Find Your “Seoul” Foods in Guangzhou

There is so much more to Korean food than just the grilled barbecue. From steaming hot stews to crispy Korean fried chicken, Korean food is a rising star in global cuisine (I may be slightly biased, as I myself am Korean). What if I told you that you do not have to book a flight and travel 2,044 kilometers to taste authentic and satisfying Korean food? That’s right, this exclusive Korean restaurant guide will cover a handful of delicious Korean restaurants in Guangzhou.

1. Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter (춘하추동)

• Rating: 8.5/10.0
• Business Hours: 11:00 – 23:00
• Address: 天河区兴盛路11好兴盛汇3层2-8

Located on Xingsheng Street, Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter is a very pleasing and clean Korean restaurant always bustling with people at night. This place has about fifteen 3-4 person tables in the main dining hall, and two private rooms in the back. Based on my personal experience, this restaurant offers some of the most  authentic Korean food, as it tastes no different from the food that you can find in the middle of Seoul. The popular menu here is the Korean barbecue where there are about 10 different kinds of meat available. Some other tasty menu options include bibimbap (rice with beef, vegetables, and red chili paste), haemul pajeon (fried seafood pancake), and different kinds of jjigaes (stews). One flaw about this restaurant is that you might have to wait a while for the food to be served. Personally, this is my family’s go-to restaurant—I just dined here on Monday.

2. Malja Salong (말자싸롱)

• Rating: 6.5/10.0
• Business Hours: 15:00 – 23:00 (Monday – Thursday), 12:00 – 23:00 (Friday to Sunday)
• Address: 天河北路460号沃凯1层

Malja Salong is a Korean bar/restaurant located in Tianhe District, a quick 5-minute walk from Regal Court. This place is different from the other Korean restaurants as its environment resembles a bar or a pub. The most popular dish here is undoubtedly the Korean fried chicken, which is served in many different varieties  such as spicy, sweet and original. Many people who visit here often choose chimaek, the pairing of beer and chicken, and the restaurant bustles at night. The anjus, a Korean term for appetizers consumed with alcohol, like fried squid, Korean noodle and tteobokki (hot and spicy rice cake) are decent. Personally, I do not think that Malja Salong’s fried chicken is top-notch, but it is decent for a dinner with your friends.

3. Bon Ga (본가)

• Rating: 9.5/10.0
• Business Hours: 11:00 – 22:00
• Address: 番禺区兴南大道32号C栋3层

Yes, I gave Bon Ga a 9.5 out of 10. Bon Ga is a Korean restaurant owned by a famous South Korean chef, food researcher and businessman, Baek Jong-Won. The restaurant is vast as it has dozens of tables. All the food on the menu is absolutely legitimate and delicious. When you order Korean barbecue, Bon Ga gives you assorted vegetables including carrot, cucumber, kale, cabbage, and lettuce on a shockingly long plate to eat with the meat. Also, the service at Bon Ga is outstanding, as one waiter or waitress takes care of each table by grilling the meat, switching used plates and refilling the water cups. Lastly, by the counter, Bon Ga has a cold storage for Korean ice cream, which is something I get every time I dine here. Overall, Bon Ga is the restaurant closest to what I would call an ideal Korean restaurant.

As you can see, Korean restaurants are scattered all around Guangzhou, but what if I told you that there is a place full of Korean restaurants and supermarkets? On Yuanjing Street, Korean restaurants are everywhere: people even call this “Korea Town” in Guangzhou. If you enjoy eating Korean food or snacks, you will not regret visiting this place.

To conclude, I am aware that there are many other Korean restaurants in Guangzhou that I did not cover in this brief guide. If you have a favorite, please comment below so readers will learn about the restaurants I missed. Tell us where the best Korean restaurant in Guangzhou is!

I hope this guide helps you fill up your “Seoul” with delicious food.