try is Fish Cake Soup. Soup will gain popularity as weather gets cooler, so this will be the perfect dish to have. It comes in a big pot and can be shared among four people which makes it great for a family and friends gathering. There are a variety of dishes available on the menu but I would like to highlight boiled octopus, dry steamed clam, pork skin, and rice cake (tteokbokki). 

 

 

 

Address: No. 46, Lane 1101 Hongquan Road, close to Gmart

 

Korean BBQ

 

There are tons of bbq restaurants in Koreatown. It can be overwhelming, and there are many articles that tell you a lot of information about them. In order to not recommend the same place over again, this place (Sun Yu Aged Wagyu BBQ 善煜熟成和牛烤肉（韩国街店）) is worth trying. Located at the third floor of the shopping mall (Jingting Tiandi Life Plaza). It offers not only great quality meat but also aged beef (2 weeks, 4 weeks, 6 weeks). 

 

 

 

Address: 3F, 1078 Hongquan Road, Jingting Tiandi Life Plaza

 

Tea

 

There is great selection of teas you can try without buying the whole jar or packets. You may have noticed big jars and packets of teas in supermarkets, but may not be sure which tea to buy because you don’t know the taste. No worries! More Coffee offers a wide selection of tea and coffee for you to try and flush down all the delicious dishes you had for lunch/dinner or to just simply take a tea/coffee break. 

 

 

Dessert

 

You know what you deserve? Dessert. Luo Cake is conveniently located on the second floor of the shopping mall (Jingting Tiandi Life Plaza). It is the perfect place to complete your South Korean cuisine experience after indulging in k-bbq. The bingsu/bingsoo can actually serve up to four people if you have a smaller appetite. If you are a fan of matcha then Matcha and Red Bean bingsoo (54 RMB) is the one. It had me swooning from the first bite and simply tasted heavenly with the luxurious smoothness of the fluffy shaved ice. 

 

 

Another store to check out is Pangcaron, same shopping mall as bingsoo but third floor. They are two or three times more filling than French macarons. These can’t be eaten in just one bite. You are welcome to try, but with so much filling, it is probably best when savoured slowly. Some of them contain a whole grape, strawberry, or even chocolate bar.

 

 

Address: 1078 Hongquan Road, Jingting Tiandi Life Plaza

 

Molang Walnut Cake

 

Located at the entrance of Lianhua supermarket, you will find freshly made walnut cakes. If you are on a hunt for simple yet delicious desserts, then these are for you. Whenever you have them, they are always fresh and warm straight out of the pan. A perfect treat for a perfect day with your family and friends. 

 

 

Tent Restaurants

 

Tent restaurants are a great way to enjoy time with your loved ones and they are fun. If you have watched any South Korean dramas or movies, then you probably have seen tent restaurants. They are smaller-sized restaurants in a tent that serve street food or other delicacies. We have tried several places and here's the breakdown: 

 

Chicken

If you are in the mood for chicken dishes like fried chicken with beer or others, you have to stop by this place. It offers a variety of chicken dishes that are delicious. 

 

 

Grilled BBQ Meat

 

Most of the tents served grilled meat. Give it a try at this famous place called Leng San xiansheng a.k.a Korean Porkbelly & Soju. 

 

 

Korean Blood Sausage

 

Not to be confused with a dessert, this sundae is a blood sausage that contains pork intestine, noodles, and barley. Definitely a unique delicacy to try. 

 

 

 

Soup is wonderful for any time of the year. Korean blood sausage (rice and soup 45 RMB) is one of the soups you should try and it comes in an earthenware pot with rich broth and a generous amount of meat. 

 

Address: 1F, 1000 Hongquan Road, Jinting Building a.k.a Seoul Plaza

 

Supermarkets

 

There are a total of five marts to check out while you visit Koreatown: W Mart, KMart, Lianhua, G Mart, and WOORI Mart. WOORI Mart is located inside the shopping mall Jingting Tiandi Life Plaza on the third floor and is the smallest compared to others. You will find tons of South Korean imported goods from skincare to sauces. All five of them carry everything you need to get started with Korean home cooking. In addition, customers are greeted by the sight of ahjummas as they prepare freshly packed kimchi, banchan (side dishes), and freshly hand rolled kimbap right at the entrance of most supermarkets. 

 

Sounds cool? Then you can look forward to dining-in at their in-store food stalls in the future.

 

 

Other dry goods are perfect to stock up on for your pantry from packaged soup to snacks and a range of drinks (both alcoholic and non-alcoholic). 

 

 

W Mart

Address: 1000 Hongquan Road

 

 

Kmart

Address: 1078 Hongquan Road, Jingting Tiandi Life Plaza

 

 

G Mart

Address: No. 57-58, A4, Lane 1101 Hongquan Road

 

 

WOORI Mart

Address: 3F, Jingting Tiandi Life Plaza, Hongquan Road

 

Side Dishes

 

 

Let us take a moment and appreciate their side dishes. Delicious to every bite. If you haven’t tried them yet, plan your trip and buy a bunch. A wide selection of side dishes is available for you to choose. When you spread them on the dining table, it is truly a sight to behold. Here are the popular side dishes (banchan) you can purchase over the counter.

Kimchi

Radish Kimchi

Sweet Soy Braised Lotus Roots

Spicy Radish Salad

Stir-fried Anchovies

Pickled Garlic

Pickled Cucumbers

 

Kitchenware

 

If you are looking for Korean kitchenware products, look no further than Koreatown. It offers everything you need from utensils to earthenware pots. 

 

 

Address: Rm 103, Block A, 1000 Hongquan Road, Jingting Building (next to Jjajangmyeon restaurant) 

 

Spas

 

If you haven’t been to a sauna, I would absolutely recommend you visit New Star. Such a relaxing place to stay with an affordable price. I do not have to go on and on about saunas, but I would like to recommend a dish or two when you are there. Bossam (boiled pork served with cabbage wrap) is definitely one of the dishes you have to try. The meat is boiled in a flavourful brine until tender and served thinly sliced (already drooling). 

 

 

Multiple locations

Address: No.1, Lane 258 South Jinhui Road, near Hongquan Road