Cheap Food in Korea: How to Eat Affordable Korean Meals Like a Local
Many travelers searching for cheap food in Korea immediately think of convenience-store ramen or triangle gimbap.
Those options are inexpensive, but they are not the only way to eat affordably in South Korea. Local workers, students and taxi drivers eat full Korean meals every day without visiting expensive restaurants.
As a licensed Korean local guide, I’ll show you where Koreans actually look for affordable Korean food—and what words to search on Korean map apps.
This is part of my affordable Korea travel series. Start with:
👉 How to Travel South Korea Cheaply: Tips from a Local Korean Guide
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| Traveler finding cheap food at a Korean hansik buffet |
1. Try a Hansik Buffet
A hansik buffet (한식뷔페) is not a luxury hotel buffet. It is a casual restaurant serving everyday Korean food at one fixed price.
A typical selection may include:
- Rice and soup
- Kimchi and vegetables
- Japchae
- Fried or braised dishes
- One or two meat dishes
- Several kinds of banchan
Many local hansik buffets charge approximately ₩8,000–₩12,000 per person, although prices vary by neighborhood.
Serve yourself, but take only what you can finish. Leaving a large amount of food is considered wasteful, and some restaurants may charge for excessive leftovers.
Search on Naver Map or KakaoMap:
한식뷔페백반뷔페
If you want to understand the small dishes served with Korean meals, read:
👉 Why Do Koreans Share Side Dishes?
2. Look for Gisa Sikdang and Baekban
A gisa sikdang (기사식당) literally means a driver’s restaurant. These restaurants traditionally served taxi and truck drivers who needed quick, filling and affordable meals.
Menus commonly include spicy pork, grilled fish, soups, stews and rice with several side dishes.
Another useful word is baekban (백반). It usually means a Korean set meal with rice, soup and banchan.
These restaurants may not have stylish interiors or English menus, but they often provide a much more complete meal than a café or convenience store.
Search:
기사식당백반가정식 백반
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Local Korean set meal |
3. Choose Gimbap, Noodles and Rice Soup
For a quick meal, look for a bunsik restaurant (분식집) rather than buying several separate street snacks.
Useful affordable choices include:
- Gimbap
- Ramyeon
- Tteokbokki
- Kalguksu
- Janchi-guksu
- Gukbap
- Kimchi jjigae
- Doenjang jjigae
A simple bowl of noodles, stew or rice soup often costs around ₩7,000–₩12,000 and may include kimchi or other side dishes.
One warning: ordering five famous street foods separately in a tourist market is not always cheap. Traditional markets are fun, but popular markets can charge tourist-area prices. If your main goal is a full affordable meal, a neighborhood restaurant may offer better value.
4. Eat Near Universities and Office Districts
Restaurants near universities must serve students who eat there regularly. Look beyond the busiest tourist streets in areas such as:
- Sinchon
- Hyehwa
- Konkuk University
- Seoul National University area
- Side streets around Hongdae
Office districts also have affordable lunch restaurants because they compete for regular weekday customers.
Lunch is usually the best time to find set menus and self-service Korean buffets. Some restaurants open only during weekday lunch hours.
👉 Read My Local Guide to Hongdae
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| Cheap Korean food near a university in Seoul |
5. Be Careful with Korean BBQ Prices
Korean BBQ can be affordable, especially at muhan refill (무한리필) restaurants offering unlimited meat.
However, check the following before sitting down:
- Price per person
- Minimum number of servings
- Whether drinks are included
- Whether everyone must order the same menu
Many BBQ restaurants require at least two portions of meat, which makes them less suitable for solo travelers.
👉 How to Eat K-BBQ Like a Local
Is Convenience-Store Food Always Cheaper?
Not necessarily.
A triangle gimbap and instant noodles can make a cheap snack. But after adding a drink, dessert and several packaged foods, the total may approach the price of a proper neighborhood meal.
Convenience stores are useful when restaurants are closed or you need something fast. They should not be your only plan for finding affordable food in Korea.
A Realistic Affordable Food Day
A simple day could look like this:
- Breakfast: gimbap or toast — ₩4,000–₩6,000
- Lunch: hansik buffet — ₩8,000–₩12,000
- Dinner: gukbap, noodles or stew — ₩8,000–₩12,000
- Snack or coffee — ₩3,000–₩5,000
That makes approximately ₩23,000–₩35,000 for one day, depending on the neighborhood and your choices.
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| Cheap and affordable Korean meals for one day in Seoul |
Final Tips from a Local Korean Guide
Use Naver Map or KakaoMap and search with Korean words. Walk one or two streets away from major tourist attractions. Look for restaurants filled with students, office workers or taxi drivers.
Also remember:
- Korea does not normally require restaurant tipping.
- Water and side dishes are often self-service.
- Some small restaurants expect each customer to order one meal.
- Check prices on the menu before ordering.
- Lunch is often more affordable than dinner.
- Take only what you can finish at buffets.
Finding cheap eats in Seoul does not mean eating instant noodles every day. Some of Korea’s most affordable meals—baekban, hansik buffets, gukbap and gisa sikdang food—are also among the best ways to experience how local Koreans actually eat.
