Dish guide · Pancakes and market food
Pajeon
파전
Green onion pancake
A big savory pancake loaded with green onions. Haemul-pajeon adds seafood, and it's the classic rainy-day partner for makgeolli.
What it is
- Haemul-pajeon is the most common version, with seafood such as squid, shrimp, oysters or clams.
- Busan's Dongnae pajeon is a famous regional style.
How to eat it
- 1Tear or cut it into pieces, and dip them in soy sauce with vinegar.
History
- One account says Dongnae pajeon was made to mark a victory over invaders in the Imjin War, then later reached the royal table. Why Koreans crave pancakes on rainy days has many folk explanations.
Allergies and diet
Usually contains
- Seafood is usual. Ask for a plain green onion pancake.
- Batter may contain seafood stock.
Recipes differ between restaurants. If you have an allergy, always ask the staff before you order.
🗣️ Allergy card for the staff
Pick your allergy to see the sentence in Korean.
📍 Where to try it
- 🍜
Samcheongdong Sujebi 삼청동수제비
Noodles · Seochon & Bukchon · Since 1982
The busiest door on Samcheong-dong's main street since 1982: hand-torn dough soup (sujebi) in a light anchovy broth, served in a little pot, with crispy potato pancakes on the side. A Michelin Bib Gourmand pick near Bukchon and the palaces.
Try: Sujebi (hand-torn dough soup)
30-60 min wait - 🍜
Chebu-dong Janchijip 체부동잔치집
Noodles · Seochon & Bukchon
A cheap, cheerful noodle house at the start of the Sejong Village food street near Gyeongbokgung. Bowls of janchi-guksu (banquet noodles), perilla sujebi and kalguksu are remarkably affordable, and a pancake with makgeolli turns it into a long afternoon.
Try: Janchi-guksu (noodles in anchovy broth)
Short wait - 🥩
Daeseong-jip 대성집
Korean BBQ · Seongsu
A retro Seongsu eatery whose star is beoseot jumulleok: spicy marinated chicken stir-fried at the table with a heap of mushrooms and no water, a cousin of dakgalbi. A seafood pancake and cold acorn-jelly soup often come along, and staff finish the pan as fried rice.
Try: Beoseot jumulleok (spicy chicken and mushroom stir-fry)
Short wait - 🥩
Samwon Garden 삼원가든
Korean BBQ · Gangnam
Gangnam's landmark galbi house: a big traditional restaurant with a garden and waterfall, where Seoul families have celebrated for decades. Order the house marinated beef short ribs or plain prime Korean beef ribs, grilled at your table, or come at lunch for a bowl of galbitang and cold noodles.
Try: Samwon traditional marinated galbi
Short wait
Sources
We check every fact against at least two sources and write it in our own words. Last checked: 2026-10-31.