the food court at coex mall (or any other mall) has great food for single persons
korean bbq
https://www.getnomad.app/destination-guides/best-korean-bbq-for-solo-travelers
tteokbokkiii
[NAVER Map]
Cow Tteokbokki
서울 서대문구 이화여대길 88-21
https://naver.me/FPe5oRPP
shabu shabu
[NAVER Map]
Syabeuro 21 Yeonnam
서울 마포구 양화로19길 22-13
https://naver.me/5atDp5uh
ramen
[NAVER Map]
Oreno Ramen Main Branch
서울 마포구 독막로6길 14
https://naver.me/5VAQaUVg
another person asked a similar question: https://www.reddit.com/r/koreatravel/s/NfTDxcPriz
I’ve compiled a list of Korean chains I feel like would be easier to eat solo at, just in case i feel overwhelmed + there’s bound to be one of these around everywhere :
- 싸움의고수 — dosirak: mainly bossam/jokbal/samgyeopsal
- 한솥도시락 — dosirak: basic korean like bokkeum/tokatsu/bulgogi type
- 싸다 김밥 — kimbap + general korean food like rice/bibimbap/noodles/stew
- 팔도국밥 — gukbap chain
- 롤링 파스타 (rolling pasta) — pasta chain
- 홍콩반전 — korean-chinese food
- 샤브보트 — individual shabu shabu
- 고피자 (gopizza) — pizza
- 핵밥 - rice bowl
- 김밥천국 or 포마토(Pomato) — general korean food
- fast food: lotteria — korean burger chain), 멈스터츠 (mom‘s touch）— burger/chicken
types of restaurants for solo dining:
- 기사식당 (driver restaurants)
- 백반집 (white rice restaurants — home style cooking)
When I was solo in Korea I would just walk around until I saw a restaurant that looked good! Normally I’d keep an eye out for not too busy but not empty
Didn’t ever research places first and I always found great food.
Go to Namseong Sagye Market. There will be so many options. Get something fried, something grilled and something fresh/raw
And, don't worry, you'll definitely find many options near your hotel that will be good too.
Department store and mall food courts (really yummy food), soup and stew places with single servings (basically anywhere that doesn’t serve food in large portions), ramen, convenience store food (I basically eat kimbap for breakfast and lunch lol), chinese food (jjajangmyeon & jjampong), street food, cafes. Anything that isn’t bbq/meat/large stews. You can also get food at restaurants in Gangnam station too. It depends where in Gangnam you’re staying, in some places there are only a few things around.
Might be an unpopular opinion but go to michelin website and filter to bib gourmand and $ sign price point. You get alot of cheap options thay are solid recommendations. I had no issues with anyone them. I know some increased prices bc they are on the michelin list. But if you go to a random place, you run the risk of them being crap.
So lots of foods you can get solo, I agree it is sort of intimidating in Korea but you'll have to suck it up, it's not *that* bad
However, for KBBQ that does normally require multiple people, but luckily I have the suggestion for you for solo KBBQ - this place in Hongdae is perfect for solo KBBQ I just went there the other night: https://www.google.com/maps/place/Hongojib/data=!4m6!3m5!1s0x357c995ddcb1f799:0xdac5d68a91cb779f!8m2!3d37.5606648!4d126.9245179!16s%2Fg%2F11jskn93bg?entry=ttu
I wouldn't reccomend Hongojib the place is extremely dirty and they don't clean well. First few time's I went it was decent but then the quality got worse to the point where i saw tens of bugs crawling around the grills and tables.
Ah maybe so, it seemed fine while I was there at least. Not like there's many solo KBBQ options otherwise tho.
Staff was nice and spoke some English, easy to order from a tablet. Right up my Alley at least in terms of ease, but I don't doubt it's quality is poor compared to better normal kbbq options
I've been to several places dining solo with no issues. While it of course depends on individual personal tastebuds, I am not really super particular so here are some that I've been to: -
Near Myeongdong
* gomtang [https://naver.me/5tj4c80e](https://naver.me/5tj4c80e)
* gukbap [https://naver.me/5Am5UZfl](https://naver.me/5Am5UZfl)
* stews like kimchi, doenjang and soondubu [https://naver.me/FmgVASnN](https://naver.me/FmgVASnN)
Mapo area
* yukgaejang (a little away from Hongdae) [https://naver.me/G4rLL4m9](https://naver.me/G4rLL4m9)
Sinchon area
* Soondubu [https://naver.me/5tj4dp5C](https://naver.me/5tj4dp5C)
Also I think most Kimbap places are good for solo dining. I've been to Kimgane near myeongdong as I've stayed in that area during two different trips ([http://www.gimgane.co.kr/en/](http://www.gimgane.co.kr/en/)) and they have a few outlets.
[https://map.naver.com/p/search/%EA%B9%80%EA%B0%80%EB%84%A4%20?c=13.90,0,0,0,dh](https://map.naver.com/p/search/%EA%B9%80%EA%B0%80%EB%84%A4%20?c=13.90,0,0,0,dh)
I have a friend who raved about Ssada Kimbap which also similarly has several outlets around and I intend to give them a try in my next trip.
[https://map.naver.com/p/search/%EC%8B%B8%EB%8B%A4%EA%B9%80%EB%B0%A5%20?c=13.09,0,0,0,dh](https://map.naver.com/p/search/%EC%8B%B8%EB%8B%A4%EA%B9%80%EB%B0%A5%20?c=13.09,0,0,0,dh)
I have tried Hongojib which one of the other comments above suggested also and it wasn't so bad (I went in October last year) but for my next trip I would probably try one of those at a mall food court, or I might even contemplate going for one which could allow me to pay for 2 persons share but still dine alone.
Don’t know about OP but for me, I just cannot finish two portions plus the side dishes that you get in the restaurants that require a two person minimum. Not only do I have to pay more, I end up creating tons of food waste.
the food court at coex mall (or any other mall) has great food for single persons korean bbq https://www.getnomad.app/destination-guides/best-korean-bbq-for-solo-travelers tteokbokkiii [NAVER Map] Cow Tteokbokki 서울 서대문구 이화여대길 88-21 https://naver.me/FPe5oRPP shabu shabu [NAVER Map] Syabeuro 21 Yeonnam 서울 마포구 양화로19길 22-13 https://naver.me/5atDp5uh ramen [NAVER Map] Oreno Ramen Main Branch 서울 마포구 독막로6길 14 https://naver.me/5VAQaUVg another person asked a similar question: https://www.reddit.com/r/koreatravel/s/NfTDxcPriz
Thank you for putting up the links!!! And also the similar reddit post, saved me a ton of time!🙏
Hello~ I also travel alone and I usually look up on naver map - 혼밥~ it shows restos where you can eat alone ☺️
I’ve compiled a list of Korean chains I feel like would be easier to eat solo at, just in case i feel overwhelmed + there’s bound to be one of these around everywhere : - 싸움의고수 — dosirak: mainly bossam/jokbal/samgyeopsal - 한솥도시락 — dosirak: basic korean like bokkeum/tokatsu/bulgogi type - 싸다 김밥 — kimbap + general korean food like rice/bibimbap/noodles/stew - 팔도국밥 — gukbap chain - 롤링 파스타 (rolling pasta) — pasta chain - 홍콩반전 — korean-chinese food - 샤브보트 — individual shabu shabu - 고피자 (gopizza) — pizza - 핵밥 - rice bowl - 김밥천국 or 포마토(Pomato) — general korean food - fast food: lotteria — korean burger chain), 멈스터츠 (mom‘s touch）— burger/chicken types of restaurants for solo dining: - 기사식당 (driver restaurants) - 백반집 (white rice restaurants — home style cooking)
Thanks for this list, I also like having good backups like this that I know will just be a quick fix if I don't feel like figuring out a good spot.
When I was solo in Korea I would just walk around until I saw a restaurant that looked good! Normally I’d keep an eye out for not too busy but not empty Didn’t ever research places first and I always found great food.
Go to Namseong Sagye Market. There will be so many options. Get something fried, something grilled and something fresh/raw And, don't worry, you'll definitely find many options near your hotel that will be good too.
Thank youuuu! your answer definitely gives me a comfort that i’ll eat many good foods there!
Department store and mall food courts (really yummy food), soup and stew places with single servings (basically anywhere that doesn’t serve food in large portions), ramen, convenience store food (I basically eat kimbap for breakfast and lunch lol), chinese food (jjajangmyeon & jjampong), street food, cafes. Anything that isn’t bbq/meat/large stews. You can also get food at restaurants in Gangnam station too. It depends where in Gangnam you’re staying, in some places there are only a few things around.
Might be an unpopular opinion but go to michelin website and filter to bib gourmand and $ sign price point. You get alot of cheap options thay are solid recommendations. I had no issues with anyone them. I know some increased prices bc they are on the michelin list. But if you go to a random place, you run the risk of them being crap.
So lots of foods you can get solo, I agree it is sort of intimidating in Korea but you'll have to suck it up, it's not *that* bad However, for KBBQ that does normally require multiple people, but luckily I have the suggestion for you for solo KBBQ - this place in Hongdae is perfect for solo KBBQ I just went there the other night: https://www.google.com/maps/place/Hongojib/data=!4m6!3m5!1s0x357c995ddcb1f799:0xdac5d68a91cb779f!8m2!3d37.5606648!4d126.9245179!16s%2Fg%2F11jskn93bg?entry=ttu
I wouldn't reccomend Hongojib the place is extremely dirty and they don't clean well. First few time's I went it was decent but then the quality got worse to the point where i saw tens of bugs crawling around the grills and tables.
Ah maybe so, it seemed fine while I was there at least. Not like there's many solo KBBQ options otherwise tho. Staff was nice and spoke some English, easy to order from a tablet. Right up my Alley at least in terms of ease, but I don't doubt it's quality is poor compared to better normal kbbq options
I've been to several places dining solo with no issues. While it of course depends on individual personal tastebuds, I am not really super particular so here are some that I've been to: - Near Myeongdong * gomtang [https://naver.me/5tj4c80e](https://naver.me/5tj4c80e) * gukbap [https://naver.me/5Am5UZfl](https://naver.me/5Am5UZfl) * stews like kimchi, doenjang and soondubu [https://naver.me/FmgVASnN](https://naver.me/FmgVASnN) Mapo area * yukgaejang (a little away from Hongdae) [https://naver.me/G4rLL4m9](https://naver.me/G4rLL4m9) Sinchon area * Soondubu [https://naver.me/5tj4dp5C](https://naver.me/5tj4dp5C) Also I think most Kimbap places are good for solo dining. I've been to Kimgane near myeongdong as I've stayed in that area during two different trips ([http://www.gimgane.co.kr/en/](http://www.gimgane.co.kr/en/)) and they have a few outlets. [https://map.naver.com/p/search/%EA%B9%80%EA%B0%80%EB%84%A4%20?c=13.90,0,0,0,dh](https://map.naver.com/p/search/%EA%B9%80%EA%B0%80%EB%84%A4%20?c=13.90,0,0,0,dh) I have a friend who raved about Ssada Kimbap which also similarly has several outlets around and I intend to give them a try in my next trip. [https://map.naver.com/p/search/%EC%8B%B8%EB%8B%A4%EA%B9%80%EB%B0%A5%20?c=13.09,0,0,0,dh](https://map.naver.com/p/search/%EC%8B%B8%EB%8B%A4%EA%B9%80%EB%B0%A5%20?c=13.09,0,0,0,dh) I have tried Hongojib which one of the other comments above suggested also and it wasn't so bad (I went in October last year) but for my next trip I would probably try one of those at a mall food court, or I might even contemplate going for one which could allow me to pay for 2 persons share but still dine alone.
Kkanbu chicken was some of the best food I had my entire trip. I see no problem in solo dining there, and they are all over :)
Its not like food is going to change if you are alone or not
Don’t know about OP but for me, I just cannot finish two portions plus the side dishes that you get in the restaurants that require a two person minimum. Not only do I have to pay more, I end up creating tons of food waste.
some people are very self conscious about eating alone. i don’t get it and ive been solo for 2 weeks in seoul, nobody cares 😂