Living abroad is challenging to all of us, being away from home can make the journey really lonely. But don’t worry, you are not alone! After spending almost five years of my life in South Korea, I discovered that one of my favorite things to do is taking my foreign friends to foreign restaurants that serve their traditional food, this is a great way to bond with friends and discover new exotic dishes. So, if you are feeling blue and lonely, why don’t you check out the Top 5 Foreign Restaurants in Seoul that not only serve finger-licking good food but also are Instagram-worthy. So, let’s dig in! But before that, don’t forget to strike a pose for the ‘gram!
1. 1842 by Pilsner Urquell
This Czech restaurant is known for its cozy and elegant ambiance that is perfect for any occasion, from romantic date nights, social gatherings, to business meetings. It has a private meeting room, which explains why celebrities have made this restaurant their spot to wind down. In fact, Red Velvet's Wendy left her signature here!
The restaurant serves a wide variety of Czech food and drinks. Its signature dish is the juicy, flavorful koleno (pork knuckle), a traditional Czech dish that cannot be found just anywhere in Seoul, so make sure to order this, and I promise it will not disappoint!
Details:
- Address : Seoul, Yongsan-gu, Hannam-dong, Itaewon-ro, 244 L1 트윈빌딩
- Website : https://conceptkitchens.co/
- Location : Hannam-dong
- Hours : weekends 11.30 am to 11.30 pm, weekdays 5 pm to 11.30
- Price : KRW 20,000 – 150,000
2. Cotè Jardin
If 1842 is the place where you can see your idols chill, Cote Jardin is the place where you see your idols strike a pose or act. This French restaurant is known for its authentic French interior that makes you feel like you are on vacation in Paris. A little fun fact; Cote Jardin is where MBC filmed its drama titled "Time" (2018). I also have great news for Blinks out there because guess what? Black Pink's Jennie did her shoot with W Magazine in this very place! Super Instagram-friendly, am I right?
Now that we have checked the aesthetic box let's talk about wine and dine. Cote Jardin has an extensive wine collection, which Daniel, the owner himself, will help pick one that suits your taste the best. Cote Jardin serves French dishes for brunch, lunch, and dinner, along with dessert and, of course, a cheese platter for the wine. One of the signature dishes here is Beef Bourguignon, a delicate beef stew rich in flavor and nutrients.
Details:
- Address : Seoul, Yongsan-gu, Bogwang-ro 120, Itaewon
- Website : https://blog.naver.com/cotejardin?proxyReferer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2F
- Location : Itaewon-dong
- Hours : Mon-Thurs 10.30 am to 12 am, Friday 10.30 am to 2 am, Saturday 11.30 am to 2 am, Sunday 11.30 am to 12 am
- Price : KRW 10,000 – 50,000
3. P.S. Café Cheongdam
P.S. Café Cheongdam is another Instagram-friendly spot in Seoul, with glass walls and plants in every corner; it is an excellent spot for brunch photo sessions. Despite branding itself as a café, P.S. Café serves a superb selection of dishes from the exotic South East Asian delicacy to classic Western food. Some of P.S. Café's famous cuisines are Singapore Chili Crab and Malaysian Laksa. This restaurant is also known for its P.S. Double Chocolate Blackout Cake and super refreshing (plus instagramable) Sangria. It sure is a party of flavors in your mouth!
Details:
- Address: 1F, 9 Dosan-daero 49-gil, Sinsa-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul
- Website: https://www.pscafe.com/
- Location: Cheongdam-dong
- Hours: 11:30AM–3:30PM, 5–9:30PM (closed on Mondays)
- Price: KRW 10,000 – 30,000
4. Banh Mi Phuong
As you can tell by the name, Banh Mi Phuong is a restaurant in Yeonnam-dong that serves the best Banh Mi in town. If you are looking for a restaurant where you do not need to spend 10 minutes staring at the menu, this is the perfect spot. The Vietnamese restaurant offers four varieties of Banh Mi; barbeque, chicken and cheese, beef and egg, or all three combined.
You can complete your culinary experience with its famous, mouth-watering Coconut Smoothie Coffee. With its unique, tropical-themed, and eye-catching interior design, you can turn your lunch break into a photo session!
Details:
- Address: 241-30 Yeonnam-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul
- Instagram: banhmiphuong_official
- Location: Hongdae
- Hours: 11 am - 11 pm every day
- Price: KRW 7,000 – 10,000
5. Soigné
If you are more into contemporary food art or simply looking for a cool, extraordinary fine dining experience, Soingè is the place for you. Soignè serves various contemporary cuisines from lobster or steak that will fill you up to refreshing Yuzu and Ginger Sorbet to cleanse your palette. This restaurant is perfect to impress your followers on social media, as Soignè shows such a high level of sophistication displayed in every dish it serves. Indeed, Soignè is where food does the vogue.
Details:
- Address: 46 Banpo-daero 39-gil, Banpo-dong, Seocho-gu, Seoul
- Website: http://soignerestaurantgroup.com/wp/en/
- Location: Banpo-dong
- Hours: 12–3PM, 6–10:30PM every day
- Price: over KRW 100,000 per set.