Along with Myeong-dong, Gangnam is one of the most densely populated areas of Seoul. Gangnam Station, which connects to both Yangjae and Nonhyeon, is always surrounded by throngs of people. But because of the high amount of pedestrian traffic, there is an abundance of shopping centers, restaurants, and pubs that have naturally sprung up, all concentrated in this one area. Rather than capriciously following the latest trends, the Gangnam area is a rich and ever-evolving complex of many diverse elements.

A short walk from the hustle and bustle of the main roads you’ll find some great little restaurants tucked away and discover the other, hidden face of Gangnam. Unlike the immediate vicinity of Gangnam Station, the back alleyways and residential areas that are located behind Gangnam City Theatre, near exit 6 of Gangnam Station, and behind Kyobo Tower are not at all crowded and have a much more relaxed atmosphere. Here, you’ll find wine bars converted from houses, cozy coffee shops located in the deep alcoves of high buildings, and nice restaurants where you can appreciate the taste and warmth of Korea.

Gangnam Station is most often characterized as noisy and chaotic, but if you take a closer look, you’ll be surprised to find another, quite different, side of Gangnam Station altogether.

1. Beggarback (Korean : Topokki)  

Enjoy Topokki (stir-fried rice cake) in a café-like atmosphere.  Topokki is originally a snack food, but the version they offer here makes a wholesome and hearty meal.  This is new-style Topokki, and they prepare it with your choice of the eight different shapes of rice cakes that are available.
- address: 1317 Seocho-dong, Seocho-gu, Seoul
- phone: 02-534-3877
- website: http://www.beggarback.com

2. Bongpiyang (Korean : Dwaeji-galbi)

This dwaeji galbi house is run by Byeokjegalbi Restaurant. For dwaeji-galbi  (marinated pork short ribs), the price is a bit on the high side, but you are assured of great taste.  Their Pyeongyang-style naengmyeon (thin noodles served in a chilled broth) is considered to be quite authentic and is very popular.  The lunch set menu of galbi with your choice of naengmyeon or doenjang-jjigae (soy bean stew) is a substantial meal.
- address: 1330 Seocho-dong, Seocho-gu, Seoul
- phone: 02-587-7018
- website: www.ibjgalbi.com 

3. Buil Galbi (Korean : Galbi) 

This is the Seoul branch of a famous galbi restaurant in Busan.  The representative dish here is sogeumgui, partly-frozen thinly-sliced sirloin that is grilled and dipped into an egg yolk-based sauce.  To cleanse your palate after the meat course, take the opportunity to try their naengmyeon, a chilled buckwheat noodle dish available either in an iced broth or mixed with a spicy red chili sauce.  Popular choices for lunch are their yukgaejang (spicy beef soup) and galbitang (short rib soup).
- address: 1303-8 Seocho-4dong, Seocho-gu, Seoul
- phone: 02-3482-3112
- website: http://www.booilgalbi.com

4. Chunhachudong (Korean : Bulgogi) 

The specialty of this restaurant is bulgogi (marinated thinly sliced beef ), but they are also famous for their kimchi-jjigae (kimchi stew) and gopchang-jeongol (tripe casserole). Their kimchi-jjigae is made with red pepper and lots of green onions, for an even more refreshing taste.  It is rather pricey, but the food is served in a neat atmosphere.
- address: 1327-34 Seocho-dong, Seocho-gu, Seoul
- phone: 02-3474-9297

5. Daeusikdang (Korean : Budae-jjigae)

This is the place to have spicy budae-jjigae (a spicy traditional soup).  The main ingredients are ham, sausage, minced beef, rice cake, and noodles.  The restaurant is not small and cozy, but is big enough for company dinners.
- address: 641-18 Yeoksam 1-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul
- phone: 02-552-1663

6. Gangnamgyoja (Korean : Kalguksu ) 

Following a 30-year stint at Myeongdong Gyoja, a famous kalguksu restaurant in Myeongdong, the chef opened this restaurant, which specializes in kalguksu (hand-cut noodle soup).  You can try kalguksu in a broth made from chicken bones.  They offer unlimited noodles and rice.  The dumplings and bibim guksu (spicy mixed noodles) are also recommended.  Take-out is available.
- address: 1308-1 Seocho-dong, Seocho-gu,  Seoul
- phone: 02-536-4133
- website: http://www.kangnamkyoja.com

7. Gwangyang Bulgogi (Korean : Bulgogi

This restaurant is famous for Kwangyang-style bulgogi (seasoned thin strips of sirloin beef) which are grilled over charcoal.  The marinade is only added to the beef once the order is taken, so the seasoning is not too strong, and the meat has a refreshing taste.
- address: 823-12 Yeoksam-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul
- phone: 02-555-5035

8. Haenam Cheonilgwan (Korean : Hanjeongsik)

This is the Seoul branch of Cheonilkwan, a traditional Korean table d’hôte restaurant that has been in operation for 80 years in Haenam, Jeollanamdo.  Here, you can experience a traditional Korean full-course meal made in the authentic style of Namdo (the southern provinces of Gyeonggi-do).  Rather than serving the set menu in courses, the table is filled with all of the dishes, including 15 kinds of side dishes and 10 main dishes.  They also serve quite a variety of jeotgal (salted seafood used for seasoning).
- address: 745-10 Banpo-dong, Seocho-gu, Seoul
- phone: 02-568-7775

9. Hanguk Bongalbi (Korean : Galbi)

Enjoy marinated Australian ribs in a comfortable environment. They bring out the best taste out of the meat by grilling on a copper grill over charcoal.  You can cleanse your palate with the brine of nicely-fermented dongchimi (icy water kimchi).
- address: 165-7 Nonhyeon-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul
- phone: 02-515-2222

10. Insadong Jeonseonsaeng (Korean : Makgeolli)

This is one of those specialty bars serving makgeolli (Korean rice wine), which have become all the rage these days. Since they opened only recently, the interior is still remarkably clean. Various side dishes are available to accompany the makgeolli, and the prices are quite reasonable.
- address: 813-12 Yeoksam-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul
- phone: 02-508-3537

11. Joeun Bokjip (Korean : Bokguk)

Here, you can have dishes made with fresh bok (pufferfish), although it is quite pricey.  Depending on your price range, you can choose different species, such as chambok (eyespot puffer) and milbok (green rough-backed puffer). They serve jiri (clear pufferfish stew) and maeuntang (a spicy pufferfish stew); however, their specialty is bokguk (pufferfish soup) flavoured with doenjang (soy bean paste).
- address: 746-15 Banpo-dong, Seocho-gu, Seoul
- phone: 02-547-1133

12. Kongnamusup (Korean : Dubu) 

This restaurant offers a range of healthy dishes, with a focus on tofu.  For the comfort of patrons who are dining alone, there is a dining table along one wall.  They offer some unique dishes, such as a bowl of rice topped with tofu, tofu hamburger steaks (which includes beef and pork), and tofu dongaseu(tofu in fried pork cutlet).  Their tofu fondue set comes with various fruits and tofu that can be dipped into the fondue.  A glass of wine is also included with the set.
- address: 1328-11 Seocho-dong, Seocho-gu, Seoul
- phone: 02-582-5466
- website: http://www.kongnamus.com/

13. Nonhyeonn Yukgaejang (Korean : Yukgaejang) 

This place specializes in yukgaejang (spicy beef soup).  The yukgaejang is served with a bowl of rice and kalguksu (hand-cut noodles).  There is also budaejjigae (spicy sausage stew), as well as a variety of side dishes that go well with drinks.
- address: 122-25 Nonhyeon-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul
- phone: 02-540-1018

14. Norang Jeogori (Korean)

A family restaurant with a Korean atmosphere, this is Korean table d’hôte restaurant offers folksy side dishes.  Enjoy various traditional Korean set menus available in different price ranges, which is a big plus.
- address: 1316-29 Seocho-4dong, Seocho-gu, Seoul
- phone: 02-534-5300
- website: http://www.norangjugory.co.kr/

15. Palpalminmuljangeo (Korean : Jangeo)

This is a famous restaurant for spicy grilled eel. A kilogram of eel (about 3 eels) serves 2 to 3 people. Normally, they use farmed eels, but if you want to try wild eel, you just need to give them one day’s advanced notice.
- address: 745-10 Banpo-1dong, Seocho-gu, Seoul
- phone: 02-549-1112

16. Samdaeguksu (Korean : Guksu)

This is the Seoul branch of a famous meat and noodle restaurant in Jeju.  One unique dish on offer is the medium-thick noodles topped with pressed pork.  Also popular are the jokbal (pork hocks) and dwaeji-suyuk (boiled pork slices).
- address: 124-15 Nonhyeon-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul
- phone: 02-3446-1186

17. Seocho Sariwon (Korean : Bulgogi)

This restaurant is famous for bulgogi. The meat is marinated with many kinds of fruit juice, pears, onions, and garlic juice, and then grilled on a griddle especially designed for bulgogi with green onions and mushrooms.  They also offer wines which go well with the meat.
- address: 1321-7 Seocho-2dong, Seocho-gu, Seoul
- phone: 02-3474-5005
- website: http://www.sariwon.co.kr

18. Yeoksamdong Bugeojip (Korean : Bugeojjim)

At this restaurant, you can enjoy somewhat spicy bugeojjim (seasoned simmered dried pollack).  At lunch time, they only serve bugeojjim with rice and side dishes.  Many people come to cure their hangover by having bugeojjim and a lot of soup.
- address: 738-2 Yeoksam-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul
- phone: 02-558-6605

19. Yeontabal (Korean : Yanggopchang)

This restaurant has a neat atmosphere and specializes in tripe and large intestines, which you can enjoy char-grilled.  The tripe tastes especially good with yangchibap, which is rice stir-fried with radish kimchi.  Unlike most tripe restaurants, private rooms are available here for get-togethers.  On the weekend, when they have fewer customers, they offer discounts, so you can have an enjoyable meal and also take advantage of the lower prices.
- address: 1317-16 Seocho-dong, Seocho-gu, Seoul
- phone: 02-536-9282
- website: http://www.yeontabal.com/

20. Yetgol (Korean : Kimchi-jjigae)

The specialty here is kimchi-jjigae made with mature kimchi and canned herring.  Their kimchi-jjigae is traditional, with a sour yet refreshing taste.
- address: 605-9 Yeoksam-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul
- phone: 02-561-0591