Travel video guide
Mark Wiens in Seoul: 4 Spots From the Video
This guide turns Korean Barbecue Tour!! 🥩 DINO BEEF RIBS + Standing Barrel BBQ in Seoul! from Mark Wiens into a practical restaurant map with 4 saved spots around Seoul. The mapped places include a restaurant stop. Use it to understand the places, dishes, and trip context before saving the map in Varedelo.
What the creator captured
Mark Wiens was fascinated by the preservation of heritage at Joan Oak, where he witnessed the master chef's 80-year-old technique of splashing sauce onto ribs. He was equally impressed by the modern innovation at Mongtan, specifically the unique process of infusing massive ribs with the aroma of burning hay. Overall, he described the tour as a magical meat-eating experience that showcased the diverse evolution of Korean barbecue.
What this map is good for
- Planning a barbecue restaurant stop or short itinerary in Seoul.
- Comparing food stops from a creator or saved local map before you commit time in the city.
- Saving 4 mapped spots into Varedelo so the list stays usable on the ground.
- Using the original video as context, then turning it into a clean place-by-place map.
Featured spots on this map
- Woo Lae Oak
Korean Restaurant in 62-29 Changgyeonggung-ro, Jung District, Seoul, South Korea, Changgyeonggung-ro, Jung District, Seoul, South Korea
Price level: Expensive
Hours: Hours available - Joseonok
Barbecue Restaurant in 6-5 Eulji-ro 15-gil, Jung District, Seoul, South Korea, Jung District, Seoul, South Korea
Price level: Cheap - Mongtan
Barbecue Restaurant in 50 Baekbeom-ro 99-gil, Yongsan District, Seoul, South Korea, Yongsan District, Seoul, South Korea
Price level: High - Myeongdong Seoseo Galbi
Barbecue Restaurant in 20-8 Myeongdong 7ga-gil, Jung District, Seoul, South Korea, Jung District, Seoul, South Korea
Price level: High
Food notes from the video
- Galbi (Korean short rib)
- Kimchi
- Mixed salad with garlic and bean paste
- Yukgaejang (beef soup with leaks)
- Soybean soup with tofu and mushrooms
- Korean rice
- Fish egg sauce
- Wasabi
Experiences captured
- Visited one of Seoul's oldest barbecue restaurants
- Watched a master chef grill meat through a window
- Observed a 1937 secret sauce application technique
- Walked through an alley of mechanic and hardware stores
- Witnessed ribs being smoked with burning hay
- Experienced tableside meat carving on an iron griddle
- Sampled various traditional Korean side dishes (banchan)
- Explored both historic and modern barbecue styles
Planning notes for Seoul
Seoul, located in the central region of the Korean Peninsula, has functioned as a capital for over 600 years. Its history as a political center dates back to 18 BC with the Baekje Kingdom and later as a major administrative hub during the Goryeo Dynasty. In 1394, King Taejo of the Joseon Dynasty designated the city, then known as Hanyang, as the national capital. This era established the city’s urban layout.
Must-try foods nearby
- Ganjang Gejang (Soy-Marinated Raw Crab)
Often called a 'rice thief' because the savory, umami-rich soy marinade compels you to eat bowl after bowl of rice. - Rose Tteokbokki
A modern evolution of the iconic spicy rice cake. This 'Rose' version blends traditional gochujang with cream or milk, creating a thick, orange. - Samgyetang (Ginseng Chicken Soup)
A traditional health-booster consisting of a whole young chicken stuffed with glutinous rice, ginseng, jujube, and garlic. - Kalguksu (Knife-Cut Noodles)
These rustic, hand-cut wheat noodles are served in a rich, comforting broth (usually chicken or clam-based). - Hanwoo Beef (Korean Premium Beef)
South Korea’s answer to Wagyu, Hanwoo is prized for its high marbling and intense beefy flavor.
When to go: The best months to visit Seoul are from April to early June (Spring) and September to November (Autumn). These periods offer mild, pleasant weather with clear skies.
Local tips
- Purchase a T-money or WOWPASS card at the airport for seamless travel on all subways, buses, and taxis.
- Always use both hands when giving or receiving items like credit cards, money, or gifts to show respect.
- Avoid sitting in the designated pink or purple priority seats on public transport, even if the train is empty.
- Wait for the eldest person at the table to start eating before you pick up your utensils.
What travelers are noticing
- The Seoul Skyview Observatories: A new network of 12 panoramic mountain-top decks, including the glass-floored Namsan Maru and the forest-themed Yongmasan 'Treehouse' shelters.
- Gwanghwamun Square Digital Hub: The area's transformation into a 'Times Square of Korea' with synchronized mega-billboards on nine surrounding buildings and new column-shaped digital landmarks.
- Seongsu-dong Pop-up Culture: The neighborhood's evolution as the 'Pop-up Store Holy Land,' featuring weekly high-concept fashion, tech, and K-pop experiential spaces in repurposed industrial buildings.
Extra place context
- Woo Lae Oak
Established in 1946, this is one of the oldest and most respected spots for Pyeongyang-style Naengmyeon (cold buckwheat noodles).
food
Official tourism resource
The official travel guide to Seoul, operated by the Seoul Tourism Organization, providing information on attractions, food, and festivals.
Planning questions
Where did Mark Wiens eat in Seoul?
This guide maps all 4 spots featured in the video, with names, addresses, and neighborhoods, so you can plan where to eat in Seoul.
What are the must-try foods in Seoul?
Creator picks from the video include Galbi (Korean short rib), Kimchi, Mixed salad with garlic and bean paste, Yukgaejang (beef soup with leaks). Open the map in Varedelo to see which spot each one is at.
Can I save these spots to use on my trip?
Yes. Open the map in Varedelo to save every spot, get directions, and revisit the guide from your phone while you travel.
Use it on your trip
Save this restaurant map before you go
Keep the mapped spots, creator context, food notes, and planning details together. Varedelo turns the page into a phone-friendly map you can revisit when you are choosing where to go.