Itaewon, Seoul Food Guide: Restaurants and Bars Featured in Itaewon Class!

If binge watching K-Dramas has been on your agenda while staying at home, chances are you’ve already finished all 16 episodes of Itaewon Class! This thrilling K-Drama tells the journey of Park Sae-royi, an ex-con, who had the ambitious dream of making his street bar one of the best in the country - all for the purpose of getting revenge against a business magnate.

The K-Drama takes place in Itaewon, a vibrant and diverse district that is famous for its spirited nightlife. Also known as “Western Town”, this is the place to visit if you want to try some world-class international cuisine in South Korea. If seeing this colorful district in Itaewon Class inspired you to add Seoul to your future bucket list, keep reading to find out some of the filming locations you can visit that are actual real-life restaurants and bars!

DISCLAIMER - Spoilers ahead! Proceed reading with caution if you still haven’t finished Itaewon Class.

After Park Sae-royi spent seven years deep fishing, he opened Danbam, his first restaurant in Itaewon. In real life, Danbam’s first restaurant was formerly known as Undukjib, a gopchang (tripe) restaurant. According to The Saranghe Opa, a K-Drama fan page, this location is quite easy to spot! There’s even an Itaewon Class poster in front to make it easier for fans to recognize it.

Address: 57 Noksapyeong-daero 40-gil, Itaewon 1(il)-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul, South Korea How to get there: Head to Noksapyeong Station [녹사평역], Seoul Subway Line 6 then take Exit 1

One of the challenges Park Sae-royi encountered was being forced to move DanBam to a more secluded location in Itaewon, but he was determined to make it work. 

The second Danbam location was filmed in a restobar called Oriole. This is the place to visit for those in the mood for IG-Worthy brunch items or those who want to cap off their day with a solid drink - all while enjoying a scenic view from the rooftop.

Address: 43 Sinheung-ro 20-gil, Huam-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul, South Korea How to get there: Go to Sookmyung Women’s University Station [숙대입구역], take Seoul Subway Line 4, and go to Exit 2/3

In the series, Jangga Pub was one of the top places to dine in Itaewon and is Danbam’s competitor. The pub was managed by Soo-ah, Sae-royi’s good friend, which made the situation more complicated. 

The real-life location of Jangga Pub is in Manmankokoro, a dakgalbi or spicy stir-fried chicken restaurant chain. Unlike what was portrayed in Itaewon Class, the location can actually be found in Hongdae and not in Itaewon. 

Address: 34 Yanghwa-ro 16-gil, Seogyo-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul, South Korea How to get there: Head to Hongik University Station [홍대입구역], take Seoul Subway Line 2, Gyeongui-Jungang Line, then go to Exit 9

Jang Geun-won was forced by his father to go on a blind date with Seo Jeong-in, the heiress of another food conglomerate in this restaurant. Jeong-in ordered a French Roast Chicken that reminded Geun-won of a painful memory.

This scene was filmed in Pino Bistro Italiano, an upscale Italian restaurant. A popular filming location, more than 10 K-Dramas have actually already filmed there! In case this is a restaurant you want to visit in the future, their homemade bread and Gorgonzola Pizza with Honey have rave reviews.

Address: 613-3 Pungsan-dong, Ilsandong-gu, Goyang-si, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea How to get there: End up in Pungsan Railway Station [풍산역], take the Gyeongui Line, then go to Exit 2

Yi-seo and Sae-ro-ji ended up visiting a rooftop bar after an altercation with a stranger. This bar happens to be known as The Finest Lounge, a popular rooftop bar in Itaewon where people can enjoy a gorgeous view of the skyline. There’s even a special set menu created because of Itaewon Class which includes Svedka vodka, a meal, and a chaser!

Address: 41 Hoenamu-ro, Itaewon 2(i)-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul, South Korea How to get there: Take Noksapyeong Station [녹사평역] then take Seoul Subway Line 6, and go to Exit 2

After Yi-seo hit the legal drinking age, she visited a club to welcome the New Year with 2 of her friends and unfortunately got some unwanted attention for another customer. 

In real life, you can visit this club called Master Seoul, a lounge bar that’s located in an apartment building in Gangnam District. With its lively atmosphere and its slogan, “Everyday drinking”, customers can expect a fun time during their visit!

Address: 62 Seocho-daero 77-gil, Seocho 4(sa)-dong, Seocho-gu, Seoul, South Korea How to get there: Take Sinnonhyeon Station [신논현역], take Seoul Subway Line 9 then head to Exit 4

Sae-royi was warned that the building he bought for Danbam’s second location was unlucky. No tenant had ever survived it and most of the businesses in the alley were failing. Confident that Danbam was not the problem, Sae-royi set a mission to help out the nearby restaurants to drive more customers to the area.

One of the restaurants he was seen to be helping out is the real-life Maruku Kitchen. It’s a Korean-fusion restaurant where customers can enjoy Garlic Hambak Steak, Omurice, or their specialty, Kimchi Fettuccine.

Address: 27 Noksapyeong-daero 46-gil, Itaewon 2(i)-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul, South Korea Getting there: Head to Noksapyeong (Yongsan-gu Office) Station [녹사평역], take Seoul Subway Line 6, then head to Exit 3

Another restaurant that Saeroyi was helping out to attract more customers on their street is known as Joy’s Parlor in real life. This quaint coffee shop is home to delicious desserts and pastries, including their best-selling cookies! They’re known to switch up their cookie flavors such as Chocolate-chip Banana Cookie, Cookies & Cream, and Nut Crumble so you’re in for a treat if you visit. Head to the rooftop if you want to enjoy a great view!

Address: 31 Noksapyeong-daero 46-gil, Itaewon 2(i)-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul, South Korea Getting there: Noksapyeong (Yongsan-gu Office) Station [녹사평역], Seoul Subway Line 6, Exit 3

One of the most entertaining things about Itaewon Class is seeing the rivalry between Soo-ah and Yi-Seo for the seemingly clueless Park Sae-royi. They had a particularly serious confrontation in colline, a desserts and brunch cafe found in Seogyo-dong.

If you fancy yourself a cozy shop with a homey atmosphere, you can add Colline to your list! Gorgeous flowers decorate its interiors and you can enjoy the cool weather of Seoul if you head to the terrace area. You can even buy the flowers for yourself!

Address: 45 Eoulmadang-ro, Mapo-gu, Seoul, South Korea How to get there: Take Hapjeong Station then Seoul Subway Line 2/6, and take Exit 6 – 600m. Alternatively, you can take Sangsu Station [상수역], go to Seoul Subway Line 6, then head to Exit 1 – 500m.

SPOILER ALERT: Soo-ah found success herself by following her own dream of putting up a restaurant. And fortunately for us Itaewon Class fans, it’s an actual restaurant we can visit!

The filming site for Soo-ah’s restaurant is a British restaurant and bakery called Queens Park. They offer freshly baked bread and cookies and other choices for lunch and dinner such as pasta, steak, and sandwiches - all of which are organically sourced! They’re known for their Blueberry Pancakes so make sure to add it to your order list!

Address: 22 Apgujeong-ro 60-gil, Gangnam-gu, Seoul Getting here: Apgujeongrodeo Station [압구정로데오역], Bundang Line, Exit 4