Seoul Forest & Konkuk서울숲·건대 · 로컬 가이드

Bestie tip · Order 'yangkkochi' by the 10 skewers (minimum two people), plus 'kkwaebaegi' (fried twisted bread) and a 'ggobuli' (spicy stir-fry) to share. The skewers rotate themselves; eat when the staff stops them.

Bestie tip · Bring a mat or rent one. Card works at most trucks. Expect queues at the famous ones; the plain Korean ones (tteokbokki, kimbap) are the no-wait options.

Bestie tip · Weekday lunch sets are the best value; at dinner order a mixed beef platter for two.

Bestie tip · Order the daily set with stew; side dishes are usually refilled if you ask.

Bestie tip · Order the classic gukbap and crack the soft egg into it; add seaweed flakes from the table.

Bestie tip · Order the loin (deungsim) katsu and eat it with the pink salt first; put your name down on the waiting list as soon as you arrive.

Bestie tip · Order the signature burger with truffle fries and take it into Seoul Forest.

Bestie tip · Order the beef pho with a side of fried spring rolls; add hoisin and sriracha at the table.

Bestie tip · Order the tomato egg or spicy dosakmyeon plus one plate of the gwobaorou sweet and sour pork to share.

Bestie tip · Order sundae gukbap and season with the shrimp salt; a sundae platter is good with soju for a group.

Bestie tip · Order the bossam jeongsik for each person; add a kalguksu to share if you want more noodles.

Bestie tip · Order the chadol jjamppong and a plate of fried dumplings to share; ask for rice to drop into the leftover soup.

Bestie tip · Arrive 10 to 15 minutes before opening; the mazesoba is the pick if you want something richer than soup.

Bestie tip · Order one Neapolitan pizza and one pasta for two; go late lunch to skip the queue.

Bestie tip · Order the beef chimichanga plus a taco set to share; it is a good refuel after a Seoul Forest walk.

Bestie tip · At dinner order ogyeopsal and grill the kimchi in the pork fat; at lunch get the kimchi jjigae with rolled omelette.

Bestie tip · Get bibim naengmyeon if you like heat, mul naengmyeon if you do not, and add dumplings to share.

Bestie tip · Order the gukmul dakbal for two and cool down with the rolled omelette; weekends open from 14:00.

Bestie tip · Get tteokbokki with sundae and eomuk to go and eat it by the river at Ttukseom Hangang Park.

Bestie tip · Pick a café with an outdoor table in the back garden; most have one. Dog-friendly here is normal, so expect a Pomeranian at the next table.

Bestie tip · Buy the plain signature loaf (dambaek sikppang) and ask them to slice it; it can sell out by late afternoon.

Bestie tip · Order the house latte or ask for a filter coffee; grab it to go and walk into the park.

Bestie tip · Order a filter coffee of the day, or the signature milk coffee if you like it sweet.

Bestie tip · Buy two or three pastries to take into the forest rather than queueing for a seat.

Bestie tip · Ask which beans are on for hand drip and take a window seat.

Bestie tip · Order a straight matcha or matcha latte and one matcha dessert to compare.

Bestie tip · Grab an iced latte to go and walk five minutes into the forest.

Bestie tip · In warm months get the shaved ice and share it; one bowl is plenty for two.

Bestie tip · One bingsu between two is the right size; add a drink only if you are staying.

Bestie tip · Ask for an upstairs seat in good weather and order a brunch plate before noon.

Bestie tip · Order a pot rather than a cup so you can sit with it.

Bestie tip · Bring a book or a laptop and keep calls outside.

Bestie tip · Go in the morning and get salt bread warm; it is best eaten right away.

Bestie tip · Buy a bagel and a coffee to go and eat it on the park lawn.

Bestie tip · Pick a slice from the case and pair it with a plain americano.

Bestie tip · Go for bingsu in the afternoon and a sandwich if you came hungry.

Bestie tip · From the mirror pond, follow signs for 한강 and climb the ramp. On the river side, turn right (west) toward Seongsu bridge for the best light; the Ttukseom park facilities are left.

Bestie tip · Butterflies land on bright clothes; wear yellow. Combine with the deer feeding across the path (buy the ₩1,000 feed at the kiosk).

Bestie tip · Take the escalator up from inside the station; no ticket. Sunset from here lines up the Cheongdam Bridge and the tower. The riverside steps below are the picnic spot after.

Bestie tip · Follow the Han River footbridge signs from the deer park.

Bestie tip · Book a timed ticket online for weekends and check the current exhibition before you go.

Bestie tip · Deer feed is ₩1,000 from the machine by the enclosure; mornings they come to the fence, afternoons they're asleep. Enter from the Seoul Forest station side (exit 3) and the deer are 5 minutes in.

Bestie tip · Enter from the Children's Grand Park station (Line 7) side for the zoo first. The sea lion feeding and the elephant show times are posted at the gate.

Bestie tip · Enter from the Konkuk station side gate, loop the lake at sunset, then walk out to Common Ground for dinner.

Bestie tip · The shops rotate young Korean brands; the ceramics and candle makers are the reliable finds. Toilets here are the cleanest near the park.

Bestie tip · The 3rd floor terrace has the food court and the view; the ground floor is the streetwear. Weekend evenings there are DJs in the courtyard.

Bestie tip · The stands near the Ttukseom station entrance have the tandems; ID deposit required. The ginkgo avenue in early November is one of Seoul's three or four great yellow tunnels.

Bestie tip · Enter from the Children's Grand Park station gate; the zoo is to the right. The sea-lion feeding and the elephant walk times are posted at the gate. Picnic food in, no problem.

Bestie tip · Each lamp post has a number; that's the delivery address if you have a Korean app. Without one, the chicken shops at the station entrance will pack it to go. Mats rent for ₩3,000 by the store.

Bestie tip · Beer towers (3 litres) are the group order; pubs here often have a one-dish minimum. The photo-sticker booths and claw machines on the main strip are where locals end the night.

Bestie tip · Order a cheese board for two and ask staff to match a glass to it; book for weekend evenings.

Bestie tip · Go around sunset and order a cocktail or highball; book on weekends.

Bestie tip · Order the house stout and something fried to share.

Bestie tip · Sit at the bar, order a whisky highball, and ask what they are playing tonight.

Bestie tip · Share a seafood stew or a raw fish plate with soju; it gets louder the later you stay.

Bestie tip · Tell the bartender your base spirit and how sweet you like it.

Bestie tip · Pick a book off the shelf, order one slow drink, and stay a while.

Bestie tip · Sit at the bar and ask for something based on what you usually drink.

Bestie tip · Ask for a cocktail made with a Korean spirit.

Bestie tip · Ask for a highball or a single whisky if you want something simple.

Bestie tip · Ask for a glass recommendation first, then commit to a bottle if you like it.

Bestie tip · Order a tasting flight if they have one, then a full glass of your favorite.

Bestie tip · Order a mixed skewer set first, then add the ones you liked.

Bestie tip · Ask staff for a makgeolli or traditional liquor pairing with your dish.

Bestie tip · Order a whole fried chicken and draft beer; ask for half and half if you cannot choose.

Bestie tip · Order a highball and listen; it is not a loud group place.