Itaewon's Top 5 Budget-Friendly Restaurants: Truly Delicious and Affordable Hidden Gems!

Recently, Itaewon has been the talk among my friends, so I finally went to explore! Honestly, I was worried it would be expensive because it's Itaewon, but there are actually a lot of budget-friendly places ㅎㅎ. A colleague kept recommending it, so I ended up going on a food tour in Itaewon with a friend over the weekend.

Today, I'll introduce you to the Top 5 Budget-Friendly Restaurants in Itaewon that I personally discovered! I only picked places that are delicious and reasonably priced, so I want to visit them again. I visited these places from Saturday afternoon to evening, so I'm quite certain about them.

1st Place: 쪽갈비제작소 - Even Park Na-rae Approves!

The first place is the currently very popular 쪽갈비제작소! It became more famous because Park Na-rae often mentions it at Na-rae Bar. At first, I thought it would just be okay due to the TV effect, but that was totally my prejudice.

It's a 3-minute walk from Itaewon Station Exit 3. As soon as you enter, the smell of charcoal fills the air, making your mouth water. The interior is cozier than expected, but the tables are spaced out, so it doesn't feel cramped.

Basic Information

• Location: 14 Itaewon-ro 19-gil, Yongsan-gu, Seoul, 1st Floor
• Phone: 0507-1373-8368
• Hours: 17:00-23:00 (Closed on Sundays)
• Parking: Use nearby paid parking lots

Recommended Menu

• Marinated Pork Ribs 19,000 won - Signature menu!
• Fresh Pork Ribs 17,000 won - Pure meat flavor
• Seafood Hangover Ramen 8,000 won - A must for finishing
• Green Onion Kimchi 5,000 won - Perfect match with ribs

I highly recommend the marinated pork ribs! They aren't too sweet but have a deep flavor, and the meat is tender, bursting with juice with every bite. The price is under 20,000 won, so it's not burdensome. Be sure to order the green onion kimchi too. It cuts through the greasiness of the ribs, allowing you to enjoy them till the end.

The hangover ramen was surprisingly impressive! After eating the ribs, I felt a bit heavy, but this bowl of ramen wrapped things up nicely. The broth was really refreshing, and the noodles were chewy, which was satisfying.

2nd Place: 벅벅 Itaewon Branch - The Ultimate Handmade Burger

When it comes to handmade burgers in Itaewon, you can't leave out 벅벅! It's the very place praised on YouTube. I finally tried the burger that even Eun Hyun-jang from 'The God of Business' admired.

They say it's made with 100% Australian beef patties, and the juiciness was no joke. They also make the buns themselves, which were chewy and had a savory taste! It looks small at first glance, but once you eat it, it's really filling.

Basic Information

• Location: 24 Itaewon-ro 20-gil, Yongsan-gu, Seoul
• Phone: 0507-1412-9916
• Hours: 11:00-22:00 (Closed on Mondays)
• Parking: Limited, public transportation recommended

Recommended Menu

• Double Buck Set 16,500 won - Signature menu!
• Chicken Buck Set 14,500 won - Crispy chicken patty
• Bacon Cheese Buck Set 15,500 won
• Hot Wings 8,000 won - Highly recommended as a side

I really recommend the Double Buck! It has two patties, but it's not overwhelming at all, and the fresh vegetables create a perfect balance. The fries are crispy, and the hot wings are sweet and spicy, making them a perfect match with beer.

You order through a kiosk and wait in a separate area. You can see the staff working hard to make the food. I waited about 15 minutes, but receiving a freshly made warm burger was truly delicious.

3rd Place: 베트남돼지 - A New World of Unique Vietnamese Cuisine

With a unique name like 베트남돼지! It's Vietnamese food, but with pork as the main ingredient, which is really intriguing, right? A friend saw it on social media, so we went out of curiosity, and it was truly a new taste.

The signature Vietnamese-style marinated pork ribs were a completely new taste. The sweet sauce and tender meat were cooked together, and it came with rice noodles, making it filling. The spice wasn't too strong, so it suited the Korean palate well.

Basic Information

• Location: 5-minute walk from Itaewon Station Exit 4
• Phone: 02-749-9186
• Hours: 17:00-23:00 (Closed on Tuesdays)
• Reservation: Phone reservations available

Recommended Menu

• Marinated Pork Ribs Set 18,000 won - Signature!
• Crispy Pork Belly Set 17,000 won
• Vietnamese Rice Noodles 12,000 won
• Vietnamese Spring Rolls 15,000 won - A healthy choice

The marinated pork ribs were really delicious! Eating them with vegetables made them not greasy, and the rice noodle broth was clean and refreshing. The spring rolls had shrimp and pork, and the sauce was really unique and tasty.

4th Place: 한잔해 Itaewon - A Chinese Restaurant with a Great Atmosphere

A fusion Chinese restaurant with an outdoor terrace, 한잔해 Itaewon! The interior is really pretty. It felt like a drama set. We went around sunset, and when the lights came on, it was so romantic.

With a chef from a 5-star hotel running the place, my expectations for the taste were high, and it exceeded them! The sweet and sour pork was especially crispy, and the sauce was tangy and sweet, making it delicious.

Basic Information

• Location: 2nd Floor, 106 Bogwang-ro, Yongsan-gu, Seoul
• Phone: 0507-1484-1375
• Hours: 17:00-02:00 (Open year-round)
• Reservation: Naver reservation or phone reservation

Recommended Menu

• Sweet and Sour Pork 18,000 won - The ultimate in crispiness
• Spicy Stir-fried Mala 16,000 won - For those who love spicy!
• Jajangmyeon 12,000 won - Classic menu
• Spicy Fried Chicken 15,000 won

The sweet and sour pork was really crispy, and the sauce was tangy and sweet, making it delicious! Eating on the terrace was nice, and it was perfect for a date course. The spicy stir-fried mala wasn't as spicy as expected, so even I, who can't handle spicy food well, found it manageable.

5th Place: 타파스바 - Full of Spanish Vibes

The last place to introduce is 타파스바, where you can taste Spanish food! It's near the Itaewon club area, so the atmosphere is really exotic. There are many types of wine, and the staff were friendly.

The tapas served on small plates were all delicious, and the combination with wine was fantastic! It was similar to the taste I had when I traveled to Spain, so it was really welcoming.

Basic Information

• Location: 1st Floor, 49 Itaewon-ro 27ga-gil, Yongsan-gu, Seoul
• Hours: 17:00-02:00 (Closed on Sundays)
• Reservation: Catch Table or phone reservation
• Parking: Valet parking available

Recommended Menu

• Gambas al Ajillo 14,000 won - Signature!
• Jamon Serrano 15,000 won
• Paella 25,000 won (for 2 people)
• Croquettes 8,000 won - Spanish-style croquettes

The Gambas al Ajillo was really delicious! The shrimp were plump, and the garlic flavor was deeply infused, making it heavenly when dipped in bread. The Jamon was salty and paired really well with wine.

Overall Impression and Revisit Intention

This Itaewon food tour was really satisfying! It was great to taste a variety of foods, and the value for money was better than expected. It was more fun to visit places I couldn't have gone to alone with a friend.

Especially, I want to take my parents to 쪽갈비제작소 next time, and I think I'll crave 벅벅 whenever I want a burger ㅎㅎ. 베트남돼지 was a truly new experience, and 한잔해 and 타파스바 seem perfect for special date nights.

Best Value for Money

쪽갈비제작소, 벅벅 (You can eat heartily for about 15,000-20,000 won per person)

Best Atmosphere

한잔해, 타파스바 (Highly recommended for dates! Great for Instagram photos)

Unique Experience

베트남돼지 (If you want something different from ordinary Korean or Western food!)

Since Itaewon is originally a place frequented by foreigners, it's really attractive to be able to taste foods from various countries at once. Each restaurant had its own distinct character, so there was no time to get bored.

Next time, I want to try a dessert café tour in Itaewon! If you're looking for something delicious in Itaewon, try visiting the places I introduced. You won't regret it. Especially, 쪽갈비제작소 and 벅벅 are highly recommended!