Insa-dong Chatjip (인사동찻집) - Area information - Korea travel information

Insa-dong Chatjip (인사동찻집)

133.96070854401611m    36389     2024-03-15

33-1 Insadong-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul
+82-2-723-4909

Insa-dong Chatjib is a traditional hanok tea house located in Insa-dong. Here, you can enjoy a variety of traditional teas brewed in-house. One of their signature menu items is the hobak sikhye (pumpkin sweet rice punch). They also offer other options such as jujube tea, ginger tea, and more. Many people visit to enjoy a leisurely time sipping tea in the serene atmosphere of the hanok. Nearby attractions include Ssamzigil and the Seoul Museum of Craft Art, making it a great place to explore together.

Jirisan Restaurant (지리산)

133.40628647477544m    27615     2019-08-01

30, Insadong 14-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul
+82-2-723-4696

Jirisan is one of the representative Korean restaurants in Insa-dong, an area known for its traditional culture. One of the trademarks of this restaurant, besides its amazingly delectable bean and tofu dishes, is a wooden sign that welcome guests into a neat and cozy interior.

Each day, fresh beans are ground at the restaurant to prepare dishes such as soybean paste, soft tofu, and bean-curd tofu stew. Bean-curds are prepared by using seawater, which gives the tofu a unique flavor. The fresh and clean taste of the tofu is one of the many reasons that choosey tofu aficionados flock to the restaurant.

Not just limited to tofu, Jirisan presents customers with a full-range of side dishes such as kimchi, japchae (glass noodles with sautéed vegetables), cucumber kimchi, seasoned seaweed, braised lotus roots, roasted yellow corbinas (a type of fish), leafy greens, bean-curd stew, and more. The restaurant gives visitors a chance to experience a hearty traditional Korean-style meal, but has thoughtfully toned down its seasonings to appeal to a wider audience (particularly those not used to spicy foods).

One of the recommended menu items is the Jirisan set meal, which offers diners the chance to sample foods that are popular in the Jirisan region. Adventurous diners may want to try the sea urchin soup or dried Pollack soup.

The restaurant, originally a traditional Korean house, has been modified over the years to better suit the needs of its customers. The walls surrounding the structure were removed and a glass ceiling was installed to allow guests to enjoy the natural light of the sun as they sample some of the area’s best traditional Korean cuisine.

Korean Craft Hall (한국공예관)

139.57845641344173m    14481     2021-07-08

33, Insadong-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul
+82-2-720-3301

The Korean Craft Hall, located in Insa-dong, displays and sells Korean crafts by artists in Cheongju. It presents over 100 different kinds of crafts including crafts related to Jikji (the oldest remaining book in the world using the metal printing method). Customers are exposed to rich informaton on Jikji and the International Craft Biennale. Main products include neckties (using metal printing), pottery, textile crafts, jewelry, and products using Korean traditional patterns and handwritings.

Jidaebang (지대방)

139.57845641344173m    83     2021-03-29

33, Insadong-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul
+82-2-738-5379

It is a traditional tea house where you can learn how to drink tea. This cafe is located in Jongno-gu, Seoul. The representative menu is chrysanthemum tea.

Insa Art Plaza (인사아트 프라자)

140.1572151597954m    18851     2020-04-23

34-1, Insadong-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul
+82-2-730-9969

Insa-dong (인사동)

145.28631514431973m    873651     2024-05-17

62, Insadong-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul
+82-2-734-0222

Insa-dong, located in the heart of the city, is an important place where old but precious traditional goods are on display. There is one main road in Insa-dong with alleys on each side. Within these alleys are galleries, traditional restaurants, teahouses, and cafes.

The galleries are the heartbeat of Insa-dong. There are about 100 galleries in the area offering every example of traditional Korean fine art from paintings to sculptures. The most famous galleries are Hakgojae Gallery, which functions as the center of folk art, Gana Art Gallery, which promotes many promising artists, and Gana Art Center.

The teahouses and restaurants are the perfect complement to the galleries. They are hidden deep within the twisting alleyways, making it feel like a treasure hunt. The shops in Insa-dong are very popular among all age groups, because each one is unique.

Every Saturday from 14:00 to 22:00 and Sunday from 10:00 to 22:00, the main street is blocked to vehicular traffic and it becomes a cultural space. Stores set up booths outside and Korean candy merchants and fortune teller stalls can easily be found; there are traditional performances and exhibits as well. Insa-dong is especially popular among international tourists. This is where they can experience and see traditional Korean culture first-hand, and also purchase pieces of fine art.

Tteul Gwa Dawon (뜰과다원)

151.72313917089974m    3475     2019-11-12

6-4, Insadong 8-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul
+82-2-734-5310

Tteul Gwa Dawon (literally "yard and tea garden") is an up-scale hanok-style tea and coffee house where you can enjoy a tranquil garden in the center of Seoul.

The tea and coffee shop offers traditional Korean tea made of 100% natural ingredients, as well as organic coffee. It is equipped with large private rooms which can accomodate a large number of guests, making it the best place to hold seminars or other types of social gatherings.

Tea, rice cakes, and other traditional snacks served here can be a good alternative for when you're in between meals.

Choedaegamne (최대감네)

152.9508981325985m    4298     2024-03-18

12-3 Insadong 8-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul
+82-2-733-9355

Choedaegamne is a traditional Korean restaurant located in a hanok in Insa-dong, with a garden and a pond, and has been in operation for over 100 years. One of their popular dishes is the sangchu shabu jeongsik (shabu with rice in a cabbage set menu), where vegetables and meat are cooked in a broth and then enjoyed with noodles, served with a small rice ball on lettuce. They also offer a so galbijjim jeongsik (steamed beef ribs set menu) and bulgogi jeongsik (bulgogi set menu), served with lotus leaf rice and soybean paste jjigae. After the meal, guests can enjoy tea in the garden.

Tong-In Store (통인가게)

161.54871022874147m    17934     2020-05-07

32, Insadong-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul
+82-2-733-4867

Tong-In Store is the oldest traditional crafts shopping center in Korea. It is home to over 100 shops that sell ancient and contemporary traditional crafts, as well as galleries that display craft collections by emerging artists.

Insa-dong Maneul Bossam (인사동마늘보쌈)

161.13779448218835m    81     2024-03-18

12-5 Insadong 8-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul
+82-2-735-7885

Insa-dong Maneul Bossam is a Korean restaurant nestled in the alleys of Insa-dong. Specializing in dishes like maneul bossam (kimchi cabbage wraps with pork and garlic), kimchi jjim (braised kimchi), nakji bokkeum (stir-fried octopus), buchujeon (chive pancake), kimchijeon (kimchi pancake), yeolmu naengmyeon (cold buckwheat noodles with young summer radish kimchi), and bam makgeolli (unrefined chestnut rice wine). Their signature dish, the bossam jeongsik (kimchi cabbage wraps with pork set menu), features pork belly boiled in a secret broth, served with a sweet garlic sauce for dipping, along with seaweed soup, fresh vegetables for wrapping, dried radish salad, and side dishes. They also offer set menus for two people, and neomu hansang set menu.