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 imageGame-day energy is back at @thegarden and so is the Seoul Bird flavor 

Crispy chicken, spicy gochujang, golden tots, and that signature Seoul flavor…it’s the ultimate game-day combo. 

Still a pinch-me moment seeing Seoul Bird packed with fans at Madison Square Garden. 

Huge thanks to the amazing MSG team, @chefandrewhales & @seoulbirduk for keeping the flavor flying high. 

#SeoulBird #JudyJoo #JudyJooChef #KoreanFriedChicken #MSG #MadisonSquareGarden #thegarden #GameDayEats #StadiumEats #KoreanFood #WomenInFood #ChefLife #FullCircleMoment #SeoulBird #seoulbirduk #KoreanSoulFood #KoreanCuisine #CrispyChicken #FriedChickenLovers #FoodiesOfInstagram #NYCFoodie #AsianFoodLovers4 hours ago via Instagram
@judyjoochef Instagram profile imageThrowing it back a couple of weeks ago to my NBC Philly Live segment with the wonderful @aunyealachelle on @nbcphiladelphia — such a fun morning sharing a taste of Korean BBQ with one of my all-time favorite dishes, bulgogi! ✨

I even shared the secret ingredient for the perfect marinade – @subarashiikudamono’s fragrant Asian pears. 🍐💛 

Their sweetness and aroma are delectable, and they contain a natural enzyme (calpain) that tenderizes the meat, giving bulgogi that signature melt-in-your-mouth texture.  (Pineapples, kiwi, and papaya also have natural tenderizing enzymes, although different kinds.)

Bulgogi translates to “fire meat”, because it is most traditionally cooked over a flaming fire. I usually do mine in a griddle or frying pan, saving the savory addictive juices to spoon over my rice. Serve with tangy kimchi and lunch or dinner is sorted!  

A huge thank-you to the incredible teams at @NBCPhiladelphia and @nbcphillylive for such a warm welcome and a morning full of Seoul.

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Did you know: Historically, Koreans used pears for sweetness due to their natural high sugar content, making them a valuable and traditional sweetener. Sugar was introduced to Korea from China around the 13th century, but it remained a luxury item for the elite until the early 20th century when it became more accessible to the public through imports, and later, domestic production. The first domestic sugar production plant opened in Busan in 1953, which significantly increased the availability of sugar for the Korean public. 

📚 Cookbook: K-Quick (linked in bio)
👗 @toryburch
💄 @jonesroadbeauty & @justbobbidotcom

#KQuick #JudyJoo #JudyJooChef #PhillyLive #NBCPhiladelphia #Bulgogi #KoreanCuisine #SubarashiiKudamono #AsianPear #KoreanBBQ #ChefLife #FemaleChef #FoodTok #ChefTok #BehindTheScenes #SeoulfulEats #FoodieLife #Korea #Korean #KoreanFood1 day ago via Instagram
@judyjoochef Instagram profile imageBack in the @todayshow kitchen for a Fan Fest Edition of @todayfood — this time sponsored by @WholeFoods and inspired by our amazing viewers! 💛

We’re serving up one of Korea’s most beloved dishes — Korean Fried Chicken, in bite-sized form. 🍗🇰🇷

Crispy on the outside, juicy inside, and coated in an umami-packed sauce that’s equal parts sweet, spicy, and addictive.

Chef tip: the secret to that signature crunch? Add a good glug of 40% alcohol (something flavorless like vodka) to your batter to prevent gluten development and keep every bite light, crisp, and golden. ✨

The same batter works beautifully with cauliflower, mushrooms, or prawns, (anything!) so you can fry up your favorite twist at home so get creative!

Such a joy cooking alongside @craigmelvinnbc, @dylandreyernbc, and @sheinelle_o— and sharing a little Seoul with the TODAY audience. 💛

Huge thanks to the incredible @TodayFood and @nbcnews teams for the warm welcome and magic behind the scenes — and a special shoutout to @madelinethekitchen for making it all come together! 👏

📚 Recipe from my cookbook K-Quick, linked in bio.
👗 Dress: @DianeVonFurstenberg
💄 Glam: @AbbysTouches @NikoMaragos

#JudyJoo #JudyJooChef #KQuick #TODAYShow #TODAYFood #KoreanFriedChicken #FanFest #KoreanFood #WomenInFood #ChefLife #KoreanRecipes #KoreanCuisine #NBC #WholeFoods #TasteOfToday #KoreanSoulFood4 days ago via Instagram
@judyjoochef Instagram profile imageBlind taste test, orchard edition. 👀🍐

We lined up five of @subarashiikudamono’s exclusive hand crafted Asian pear varieties and asked Farmer Tyler — our Chief Pear Officer — to put his taste buds to the test. Each one is uniquely grown and developed in Pennsylvania, resulting in its own flavor, texture, and story.

One bite in, and he nailed it: EliSan, JunoSan, Asaju, RuthiSan, AnaSan! Golden, crisp, and naturally sweet — perfected through decades of care and craftsmanship. ✨

(For the record… EliSan might just be my favorite. 😉)

Proof that true quality can be tasted. 🌳💛

#JudyJoo #JudyJooChef #SubarashiiKudamono #AsianPear #FarmToTable #TasteTest #OrchardToTable #FoodThatBrokeTheInternet #ChefTok #FarmFresh #GourmetFruit #ChefLife #FoodieLife #KoreanCuisine #FoodTok5 days ago via Instagram
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