Gangnam offers some of Seoul’s finest dining across every category, from premium Korean beef to affordable everyday Korean cooking. Here is the curated restaurant guide organized by area and price point.
Gangnam-gu is a large district south of the Han River covering several distinct dining areas with different characters. Understanding which part of Gangnam you are targeting for food makes planning much easier. The Gangnam Station area has the widest range and best value. The Apgujeong and Cheongdam areas have the premium restaurants. Garosugil (Sinsa-dong) has the most interesting independent dining scene.
Gangnam Station Area: Best Value
The streets around Gangnam Station (Line 2 and Sinbundang Line) offer excellent, affordable Korean food for the enormous working population in the surrounding office towers.
Tosokchon-style samgyetang: Several Gangnam Station area restaurants serve samgyetang (whole chicken stuffed with ginseng, glutinous rice, and jujubes in broth). 15,000 to 18,000 won per person. Nourishing, distinctly Korean, and best eaten at lunch.
Korean BBQ near Gangnam Station: Numerous dakgalbi, samgyeopsal, and galbi restaurants in the streets east of Gangnam Station Exit 10. 12,000 to 25,000 won per person. Good-value lunch and dinner options.
Ganjang gejang (간장게장): Raw crab marinated in soy sauce, sometimes called ‘rice thief’ because it is so good over rice you keep eating. Several restaurants in the Gangnam Station area specialize in this. 15,000 to 25,000 won per person.
Apgujeong and Cheongdam: Premium Dining
The Apgujeong and Cheongdam areas north of Gangnam Station are Seoul’s equivalent of a high-end restaurant district. Premium hanwoo Korean beef restaurants charge 30,000 to 80,000 won per person for a full meal. The finest restaurants here age their beef on-site and grill over oak charcoal at the table.
Omakase restaurants: Several high-end Japanese omakase (chef’s tasting menu) restaurants operate in Cheongdam, among the finest in Korea for Japanese cuisine outside Japan. 60,000 to 200,000 won per person.
Modern Korean fine dining: A new generation of chefs has established modern Korean restaurants in the Cheongdam area that reinterpret traditional Korean cuisine with contemporary techniques—priced similarly to omakase; reservations essential.
Garosugil (Sinsa-dong): Independent Dining
Garosugil’s tree-lined street and branching side lanes have some of Seoul’s most interesting independent restaurant and cafe concepts. The area is particularly strong for specialty coffee, all-day brunch, and casual Korean-international fusion dining.
Specialty coffee: Multiple roaster cafes on and around Garosugil. Budget 6,000 to 10,000 won for a specialty drink.
Pasta and Italian: Several well-regarded Italian restaurants operate in Sinsa-dong, executing Korean-inflected Italian cuisine. 20,000 to 40,000 won per person.
Brunch culture: Weekend brunch at Garosugil cafes runs from 110 amto 2 pm. Expect queues at popular spots. Average brunch with a drink: 18,000 to 28,000 won.
Getting Around Gangnam for Food
T-money card: Get one at any convenience store. Covers all Seoul and Busan subway and bus fares, with transfer discounts. See the T-money guide.
Naver Map: More accurate than Google Maps for Korean transit routing and walking directions.
Key stations: Gangnam Station (Line 2, Sinbundang Line) for the main area. Apgujeong Rodeo Station (Bundang Line) for Apgujeong and Cheongdam. Sinsa Station (Line 3, Exit 8) for Garosugil.
Gangnam Reservations and Chimaek
