What To Eat In Myeongdong: From Restaurants To Street Food

Myeongdong is one of the most popular districts in Seoul, Korea for tourists to stay, eat, shop, and more. If you’re looking for one of the most central districts in Seoul to stay, it’s Myeongdong. If you’re looking for plenty of shopping from Kbeauty to apparel, it’s Myeongdong. There are so many things to do in Myeongdong too.

What you may not realize though, is that Myeongdong can also be a foodie paradise. This article is all about what to eat in Myeongdong, the best restaurants in Myeongdong, and the very delicious street food in Myeongdong. Get ready to eat eat eat… between shopping stops I’m sure.

Korean street food, Myeongdong, Seoul, Korea

Myeongdong in Seoul, Korea is more than shopping. It’s a foodie adventure:

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How to get to Myeongdong

There are two subway stations that can get you right to the Myeongdong neighborhood. Head to Myeongdong Station and go out of exit 6 to enter Myeongdong from the south or take Euljiro 1-ga Subway Station and go out of exit 5 or 6 and enter the Myeongdong district from the north.

Best restaurants in Myeongdong

Delicious soup restaurants in Myeongdong

Myeongdong Kyoja (명동교자)

One of the most popular and touristy restaurants in Myeongdong. They’ve been serving their delicious concoctions since 1966. The most popular dish is kalguksu (칼국수), a noodle soup with hand-cut noodles. Don’t be surprised when you walk by one… and then another. There are two branches of Myeongdong Kyoja in the area and they’re both popular for serving up the same delicious dish.

Address: 29 Myeongdong 10-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul (서울 중구 명동10길 29)
Hours: Every day: 10:30am ~ 9:30pm

Hadongkwan (하동관)

Opened in the 1930s, Hadongkwan is my go-to restaurant in Myeongdong when I don’t have any other plans. It is one of the oldest restaurants in the area and serves two dishes: gomtang (곰탕), a beef bone soup, and suyuk (수육), a boiled beef soup. Pro Tip: When you see a restaurant in Korea that serves up only one or two dishes, you know they do those dishes really really well.

Gomtang is a traditional Korean soup made by boiling beef and radish for hours. It’s a great soup to replenish you after long hours of walking in the city or shopping in Myeongdong. This is a popular spot with delicious soup.

Address: 12 Myeongdong 9-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul (서울 중구 명동9길 12)
Hours: Every day: 7:00am ~ 4:00pm

Myeongdong Hamheung Myeonok (명동함흥면옥 본점)

My husband’s go-to dish when we’re out on the town is naengmyeon. This Korean cold noodle soup took awhile to grow on me, but it sure did. If you want something that is simple, classic, and delicious, try this spot. You can get a variety of cold noodle dishes including the classic mul naengmyeon (물냉면) as well as the spicier version, bibim naengmyeon (비빔냉면). Let me know if it grows on you too.

Address: 35-19 Myeongdong 10-gil, Seoul (서울 중구 명동10길 35-19)
Hours: Monday – Saturday: 11:00am ~ 8:00pm

Baekje Samgyetang (백제삼계탕)

If you’re not an adventurous eater but one something comforting, samgyetang is a great Korean dish to enjoy. Baekje Samgyetang is famous for their mouth-watering and nourishing samgyetang that features a whole young chicken that has been stuffed with ginseng, sticky rice, and herbs. The restaurant slow cooks the dish to perfection. Samgyetang is a popular dish year round as Koreans see it as very healthy and hearty.

Address: 8-10 Myeongdong 8-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul (서울 중구 명동8길 8-10)
Hours: Every day: 9:00am ~ 10:00pm

Inamjang (이남장)

Another delicious Korean soup is seolleongtang. This is a savory beef bone soup. It’s simple and approachable and so satisfying. Eat it with the delicious raddish kimchi they have on the table and it’s a great meal to have in Myeongdong. I thoroughly enjoyed this soup the last time I was in the area. This restaurant also has a lot of space, unlike some others in the area. There are two floors with some beautiful najeonchilgi to see.

Address: 39 Myeongdong 9-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul (서울 중구 명동9길 39)
Hours: Every day: 8:30am ~ 9:00pm

Miseongok (미성옥)

This seolleongtang is another favorite that has been open since 1966. Ox bone is boiled for hours to create a milky broth that is seasoned with green onions. This restaurant is a bit more popular with Koreans in the area and is tucked away but if you can find it, your belly will be happy.

Address: 25-11 Myeongdong-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul (서울 중구 명동길 25-11)
Hours: Every day: 6:00am ~ 9:00pm

Fried chick restaurants in Myeongdong

Two Two Chicken Myeongdong (둘둘치킨 명동본점)

The main branch of Two Two Chicken, if you’re looking to try some of Korea’s famous friend chicken in Myeongdong, go here. They serve a variety of chicken dishes including yangnyeom, or seasoned, and crispy soy garlic. The chicken is known for a crispy exterior and juicy interior. Don’t miss out on Korea’s friend chicken.

Address: 5 Twegye-ro, Jung-gu, Seoul (서울 중구 퇴계로20길 5)
Hours: Monday – Saturday: 11:00am ~ 12:00am

BCH Chicken (BHC치킨 명동본점)

This branch chicken spot is a Korean local favorite. BHC is the “Better & Happier Choice” and has been endorsed by the popular Korean actress Jun Ji Hyun. If you’re looking for that chimaek experience, this might be the spot for you. This is one of our tried and true friend chicken favorites.

Address: 21 Myeongdong 7-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul (서울 중구 명동7길 21)
Hours: Every day: 12:00pm ~ 12:00am

Puradak Chicken (푸라닭 명동점)

Endorsed by Korean celebrity Jung Hae In, they specialize in oven baked fried chicken. They say that oven baking helps to retain the moisture and then they deep fry it afterward to get that crispy texture. If you want to leave Korea as a Korean fried chicken aficionado, perhaps you need to compare the options to know the truth.

Address: 21 Myeongdong 7-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul (서울 중구 명동7길 21)
Hours: Every day: 12:00pm ~ 11:30pm

Oppadak (오븐에빠진닭 명동점)

Get the half and half here and try a couple different friend chicken recipes in one go. They are well known for their crispy on the outside, tender on the inside fried chicken.

Address: 21 Myeongdong 7-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul (서울 중구 명동7길 21)
Hours: Every day: 11:30am ~ 3:00am

Korean BBQ restaurants in Myeongdong

Wangbijib (왕비집)

One of the most popular Korean BBQ restaurants in Myeongdong, Wangbijib means “Imperial Princess’s House” and they offer a variety of premium meals but at pretty budget friendly prices. If you’re craving beef for dinner, this is absolutely where you should go first.

Address: 26 Myeongdong 8-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul (서울 중구 명동8가길 26)
Hours: Every day: 10:00am ~ 10:00pm (Break time: 2:00pm ~ 5:00pm)

Yuk Tong Ryeong (육통령 명동본점)

This Korean BBQ restaurant serves up the Jeju black pig specialty. Can’t head to Jeju? You can still eat the good food that comes from there.

Address: 37-2 Myeongdong 8na-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul (서울 중구 명동8나길 37-2)
Hours: Every day: 11:30am ~ 11:00pm

Gwanghwamun Special Meat House (광화문특고기 정동집)

This upscale meat house serves all of your favorites with a chandelier hanging above you. There is a great selection of premium high-quality meat here. You’ll pay a bit more than other places but the meat is juicy.

Address: 3rd floor, 55 Myeongdong-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul (서울 중구 명동길 55 3층)
Hours: Every day: 11:00am ~ 10:00pm

Other Korean specialty restaurants in Myeongdong

Myeongdong Donkaseu (명동돈가스)

Donkaseu is another relatable approachable dish. You’ll find fried cutlets in numerous countries around the world. If you’re looking for something that will definitely hit the spot, try their pork or seafood donkaseu. Myeongdong Donkaseu was founded in 1983 and has been featured on quite a few TV shows so don’t be surprises that it is popular. Very good. Very easy.

Address: 8 Myeongdong 3-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul (서울 중구 명동3길 8)
Hours: Every day: 11:00am ~ 9:00pm

Andong Jjimdak (안동찜닭)

If you don’t have time for a trip to Andong to try this famous dish where it was created, you should still enjoy it somewhere. This chicken dish isn’t fried, instead it simmers in a spicy ganjang sauce and has potatoes, carrots and glass noodles accompanying it. It will steam you up in the winter and make you sweat in the summer. It’s delicious and this is a popular and well-known brand to try the good stuff.

Address: 3 Myeongdong 10-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul (서울 중구 명동10길 3)
Hours: Every day: 11:00am ~ 10:00pm (Break time: 4:00pm ~ 5:00pm)

Dakgalbi (닭갈비), spicy stir fry chicken, Chuncheon, Korea; Korean food

Yoogane Myeongdong (유가네닭갈비 명동역점)

Another restaurant that I would say you should travel to have the dish in the place it is famous for if you can, but if you can’t have it here. Yoogane serves up dakgalbi (닭갈비) which is a famous dish from Chuncheon. Get chicken, vegetables, rice cakes, and a gochujang sauce on a grill that cooks before you. It is so so good.

Address: 19 Myeongdong 8ga-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul (서울 중구 명동8가길 19)
Hours: Every day: 10:00am ~ 11:00pm

Foreign food restaurants in Myeongdong

Menten (멘텐)

This one-chef ramen restaurant was mentioned in the Michelin Bib Gourmand and only serves two dishes: Shoyu Ramen and Tantanmen. There is often a line so you’ll have to wait for this one.

Address: 305 Samildae-ro Jung-gu, Seoul (서울 중구 삼일대로 305)
Hours: Monday – Saturday: 11:40am ~ 7:30pm (Break time: 2:30pm ~ 5:40pm)

Isaac Toast (이삭토스트 서울명동점)

I’m not exactly sure if this is foreign, but it’s toast with an egg and bacon so it could be more foreign than Korean. Then though, it’s topped with cabbage which is very Korean. This is a popular branch for a quick “snack” as Koreans call it, though it fills me up more than most snacks. This is a good option if you want something for breakfast too. Don’t expect a savory egg and bacon toast though. It’s definitely got a sweet sauce that tops it but it really does grow on you… well me.

Address: 105 Twegye-ro, Jung-gu, Seoul (서울 중구 퇴계로 105)
Hours: Monday – Saturday: 7:00am ~ 7:00pm

Din Tai Fung (딘타이펑 명동점)

This Taiwanese restaurant is super popular with Koreans. If you’re looking for something not Korean, go here to enjoy a variety of dumplings, noodle soups, stir fries and more.

Address: 13 Myeongdong 7-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul (서울 중구 명동7길 13)
Hours: Every day: 11:00am ~ 9:00pm

Crystal Jade (크리스탈제이드 소공점)

This Chinese-style chain has a number of branches in Asia and in the US. They specialize in Cantonese cuisine. It’s a popular place with more than 10 stores in Korea and you can enjoy delicious Shanghai-style dishes, Canton-style dishes, and Hong Kong-style dim sum. The atmosphere is wonderful here.

Address: B1 Hankook Building, 16 Namdaemun-ro 7-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul (서울 중구 남대문로7길 16 한국빌딩 B1)
Hours: Every day: 11:30am ~ 10:00pm (Break time: 3:30pm ~ 5:00pm)

Most popular street food in Myeongdong

While there are restaurants upon restaurants upon restaurants to enjoy in Myeongdong, one of the great things about the area is the vast array of street foods. From traditional Korean street foods to fun quirky things and foreign specialties too, there are so many stalls of street food in Myeongdong that you could stall hop for every meal that you’re in Myeongdong and still not eat everything.

Street food stalls in Myeongdong you can find:

Tteokbokki (떡볶이): Spicy stir-fried rice cakes in a sweet and spicy gochujang (red chili pepper paste) sauce. You’ll see this everywhere. You’ll need to try it at least once if you ask me!
Egg bread (계란빵): One of my favorites because I can never pass up a good sunny side up egg. Egg bread is a light sweet bread topped with an egg. Straight forward and delicious.
Hotteok (호떡): Sweet Korean pancake filled with a gooey mixture of brown sugar, cinnamon, and nuts. This is the perfect dessert to finish up any meal. Kids will LOVE this too.
Odeng (Eomuk (어묵)): Fish cake skewers served in a hot, savory broth. A popular street snack during colder months. If you see broth and sticks sticking up out of it, that’s the odeng. You pay for a few and then pick them out of the broth.
Gimbap (김밥): Korean-style seaweed rice rolls filled with various ingredients like vegetables, meat, and pickles.

Mandu (만두): Korean dumplings filled with a mixture of meat and vegetables, usually steamed or fried. Dumplings are popular the world over. This is another approachable Korean dish.
Twigim (튀김): Assorted deep-fried snacks like vegetables, fish cakes, and dumplings, served crispy and hot. My personal favorite are the fried sesame leaves.
Fried Chicken: Crispy and flavorful Korean fried chicken, available in various seasonings and sauces. Don’t have time to visit a Korean fried chicken restaurant? You can get smaller portions from the street stalls.
Korean chicken skewers (닭꼬치): This is a popular snack on a stick. The chicken is usually coated with a sweet and spicy sauce. But can also just be seasoned with salt.
Bungeoppang (붕어빵): Fish-shaped pastries filled with sweet red bean paste, a popular Korean street dessert. This is my daughter’s personal favorite when we’re out and about. Best had from a street food stall.
Japchae (잡채): Japchae is a glass noodle dish with vegetables mixed in. A kind of chop suey if you will. If you want something of the veg and carb variety, try this to satiate you.

Okonomiyaki (오코노미야키): A Japanese street food that you might recognize. It’s popular here too.
Takoyaki (타코야키): Similarly, you can find takoyaki, another popular Japanese street food.
Hotdogs/Corndogs/Cheesedogs (감자핫도그): Basically if it goes well with a hotdog, it’ll be on it. Korean corndogs are bigger than ones I ever saw in the US. Big, delicious, and steamy.
BBQ Lamb on a stick (양꼬치): I love lamb. I didn’t know that before visiting Korea honestly. Find the lamb on a stick and see what I mean.
Octopus and BBQ skewers (버터문어): As mentioned, you can have a full meal at the street food stalls. Main dish? Octopus or bbq on a stick. Delicious, delectable, easy to eat on the go.

Tornado Potatoes (회오리감자): Similarly to the above… well a lot of the above. So many things on a stick. If you like potatoes, get the potatoes on a stick. Spiraled beauties.
Corn on the cob (옥수수): Should need no introduction. Sweet corn on the cob is always a winner. Korean sweet corn might be a bit chewier than you expect though.
Grilled shrimp (고운새우): Maybe you’re looking for a fishy feast. Start with some grilled shrimp and then head back for those octopus skewers mentioned above.
Roasted Lobster (랍스터): Still going for a fishy kick, there’s also roasted lobster topped with cheese to look out.
Grilled scallops with cheese (관자구이): These ones always smell so good as we walk by. If you like seafood, stick around for the scallops.

Fruit on a stick: Especially in the summer, you will find whole carts dedicated to the freshest and juiciest of fruits. Take a break between bites for something fruity.
Fresh juice: Along with the fruit to chew on, there is also fresh squeezed juice like orange juice and pomegranate juice among many others and mixtures.
Tanghulu (탕후루): These fruit on a stick are also carnalized. They’ve been getting pretty popular the past couple of years and trending. Even my daughter wanted to check them out the last time we visited Myeongdong.
Banana Nutella Crepes: Not everything is traditional. There are some sweet treat stalls too. We noticed one with Nutella and bananas and couldn’t wait to eat.

This list could go on and on in all honesty. When the street food carts are out in full swing, there is just too much to enjoy for one trip. Take advantage of the goodness and stall hop when you can.

FAQ

What time do restaurants open in Myeongdong?

Korea is not really a morning country despite it’s moniker “Land of the Morning Calm”. Actually, I take that back. It is very calm in the mornings because not much is open. What you’ll find is that some soup restaurants will be open as they’re known to be good for hangovers.

But generally, cafes for coffee or bakeries won’t open until 9:00am or 10:00am and in Myeongdong things can get started even as late as 11:00am.

When is the best time to get street food in Myeongdong?

The street vendors start putting up their carts in the early afternoon during the week but you’ll want to go after 4:00pm, if you want to see the max! On the weekends, they set up a bit earlier to take advantage of that late lunch and dinner rush though so you can go as early as 2:00pm and get some good eats!

How much does the street food in Myeongdong cost?

While most Korean street food is generally not more than W5,000, in Myeongdong, you’ll see a lot of specialty foods and items that you don’t get anywhere else like steak! Some items can cost up to W15,000.

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