RE: Questions which Korean restaurant has the best and most side dishes in Seoul.

Recently I received this question from, Desiree, a reader of Seoul Eats:

Daniel, I found myself wondering which restaurant has the best and the most banchan/side dishes in Seoul, and then thought that you’d be qualified to answer that question….your thoughts??

Back to Desiree’s question. All Korean restaurants have 반찬 (banchan: side dishes) but some will be inventive. You can go for Royal Court Cuisine which is high end and the table will be entirely covered with dishes. There is also 한정식 (hanjeongshik:Korean Full Course Meal) This style of food will be a intermediary between Royal Court and just a regular restaurant.

I am just going to list some recommendations here so Desiree will a couple places she can go to.

Sanchon
There is Sanchon which is a Vegetarian Temple Food Place. Awesome amount of side dishes and each dish has different accents. I wouldn’t say authentic temple food, but you can ask for the dishes to be made with no garlic or peppers if you are looking for the authentic experience.

Telephone: (02) 735-0312
Price: 22,000 per person

Directions:
From Exit 6 of Anguk Station (Subway Line No. 3), walk about 40 meters to Insadong-daero (between Crown Bakery and GS 25 Convenience Store). Proceed about 300 meters, and turn left at Atelier Seoul. Sanchon is located at the end of the street.

BaB
Excellent Korean restaurant that is right next to the main park in Hongdae. The side dishes are so good that the restaurant won’t give you utensils to eat them until the main course comes out. Their bulgogi, sundubu, and nokdu jeon are excellent.

Telephone: 02-334-1866.
Price: 6,000-15,000 per person

Directions go out Sangu Station Exit 1 and walk straight. You’ll cross the street and head towards Hongdae Children’s Park. It’s right before the park on the left hand side.

Daejanggum

It’s got hanjungshik, which means they give you a lot of amazing side dishes including bossam, gujeolpan (a nine section crepe dish), and many courses of milder tasting Korean food. The food will have flavor; it just won’t be firey hot each time.

Style: Traditional Korean
Hours 11-10pm
Phone: 562-5972 or 568-5972

Desiree, I hope that’s a start. Generally, most places will have lots of side dishes. Especially if you order hanjungshik. If the meal for one person costs around 10,000 won, then you’ll get lots of great dishes. 15-20, you will get even nicer ones.

Dan

About the Author

Daniel

Daniel Gray is a Korean adoptee that returned to Korean in 2005 because he wanted to try and find his birth mother and to learn about Korean culture. He started a restaurant review blog in 2007, www.seouleats.com, that became a local and international hit. He and his blog has been featured in the New York Times, Monocle Magazine, The Kimchi Chronicles, Bizarre Foods, Rudy Maxa, Olive Magazine, Euronews and much more. He now is a partner at O’ngo Food Communications (www.ongofood.com), which is a culinary tourism and consulting company that offers Korean cooking classes and restaurant tours to travelers. Their food tours and cooking classes are ranked as one of the top attractions in Seoul according to tripadvisor.

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