Seochon Hanok Village 서촌마을

Tosokchon Samgyetang is one of the most famous Samgyetang (ginseng chicken soup) restaurants in Seoul. Rain or shine, long queue is often seen in front of the restaurant. As the restaurant is fairly big, the queue does move quicky though.

The menu includes pictures and in several languages (English, Chinese, Japanese & Korean). There are Ginseng Korean Black Chicken Soup, Ginseng Chicken Soup, Spicy Chicken Stew, Roasted Chicken, Seafood & Green Onion Pancake, etc.

Scooper Gelato is a small but popular gelato store in Seochon. Besides gelato, it is also famous for its affogato (Italian dessert of gelato with espresso). You can often expect a queue at the store but the line moves pretty fast. There are generally a total of 16 favours, inclusive of classic and seasonal favours.

Some of the gelato favours include Classic Vanilla, Seochon Corn, Chocolate & Hazelnut, Strawberry Greek Yogurt, Miryang Mugwort Rice Cake, Basil Milk, Icheon Rice, Jeju Matcha, Sicilian Pistachio, Peanut Butter, etc. Seasonal sorbet favours include Yuzu (citron), Passion Fruit, Persimmon, Grape, Peach, Grapefruit, etc.

💡Order and payment is made at the on-site kiosk with its simple menu of cup, cone, affogato in-store and affogato take-out (picture & English included). Each cup/cone includes 2 favours and 1 mini spoon-sized favour. Next, tell the staff your preferred favours.

Seochon Geumsang Croquette is known for their freshly-made potato croquettes. They look amazingly fried and taste delicious too. Without using flour, these popular croquettes are handmade using 100% domestically produced potatoes and fried in canola oil.

You can choose from 7 different types of croquettes (i.e. potato, shrimp, mozzarella, curry & chilli cheese, meat & vegetable, wasabi & cabbage, red bean). There is a takeout counter and small sit-in area where you can enjoy the croquettes.

💡Box packaging is available for 5 or more croquettes purchased.

SCOFF bakes amazingly good pound cakes (orange vanilla, earl grey, carrot), brownies (SCOFF, raspberry cream cheese biscuit, hazelnut biscuit, tiramisu) and scones (lemon, cream, dark chocolate hazelnut) even for the 'non-fan' of such baked items. There are also cookies (milk chocolate walnut, macadamia white chocolate, oatmeal raisin), Basque cheesecake, pecan pie, fig flapjack, coconut macaroon, banana bread, etc.

The full glass wall storefront is very welcoming where you can see all the attractive and neatly arranged baked goods and store interior. A must-try in Seochon!

💡There is another SCOFF (Seochon's 1st store) located 4 mins walk further away. You can also find the bakehouse (Scoff Cake) on B1 of Lotte Department Store (Myeongdong Main Store).

If you are curious about the whereabouts of the famous blue storefront of the oldest bookstore in Seoul, it is just located across the street from SCOFF (Seochon 2nd Branch)!

Daeo Bookstore, opened in 1951 is now used as a cultural space and operates as a cafe. The bookstore was the filming location for several TV shows and also appeared on the album cover for Singer IU’s "A Flower Bookmark". BTS RM visited the store too.

💡You must purchase a drink (per person) should you wish to explore the interior fully.

Hyoja Bakery, opened since 1985 is famous for supplying bread to the Blue House (Cheong Wa Dae, presidential residence) for decades. The bakery is run by Master Pastry Chef, Jae-young Yoo.

Hyoja Bakery offers a huge variety of bread (including old-fashioned bread styles), castella, cookies (including organic), tarts (e.g. walnut), Korean traditional sweets, cakes, swiss rolls, etc.

There top-sellers include:
#1 Corn Bread (6 bun-sized bread attached together like a flower-like shape)
#2 Onion Cream Cheese Soboro Bread
#3 Fermented Fig Bread (made without sugar or yeast)

Jalppajin Buckwheat Noodles is a buckwheat specialty restaurant in Seochon. 100% buckwheat noodles (also known as Makguksu) are made in-house. You enter through the 1st floor which is the payment counter and kitchen. The staff will guide you to the seating area on the 2nd floor via the narrow and steep stairways.

Menu includes buckwheat noodles (soup, spicy, perilla oil, truffle oil), pancakes (potato, green bean, chive potato), boiled pork, Korean beef tartare, buckwheat crepe, steamed/fried buckwheat dumplings, buckwheat dumpling stew, lunch specials, party platters, etc.

💡For makgeolli fans, check out their makgeolli sampler of 6 different makgeolli.
💡When visiting, it is highly recommended for you to join the remote queue waitlist on Catchtable app as the restaurant is not big, waiting is almost always necessary. Onsite Catchtable kiosk is available too.
💡There is a yellow tent in front of the restaurant to provide shelter and seats for those waiting.

La Farina is a bagel specialty shop that sells over 30 types of bagels (e.g. pollack potato bagel, fig bagel, garlic bagel, pepperoni bagel) and cream cheese. The store adopts a same-day production and same-day sale principle. It has a spacious and comfortable seating area, particularly on the 2nd floor. La Farina is the favourite bagel bakery cafe for many locals.

💡If you wish to skip the forever long queue at London Bagel Museum Anguk, why not check out La Farina and enjoy your meal in a more spacious environment?