There are restaurants in Seoul where celebrities seem to appear again and again.
Some are hidden inside small alleys, while others look surprisingly ordinary from the outside. But once you sit down and actually eat there, it becomes easier to understand why actors, idols, chefs, and creatives quietly keep returning.
Recently, more Korean celebrities have started mentioning their favorite restaurants through interviews, YouTube videos, and personal social media accounts. Some places became nearly impossible to reserve overnight, while others still feel like local secrets despite all the attention.
This list brings together restaurants that stood out not only because of celebrity visits, but because the food and atmosphere genuinely felt memorable. From a cozy Korean dining bar in Hannam-dong to a nostalgic tteokbokki spot in Apgujeong and a seafood-focused omakase in Seongsu, these are places that still feel worth visiting beyond the trend cycle.
If you are planning more time around Hannam-dong, you may also want to save my Hannam-dong Restaurants Guide and Hannam-dong Shopping Guide.
Table of Contents
- Muwol Hannam
- Seogangsoe Tteokbokki
- Sulkkoma
- Lawry’s The Prime Rib Seoul
- Gilmok
- Negi Live
- L'estiu
- Why These Places Stay Popular
Muwol Hannam
- Address: 1F, 31-8 Daesagwan-ro 34-gil, Yongsan-gu, Seoul
- Vibe: A quiet Korean dining bar hidden inside Hannam-dong
- Best For: Slow dinners with Korean traditional drinks
Muwol Hannam sits quietly inside a Hannam-dong alley, but once you walk in, the atmosphere feels much warmer and more polished than expected.
After passing the entrance, you first step through a small courtyard-like space before entering the softly lit dining area. Celebrity signatures cover the walls, including visits from actors like Kim Nam-gil and Kwon Nara.
I visited with a reservation, and most tables around me also seemed reserved. During dinner hours, walking in without booking ahead did not look easy.
The octopus salad worked especially well as a starter. The lightly blanched octopus paired with the refreshing salad made the meal feel lighter from the beginning.
The cheese bulgogi potato pancake was more memorable than I expected. Thin potato slices were layered with bulgogi on top, somewhere between a Korean potato pancake and a crispy potato pizza.
Personally, the eobok suyuk jeongol stayed with me the most. The broth carried deep flavors from beef, vegetables, and mushrooms, making it perfect for sharing over drinks.
We ordered the eobok suyuk jeongol (39,000 KRW), herbal barbecue bossam (27,000 KRW), octopus salad (19,500 KRW), and cheese bulgogi potato pancake (24,500 KRW). It was definitely more food than most couples would normally order, but it gave us a good sense of the restaurant’s overall menu.
Muwol Hannam was also selected by Blue Ribbon Survey in 2026. I personally trust Blue Ribbon restaurants more than heavily marketed Michelin-style spots because they often feel more grounded in food and atmosphere rather than presentation alone.
Seogangsoe Tteokbokki
- Address: 22 Apgujeong-ro 50-gil, Gangnam-gu, Seoul
- Hours: Daily, 11:00 AM – 10:00 PM
- Vibe: A nostalgic neighborhood tteokbokki spot in Apgujeong
- Best For: Late-night cravings and casual Korean street food
For many Koreans, tteokbokki is tied to childhood memories of snack shops near school gates. Even after growing older, people continue searching for that familiar taste again.
Actor Byeon Woo-seok is known among fans as a serious tteokbokki lover, and Seogangsoe became even more talked about after being mentioned as one of the places he visited.
What makes the recommendation feel charming is that the restaurant does not try to feel trendy or polished. It feels more like a quiet neighborhood snack shop hidden inside Apgujeong.
The rice cakes stay perfectly chewy without becoming mushy, and the sauce has enough flavor without turning aggressively spicy.
If you are exploring nearby Apgujeong Rodeo, my Apgujeong Rodeo Shopping Guide pairs naturally with this area.
Sulkkoma
- Address: 59-1 Noksapyeong-daero 40-gil, Yongsan-gu, Seoul
- Vibe: A stylish Korean drinking spot hidden near Noksapyeong
- Best For: Long evenings with Korean drinks and shareable dishes
Sulkkoma is known as a Korean cooking bar loved by names such as Song Hye-kyo, Jung Yu-mi, Suzy, Gong Yoo, Ha Jung-woo, and director Bong Joon-ho.
The space mixes vintage Korean details like mother-of-pearl cabinets with surprisingly modern dishes.
Popular dishes include beef tartare, Korean pancakes, and fusion-style anju designed for sharing over drinks.
Because the restaurant sits inside a smaller Noksapyeong alley, it still feels slightly hidden despite its popularity.
Lawry’s The Prime Rib Seoul
- Address: 3F, GT Tower, 411 Seocho-daero, Seocho-gu, Seoul
- Vibe: A classic American-style steakhouse
- Best For: Anniversaries, family dinners, and polished evenings out
Lawry’s The Prime Rib became even more famous after Kang Min-kyung visited, but the restaurant already had the kind of classic atmosphere that works beyond trends.
The room feels calm and traditional in the best way. Tables are comfortably spaced apart, the lighting stays warm, and the whole restaurant carries the mood of an old-school steakhouse.
The prime rib itself feels consistently good rather than flashy.
Gilmok
- Address: 1F, 10 Yeongdong-daero 129-gil, Gangnam-gu, Seoul
- Vibe: A lively Cheongdam barbecue restaurant packed with regulars
- Best For: Charcoal-grilled pork and comforting late-night meals
Gilmok is one of those barbecue restaurants where celebrity signatures become part of the restaurant itself.
The pork neck is especially popular thanks to its deep charcoal aroma and juicy texture.
Personally, the doenjang rice and chadol doenjang ramyeon stood out almost as much as the meat itself.
Gilmok is known for corkage-free dining, but policies occasionally change. If you plan to bring wine, it is safer to confirm the current rules before visiting.
Negi Live
- Address: 5F, 97 Seongsui-ro, Seongdong-gu, Seoul
- Vibe: A refined seafood-focused omakase in Seongsu
- Best For: Special dinners and seafood lovers
Negi Live is a Japanese fine dining restaurant led by chef Jang Ho-jun, who became widely known through Culinary Class Wars.
The restaurant also gained attention as one of BLACKPINK Jennie’s favorite dining spots, which made reservations even more difficult.
The crab course is especially well known, and the dishes focus more on highlighting ingredient quality than dramatic presentations.
Reservation methods and location details sometimes change, so checking Catch Table before visiting is recommended.
L'estiu
- Address: 5 Daesagwan-ro 20-gil, Yongsan-gu, Seoul
- Vibe: A relaxed Spanish restaurant in Hannam-dong
- Best For: Wine, paella, and long conversations over dinner
L'estiu became widely talked about as one of Jang Won-young’s favorite restaurants.
The restaurant is known for dishes like jamón and paella, but what makes the place memorable is the relaxed atmosphere.
The lobster paella appears on many tables, and the Spanish wine list works naturally with the overall mood of the restaurant.
L’estiu was also selected by Blue Ribbon Survey in 2026, which makes sense once you actually experience the balance between the food, wine, and atmosphere.
Why These Places Stay Popular
Seoul constantly changes, and trendy restaurants come and go surprisingly fast. But the places people keep returning to usually have something more than hype.
Some restaurants on this list may change operating hours, menus, reservation systems, corkage policies, or even locations without much notice. Before visiting, it is safer to confirm the latest information through Instagram, Naver Map, Catch Table, or the restaurant’s official channel.
Not every great restaurant in Seoul is filled with celebrities, of course. But places like these usually stay popular for a reason, and most of them still feel enjoyable even after the social media hype fades.
More Seoul Cafe & Dining Ideas
For a local night-market style dinner, check my Shinheung Market Yajang Pocha Guide.
For a cafe break between shopping stops in Seongsu, save my Seongsu Cafes Between Shopping Stops.
For a more local evening route, read my Ttukdo Market Day-to-Night Guide.
For terrace cafe ideas around Seoul, explore my Terrace Cafes in Haebangchon and Sindang.
Restaurant hours, menus, reservation systems, corkage rules, prices, and locations may change. Always confirm the latest information before visiting.
Photos by The Seoul Select, @sgs_tbk, @negi_live, and @lestiuhannam.