Visit Korea
Seoul
Seoul’s skyline at night.
One of Seoul’s popular sights, the N Seoul Tower.
Seoul, the capital of South Korea, is one of the largest cities in the world. With a population exceeding 10 million, it’s the central location of all things political, economical, cultural, and of course, gastronomical in Korea. While filming, the bulk of time spent in Korea was in Seoul, taking in all the city has to offer. The list of where to go, stay, and eat in Seoul is near infinite, but here are some of the highlights.
WHERE TO EAT
Bibigo
This up and coming fast food chain redefines bibimbap. Marja and Heather ate here with Korean popstar John Park.
Hanilkwan
Hanilkwan is Marja’s go to place to great BBQ in Seoul, and was one of the restaurants that she visited with Seoul food blogger, Daniel Gray.
Saemaeul Shikdang
This casual restaurant makes a kimchi jjigae in record time–7 minutes. Marja and Heather also enjoyed the great barbeque here.
Pro Ganjang Gejang
The gejang (soy-marinated crab) here is unrivaled. Owner Ms. Baek-Ja seo started this restaurant years ago, and after it became popular with Korea’s professional baseball team, deftly added ‘pro’ to the name.
Doore
Doore’s exquisite food and wonderful dining experience made it Marja and Jean-Georges’ favorite, and they feasted on dishes like hobak jeon, fried pumpkin pancake, and galbi jjim, steamed short ribs.
WHAT TO SEE
Kyungdong Market, Jungang Market, Noryangjin Fish Market.
Seoul is full of bustling outdoor markets, and these three were Marja’s top picks for everything from fresh street food, spicy banchan (side dishes), and the freshest seafood.
Changdeokgung Palace is a UNESCO World Heritage site, and for good reason. Built in the 15th century during the Joseon Dynasty, it’s a living example of traditional Korean architecture and art.
This temple is a spiritual oasis in the heart of Seoul. It holds over 3,000 Budhist scriptures, including the work of Kim Jeong-Hee, a famous calligrapher who lived during the Joseon Dynasty.
This stream, recently restored in 2005, is a refreshing piece of nature in the midst of a busy city. It’s lined with twenty scenic bridges, fountains, and myriad sculptures. Along its path also lies Korea’s 8th stone building, Palseokdam. Even better yet, it’s a stones throw away from Changdeokgung Palace.
WHERE TO STAY
This is Seoul’s oldest western hotel, which is also home to the Ninth Gate Grille, a romantic restaurant with unbeatable views and mouthwatering Korean-French fusion cuisine. Here, Marja and Jean-Georges dined on delicacies like braised oxtail, ginseng tempura, and makgeolli sorbet.
MORE INFORMATION
Check out Visit Korea and Visit Seoul to find out even more.
Featured in:
Episode 2 – The Rice Chronicles
Episode 4 – The Seafood Chronicles
Episode 5 – The Bean Chronicles
Episode 6 – The Beef Chronicles
Episode 7 – The Fish Chronicles
Episode 8 – The Seoul Food Chronicles
Episode 10 – The Noodle and Dumpling Chronicles
Episode 11 – The Pork Chronicles
Episode 12 – The Street Food Chronicles
Episode 13 – The Kimchi Chronicles Conclude
