Korea's curator-recommended restaurants in Itaewon, Seoul (With CATCHTABLE GLOBAL Data)

A cool, low-lit room where the ocean’s sweetness floats up first: aged sashimi with pearly sheen, a whisper of sea breeze on the nose, and clean, mineral finishes that linger. Loved by locals and visiting food lovers alike, it’s the sort of place where two hours pass in a flash—precisely why they occasionally enforce a time limit on crowded nights.

The concept is a hip dining bar—fresh fish, attentive plating, and a staff that keeps the room relaxed and the pace right.

• Order this: The aged sashimi selection and chef’s seasonal small plates; pair with a crisp highball or chilled soju.

Up on Sky Kingdom’s rooftop, Seoul spreads out like a lit constellation—grills sending up savory plumes, highballs clinking in the breeze. It’s a magnet for city-night romantics and out-of-towners chasing a skyline moment, with a Rooftop BBQ Set and a seasonal “pocha” vibe that makes the whole place hum.

19 cabanas and 20 tables shape the scene; if rain hits, operations shift indoors to King’s Vacation so the mood stays intact.

• Order this: Rooftop BBQ Set and a round of fruit highballs; time it with sunset for a postcard dinner.

Fire kisses iron and the room answers with a chorus of sizzle; buttery wagyu perfumes the air as ice clinks in fizzy highballs. Locals bring friends, travelers find themselves lingering—the MB9-grade steaks and the signature “Wagyu Black Tiger” are crowd-stoppers that taste as bold as the flames look.

Styled like an ’80s Tokyo alley izakaya—warm lighting, nostalgic soundtrack, and bartenders who know their pours.

• Order this: MB9 wagyu steak and the house teppan signatures; chase with a fresh-fruit highball.

A burger dining room that respects the crunch and the spice—Nashville hot chicken stacked high, juices gleaming, steam rising the moment you split the bun. It’s a lunch crowd favorite and an early-evening pit stop, with small plates that make sharing too easy.

Clean, tidy hall and little hospitality touches—like a warm steamed towel as you sit—set the tone for a breezy meal.

• Order this: Nashville hot chicken burger; add a couple of small plates to round out the table.

Smoke curls from binchotan and the room smells like caramelized tare and grilled chicken fat—a signal you’re in the right place. The skewers land glistening, edges charred just so, and a cold draft beer seals the deal for both office-hour escapees and travelers in search of a classic izakaya night.

Counter seats bring you face-to-flame; the soundtrack is the tap-tap of skewers turning and the clink of glasses.

• Order this: Thigh, tsukune, and skin skewers; alternate bites with pickles and an icy lager.

A retro-spirited grill that smells like sizzling pork and toasted kimchi the second you step in—nostalgia in stereo. The plates aren’t fussy, just deeply satisfying: special sets, fragrant minari, and a highball that clicks with it all.

The room leans old-school in the best way; staff guide the grill and keep the table humming at a comfortable pace.

• Order this: Special set for the table; don’t skip grilling kimchi alongside for sweet, smoky edges.

A calm counter where the fragrance is subtle—fresh rice, grated wasabi, sea-sweet fish—and every bite lands balanced and clear. It’s a favorite for both first-timers and seasoned omakase chasers, the kind of place you recommend for anniversaries because the service feels quietly celebratory.

“Omakase” means letting the chef steer: seasonal fish, precise cuts, and a cadence that makes an hour feel like a minute.

• Order this: Sit back for the chef’s course; pair with a light sake to keep flavors lifted.

Nine pyeong, big soul: fresh Italian pasta, izakaya comforts, and a short list of bottles poured at friendly prices. The aroma is garlic and butter then soy and smoke—two kitchens’ worth of memories folded into one tiny, charming room locals adore.

Opened in 2016 before Yongridan-gil’s boom; a nostalgic, slightly worn-in atmosphere that regulars call romantic.

• Order this: Arahn pasta with a glass of the house-red deal; ask the owner for a pairing—trust pays off.

Fresh pasta with an Asian wink—aromas of butter and crab roe, sweet shrimp and citrus lifting the room. It’s a sleek, softly lit space that couples book for birthdays and friends claim for an easy, wine-fueled evening.

Reasonably priced bottles, tapas-to-steak breadth, and an owner’s touch that shows up in the little details.

• Order this: Cheese churros to start, steak hot from the pan, and the savory crab-roe pasta to finish.

Where Burgundy is the beginning and end: corks breathe, glasses bloom with red fruit and forest floor, and French plates carry those notes forward. It’s the special-occasion anchor of Hannam—understated, refined, and known for recommendations that seem to read your mind.

500+ labels across countries and styles; lettering on dessert is available by request for that extra flourish (English only).

• Order this: Let the team build your route—one bottle to start, a second if the night unfolds; pair with their seasonal French courses.