Seoul Station Food Guide: 50 Local Lunch Spots

If you are planning a trip to Seoul and exploring the bustling Seoul Station and City Hall areas, knowing where to grab a reliable meal is essential. Here is a comprehensive guide featuring 50 tested lunch spots recommended by a local office worker who spent three years dining around the district. All walking distances are measured from Seoul Square.

Company-Funded Lunches and Dining Spots

For those dining with a generous travel budget or looking for elevated sit-down meals, consider these options:

• Independence Mill Seoul Station: A great spot for a relaxed meal.

• Sympathy Cuvee Seoul Station: Highly recommended for lunch over dinner, and suitable for dates or social gatherings.

• Tokyo Steak Seoul Square Branch: Located conveniently in Seoul Square.

• Donga Ok Seoul Branch: A premium dining choice in the area.

Everyday Lunch Recommendations

Explore a wide variety of cuisines ranging from traditional Korean soups and noodles to international flavours:

• KGML: Specialises in jambon-beurre. Note that portions are on the smaller side, making it ideal for a light lunch.

• Eojjeoda Nongbu (Namdaemun Branch): A 9-minute walk away, serving well-received curry and pasta. The seating area is compact, so expect possible queues.

• Iyeo Gomtang Seoul Station Branch: Perfect for a hearty, traditional beef soup.

• Dunchon Shabu Kalguksu Seoul Station Branch: Ideal for comforting shabu-shabu noodles.

• Ijo Sikdang: A 12-minute walk away offering exceptional value, featuring bean sprout bibimbap and banquet noodles for 5,000 won. The owner is very friendly, though note that guests are asked to blow their noses outside.

• Jeju Sanbang Sikdang Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry Branch: A 16-minute walk away, serving wheat cold noodles and Sanbang dumpling warm noodles.

• Myeongdong Kyoja: A 25-minute walk to Myeongdong, famous for its iconic kalguksu.

• Gapyeong Dakgomtang: Serves gomtang, spicy braised pork (jjageuli), and cockle bibimbap.

• Gamatot Jokbal Sundae Guk: A budget-friendly spot for pork trotters and blood sausage soup, though cleanliness may not suit sensitive visitors.

• Mimi Pasta: A cosy venue recommended when craving Western cuisine.

• Daejangbu Gogi Jip: Offers dedicated lunch menus featuring spicy stir-fried pork (jeyuk), soybean paste stew, and kimchi stew.

• Jeongseon Halmae Gondeure Bab: Specialises in thistle rice dishes.

• Gui Pocha: Known for pork cutlets.

• Sodam Bibim Guksu Yonsei Arcade Branch: Refreshing bibim guksu.

• Cha Cha Thai: Located along the trendy Seoullo pedestrian path (Manlidong-gil), highly praised as a top Thai food spot near Seoul Station and City Hall.

• Hoehyeon Sikdang: Recommended for group gatherings, featuring dishes like golden eye snapper claypot rice and grilled fish heads.

• Yukisaki: Located 250 metres from Exit 12, serving reliable katsudon and ramen.

• Seoul Boutique: A wine bar a 13-minute walk away that also serves pasta, risotto, and pizza.

• Combak: A brunch spot a 14-minute walk away situated near Manlidong-gil, perfect for a stroll.

• Jou: A Japanese home-style restaurant where the shrimp-marinated donburi is a standout.

• Hulato Sikdang Seoul Station Branch: A popular choice for Japanese dining.

• Adnan Kebab: Serves kebabs, though portions are lighter than Subway, making it suitable for a snack.

• Bin Gonggan Seoul Station Branch: Operates as a wine bar and bistro in the evenings but offers a rotating, highly praised lunch menu (such as beef intestine rice bowl).

• Luon: A neat and clean Vietnamese noodle shop located a 13-minute walk away.

• Imo Bunsik: Serves tteokbokki, rabokki, kimbap, and spicy pork.

• Sawi Sikdang Seoul Square Branch: Specialises in nakgopchae (octopus, beef intestine, and shrimp hot pot).

• Geumjane Saengdeunsim: A cost-effective spot recommended for both lunch and group gatherings, serving beef radish soup, beef bibimbap, and tuna sashimi rice bowl.

• Yuzuramen: Famous for its ramen, though waiting times are extremely long unless you arrive right at opening time.

• Iine: An alternative to Yuzuramen favored by local food connoisseurs.

• Dokkaebi Cottage: Serves Mexican and Honduran dishes, though the small space makes it difficult for groups larger than five.

• The Bak Food Truck: Located in the Itaewon direction, great to visit if you want a longer walk.

• Barbie: Another option for brunch.

• Oso Galbi: Offers special lunch menus.

• Hoang Viet Seoul Station Branch: A highly recommended Vietnamese restaurant serving great rice noodles and cilantro highballs.

• Noiden: Another local Vietnamese dining choice.

Specialist Noodle and Salad Spots

For specific cravings, local workers frequent these specialty venues:

• Kalguksu Specialists: Namdaemun Clam Kalguksu for clam broth; Hwangsaengga Kalguksu for oxtail bone broth; Dalin Myeongdong Kalguksu Bossam for generous portions of bossam; Mini-ne Kalguksu (a 16-minute walk away) for noodles and kimchi; and Jojo Kalguksu City Hall Branch.

• Salads & Sandwiches: Collectivo, Slow Cali, and Amam Pick Seoul (located inside Seoul Square for quick sandwiches and overtime meals).

Cafes and Bakeries

Take a break at these nearby coffee and dessert spots:

• Draw Espresso Bar: Specialty coffee.

• TAFFIN: A bakery located a 19-minute walk away.

• Pascucci Centro Seoul Branch: Located in Seoul Square, offering gelato, various espressos, and very spacious seating.

• Our Bakery Sungnyemun Branch: Popular bakery goods near Sungnyemun Gate.