Local Rank / Seoul

Where Koreans really eat in Seoul

Restaurants in Seoul, in the order Koreans spent money there by card last month. The numbers come from BC Card payment data, so there are no ads and no sponsored spots. The % is a place's position among all places in Korea: top 1% means only 1 in 100 took in more.

Updated 10 November 2026, from last month's card payments.

Seoul top 10

1. Myeongdong Gyoja (Myeongdong No. 1 Branch) (명동교자(명동1호점)): Street snacks in Myeong-dong. Top 0.03% of places in Korea by card spending.
2. Kontaiwakkorantai (콘타이와꼬란타이): Asian in Yeouido. Top 0.03% of places in Korea by card spending.
3. Jinju Sikdang (진주식당): Home-style set meals in Yeouido. Top 0.07% of places in Korea by card spending.
4. Yongga (용가): Malatang in Myeong-dong. Top 0.08% of places in Korea by card spending.
5. Myeongdong Chungmu Gimbap (명동충무김밥): Gimbap in Myeong-dong. Top 0.11% of places in Korea by card spending.
6. Guseuto (구스토): Pizza in Yeouido. Top 0.12% of places in Korea by card spending.
7. Bandomyeongdong (반도명동): Korean BBQ in Myeong-dong. Top 0.13% of places in Korea by card spending.
8. Rateurapangte Aoitori (라트라팡테 아오이토리): Home-style set meals in Hongdae. Top 0.15% of places in Korea by card spending.
9. Ttamttam (땀땀): Asian in Gangnam Station. Top 0.16% of places in Korea by card spending.
10. Marusim (마루심): Seafood in Gangnam Station. Top 0.18% of places in Korea by card spending.

Questions people ask

Which restaurants in Seoul do Koreans spend the most at?

By card spending last month, the top 3 are Myeongdong Gyoja (Myeongdong No. 1 Branch) (명동교자(명동1호점), Street snacks), Kontaiwakkorantai (콘타이와꼬란타이, Asian) and Jinju Sikdang (진주식당, Home-style set meals). The list on this page has 10 in order.

How is this different from review sites?

It uses what people paid, not what they wrote. The order comes from BC Card payment data published through eat.pl: the more Koreans spent at a place last month, the higher it sits. There are no star ratings, no reviews and no ads.

Can a restaurant pay to rank higher?

No. Local Rank takes no money from restaurants and has no sponsored spots.

Seoul, one neighborhood at a time

• Myeong-dong (명동): Seoul's busiest shopping streets. Number one: Bandomyeongdong (반도명동).
• Hongdae (홍대): University district with live music and late nights. Number one: Naruto (나루토).
• Seongsu (성수): Old factory blocks, now cafés and pop-up stores. Number one: Somunnanseongsu Gamjatang (소문난성수감자탕).
• Ikseon-dong & Jongno 3-ga (익선동, 종로3가): Hanok alleys in Seoul's old center. Number one: Ilpumyangpyeong Haejangguk Jongno3ga Branch (일품양평해장국종로3가점).
• Gangnam Station (강남역): Office towers and the after-work crowd. Number one: Gatten Sushi Gangnam Branch (갓텐스시강남점).
• Yeouido (여의도): Finance towers and a serious lunch rush. Number one: Jinju Sikdang (진주식당).

Seoul by dish

• Korean BBQ in Seoul
• Soups & stews in Seoul
• Noodles & dumplings in Seoul
• Home-style set meals in Seoul
• Gopchang in Seoul
• Jokbal & bossam in Seoul
• Fried chicken in Seoul
• Raw fish in Seoul
• Street snacks in Seoul
• Pubs in Seoul
• Cafés in Seoul

Other cities

• Where Koreans really eat in Busan
• Where Koreans really eat in Jeju

How this ranking works

Koreans pay for most meals by card. Local Rank takes the card payment ranking that BC Card publishes through eat.pl and lists restaurants by how much was spent there last month. Nobody can pay to appear, and reviews play no part.

Big chains, cafés and bars are left out of the restaurant lists. Cafés and pubs have lists of their own.

Each place links to its page on eat.pl, which shows the map, opening hours and busy times. That page is in Korean; Chrome and Safari can translate it.

Local Rank is an independent guide and is not affiliated with or endorsed by BC Card.