In Seoul, Insa-dong is the ideal place to take in the beauty of Korea’s cultural heritage. In fact, the streets of Insa-dong are themselves and important part of the cultural heritage of the city.

For foreigners wanting to deepen their understanding of the traditional culture of Korea, Insa-dong is the most common destination of choice, and with good reason – the alleyways that stretch away from the main road on both sides reverberate with echoes of Korea’s beautiful past, giving foreigners an opportunity to enjoy the beauty of Korean tradition and also offering Koreans a chance to reminisce.

The art galleries one finds here and there throughout Insa-dong put on various exhibitions, and the streets are always bustling with activities and attractions, like cheerful street performers and literary events.

This is also an ideal place to experience traditional Korean cuisine as there are so many tea houses and restaurants. Insa-dong offers many neat places to enjoy rustic Korean table d’hôte meals at reasonable prices, making it popular with foreigners who want to experience the everyday food culture of ordinary Koreans. Afterwards, be sure to stop in at one of the of traditional tea houses which sell traditional Korean refreshments, which cleanse the palette after a meal.

1. Banjjakbanjjak Binnaneun (Dessert/Tea)

Choose from a variety of traditional Korean teas. They make their own sujeonggwa (traditional Korean punch made from dried persimmons, cinnamon, and ginger) and sikhye (a traditional Korean sweet rice drink). Both are very popular. The tea sets which are used to serve tea are also available for purchase. At dinnertime, wine is served.
- address: 6 Gwanhun-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul
- phone: 02-738-4525

2. Barugongyang (Korean)

Jogyesa, the main temple of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism, operates this restaurant, which serves temple food. However, the food here deviates a little from true temple food, so it’s more accurate to call it fusion style. Various dishes are neatly-presented in set menus to convey the feeling that this food is very healthy. The neat interior and food presentation make this a suitable place to bring foreign guests.
- address: 71 Gyeonji-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul
- phone: 02-2031-2081

3. Busan Sikdang (Korean)

The restaurant serves simple home-style baekban (a meal including rice, soup or stew, and side dishes). The owner, who is originally from Busan, makes fermented bean paste to make broth from. About half an hour after the order is placed, they provide freshly steamed rice with beans.
- address: 180 Gwanhun-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul
- phone: 02-733-5761

4. Chaiyagi (Korean)

This restaurant is famous for rice cooked in a hollow bamboo stick. They provide generous amounts of lettuce, and you can grill meat, and eat it wrapped in the lettuce leaves. They offer a set menu with neobiani, which is thinly-sliced beef, and the house set menu is served with boneless ribs. When you are done with your rice, they’ll fill the hollow bamboo stick with some hot dunggeulle tea, which tastes great.
- address: 29-12 Gwanhun-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul
- phone: 02-735-8552

5. Channyangjip (Korean : Kalguksu)

For over thirty years, this restaurant has specialized in just one dish: kalguksu (hand-cut noodle soup). The price has remained the same for many years, and so have the generous servings of noodles and seafood that give their soup its great flavor. This makes it a great value. The broth is made with anchovies from Yeosu, oysters, octopus, sea squirt, and clams and has a clean, refreshing taste.
- address: 27 Donui-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul
- phone: 02-743-1384

6. Cheomakkeut Haneul Punggyeongn (Korean)

The entrance to this restaurant opens onto a small, inviting courtyard, with stone lanterns and earthenware jars attractively grouped here and there. The traditional paper-frame windows and black stone walls add a special charm to the atmosphere. For lunch, a special set menu and the “Yangban” set menu are offered from 12:30 to 3:00 on weekdays only.
- address: 84-11 Gwanhun-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul
- phone: 02-734-3337
- website: http://www.ehanul.kr

7. Doenjangyesul Toenmaru (Korean)

Meals in this bibimbap restaurant are served in a large bowl with a bevy of vegetables and healthy leeks. The traditional styled interior also makes for a great opportunity to experience Korean customs the right way.
- address: 4-2 Insa-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul
- phone: 02-739-5683

8. Dure (Korean : Hanjeongsik)

This full-course Korean restaurant is located in Insadong. The restaurant was originally a house belonging to an aristocrat in the olden days, but was renovated to properly accommodate the restaurant. They serve mainly regional food in the rural style. Fermented soy beans accompany the full course, and are very tasty.
- address: 8-7 Insa-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul
- phone: 02-732-2919

9. Gung (Korean : Mandu)

The specialty of this establishment is Gaeseong-style Korean dumpings, and they’ve been serving their brand of it to customers for over 30 years. Unlike the Pyeongyang dumplings, which are large sized, Gaeseong dumplings are slightly smaller and make the perfect combination with the broth. The Palace also serves a variety of traditional Korean liquors that can be enjoyed with the meal.
- address: 30-11 Gwanhun-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul
- phone: 02-733-9240
- website: http://koong.co.kr

10. Jidaebang (Dessert/Tea)  

This is an old traditional tea house in Insadong. Surprisingly, the red color-scheme has a calming effect. An order of traditional tea is served with handmade traditional Korean sweets.
- address: 196-6 Gwanhun-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul
- phone: 02-738-5379

11. Jirisan (Korean)

This restaurant presents Jeollado-style vegetarian cuisine. The Jirisan set menu comes with 30 side dishes: assorted Korean savory pancakes and a wide assortment of vegetable dishes, such as sauteed radish leaves and sauteed julienne of white radish; salted napa cabbage wrappings with side dishes, todok root, soybean curd, dried yellow corvina, bean-paste soup, steamed squash, tofu kimchi, water kimchi made with spring vegetables, pine mushrooms, hijiki seaweed with tofu and green perilla, raw sedum with red chili sauce, mung bean jelly with soy sauce dressing, pickled hot peppers, and braised burdock.
- address: 84-2 Gwanhun-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul
- phone: 02-723-4696

12. Jogeum (Japanese)

This is a famous place for Japanese hot pot rice and udon noodles. Each meal is attractively served in its own tray. Japanese hot pot rice is mixed with soy sauce, not with chili paste. The hot pot rice is made with vegetables, mushrooms, and ginkgo berries, and topped with your choice of three different ingredients, of which seafood is the most popular.
- address: 123-4 Gwanhun-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul
- phone: 02-734-0783

13. Kyungin-misulgwan Jeontong-dawon (Dessert/Tea)

This is a very unique restaurant that has restored the features of a traditional Joseon Dynasty house. You can sip your traditional Korean tea while enjoying the garden that is filled with beautiful flowers and trees. Traditional Korean snacks are always served with tea.
- address: 30-1 Gwanhun-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul
- phone: 02-730-6305
- website: http://www.kyunginart.co.kr

14. Mingadaheon (Korean)

Before being renovated, this restaurant was a traditional Korean house, once home to a noble family during the Joseon Dynasty. It has a dining room, cafe, library, terrace, and sarangchae (separate room for male guests). The concept of the restaurant is an integration elements from Eastern and Western culture: Korean traditional tea with traditional confectionery; and wine with fusion cuisine.
- address: 66-7 Gyeongun-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul
- phone: 02-733-2966
- website: http://www.minsclu.co.kr

15. Nwijo (Korean : Hanjeongsik)

This restaurant specializes in oriental health food made with medicinal ingredients. All items on the menu come with several courses, including porridge to dessert. Seasonal fresh herbs are heavily used, and some of the dishes you can enjoy here include: a mixture of azalea, skate, and chili paste, pressed steamed pork, and mushroom hotpot.
- address: 84-13 Gwanhun-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul
- phone: 02-730-9301
- website: http://www.nwijo.com

16. Sadong-myeonok (Korean : Mandu)

The big thing in this menu is indeed big. The restaurant serve a Hwang-hae style dumpling that is bigger that an adult fist. The special characteristic is that it is boiled, not steamed. Other items on the menu include a special beef broth made by slowly boiling beef bones, Korean style pancakes made with mung bean and the green onion pancake, all of which come with high recommendations. The interior of the restaurant is done in traditional Korean style and is very elegant.
- address: 173 Insa-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul
- phone: 02-725-1211
- website: http://www.사동면옥.com

17. Sun chun (Korean : Hanjeongsik)

This restaurant has served Korean set menus for 40 years. The full-course meal is based on Pyeongando cuisine and includes 10 to 13 different dishes, such as gujeolpan (a platter of nine colorful ingredients served with thin crepes), sashimi, soup, steamed meat or fish, Korean-style pancakes, skewered bulgogi (marinated thinly shredded beef), and spicy pork. At lunch time, they serve a popular lunch set menu of main dishes and side dishes selected from the full-course meal.
- address: 100-4 Gwanhun-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul
- phone: 02-734-1970

18. Yeojaman (Korean)

This restaurant is run by a female film director, Ms. Mirye Lee. The name of the restaurant, ‘Yeojaman’, comes from a geographical location between Goheung and Yeosu, and the restaurant is expert at the cuisine of Namdo (the northern provinces of Gyeonggi-do). The kkomak (ark shell) set menu is also popular.
- address: 1-1 Insa-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul
- phone: 02-725-9829

19. Yeongil sikdang (Korean : Makhoe) 

At this restaurant, you can enjoy makhoe (mixed sashimi with vegetables and vinegared chili paste). The fresh fish is delivered daily from Guryongpo, Pohang.  Moonsnail and Pacific herring (only available in winter) also taste good, and grilled sea snail and shrimps are also delicacies. 
- address: 77 Nagwon-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul
- phone: 02-739-3211

20. Yujin Sikdang (Korean : Naengmyeon)

This restaurant, which serves mul-naengmyeon (noodles in a tangy iced beef broth), commands a loyal following. The noodles are made of a 50:50 mix of  buckwheat flour and starch. The broth is made with beef and beef bones.
- address: 221 Nagwon-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul
- phone: 02-764-2835