Updated October 29, 2026
Where to eat near Gyeongbokgung
Two lunches that almost every first-time visitor to the palace ends up at, both on the west side in Seochon. One is a bowl of ginseng chicken soup, the other a lunchbox you fill with old-style coins.
Tosokchon Samgyetang
Tosokchon has served samgyetang, a whole young chicken stuffed with rice and ginseng and cooked in broth, for decades, and it's the most famous version in Seoul. It sits in a hanok-style building a short walk west of Gyeongbokgung Station.
| Hours | about 10:00–22:00 |
|---|---|
| Standard bowl | from about ₩15,000 in older listings |
| Queue | long around lunch |
Prices have risen in recent years. The average samgyetang in Seoul cost about ₩18,000 in May 2026, so expect Tosokchon to be at or above that.
Arrive before 11:30 or after 14:00 to cut the wait. The line moves quickly because the kitchen only really makes one dish.
Tongin Market coin lunchbox
At Tongin Market you buy a plastic tray and a string of brass coins called yeopjeon, then walk the stalls swapping coins for a few bites of whatever looks good: tteokbokki, jeon, japchae, braised meat. It's lunch and a market walk in one.
| Coins | usually 10 coins for ₩5,000 |
|---|---|
| Where to buy | Dosirak Cafe, 2nd floor of the customer centre |
| Lunchbox hours | about 11:00 to 16:00 or 17:00 |
| Closed | Mondays and the 3rd Sunday of the month |
Sources disagree on exact hours and coin prices, and some say the cafe also closes on Tuesdays. Coin sales stop about an hour before closing. Market phone: 02-722-0911.
Eating in a rented hanbok
Most people eat after returning the hanbok, but if your rental runs through lunch, a few things help.
- Watch the sleeves. Hanbok sleeves are wide and hang over the table. Roll them back before you reach across.
- Soup splashes. Samgyetang comes boiling hot. Ask for an apron or put a napkin over the ribbon.
- Stains cost money. Some shops charge for cleaning marks on the fabric. The coin lunchbox, eaten at a table, is the safer choice.
- Keep an eye on the clock. A queue at lunch can eat half a two-hour rental.
Questions
Is Tosokchon worth the queue?
For a first visit, most people think so. Tosokchon is Seoul's best-known samgyetang restaurant, a short walk from Gyeongbokgung, and the line moves fast. Go before 11:30 to avoid the worst of it.
When is Tongin Market's coin lunchbox closed?
The Tongin Market lunchbox is closed on Mondays and on the third Sunday of each month. Some sources also list Tuesdays, so check before you go.