The City Hall area is the administrative, economic, and cultural center of the city and has become a major tourist attraction. Seoul Square is a large area of green lawns in front of City Hall which hosts a variety of cultural events and festivals to delight visitors to Seoul. Surrounding City Hall are major tourist attractions, such as Deoksu-gung Palace, the Seoul Metropolitan Museum of Art, and Gwanghwamun Square, and the Myeong-dong and Jongno shopping districts are also nearby. For a great meal, there are many well-established Korean restaurants that are popular with the office workers in the area.

1. Gangseo-myeonok (Korean : Naengmyeon)

This restaurant’s signature dish is their naengmyeon, cold noodles served in a tangy iced broth, which they make from beef brisket and dongchimi kimchi brine. At one time, this restaurant was famous for being the President’s naengmyeon restaurant of choice, but perhaps because they have expanded, they don’t seem to have the same flavor as in the old days. At lunchtime, all set menus come with naengmyeon (cold noodles in broth) and meat.
- address: 120-15 Seosomun-dong, Jung-gu, Seoul
- phone: 02-752-1945

2. Goryeo Samgyetang (Korean : Samgyetang)

Young chickens are used for their tender meat and great taste. During summer, extra noodles are served with the broth and during winter, rice made with five different cereals is added. Two types of traditional oriental medicines are used as ingredients and a small glass of ginseng liquor is served along side.
- address: 55-3 Seosomun-dong, Jung-gu, Seoul
- phone: 02-752-9376
- website: http://www.koreasamkyetang.com

3. Jaembaeok (Korean : Seolleongtang)

This restaurant, which has been run for three generations, specializes in seolleongtang (a thin, milky-white beef soup). One popular item on their menu is the assortment of steamed beef, with cuts such as head meat, brisket point cut, brisket and flank, Swiss-cut tongue, shank, and spleen that you can try.
- address: 64-4 Seosomun-dong, Jung-gu, Seoul
- phone: 02-755-8106

4. Jangho Wanggopchang (Korean : Gopchang)

The name of this restaurant might lead you to believe they serve mainly small intestines, but actually they’re famous for kimchi-jjigae (kimchi stew). The stew is made with well-fermented kimchi, onions, green onions, minced garlic, and tofu, with some pork at the bottom of the bowl. The intestines are smooth, soft and deliciously good.
- address: 6-16 Sunhwa-dong, Jung-gu, Seoul
- phone: 02-756-5070

5. Jeongwon Sundubu (Korean : Sundubu)

All of the soft tofu is seasoned with a spicy mixture of red pepper powder, garlic, and sugar, and then such ingredients as beef, oysters, or pork are added depending on the order. An extra empty bowl is provided so you can mix the soft tofu with rice made in an earthenware bowl.
- address: 120-12 Seosomun-dong, Jung-gu, Seoul
- phone: 02-755-7139

6. Jinju Hoegwan (Korean : Kong-guksu)

This restaurant is famous for kong-guksu (noodles in cold soymilk broth). It is supposedly the best-tasting kong-guksu in Seoul even though they serve theirs with only thick soymilk broth and noodles, dispensing with the usual chopped cucumber. The noodles are made with wheat flour, potato flour, buckwheat, peanuts, and pine nuts. They serve their tasty kong guksu throughout the summer, and in winter, they serve kimchi-bokkeumbap (kimchi fried rice).
- address: 120-35 Seosomun-dong, Jung-gu, Seoul
- phone: 02-753-5388

7. Samo Jjukkumi (Korean : Jukkumi)

This restaurant has had octopus on its menu for 25 years. They grill it specially and also fry it with a unique pepper paste and other spices, giving it a delicate flavor to go along with the octopus’s natural chewyness. Prices are low and customer satisfaction is high.
- address: 31-6 Migeun-dong, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul
- phone: 02-362-2120

8. Sogongjukjip (Korean : Juk)

At this famous Bukchang-area rice porridge house, you can choose from over ten different kinds of rice porridge, all of which are great. Another popular dish here is their nutritious rice cooked in a cauldron with oysters and prawns.
- address: 86-10 Bukchang-dong, Jung-gu, Seoul
- phone: 02-752-6400

9. Songok (Korean : Guksu)

This restaurant has specialized in buckwheat noodles for about 40 years. Their pleasing broth is made with bold-tasting katsuobushi (a traditional Japanese soup base) and soy sauce. The restaurant demonstrates their expertise with udon noodles that are chewy and delicious.
- address: 17 Namdaemunno 4-ga, Jung-gu, Seoul
- phone: 02-752-3297

10. Yurimmyeon (Korean : Guksu)

This is a noodle specialist from way back. There are only four items on the menu, including saucepan noodles and stone saucepan noodles which are great during winter. In the summer, diners can enjoy the cold buckwheat noodles and mixed vegetable noodles.
- address: 16 Seosomun-dong, Jung-gu, Seoul
- phone: 02-755-0659