Translation result
4 Cheap Eats in Seoul
- Is buckwheat makguksu ever overpriced? You can get it for ₩5,000 ($3.75) — Yeouido’s ‘Duru Makguksu’
- Kimchi stew piled with meat for ₩3,000 ($2.25) — Seongbuk’s ‘Cheongnyeon Bapsang Mungan’
- Crispy pork cutlet for ₩4,000 ($3.00) — Sinchon’s ‘Kkosyong Donkatsu’
- A full set meal for ₩4,000 ($3.00)? Boramae’s ‘Jeju Bossam’
In Seoul’s hectic pace, those moments when you crave an inexpensive, satisfying meal happen more often than you’d think. As prices climb, spots that deliver real satisfaction for under ₩5,000 ($3.75) feel extra special. These places serve humble, lovingly made food, and the steady flow of regulars proves their worth. Around Seoul, you can find restaurants that keep the flavor high while staying budget-friendly. Today we picked four spots in Seoul where you can eat for ₩5,000 ($3.75) or less.
Is buckwheat makguksu ever overpriced? You can get it for ₩5,000 ($3.75) — Yeouido’s ‘Duru Makguksu’
In Yeouido — an area not exactly known for bargain prices — you can still score a bowl of makguksu for just ₩5,000 ($3.75). The shop only opens for about three hours a day and fits just four tables, but quick turnover means you rarely wait long. The price is low, yet portions are generous and loaded with toppings — truly a steal for your lunch break. The savory, sweet-tangy bibim makguksu is a crowd favorite. And if you order a large, you still pay the same price.
| More on Siksin: ‘Duru Makguksu’
- ✔위치
1st floor, Chungmu Building, 7 Yeouidaebang-ro 69-gil, Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul — Duru Makguksu
- ✔영업시간
Weekdays 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM; closed on weekends
- ✔메뉴
Bibim makguksu ₩5,000 ($3.75), Mul makguksu ₩5,000 ($3.75), Dumplings ₩3,000 ($2.25)
Kimchi stew piled with meat for ₩3,000 ($2.25) — Seongbuk’s ‘Cheongnyeon Bapsang Mungan’
Cheongnyeon Bapsang Mungan — run by the Cheongnyeon Mungan Social Cooperative — is a nonprofit spot set up to give cash-strapped young people a warm, affordable meal. Their signature kimchi stew comes in a generous single-serving portion and is packed with tofu and plenty of meat, making the ₩3,000 ($2.25) price almost unbelievable. Add a ramen noodle portion and the bowl feels like something that would normally cost over ₩10,000. The flavor is honest and comforting, so hungry students keep coming back.
| More on Siksin: ‘Cheongnyeon Bapsang Mungan’
2nd floor, 18-2 Bogukmun-ro 11-gil, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul — Cheongnyeon Mungan
- ✔영업시간
Daily 11:00 AM – 8:30 PM; break 2:30 PM – 5:00 PM; closed Sundays
- ✔메뉴
Kimchi stew (single serving) ₩3,000 ($2.25), Fish cake add-on ₩1,000 ($0.75)
Crispy pork cutlet for ₩4,000 ($3.00) — Sinchon’s ‘Kkosyong Donkatsu’
Kkosyong Donkatsu sits on the bustling Sinchon-Edae strip and is a reliably packed value spot. Being in a university area, it pulls in lots of students, and the house cutlet is the top pick. The crust stays satisfyingly crisp while the meat stays juicy — the kind of dish that makes you do a double-take at the price. The regular portion fills you up, but if you’re extra hungry you can add another cutlet for ₩7,000 ($5.25).
| More on Siksin: ‘Kkosyong Donkatsu’
2 Myeongmul 1-gil, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul
Daily 11:00 AM – 8:00 PM; break 4:30 PM – 5:00 PM
- ✔메뉴
Kkosyong Donkatsu ₩4,000 ($3.00), True Kkosyong Donkatsu ₩6,000 ($4.50)
A full set meal for ₩4,000 ($3.00)? Boramae’s ‘Jeju Bossam’
The Hetae Food Department food court near Boramae Hospital Station feels like a time capsule — low prices and clustered eateries that haven’t missed a beat. Among them, Jeju Bossam specializes in homestyle set meals and serves a full plate for just ₩4,000 ($3.00). With a daily-changing main and several side dishes, it’s a hearty, no-fuss lunch. Their bossam set, piled with well-cooked pork, is also a popular choice; the menu lists it at ₩6,000 in one spot and ₩7,000 in another.
| More on Siksin: ‘Jeju Bossam’
-
✔위치
29 Boramae-ro 3-gil, Gwanak-gu, Seoul
Open on weekdays starting at 6:00 AM
- ✔메뉴
Set meal ₩4,000 ($3.00), Bossam set ₩7,000 ($5.25), Cod stew ₩7,000 ($5.25)
Most Commented