Good burgers in Seoul
I am partial to a nice burger; luckily in the last couple of years plenty of tasty burger joints have popped up all over Seoul. Here is a list of some of my favourite ones I have visited during my time in Seoul.
Premium Burger Spots
Downtowner
A classic spot that's been serving quality burgers with a focus on premium ingredients and great atmosphere.
Burvana
Burvana is new burger joint that has opened in Hongdae. It opened in December 2019 and serves a small range of burgers. The signature burger tasted fantastic and the seasoning flavour reminded me of beef tacos. A nice touch was the bun having the Burvana logo char burned on, it looks great.
Gilberts
Another solid choice in Seoul's burger scene, known for their attention to detail and quality ingredients.
Jacoby's
Jacoby's offers a refined burger experience with a menu that balances classic and creative options.
Shake Shack
The famous American chain that made its way to Seoul, bringing their signature burgers and shakes to Korea.
Unique and Local Favorites
60s Burger
These guys make great tasting, cheap little burgers for only 3,000 won. They are simple burgers having just a beef patty, cheese, lettuce, tomato, pickles, grilled onions and their special sauce, which tastes like a milk chilli aioli. Not many other places put grilled onions on their burgers, but I like them and 60s burgers hit the spot. They are a little on the small side so you may want one or two; or get a double cheeseburger for 4,200 won.
The Famous Burger
The Famous Burger is another burger place located in Hongdae. It is actually owned by K-pop rapper, Loco. I'm not across the K-pop scene so this fact is mostly lost on me. I had the basic cheeseburger, it was a small, simple burger with beef, cheese, lettuce, tomato and 2 sauces. The bun was nice enough but would've been better toasted. It had a good beef taste and the fries are nice. A nice meal if a little expensive.
Burger Bible
This fancy little burger joint is located near Sungshin Women's University. With an interior design more for a french restaurant its a little different to most burger places. Prices are a little bit expensive but the burgers are nice and displayed in a unique way. The fries were also nice, and you get heaps for 3,500 won. They have a small range of burgers but also serve some other food if thats more to your liking.
Bas Burger
A solid choice for burger lovers looking for quality and consistency in their meals.
Pipit Burger
Notable for their bottomless fries! A great value proposition that makes for a satisfying meal.
Smokey Saloon
Located in Itaewon, with similar presentation to Burger Bible featuring burgers with runny eggs - a nice Korean touch to the classic burger.
Budget Mentions
Most of the above burgers can get quite pricey even if they are very tasty. However, there are number of budget burger places popping up in Seoul that are quite decent.
No Brand Burgers
No Brand Burgers is a recent budget burger chain that has popped up in Seoul. It is owned by the local supermarket chain, E-mart. E-mart sells its own goods under the brand name, No Brand and this burger chain is part of that. The burgers and sets are cheap and affordable. As for taste, the patties are char-grilled and taste relatively good. They don't look as great as the other burgers or taste as good but for the price I would recommend them. Better than the local McDonald's, Burger King or Lotteria.
Final Thoughts
Seoul's burger scene has really evolved over the past few years, offering everything from premium gourmet options to budget-friendly alternatives. Whether you're craving a simple, well-executed burger or looking for something more unique, there's definitely something for every burger lover in this city.
The variety and quality available shows how international food culture has been embraced and adapted in Seoul, often with local twists that make the experience uniquely Korean.