Top places to eat

Taste the best of Seoul. Here you can find my favourite foodie destinations in the city.

Seoul BBQ

Judy's Seoul Hotspots

You can’t go to Seoul without having some Korean barbecue, and this alley in the eastern city is the perfect place to eat with the locals.

Read more at Food and Travel Magazine

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Chef Judy Joo shares Seoul's top dining experiences

The restaurateur, TV chef and author shares her love of Korean cuisine, and her tips on where to eat in the buzzy capital of Seoul.

Read more at National Geographic

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Judy Joo’s ultimate food guide to the city of Seoul

Korean food has well and truly mainstreamed now. And it’s not just seen with the prevalence of kimchi all around London.

Read more at City Matters

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Judy Joo's Seoul

Judy Joo, chef-patron of Soho Korean restaurant Jinjuu, reveals her favourite spots in the Korean capital of Seoul.

Read more at Urban Junkies

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Judy Joo's Foodie Guide to Seoul

The Korean-American celebrity chef and author Judy Joo is a regular on the Seoul culinary circuit.

Read more from The Club at ba.com

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48 Hours in Seoul

“Seoul… amazing city,” my friend Patrick remarked. Then he chuckled. “If you go home before 4am, you’re a loser.” Now, I wouldn’t say that makes you a loser per se, but he has a point; Seoul is a city that truly never sleeps.

Read more at SquareMeal

Social media

@judyjoochef Instagram profile imageAd. POV: It’s Kimjang season 🥬✨

Every autumn, families in Korea gather to make and share kimchi for the winter ahead — a tradition called Kimjang (김장), the ritual of making kimchi together. 🇰🇷

A tradition so meaningful it was recognized by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Celebrating family, community, and culture through food. 💛

To mark the launch of @ocadouk’s new Korean Food Aisle, I hosted a Kimjang Masterclass at home. Sharing my kimchi recipe, cooking & eating with friends, and celebrating the soul of Korean cuisine. 🥬✨

Kimchi isn’t just cooking… it’s a cultural ritual. It’s food, love, and community all in one jar. 💕

The beauty of kimchi is that it’s endlessly versatile. There are over 250 official varieties. You can kimchi anything: cucumber, cauliflower, even broccoli! The secret lies in gochugaru: Korean chili flakes that are smoky, slightly sweet, and deeply umami. 🌶️

Kimjang reminds us that food is more than flavor…it’s love, legacy, and connection, passed down through generations. 🥂

Did you know? Kimchi is a probiotic powerhouse: rich in vitamins A, B, and C, and packed with healthy bacteria that support gut health and immunity.

#AD #Kimjang #Kimchi #KoreanFood #seoulplaza #Fermentation1 day ago via Instagram
@judyjoochef Instagram profile imageThe martini is getting a spicy glow-up. 🍸🔥

From Caprese salads turned into martinis to green curry and saffron-spiced twists. Bartenders everywhere are shaking things up. 

So of course, I had to make my own version. 🇰🇷

Meet the Dirty Kimchi Martini…bold, briny, and just the right amount of rebellious. 

Instead of olive brine, I’m using kimchi brine for that spicy-tangy kick and hit of umami you won’t forget. 

Shaken with soju and a splash of dry vermouth, rimmed with gochugaru, and topped with cucumber kimchi. 

Savory. Spicy. Seoul-fully sippable. ✨

The kind of cocktail that sparks conversation. Perfect with your favorite salty snack or when you want to impress your foodie friends.

Drop a “🍸” if you’d try it!👇

#KoreanFood #FoodieLife #Mixology #DrinkTok #Korea4 days ago via Instagram
@judyjoochef Instagram profile imageAd. Crispy, golden, and packed with Seoul. 🍗🔥

@ocadouk just launched a Korean aisle with some of my favorite ingredients and I couldn’t be more excited!  🇰🇷 To mark this moment, I had to share my Korean Fried Chicken (or Dak Gangjeong) recipe. This dish is famous for its shatteringly thin, crispy crust and addictive sweet-spicy glaze. At my restaurant @SeoulBirdUK, it’s our signature.

Unlike Western-style fried chicken, this version uses a wet batter for that ultra-crisp, glossy coating. It’s this signature texture that’s made Korean Fried Chicken a global sensation. 

Then comes the magic: gochujang, Korea’s fermented chili paste made from chili flakes, soybeans, and glutinous rice—the secret to its deep, savory heat. 🤫

Serves 4

Ingredients:
900g boneless skin-on chicken thighs (or skinless), cut into 2.5cm pieces
125g potato starch
1.5–2.6l vegetable or other neutral oil

For the Batter Mix
90g potato starch
30g plain lour
2½ tsp onion powder
2½ tsp garlic powder
½ tsp baking powder
1 tbsp sea or kosher salt

For the Spicy Chicken Sauce
2 tbsp gochujang (Korean chilli paste)
2 tbsp runny honey, to taste
65ml soy sauce
2 tbsp light brown sugar
1 tbsp rice vinegar
1 tbsp grated garlic
1 tbsp roasted sesame oil

To Serve
1 spring onion, thinly sliced
1 red chilli, thinly sliced

Watch the video for the method and ask any questions in the comments 💜

 ✨ Full recipe in my book K-Quick (which you can also get on Ocado!)

 #KQuick #KoreanFood #Gochujang #SeoulfulEats #KoreanFriedChicken #Chimaek5 days ago via Instagram
@judyjoochef Instagram profile imageUkrainian food is having a London moment…and Tatar Bunar in Shoreditch is leading the way. 🇺🇦

From delicate seabass carpaccio and soulful fish yushka to golden lamb cheburek and creamy oxtail banush, every dish feels like a warm embrace.

Co-owner and Chef @alexcooperua brings the heart of southern Ukraine to the city — generous plates, bold flavors, and a quiet kind of elegance.  And, you could feel co-owner Anna Andriienko’s love, care, and passion in the room @annaadriienko.  She also hand curated all of the fun ceramics and furniture from Ukraine.  

The room is gorgeous, rustic, yet modern…  and the terrace is quite romantic. 

The pickled tomatoes alone are worth the visit. 🍅✨

Honest food, made with soul.

Another unforgettable bite in London’s ever-evolving food scene. 🍷

@frasercomms 
#JudyJoo #JudyJooChef #TatarBunar #LondonEats #UkrainianCuisine #ComfortFood #GlobalFlavors #WomenInFood #FoodThatBrokeTheInternet #ChefTok #FoodTok #HiddenGems #LondonRestaurants #UkrainianFood1 week ago via Instagram
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