This is a list of the oldest active restaurants in South Korea. For inclusion in the list, the restaurant must be currently active and located within South Korea proper, with relative consensus on the founding date and continuity of the restaurant since its founding.
Few businesses are over 100 years old; this was possibly partly affected by the 1910–1945 Japanese colonial period and 1950–1953 Korean War. [1]
Seolleongtang (Korean: 설렁탕) or ox bone soup is a Korean tang (soup) made from ox bones, brisket and other cuts. Seasoning is generally done at the table according to personal taste by adding salt, ground black pepper, red pepper, minced garlic, or chopped spring onions. It is a local dish of Seoul.
Incheon Chinatown (Korean: 인천차이나타운) is a Chinatown in Jung District, Incheon, South Korea. It is the only official Chinatown on the Korean peninsula, and one of the earliest, having formed in 1884. There are a number of restaurants and tourist attractions in the area. It features an 11-meter high Chinese-style gateway, or paifang.
The Lee Myung-bak government was the fifth government of the Sixth Republic of South Korea. It took office on 25 February 2008 after Lee Myung-bak's victory in the 2007 presidential elections. Most of the new cabinet was approved by the National Assembly on 29 February. Led by President Lee Myung-bak, it was supported principally by the conservative Saenuri Party, previously known as the Grand National Party. It was also known as Silyong Jeongbu, the "pragmatic government", a name deriving from Lee's campaign slogan.
Hanjeongsik, sometimes translated as Korean table d'hôte, is a Korean-style full-course meal characterized by the array of small banchan plates in varied colours.
Imun Seolnongtang is a historic restaurant in Seoul, South Korea. It is the oldest operating restaurant in South Korea, having been founded in c. 1904, during the Korean Empire period. It specializes in the ox bone soup dish seolleongtang.
Gonghwachun was a historic restaurant specializing in Korean Chinese cuisine in Incheon Chinatown, South Korea. It first opened some time between 1905 and 1908, and is considered the first restaurant to serve the dish jajangmyeon in Korea. It closed in 1983. Its original building was made a Registered Cultural Heritage of South Korea in 2006. In 2012, a Jajangmyeon Museum was established in the building.
Jin A Chun is a historic Korean Chinese cuisine restaurant in Jongno District, Seoul, South Korea. It is recognized by the Seoul Metropolitan Government as the second oldest operating restaurant in Seoul, having been founded in 1925.
Eunhosikdang (Korean: 은호식당) is a historic Korean restaurant in Jung District, Seoul, South Korea. It is the fourth oldest active restaurant in Seoul, having been founded in 1932. It specializes in the dish kkori-gomtang. It is close to the Namdaemun area, near Namdaemun Market.
Jaembaeok (Korean: 잼배옥) is a historic Korean restaurant in Jung District, Seoul, South Korea. It is the fifth oldest active restaurant in Seoul, having opened in 1933. It specializes in the ox bone soup dish seolleongtang. The restaurant is one of relatively few seolleongtang restaurants in the city that survived the 1910–1945 Japanese colonial period and 1950–1953 Korean War.
Naju Gomtang Hayanjib, or Hayanjib for short, is a historic restaurant in Naju, South Jeolla Province, South Korea. It is among the oldest active restaurants in South Korea, having been founded in 1910. It specializes in the local dish Naju gomtang, and now operates several branches in multiple locations.
Cheonhwang Sikdang is a historic restaurant in Jinju Jungang Market, Jinju, South Gyeongsang Province, South Korea. It is among the oldest active restaurants in South Korea, having been founded in 1927. It specializes in the dish Jinju bibimbap.
Buyeojip (Korean: 부여집) is a historic restaurant in Dangsan-dong, Yeongdeungpo District, Seoul, South Korea. It opened in 1947 and specializes in the dishes gomtang and seolleongtang. The restaurant delivers and sells its soup around the country, and operates a branch restaurant in the Lotte World theme park.
Dongnae Halmae Pajeon (Korean: 동래할매파전), or Dongrae Halmae Pajun, is a historic Korean restaurant in Busan, South Korea. The restaurant opened in the 1940s, and has remained family owned since then; by 2024 it was on its fourth generation of owners. It specializes and is named for the scallion seafood pancake dish haemulpajeon.
Hamyangzip is a historic Korean restaurant in Ulsan, South Korea. It is among the oldest active restaurants in South Korea, having been founded in 1924. It has remained a family business since, and is currently on its fourth generation of owners.
Leesungdang is a historic bakery in Gunsan, North Jeolla Province, South Korea. It is the oldest active bakery in South Korea, having been founded in 1945, just after the liberation of Korea. It has remained a family business since then, and by 2019 was operated by the daughter-in-law of the founder.
Wardah is a Yemeni restaurant in Jeju City, South Korea. It first opened on November 7, 2018. It was reported in 2019 that the restaurant is one of very few halal restaurants in Jeju Province. The restaurant is owned and operated by a couple: South Korean Ha Min-gyeong and Yemeni refugee Mohammad Al-Mamari ("Amin"). The restaurant is named for a nickname given to Ha by the local Yemeni community.
Bokhwaru is a historic Korean Chinese restaurant in Incheon, South Korea. It opened in 1945 and has remained a family business since then. By 2020, it was operated by the son of the founder. The restaurant has reportedly been recognized by the Blue Ribbon Survey three times.
Pyeongyangok is a historic Korean restaurant in Incheon, South Korea. It specializes in the hangover soup dish haejang-guk. It first opened in 1945, and has remained a family business since. By 2023, it was on its third generation of owners.
Oraegage (Korean: 오래가게), also stylized as OraeGage and translated to Seoul Historical Store, is a designation by the Seoul Metropolitan Government for long-running businesses. The program recognizes such businesses, offers them support, and provides information on them for tourists. It has been running since 2017.