If you are searching for information
on fusion Korean restaurants while traveling in Korea,
you have likely encountered the name “Nanpo.”
It is a fantastic spot for both
an office worker’s lunch and
a relaxing evening drink.
However, the Seongsu and Hannam branches
are famous for their notoriously long queues,
making them difficult even for locals to access.
Fortunately, a new branch has recently opened
in Gwanghwamun, making it much more accessible
for international tourists.
Today, I am introducing Nanpo’s menu
and the newly opened Gwanghwamun location
for travelers looking for the
best fusion Korean cuisine.
(Tip: For tourists unfamiliar with Korean dining culture,
Nanpo is a great introductory spot
as they offer English-friendly service
and a comfortable, modern setting.)
Nanpo Gwanghwamun
Information
Nanpo Gwanghwamun is located
in the basement arcade of the KT Building,
right next to the King Sejong
the Great statue in the heart of Gwanghwamun.
The KT building has recently undergone
a major renovation and now
houses some of the most prominent
restaurants and cafes in Seoul.
- Address:
B1, 178 Sejong-daero, Jongno-gu, Seoul - Hours:
11:00 – 22:00 (Break time: 15:50 – 17:00) - Reservation:
Available via Naver - Important Note:
Please note that while Nanpo Hannam
and Seongsu branches offer remote queuing
via the ‘CatchTable’ app,
Nanpo Gwanghwamun does not.
You must register for a spot
on-site or use Naver for reservations. - Features:
English menus are provided,
and restroom, parking, and takeout
services are all available.
Waiting Tips for
Nanpo Gwanghwamun
Gwanghwamun is one of the
three major areas in Seoul
with a high concentration of office workers,
leading to “waiting wars”
at restaurants during lunch hours.
As the KT building is well-situated
for tourists and is a new, trendy spot,
it attracts many local workers;
if you plan to visit for lunch,
be prepared to wait for more than 30 minutes.
If you want to enjoy an early lunch,
visiting at the 11:00 AM opening time
will allow for a smooth entry,
but between 11:30 AM and 12:30 PM,
you should consider the wait time a certainty.
On the other hand,
visiting after work in the evening
is much more manageable.
I have visited on weekday evenings
around 7:00 PM without a reservation
and have never had to wait.
While the Nanpo branches in Seongsu
and Itaewon—areas mainly visited for leisure
require you to brace for long waits
even at night,
the Gwanghwamun branch is relatively
quiet in the evenings,
so I highly recommend planning your visit for dinner.
Nearby Restaurants
at Gwanghwamun KT Arcade
I am sharing a brief list of the restaurants
located in the Gwanghwamun
KT Arcade basement:
- Kibo Arts Arts: Japanese-style standing bar snacks and drinks.Nanpo: Serves refined and healthy Korean dishes using seasonal ingredients.Bobo Sikdang: A casual pub serving Chinese-based fusion dishes.Gwanghwamun Okhee: fusion Korean food and various traditional liquors.Pipe Ground: unique pizza toppings (especially the corn pizza) and pasta.Tempura Gamchun: Provides high-end tempura omakaseOriginal Pancake House: authentic American-style pancakes Taco Champion: Specialized in Mexican-style tacos and various taco dishes.Kokiri Sushi: thick-cut sushi using fresh ingredients.Niyom: A casual Thai food specialty store Starbucks: A cafe where you can enjoy familiar coffeeAnnette Flower: A flower shop Gelattiani Cafe: A cafe space
- Gelattiani: A gelato specialty store
On the 1st floor, you can also find
a TWG cafe and a Paris Baguette
that sells specialized, exclusive menus.
Nanpo Gwanghwamun Menu
The menu is identical across
the Nanpo Gwanghwamun, Seongsu,
and Hannam branches.
They pursue a refined taste that
differs slightly from traditional Korean food,
using healthy, seasonal ingredients
at an affordable price point.
Nanpo’s signature menus include
the Kale Ssam-bap served
with a savory soybean paste (Doenjang)
and the Sashimi-topped Aged Kimchi Rolls.
They also offer a variety of
Korean traditional spirits
and beers that are perfect
for having with a meal in the evening.
Dishes I Ordered
Although these are meal menus,
they are served in portions
suitable for sharing,
so I ordered a variety of items.
1.Seasoned Soybean Paste
Leaf Wraps and Rice (12,000 KRW)
This is the menu that first sparked
the “Nanpo craze” in Korea.
It is both Instagrammable and delicious,
which led to the 1st branch in Seongsu
having a waiting war all day long.
It is a dish where you eat mild-tasting
kale-wrapped rice with a thick,
savory soybean paste spread on the bottom.
The soybean paste, which includes tofu,
is not overly salty and tastes purely healthy.
Ssam-bap can be cumbersome
if you have to wrap it yourself,
and it might be unfamiliar to foreigners,
but because these beautifully set
ssam-bap are served,
it is easy to eat and tasty,
making it a highly recommended menu item.
The portion is quite generous,
so it is a filling meal.
2. Fresh Sashimi Rolls
With Aged Kimchi (16,000 KRW)
This is a menu where you wrap
seasoned rice with aged kimchi
and top it with seasonal sashimi.
The combination of salty aged kimchi
and chewy, well-aged sashimi is excellent.
If you pair it with the standard side dishes
provided at Nanpo, such as choseokjam
and garlic stem pickles,
the sour and salty flavors add
a synergy to the taste.
In a way, isn’t the trio of salt-gimbap,
aged kimchi, and flatfish sashimi
that is currently trending in Korea
the original version of Nanpo’s
Seasonal Sashimi & Aged Kimchi Roll?
3. Soy Sauce Noodles
with Octopus (14,000 KRW)
The #1 menu item I order every time
I go to Nanpo is the Octopus Soy Sauce Noodles.
It is a dish served with
a soy-based sauce at the bottom,
topped with plenty of chamnamul
(short-fruit pimpinella) and cucumbers,
along with octopus as a garnish.
The slightly bitter yet fragrant vegetable s
cent of the chamnamul
and the chewy texture of the octopus
blend very well with the soy sauce.
Chamnamul is a very healthy vegetable
that helps clarify the blood,
but it does have a slightly bitter taste.
Since it is a very familiar ingredient to Koreans
and we love its unique scent,
it is a must-try, but please note that
it might taste a bit astringent or bitter
to those trying it for the first time.
If you dislike perilla leaves,
you might not like chamnamul either.
4. Shrimp Potato Pancake
(20,000 KRW)
This is a shrimp potato pancake
that is great to eat as a bar snack.
There are two types of potato pancakes in Korea:
the bindaetteok style made by
finely grinding potatoes on a grater,
and the style where potatoes are
thinly sliced into strips and fried
until crispy like French fries.
Nanpo’s potato pancake is the second style.
It is a menu item topped with
a poached egg and cheese,
fried until crispy like a fritter,
and meant to be dipped in sauce.
The outside is crispy
while the inside is moist,
making it a menu item that
anyone can enjoy without any dislike.
It is also a menu that goes well
with the Nimome or Boksundoga makgeolli
that I recommend in the menu introduction.
Nanpo Restaurants Atmosphere
Each Nanpo branch offers
a slightly different atmosphere.
Your choice of destination depends on
whether you prefer
a modern, contemporary vibe
or the cozy, nostalgic feeling
of visiting your grandmother’s house in the countryside
Nanpo Gwanghwamun Atmosphere:
The Seongsu and Hannam branches
have an atmosphere that feels like a renovated home,
but the Gwanghwamun branch felt quite different,
perhaps because it is located
in the arcade of a grand, newly opened building.
It had a stable, calm atmosphere
with marble interior designs and lighting.
The seats are also more spacious
than the other branches.
It is a comfortable and good atmosphere
for both drinking and eating.
Nanpo Seongsu and Hannam :
The Nanpo Seongsu and Hannam branches
are interiors with a wood tone
made by renovating homes,
offering a cozy atmosphere
that feels like a house.
Compared to the Gwanghwamun branch,
the seating is a bit more compact.
Final Review of Nanpo Gwanghwamun
As a restaurant certified by countless Korean celebrities
who wait in line to eat there,
it is so delicious that
there is no need to separately evaluate the taste.
The menus, made by giving a slight “kick”
to refined seasonal ingredients
to suit the Korean palate,
are not too heavy and are great food
to enjoy for a light meal.
Also, it is a taste that I recommend
even more if you care about your health,
as it is not salty or stimulating.
While there are many historic long
-standing restaurants in the Gwanghwamun area,
I recommend Nanpo Gwanghwamun
if you want a refined meal in Korea.
If you are curious about information
on the ‘Gwanghwamun Gukbap’
which was selected for the
Michelin Bib Gourmand,
please check out my Gwanghwamun Gukbap post
located 10 minutes away!
https://koreaandbeyond.com/gwanghwamun-gukbap-seoul/