Looking for real Seoul restaurants that connect to your favorite K-dramas and K-pop idols? If you’re planning a Korea trip around a drama marathon or a bias-list obsession, you already know the food is half the fun. K-dramas and K-pop don’t just use Seoul as a backdrop, they film in real, working restaurants and cafes you can walk into today. This guide covers five real Seoul spots worth building your itinerary around: an actual Itaewon Class filming location, two Queen of Tears neighborhood restaurants, a Crash Landing on You river-view spot, an idol-magnet BBQ joint, and a cafe run by an EXO member’s family. For each one, you’ll find what to order, how to get there, and a Google Maps link.
1. Seoulbam: The Real Danbam From Itaewon Class
Itaewon Class made the fictional pub Danbam famous worldwide, and its real-world counterpart is Seoulbam, a pojangmacha-style bar on the slopes of Itaewon. The exterior looks almost exactly like it did on screen, which is exactly why fans make the walk uphill to find it. It’s a working bar, not a museum, so sit down and order something instead of just snapping photos outside. Pair your visit with a stop at Noksapyeong Pedestrian Bridge nearby for a skyline photo with N Seoul Tower in the background.
What to Order
- Soju and cold beer, ordered off the hand-written menu board
- Odengtang (fish cake soup), a pojangmacha classic
- Tteokbokki and other anju (drinking snacks) to share
How to Get There
Seoulbam sits in the Usadan-ro area on the slopes of Itaewon, an uphill walk from Noksapyeong Station (Line 6, Exit 2). View on Google Maps
2. Hoenamu and Baekhap Kalguksu: Queen of Tears’ Neighborhood Spots
Queen of Tears used real Seoul neighborhood restaurants instead of glamorous sets for most of its food scenes. Hoenamu Restaurant is where the sundaeguk (blood sausage soup) scenes were filmed, and Baekhap Kalguksu & Bossam is where the two fathers share a meal in the drama. Both are affordable, no-reservation-needed spots where you can order just by pointing at the menu board. If you want the one splurge scene from the show, Mott 32 Seoul inside the Park Hyatt Gangnam recreates the Episode 7 dinner, though you’ll want to book that one in advance.
What to Order
- Sundaeguk (blood sausage soup) at Hoenamu Restaurant
- Bossam and kalguksu at Baekhap Kalguksu & Bossam
- The Episode 7 splurge dinner at Mott 32 Seoul (reservation recommended)
How to Get There
Both restaurants are in central Seoul neighborhoods, best found with a quick map search. View Hoenamu Restaurant on Google Maps View Baekhap Kalguksu & Bossam o
3. The Circular Han River Restaurant From Crash Landing on You
Even though Crash Landing on You is set in Pyongyang, its most memorable cafe scene, the Episode 8 date, was filmed at a circular-shaped restaurant on the bank of the Han River in Seoul. Fans line up for the same window seats with river views, so reserve ahead if you can, especially on weekends. Menu highlights include a Hawaiian shrimp tomato View on Google Mapspasta served in a hollowed-out pineapple and a crab pasta that both show up constantly on fan visit posts.
4. Chupungryeong Kal Samgyeopsal: The Idol-Magnet Pork Belly Spot in Apgujeong
Ask any local which samgyeopsal restaurant gives you the best odds of spotting an idol, and Chupungryeong Kal Samgyeopsal in Apgujeong is usually the answer. Thanks to its quality knife-cut pork belly and discreet service, it’s become a regular stop for K-pop artists between schedules. Even if you don’t see anyone famous, the pork belly alone is worth the trip. Apgujeong is walkable from Apgujeongrodeo Station, so pair this with a stroll through the neighborhood’s flagship stores afterward.
View Chupungryeong Kal Samgyeopsal on Google Maps
5. Kamong: The Cafe Named After EXO Kai and His Dog
Kamong is a quiet cafe in Seoul that fans track down because it’s run by the family of EXO’s Kai, and the cafe takes its name from Kai’s own dog. It’s a working neighborhood cafe rather than a fan shrine, so the vibe is relaxed: good coffee, simple desserts, and a chance to sit somewhere connected to an idol’s real life outside the spotlight. It’s a nice low-key stop to end a Seoul day trip, especially after a heavier BBQ meal.
View Kamong Cafe on Google Maps
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Seoulbam the exact Danbam set from Itaewon Class?
Not exactly a set, no. Danbam in Itaewon Class was built as a fictional pub for the drama, but Seoulbam is a real, independently-run pojangmacha-style bar nearby whose exterior closely resembles it. Fans visit Seoulbam because of the strong visual resemblance and its real Itaewon location, not because it was literally used as a filming set.
Do I need a reservation for the Han River pasta restaurant from Crash Landing on You?
It’s strongly recommended, especially for window seats with a Han River view on weekends. The restaurant became popular after Crash Landing on You aired, and the best tables fill up fast. If you don’t mind seating away from the window, walk-ins have a better chance on weekday afternoons.
Can I actually spot K-pop idols at Chupungryeong Kal Samgyeopsal?
There’s no guarantee, since it’s a real working restaurant, not a fan event. But it’s genuinely known among locals as a spot idols visit between schedules, thanks to its discreet, low-key seating and Apgujeong location near several entertainment agencies. Go for the pork belly first and treat any celebrity sighting as a bonus.
Plan Your K-Culture Food Trail Through Seoul
These five stops are just a starting point. Seoul keeps producing new drama and K-pop filming locations every year, so it’s worth checking a source like Visit Seoul’s official tourism site before your trip for the latest openings and closures. And if you want more real, verified K-drama and K-pop travel spots beyond this list, check our About page to see what SeoulBites covers and how we pick each recommendation.
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