Seoul’s Top 5 Oyster Gukbap Spots
- The seasonal oysters make the gukbap shine, 송파 ‘대현굴국밥’
- Gentle flavor that restores your energy, 종로5가 ‘남해굴국밥’
- Soft maesaengi elevates the taste, 용산 ‘땅끝마을 매생이굴국밥’
- Delicious — and open 24 hours?, 신당 ‘굴예찬’
- Plump oysters to boost your stamina, 충무로 ‘굴밭’
Hidden inside a hard shell is the sea. Oysters, with their milky and springy flesh, are endlessly appealing. You can enjoy them raw, in salads, pancakes, or in pot-cooked rice, but the steaming bowl of oyster gukbap — with its cloudy, flavor-packed broth — is impossible to resist. Now in season, many places use fresh oysters to make richer, more aromatic broths with a tender, bouncy bite. Here are spots around Seoul serving oyster gukbap that feel like a little gift from the ocean.
제철 굴로 끓이는 국밥 맛이 제대로다, 송파 ‘대현굴국밥’
This oyster specialty spot with a green sign sits in the food alley near Seokchon Lake. Open since 2005, it’s built a loyal following by focusing on oysters alone. They buy large, in-season oysters and flash-freeze them so you can enjoy consistently tasty oyster gukbap, oyster rice, and oyster pancakes year-round. The most popular oyster gukbap features a cloudy broth brimming with oyster flavor, finished with chives and seaweed for extra texture and aroma. Oyster rice topped with popping flying fish roe is a fan favorite, too.
See more reviews of ‘Daehyeon Oyster Gukbap’ on Siksin
✔Location
3, Baekjegobun-ro 33-gil, Songpa-gu, Seoul 05613
✔Hours
Mon–Sat 6:00 AM–10:00 PM; Sun 8:00 AM–10:00 PM; weekday break 3:00 PM–5:00 PM
✔Prices
Oyster gukbap 11,000 KRW (about $8.25), Oyster rice (oyster bibimbap) 13,000 KRW (about $9.75), Oyster soft tofu stew 11,000 KRW (about $8.25)
부드러운 맛으로 원기 충전되는 굴국밥, 종로5가 ‘남해굴국밥’
Since 2004, this spot has been the go-to for office workers in Jongno and vendors from Gwangjang Market looking for hangover relief. The menu features oyster gukbap, oyster pancakes, oyster salads, and even skate dishes. Oysters are sourced from Tongyeong, and the cloudy broth is mellowed with beaten egg for a silky finish. The spicy oyster soft tofu stew is another popular choice. In the evening, many diners opt for hong-eo samhap — a balanced trio of high-quality boiled pork belly, fresh oysters, and mildly fermented skate.
See more reviews of ‘Namhae Oyster Gukbap’ on Siksin
✔Location
3, Daehak-ro 1-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul
✔Hours
Mon–Sat 10:00 AM–10:00 PM; closed Sundays
✔Prices
Oyster gukbap 10,000 KRW (about $7.50), Oyster soft tofu stew 10,000 KRW (about $7.50), Oyster pancake 19,000 KRW (about $14.25)
보드라운 매생이의 맛을 끌어올린, 용산 ‘땅끝마을 매생이굴국밥’
This maesaengi (seaweed) specialty shop near Yongsan Station sources slightly younger maesaengi for a softer texture, using it in gukbap and pancakes. The maesaengi oyster gukbap is the standout: oysters and bean sprouts give the broth a clean, refreshing flavor; the rice is ladled so it holds a perfect texture; and the soft maesaengi practically melts in your mouth — a harmonious bite. Single-serving clay-pot dishes like spicy braised chicken and cheonggukjang bibimbap are popular with nearby office workers, too.
See more about ‘Ttangkkeutmae Maesaengi Oyster Gukbap’ on Siksin
✔Location
1F, 18 Wonhyo-ro 41-gil, Yongsan-gu, Seoul — Ttangkkeutmae Maesaengi Oyster Gukbap
✔Hours
Mon–Fri 11:00 AM–9:00 PM; Sat 11:00 AM–8:00 PM; closed Sundays
✔Prices
Maesaengi oyster gukbap 9,000 KRW (about $6.75), Maesaengi rice cake soup 9,000 KRW (about $6.75), Oyster pancake 18,000 KRW (about $13.50)
맛있는데 24시간 운영까지?, 신당 ‘굴예찬’
This long-running oyster spot in Sindang — a neighborhood known for its hotspots — stays open 24/7 year-round, so late-night and early-morning crowds find their way here. Their oyster gukbap combines generous oysters and mushrooms in a ladled broth; the mild seasoning lets the oyster and mushroom flavors shine. They also offer a separate oyster soup. During raw-oyster season, the oyster sashimi delivered daily from Tongyeong is highly recommended.
See more reviews of ‘Gul Yechan’ on Siksin
✔Location
243 Dasan-ro, Jung-gu, Seoul
✔Hours
Open 24 hours daily; year-round
✔Prices
Oyster gukbap 10,000 KRW (about $7.50), Oyster soft tofu stew 10,000 KRW (about $7.50), Oyster pancake 19,000 KRW (about $14.25)
통통한 굴로 스태미나 충전, 충무로 ‘굴밭’
Near Chungmuro Station, this oyster spot wears its years proudly — the old-school interior and tableware only add to the sense of authentic, homey flavor. Even a single bowl of gukbap comes with more than just kkakdugi kimchi: expect salted clams, octopus jeot, and mustard greens kimchi as side dishes. Those bold sides amp up the clean oyster gukbap for a more intense experience. The broth is loaded with plump oysters, and they add tofu and rice cake slices for a truly filling bowl. The assorted jeon fried at the entrance is irresistibly savory and cries out for makgeolli.
See more about ‘Gulbat’ on Siksin
✔Location
1F, 11 Toegye-ro 37-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul — Gulbat
✔Hours
Daily 10:00 AM–10:00 PM
✔Prices
Oyster gukbap 10,000 KRW (about $7.50), Oyster egg rice 11,000 KRW (about $8.25), Oyster pancake 18,000 KRW (about $13.50)
Most Commented