If you are a Korean drama devotee, a trip to South Korea must be on your bucket list. We have round up a list of cafes and restaurants that are featured in some of the most popular and greatest K-dramas of all time! Here are 10 dining spots to live out your favourite Kdrama aspirations during your next trip!
Plate B
In the light-hearted Kdrama series ‘Strong Woman Do Bong Soon’, this cafe appears as Dobong Walnut Bakery managed by Bong Soon’s father.
In real life, this little cafe serves coffee, brunch and salad. Due to overwhelming fans’ requests, they have included walnut pie in their dessert menu.
As seen in: Strong Woman Do Bong Soon
Address
415-1 Huam-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul, South Korea
Tel: +82 2-318-6980
Opening Hours
Daily until 23:00 PM
Getting there
Sookmyung Women’s University, Line 4 (Exit 2 or 3). Walk towards the direction of Namsan Park or take Bus 202 from Namyeong Post Office (2 stops) to Huam-dong Woori Bank.
Chocolatier Zino
This European-style steakhouse where Kim Shin and Ji Eun Tak dined in had us fooled into thinking that they were in Quebec, Canada!
In fact, Chocolatier Zino is in Paju city, an hour away from Seoul, and as the name suggests, Chocolatier Zino is not a steakhouse, but rather a dessert restaurant for the chocolate aficionado.
As seen in: Goblin or Guardian: The Lonely and Great God
Address
195-56 Saeori-ro, Tanhyeon-myeon, Paju-si, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea
Tel: +82 031-949-8365
Opening Hours
Tuesday to Sunday: 12:00 PM to 07:00 AM (Closed on Monday)
Getting there
From the bus stop at Exit 1 of Hapjeong Station (Line 2, 6), take bus 2200 to Heyri Art Village. Then, take bus 036 and get off after five stops. From there, it’s a seven-minute walk.
Dal.Komm Coffee
Cafés are essential in the K-drama world. A perfect venue to meet your love interest, rival or mother-in-law for a confession or confrontation.
This is the café where Captain Yoo Si Jin and Dr. Kang Mo Yeon went on their first date in ‘Descendants of the Sun’.
Dal.Komm Coffee has since appeared in popular K-Dramas like W:Two Worlds and Goblin. Riding on the popularity of the hit K-drama series ‘Descendants of the Sun’ in 2016, they have opened three outlets in Singapore serving quality coffee, fruit tea and Korean desserts. The latest addition is located at JEWEL Changi Airport.
As seen in: Descendants of the Sun, W:Two Worlds
Address
Level 1, Central Park Prugio, 23-5 Songdo-dong, Yeonsu District, Incheon, Korea
Tel: +82 32-858-0504
Opening Hours
Daily from 08:00 AM to 23:00 PM
Getting there
Incheon National University Station, Line 1 (Exit 4)
Ma Po Dumpling
For the K-drama aficionados besides posing for pictures in filming locations, it is also equally important to eat like your favourite characters for dinner or supper! Head over to this 24-hr small restaurant Ma Po Dumpling that serves up comforting dishes like kimchi stew, kimchi fried rice, cheese ramen, and as its name suggests – Dumplings! Now you know where to go if hunger pang strikes in the middle of the night.
As seen in: I’m a Flower too!
Address
17, Yeouido-dong, Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul
Tel: +82 02-782-2014
Opening Hours
Daily 24 hours
Getting there
Hapjeong Station, Line 2 or 6 (Exit 10)
Ssangdaepo Sogeumgui BBQ
Almost all K-dramas seem like a cultural export, tacitly weaving in Korean traditions, slangs and cuisine. I don’t remember watching any K-drama without the mention of their local dishes and national pastime: Korean Barbeque!
Ssang Dae Po Sogeumgui BBQ restaurant has appeared in several K-dramas because of its traditional interior décor featuring wooden pillars and traditional doors. This restaurant rose to fame after being featured in the romance-comedy television series ‘Secret Garden’.
As seen in: Secret Garden, The King 2 Hearts, Ramen Flower Boy Shop, Fashion King, Man from the Equator, Strong Woman Do Bong Soon
Address
291, Cheongpa-ro, Yongsan-gu, Seoul
Tel: +82 2-707-1380
Opening Hours
Daily 24 hours
Getting there
Sookmyung Women’s University Station, Line 4, (Exit 9 or 10)
The Flower-scented Cartoon Café
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Being a top Hallyu (K-wave) actress is tough and the protagonist in the astronomically popular K-drama ‘My Love from the Star’, Cheon Song Yi is constantly under media scrutiny.
This comic book café was her secret hideout, in contrast to her glamorous celebrity lifestyle, she would read comic books, eat instant noodles and consult her friend about her relationship issue here.
The film production crew created a VIP room within the café which no longer exist in the actual site. It is not difficult to locate this café as you’ll see a large poster of the television series and several autographs by the celebrities at the entrance.
As seen in: My Love from the Star
Address
Tel: +82 2 6012 7719
50-6, Changcheon-dong, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul
Opening Hours
Daily from 11:00 AM till 00:00 AM
Getting there
Sinchon Station, Line 2 (Exit 3 or 4)
Mango Six
Remember the scene in ‘A Gentleman’s Dignity’ when the snobbish architect Kim Do Jin first saw high school teacher Seo Yi Soo taking shelter from the rain under a bright yellow umbrella cafe table? Enter Café Mango Six, a famous juice and coffee chain in Korea. Their bestseller- mango coconut juice has made its appearances in these two K-dramas we’ve listed below.
As seen in: A Gentleman’s Dignity, The Heirs
Address
97 Nonhyeon-dong (734 Eonju-ro), Gangnam-gu, Seoul, South Korea
+82 2-518-7266
Opening Hours
Daily from 09:00 AM to 23:30 PM
Getting there
Hakdong Station Subway, Line 7 (Exit 10)
Foresta Book Café
Possibly one of the most charming book cafés in South Korea. The Foresta Book Café is located in the Heyri Art Village which is an hour away from Seoul. Step into this café, and you’ll be captivated by the colossal floor-to-ceiling wall of books, which is one of the filming backdrops for a fight scene between Cha Ji Heon and Cha Moo Won in ‘Protect the Boss’.
As seen in: Protect the Boss, Fated to Love You
Address
59-6 Heyrimaeul-gil, Tanhyeon-myeon, Paju-si, Gyeonggi-do
Opening Hours
Tue to Fri: 11:00 AM to 18:00 PM
Sat and Sun: 10:30 AM to 18:00 PM
Closed on Monday
Getting there
Hapjeong Station, Line 2 or 6 (Exit 2)
Alex the Coffee (Goyang Branch)
We all know there are plenty of cafes in Seoul and what makes Alex the Coffee stands out is its reclusiveness – tucked away amidst the hustle and bustle of downtown Seoul – a perfect venue for a coffee date with your significant other. Plus, the minimalist interior décor and ambiance are perfect for the ‘gram. In ‘What’s Wrong with Secretary Kim’ the narcissistic vice president Youngjoon brought his secretary Miso for a lunch date here.
As seen in: What’s Wrong with Secretary Kim
Address
103-30 Tongil-ro 493beonan-gil, Sinwon-dong, Deokyang-gu, Goyang-si, Gyeonggi-do
Tel: +82 070-4138-7714
Opening Hours
Monday to Friday: 12:00 PM to 20:00 PM
Saturday and Sunday: 11:00 AM to 21:00 PM
Getting there
Hansung University Station, Line 4, (Exit 6)
Restaurant Small Town
Looking to relive the awkward romance between Bok Joo and Joon Hyung? Then you need to visit this restaurant. In ‘Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo’, this was a Korean fried chicken shop run by Bok Joo’s father. In real life, the restaurant oozes rustic charm and serves a variety of Korean dishes.
As seen in: Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo
Address
35 Jeongneung-ro 6-gil, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul
Tel: +82 02-916-2049
Opening Hours
Monday to Friday: 12:00 PM to 20:00 PM
Saturday and Sunday: 11:00 AM to 21:00 PM
Getting there
Gireum Station, Line 4 (Exit 4) from here take bus 153 or 7211 which is a 20-minutes ride and alight at Kookmin University and walk across to the restaurant.
