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If there was a service that made restaurant reservations for you, would you use it?
S… So, when we go traveling to a country where there is a language barrier, like, Korea, some people find difficulty in making reservations in really famous restaurants, because, well... the language!
So, for the sake of convenience, lets say that 10 USD = 10,000 KRW.
If, there was a service that made reservations for you, at the restaurant / food place of your choice, at the date and time of your choice, would you use it?
Also, what do you think would be an adequate price range?
[Example]
Reservation for 2 on March 3rd 2024, 7 pm Korean Standard Time at [some example] food place.
What service fee would you select to be reasonable?
Looking forward to your picks!
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honestly prob not. most of the hyped up places in seoul that are hard to get into like jungsik or mingles already have systems where u can just book through catchtable or their own site in english. the language barrier isnt that bad for reservations anymore.
for the ones that actually need a korean phone number like some gogijip in mapo, id rather just show up and wait or ask my hotel concierge for free. paying 5-10 bucks for a reservation feels like a waste when most places take walk-ins anyway. maybe if it was for a super exclusive spot like a hidden tasting menu place in jongno where they only take korean calls id consider it, but thats like maybe 2% of restaurants.
for tourists yeah i can see it being useful for places like the jokbal joints in jangchungdong or those bbq spots in mapo where the menu is all hangul and the owner just stares at you. the ones that have a waitlist system but it's all phone based and they hang up if you speak english. i'd pay like 8,000 won for that, enough to cover the phone call and a bit extra
but most tourists prob overestimate how hard it is tbh. naver map has an english booking button on a ton of restaurants now, even the ones in insadong or bukchon. and if you're going to a place like the ramen shops in hongdae they don't take reservations at all, just queue up like everyone else
ngl i think the price really depends on how hard the spot is to book. for places like Onjium or Kwonsooksoo where the reservation window is like 2 minutes before it sells out, I'd pay up to 10,000 won per person. but for most of the trendy places in Hannam or Yeonnam you can just walk in on a weekday or go at 5:30 when they open
the bigger issue I see is that a lot of these famous restaurants already have a concierge service built in if you're staying at a nice hotel. the Shilla or Four Seasons concierge will book Jungsik for you if you ask a week ahead, and that's part of the room price. so the real market might be people staying at airbnbs or cheaper hotels
3,000 won per person feels like the sweet spot to me. anything more and I'd rather just use Google translate on the Naver reservation page or ask my Korean friend to call for me over kakao
Best Food in Seoul (2026)
Begin your food journey at Gwangjang Market, one of Seoul's oldest traditional markets. Try the iconic bindaetteok (mung bean pancake) at Suni's Bindaetteok for 4,000 won, or the… 🍜 Where to Start
Begin your food journey at Gwangjang Market, one of Seoul's oldest traditional markets. Try the iconic bindaetteok (mung bean pancake) at Suni's Bindaetteok for 4,000 won, or the spicy tteokbokki at the central food alley. The market is open daily from 9 AM to 10 PM and is a 5-minute walk from Jongno 5-ga Station (Line 1).
🥩 Must-Try Korean BBQ
For an unforgettable Korean BBQ experience, head to Mapo-gu's famous Meat Alley near Mapo Station. Visit Wangbijib Myeongdong (32-3 Myeongdong 2-gil) for premium hanwoo beef, with set meals starting at 40,000 won per person. They are open from 11:30 AM to 10 PM, and reservations are recommended for dinner.
🍲 Soul-Warming Soups
When the weather turns chilly, warm up with a bowl of samgyetang (ginseng chicken soup) at Tosokchon Samgyetang in Jongno-gu (5 Jahamun-ro 5-gil). Their signature dish costs 19,000 won and comes with a whole young chicken stuffed with rice and ginseng. Arrive before noon to avoid the long lines, as they open at 10 AM and close at 10 PM.
🌮 Street Food Hotspots
Myeongdong's street food stalls are a paradise for snack lovers, especially from late afternoon to evening. Try the cheese-filled hotteok (sweet pancake) at the main pedestrian street for 3,000 won, or the grilled skewers at the Myeongdong Kyoja corner. Most stalls operate from 11 AM to 10 PM, and prices range from 2,000 to 5,000 won per item.
🍜 Noodle Heaven
For a bowl of handmade kalguksu (knife-cut noodles), visit Myeongdong Kyoja (29 Myeongdong 10-gil), a legendary spot since 1966. Their kalguksu costs 9,000 won and comes in a rich chicken broth with dumplings. They are open from 10:30 AM to 9 PM, and expect a short wait during peak hours.
🍚 Bibimbap and Beyond
Experience a traditional dolsot bibimbap at Gogung in Insadong (30-1 Insadong-gil), where the hot stone bowl creates a crispy rice crust. The Jeonju-style bibimbap is 12,000 won, and the restaurant is open from 11 AM to 9 PM. Pair it with a bowl of their homemade doenjang jjigae for an extra 5,000 won.
🍰 Sweet Treats
Satisfy your sweet tooth with a visit to Cafe Onion in Seongsu-dong (8 Achasan-ro 15-gil), known for its trendy industrial vibe and pastries. Their signature pandoro (Italian sweet bread) costs 6,000 won, and the cafe opens at 8 AM. For a traditional dessert, try hotteok at the Seoul Folk Flea Market near Sinseol-dong Station.
🍺 Night Market Eats
After dark, head to the Bamdokkaebi Night Market at Banpo Hangang Park (open Fridays and Saturdays from 6 PM to 11 PM). Sample fusion dishes like kimchi fried rice balls (5,000 won) or grilled cheese skewers (4,000 won) from the food trucks. Take the subway to Express Bus Terminal Station (Lines 3, 7, 9) and walk 10 minutes to the park.
honestly the guide nailed most of it but i gotta shout out the ssamgyeopsal at samwon garden in apgujeong. it's pricier than mapo alley but the pork belly is thick cut and they grill it over charcoal which makes a huge difference. also if you're at gwangjang market don't skip the mayak gimbap, it's those tiny seaweed rolls with carrot and spinach, three bucks for a tray and they're dangerously addictive
one thing the guide missed is sundae (korean blood sausage) at the gwangjang market stall near the main entrance. it's like 3,000 won and they serve it with salt and peppers, really underrated street food. also for the bamdokkaebi night market try to go on a friday when there's more food trucks, saturdays get packed with families and the lines get ridiculous