We eat hansik (Korean food) pretty regularly, both at home and when we go out. As you might expect, there are plenty of amazing options for delicious traditional Korean food in Seoul. Depending on your itinerary, some places may be too out of the way to work into your trip. That’s why we always recommend Insadong Geujip (인사동그집).

Whenever we have friends or family visit, we always take them Insadong Geujip. The name roughly translates to “The Place” and for good reason. It’s that good. This traditional Korean restaurant is nestled inside a renovated hanok (a traditional Korean house with tiled roofing and wooden beams). It’s located right in the heart of Insadong. You’ll be surrounded by tons of traditional souvenir and snack shops, plus you’re right down the street from Gyeongbokgung. It’s the perfect place to stop by for a little lunch in between exploring sessions.

Since the restaurant is located in a pretty touristy area, the prices are a bit on the higher side, but the portion sizes are more than reasonable. The food lands on the accessible side of the culinary spectrum. There isn’t any cow’s tongue or blood sausages here. A large spectrum of food is on offer, but nothing too exotic.

We always order 2 dishes which is enough for 2~3 people to share. They also have plenty of non-spicy dishes which is a definite plus when traveling with kids or if you have a sensitive palate. And if you’re nervous about ordering, don’t be! The menu comes in English, Chinese and Japanese accompanied by pictures. Easy-peasy.

As for the for food, our favorite dish on the menu is hands down their bulgogi tteokbokki. It is juicy and flavorful, we get it every single visit. Unfortunately it doesn’t come with any extra side dishes, so we like to balance it out with a Samjungsik set. These sets come with a main dish of mushroom bulgogi, chicken bulgogi or spicy bulgogi and a bunch of side dishes to make lettuce wraps with. Each set is a single serving size, so it’s also the perfect meal for solo travelers.

Needless to say this is one of our favorite restaurants in the area. The food is genuinely delicious and the ambience only enhances the overall experience. It can get pretty busy around lunch time and on weekends, so make sure to give yourself a bit of “waiting” leeway. I promise the wait will be worth it.

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