Old printing district. Quiet lunch spots where office workers actually eat.
Why CHUNGMURO, why now
Chungmuro has emerged as the natural spillover from the saturated Euljiro scene, with independent cafes, vintage shops, and small gallery spaces clustering along its back alleys through spring 2026. Seoul lifestyle coverage in May 2026 consistently lists the Jung-gu micro-pockets around Euljiro 3-4ga and Chungmuro as next up after Euljiro's mainstreaming.
1. BAO SEOUL CHUNGMURO
- 33 Toegye-ro 27-gil, Jung District, Seoul
- 4.9 · 240 reviews · 데이트 장소
BAO SEOUL CHUNGMURO opens the course because you need something filling that doesn't flatten the rest of the day. One visitor called the flavor savory and quite filling, which is exactly the point: bao buns are heavy enough to anchor you but compact enough to leave room for what comes next. You order on a tablet at your table, settle in, and let the neighborhood's slower pace set the rhythm before the sashimi closer.
Crew's note
I ordered while you were washing your hands.
What visitors say
The food was great and so was the service. My only issue was that you order on a tablet that sits on your table. However, once you’re done o…
Very interesting and delicious Taiwanese bao bun restaurant. The bao buns are unique and I had never tried this kind before. The flavor is v…
2. Singsing Ojingeo Bada Chungmuro
- Seoul, 싱싱오징어바다 102호 KR 서울특별시 중구 중구 서애로1길11 헤센스마트
- 4.9 · 64 reviews · 맛집
Singsing Ojingeo Bada Chungmuro closes the route because it's the kind of place that makes you forget you're in the middle of Seoul. A Jeju native who reviewed it said they'd never been satisfied with mainland sashimi until eating here, which tells you the level we're aiming for. Fresh sashimi after the heavier bao balances the course, and Chungmuro is surprisingly full of great restaurants like this tucked into the grid, so ending here feels like the neighborhood showing its hand.
Crew's note
I got here first. Window seat, like you prefer.
What visitors say
[Menu] Premium Assorted Sashimi Set I was so happy to find such a fresh and delicious sashimi restaurant near Chungmuro Station. Chungmuro…
This place is the real deal. Why go to Jeju Island just to eat sashimi when you can simply go to Chungmuro? I’m a Jeju native who has never…
The walk between
Between the two stops, you're moving through the Jung-gu micro-pockets that Seoul lifestyle coverage keeps pointing to, the quieter alleys where independent cafes and vintage shops have started to cluster. It's the kind of strip where the old printing district bones still show through.
- The tablet stays on your table after you order and pay at BAO SEOUL, so plan your table space accordingly if you're spreading out bags or notebooks.
- Singsing Ojingeo Bada works best when you're ready to sit and take your time with something fresh; don't rush this one, it's the anchor of the whole route.
FAQ
- What makes Chungmuro different from Euljiro right now?
- Chungmuro is the natural spillover from the saturated Euljiro scene, with independent cafes, vintage shops, and small gallery spaces clustering along its back alleys through spring 2026. It's next up after Euljiro's mainstreaming, so the pace is quieter and the crowd hasn't caught up yet.
- Why plan a course around these two stops?
- The bao opener is filling but compact, which sets you up for the sashimi closer without overloading the middle. Chungmuro's tight grid means the walk between them lets you see the neighborhood's character without burning the whole afternoon.
Ask Ethan
Seoul
