A safe first Korean meal

Not sure what to eat first in Korea? Restaurants officials keep returning to, with good customer ratings and familiar Korean dishes.

How we chose

10+ civil-servant visits · KakaoMap rating 4.0+ (at least 30 ratings) · Korean / BBQ / soup & stew / noodles / chicken / tofu category · no raw dishes, fermented skate, live octopus, offal, sundae, chicken feet, beef-head soup or dog-meat soup on the menu · has a real photo of the restaurant.

Seoul

Top 3 by score of 194 matching

1. Mandura (만두라)
Korean · Seoul Geumcheon-gu
🏛️ 44 civil-servant visits · ★ 4.2 (44)
2. Minjeongsikdang (민정식당)
Korean · Seoul Gwangjin-gu
🏛️ 115 civil-servant visits · ★ 4.0 (64)
3. Urisikdang (우리식당)
Korean · Seoul Dongdaemun-gu
🏛️ 347 civil-servant visits · ★ 4.4 (37)

Busan

Top 3 by score of 11 matching

1. Samiheon (사미헌)
Korean · Busan Busanjin-gu
🏛️ 97 civil-servant visits · ★ 4.2 (150)
2. Sujeguksu (수제국수)
Noodles · Busan Yeonje-gu
🏛️ 276 civil-servant visits · ★ 4.0 (33)
3. Geuphaengjang (급행장)
Galbi (grilled ribs) · Busan Busanjin-gu
🏛️ 46 civil-servant visits · ★ 4.5 (100)

Daegu

Top 3 by score of 15 matching

1. Gukilsaenggalbi (국일생갈비)
Galbi (grilled ribs) · Daegu Jung-gu
🏛️ 22 civil-servant visits · ★ 4.1 (64)
2. Kkotjandi (꽃잔디)
Korean set course · Daegu Dalseong-gun
🏛️ 20 civil-servant visits · ★ 4.3 (31)
3. Apsankeungoljip (앞산큰골집)
Korean · Daegu Jung-gu
🏛️ 19 civil-servant visits · ★ 4.3 (33)

Incheon

Top 3 by score of 11 matching

1. Seommaeul (섬마을)
Korean · Incheon Ganghwa-gun
🏛️ 31 civil-servant visits · ★ 4.2 (47)
2. Sigolbapsang (시골밥상)
Korean · Incheon Ganghwa-gun
🏛️ 28 civil-servant visits · ★ 4.6 (97)
3. Seongwondakgalbi (성원닭갈비)
Chicken dishes · Incheon Gyeyang-gu
🏛️ 25 civil-servant visits · ★ 4.1 (32)

Gwangju

Top 3 by score of 16 matching

1. Seoulkkakdugi (서울깍두기)
Ox-bone soup · Gwangju Seo-gu
🏛️ 247 civil-servant visits · ★ 4.3 (45)
2. Hwangsolchonsangmujeom (황솔촌상무점)
Galbi (grilled ribs) · Gwangju Seo-gu
🏛️ 44 civil-servant visits · ★ 4.2 (171)
3. Manghyangbibimguksu (망향비빔국수)
망향비빔국수 · Gwangju Seo-gu
🏛️ 37 civil-servant visits · ★ 4.4 (37)

Daejeon

Top 1 by score of 1 matching

1. Dodamhanjeongsik (도담한정식)
Korean set course · Daejeon Jung-gu
🏛️ 12 civil-servant visits · ★ 4.4 (129)

Ulsan

Top 1 by score of 1 matching

1. Geumhwasikdang (금화식당)
Bulgogi & stir-fry · Ulsan Ulju-gun
🏛️ 12 civil-servant visits · ★ 4.3 (198)

Sejong

Top 3 by score of 20 matching

1. Buttumak (부뚜막)
Korean · Sejong Jochiwon-eup
🏛️ 95 civil-servant visits · ★ 4.2 (39)
2. Gangsan (강산)
Galbi (grilled ribs) · Sejong Bugang-myeon
🏛️ 24 civil-servant visits · ★ 4.2 (39)
3. Sejongbokkalguksu (세종복칼국수)
Knife-cut noodles · Sejong Geumnam-myeon
🏛️ 60 civil-servant visits · ★ 4.2 (64)

Gyeonggi

Top 3 by score of 82 matching

1. Gungjungsamgyetang (궁중삼계탕)
Ginseng chicken soup · Gyeonggi Ansan-si
🏛️ 140 civil-servant visits · ★ 4.1 (34)
2. Jinmiokseollongtang (진미옥설농탕)
Ox-bone soup · Gyeonggi Dongducheon-si
🏛️ 73 civil-servant visits · ★ 4.1 (66)
3. Ganggyebongjinmakguksu (강계봉진막국수)
Noodles · Gyeonggi Hanam-si
🏛️ 25 civil-servant visits · ★ 4.4 (30)

Gangwon

Top 3 by score of 28 matching

1. Yanggujaeraesiksondubu (양구재래식손두부)
Tofu · Gangwon Yanggu-gun
🏛️ 50 civil-servant visits · ★ 4.5 (63)
2. Oksanjangdolgwaiyagi (옥산장돌과이야기)
Korean set course · Gangwon Jeongseon-gun
🏛️ 10 civil-servant visits · ★ 4.5 (98)
3. Sarangbangsikdang (사랑방식당)
Korean · Gangwon Yeongwol-gun
🏛️ 95 civil-servant visits · ★ 4.2 (92)

Chungbuk

Top 3 by score of 33 matching

1. Sillasikdang (신라식당)
Korean · Chungbuk Boeun-gun
🏛️ 304 civil-servant visits · ★ 4.0 (33)
2. Galmagadeun (갈마가든)
Cold noodles · Chungbuk Chungju-si
🏛️ 30 civil-servant visits · ★ 4.1 (65)
3. Rijeong (리정)
Ox-bone soup · Chungbuk Cheongju-si
🏛️ 64 civil-servant visits · ★ 4.0 (37)

Chungnam

Top 3 by score of 31 matching

1. Yuganekalguksu (유가네칼국수)
Knife-cut noodles · Chungnam Gongju-si
🏛️ 116 civil-servant visits · ★ 4.2 (105)
2. Jubongmaeulureongchon (주봉마을우렁촌)
Ssambap (rice wraps) · Chungnam Gongju-si
🏛️ 85 civil-servant visits · ★ 4.0 (34)
3. Sobakhanbapsang (소박한밥상)
Korean · Chungnam Seosan-si
🏛️ 49 civil-servant visits · ★ 4.5 (57)

Jeonbuk

Top 3 by score of 9 matching

1. Gamnoheon (감로헌)
Korean · Jeonbuk Jeonju-si
🏛️ 65 civil-servant visits · ★ 4.4 (34)
2. Neul (늘)
Korean · Jeonbuk Sunchang-gun
🏛️ 111 civil-servant visits · ★ 4.3 (30)
3. Namchonkalguksu (남촌칼국수)
Knife-cut noodles · Jeonbuk Jeonju-si
🏛️ 16 civil-servant visits · ★ 4.5 (38)

Jeonnam

Top 3 by score of 33 matching

1. Daehansikdang (대한식당)
Bulgogi & stir-fry · Jeonnam Gwangyang-si
🏛️ 48 civil-servant visits · cross-verified by 4 agencies · ★ 4.5 (52)
2. Geureoso (그러소)
Meat & BBQ · Jeonnam Gwangyang-si
🏛️ 63 civil-servant visits · cross-verified by 8 agencies · ★ 4.6 (45)
3. Maehwahyang (매화향)
퓨전한식 · Jeonnam Gwangyang-si
🏛️ 18 civil-servant visits · cross-verified by 7 agencies · ★ 4.5 (34)

Gyeongbuk

Top 3 by score of 10 matching

1. Saebulgogisikdang (새불고기식당)
Bulgogi & stir-fry · Gyeongbuk Seongju-gun
🏛️ 51 civil-servant visits · ★ 4.0 (32)
2. Daegugalbi (대구갈비)
Galbi (grilled ribs) · Gyeongbuk Gyeongju-si
🏛️ 13 civil-servant visits · ★ 4.7 (962)
3. Dongcheonmyeonok (동천면옥)
Cold noodles · Gyeongbuk Gyeongsan-si
🏛️ 23 civil-servant visits · ★ 4.3 (32)

Gyeongnam

Top 3 by score of 8 matching

1. Namudalswimteo (나무달쉼터)
Korean · Gyeongnam Hamyang-gun
🏛️ 89 civil-servant visits · ★ 4.1 (40)
2. Chamsutgol (참숯골)
Meat & BBQ · Gyeongnam Hapcheon-gun
🏛️ 20 civil-servant visits · ★ 4.6 (33)
3. Saheon (사헌)
Ginseng chicken soup · Gyeongnam Gimhae-si
🏛️ 16 civil-servant visits · ★ 4.7 (34)

Jeju

Top 1 by score of 1 matching

1. Mero (메로)
Korean · Jeju Jeju-si
🏛️ 11 civil-servant visits · ★ 4.8 (35)

Other picks

Local specialties (regional dishes)No raw fish