Restaurants in Mapo-gu (Seoul)

Bagdad Cafe

Enjoy an unforgettable night view over the Han River and city buildings, through this cafe's wide windows. Chairs are comfortable, unique artwork hangs on the walls, and a round Western-style bar is the perfect spot to have a drink with friends. Coffee, beer, whisky, cocktails and other alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages are available. American - and Korean-style meals are also on offer. Bagdad Cafe is always crowded. Though warm and hospitable, staff are not fluent in English, so it is worth enlisting the help of a Korean speaker when making a reservation.

Chin Chin

Located beside Hongik University, a meal at this restaurant is a special treat for students in the area. A popular dish here is gaminabe, which is cooked in a paper pot. Amazingly, the paper container does not burn in the cooking process. The interior of the restaurant is simply decorated with wood features. While there is nothing special about the decor, the food is a different story. For great value try Set Menu A which contains salad, porridge sashimi, eel with wasabi, Philly cheese with avocado sushi, broiled salmon, udon, and ice cream.

Jukchon

Jukchon is the only restaurant in Seoul that specializes in self-fried food. In order to give customers fresher and better tasting deep-fried foods, they allow the customer to cook the food for themselves. More than sixteen ingredients are available, including meat, vegetables, seafood and many more. The red tables, wooden floors, traditional Japanese shaped doors, and "finger-licking good" food will relieve your stress. Special recommendations include tempura with shrimp, seaweed, squid, beef, chicken, or pumpkin.

Jenny's Café (Jenny's Cafeteria)

Jenny's Café will satisfy those strolling around the Hongik University (Hongdae) area in need of some nourishment. Their sandwiches are out of this world with homemade bread, meat or fresh veggies topped with great cheeses. The sandwiches are not cheap (starting around $8), but they are worth every penny. During lunchtime on a weekend you can expect to wait 30 minutes to an hour for a table, which attests to this venue's popularity. The café offers a wine list and coffee drinks to make it more like a sandwich bistro than a cafeteria. The menu is truly European; it includes items like the Margherita with sliced tomatoes and thick mozzarella or the Prosciutto combining ham and Gorgonzola. -Daniel Eyrich