Today, I’m sharing the 5 best Seoul Tteokbokki (topokki) restaurants. Some of these are places I’ve been going to since I was a kid, and others are hidden gems only locals know about.
But before diving into the list, let me answer two of the most common questions I get about tteokbokki.
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Top 3 Famous Tteokbokki Brands in Korea
Q: Besides Seoul tteokbokki restaurants, what is the famous tteokbokki brand in Korea?
There are tons of tteokbokki chain brands in Korea. Here are three of the most popular ones you should know about.
Yupdduk (엽떡) – Dongdaemun Yupgi Tteokbokki
This is probably the most famous brand of spicy tteokbokki in Korea. It’s usually served in a large bowl, enough for 3 to 4 people. The original taste is really spicy but you can choose the level of heat. The original is the most commonly ordered. If you don’t like spicy food, try the mild version called “Kind Flavor(Chakhan mat 착한맛)“. Even this can be quite spicy for some people. Most people order this for delivery rather than eating in.
Sinjeon Tteokbokki (신전 떡볶이)
This brand is known for its strong peppery flavor. A bowl costs around 4,000 won, which makes it super affordable. You can also choose your heat level – mild, medium or hot. Be sure to order the cheese tteokbokki here, and don’t miss the cheese kimbap, which is stretched with gooey melted cheese.
Baeddeok (배떡) – Baedal Tteokbokki
It is famous for its creamy rosé tteokbokki. The soup-style tteokbokki costs about 6,000 won, while the rosé version costs 11,000 won, and each serving feeds 1-2 people.
One of its unique features is the choice of rice noodles: rice tteok, wheat tteok, noodle tteok, or glass noodles (called bunmoja). Many people choose wheat tteok or noodle tteok and add bunmoja when ordering the rosé version. You can also choose from five different spice levels. As the name suggests (baedal means delivery), most people have it delivered.
Don’t be sad if you can’t try rosé tteokbokki in Korea—because here’s the recipe that tastes just like the ones from Seoul’s restaurants. It’s creamy, slightly spicy, and so good it might surprise you.
The Price of Toppoki
Q: How much does tteokbokki cost in Seoul?
Many people ask about the prices of tteokbokki in tteokbokki restauratns. It really depends on the location, but you can find basic topokki starting at around 4,000 KRW. One of the most popular spicy tteokbokki chains, Yupgi Tteokbokki, costs around 14,000 KRW. But don’t worry – it’s meant to be shared by 3 to 4 people, so the portion is huge.
5 Best Tteokbokki Restaurants in Seoul
You might already know Mabongrim Tteokbokki from Sindang-dong Tteokbokki Town—it’s a famous Seoul tteokbokki spot. But today, I’m sharing 5 real tteokbokki gems that only locals know about. If you visit any of these, you’re guaranteed to have one of the best tteokbokki experiences in Seoul.
Achasan Shintoburi Tteokbokki 아차산 신토불이 떡볶이
- Location: 42 Jayang-ro 43-gil, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, South Korea (Exit 1, Achasan Station)
- Hours: Tuesday–Sunday 11:00 AM – 9:00 PM (Closed on Mondays)
- Menu:
- 1-person set (tteokbokki, 1 fried dumpling, 1 fishcake): 4,000 KRW
- 2-person set: 11,500 KRW (tteokbokki for 2, 2 dumplings, 2 fishcakes, 2 boiled eggs, 1 Korean corn dog)
The most popular menu is the 2-person set. It comes with everything you need: tteokbokki, dumplings, fishcakes, and boiled eggs-but the real surprise is the Korean corn dog (K-corn dog) that comes with it. They cut it up and place it right on top of the tteokbokki bowl, and dipping it in the spicy sauce is seriously next-level. It’s a popular combination among Koreans.
The sauce looks super red, but don’t worry-it’s not too spicy. It actually has a sweet, tomato ketchup-like finish that makes it addictive. This place gets really crowded and there’s almost always a line, but if you go on a weekday, the wait isn’t too bad. Time your visit well and give it a try.
Note: This place is self-service and you pay first. As we say in Konglish, it’s “self-service” – so grab your own drinks, pick up your food when it’s ready, and help yourself to water. For plates, use the paper cups on the water dispensers. Aprons are available near the entrance.
Golmok Tteokbokki 골목 떡볶이
- Location: 33 Munjeong-ro 1-gil, Songpa-gu, Seoul, South Korea (Exit 1, Munjeong Station)
- Hours: Monday to Friday: 3:00 PM – 9:00 PM, Saturday & Sunday: 1:00 PM – 9:00 PM
- Menu: Fried dumplings (3 pieces): 1,000 KRW, Tteokbokki (1 serving): 4,000 KRW
This is a nostalgic spot I’ve been visiting since I was little. It became super popular Seoul Tteokbokki after being featured on TV, so now it’s one of those tteokbokki places where waiting in line is pretty much guaranteed.
What makes their topokki special is the clear and deep-flavored broth, full of umami from anchovies and kelp. It’s not spicy at all—more on the sweet side—and served with plenty of soup. They use chewy wheat-based tteok (tteokbokki rice cakes), which adds a nice texture.
You must order the fried dumplings. These are crispy yaki mandu filled only with glass noodles. The amazing part? Even after soaking in the broth, they stay crunchy. And you get 3 of them for just 1,000 KRW.
Note: It’s located near Jamsil, so I recommend stopping by after visiting Lotte World or Lotte Tower.
Popeye Bunsik 뽀빠이 분식
- Location: Jangmi Shopping Center B-dong, 104 Olympic-ro, Songpa-gu, Seoul, South Korea (Exit 3, Jamsilnaru Station)
- Hours: Monday to Saturday: 11:00 AM – 8:00 PM, Closed on Sundays
- Menu: Tteokjolra (Tteokbokki + Jjolmyeon + Ramen): 7,000 KRW, Popeye Fried Rice: 8,000 KRW
Jamsil is my hometown, and this is the tteokbokki restaurant I’ve been going to with my mom since I was a toddler—literally too young to even remember. With over 40 years of history, this is a legendary spot among locals.
Their most famous dish is Tteokjolra, which is a combination of tteokbokki, chewy jjolmyeon (a uniquely Korean noodle you won’t easily find abroad), and ramyun all cooked together in one dish. They use chewy rice cakes, and the sauce is not spicy—just sweet, savory, and seriously addictive.
And here’s the must-do part: once you’re done with the Tteokjolra, you have to order the fried rice add-on. They take the leftover sauce and stir-fry it with bean sprouts, seaweed flakes, perilla leaves, and egg. This is the true hidden gem of the meal—honestly, it’s so good that it’ll be the first thing I eat when I go back to Korea.
Note: Don’t worry if you’re eating alone—lots of people do here. Watching the grandma cook behind the counter is also part of the charm.
Eunhye Instant Tteokbokki 은혜 즉석 떡볶이
- Location: 2nd Floor, 381-1 Gwangnaru-ro, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, South Korea (Exit 5, Children’s Grand Park Station)
- Hours: Every day from 10:30 AM – 8:00 PM
- Menu: 2-person Set: 13,000 KRW
(Includes: 2 servings of tteokbokki + ramen or jjolmyeon + fish cake + 2 eggs + 2 dumplings)
This seoul tteokbokki is famous for its jjajang tteokbokki—yes, black bean sauce tteokbokki! It’s a jeukseok (Korean hot pot–style) tteokbokki spot where everything—rice cakes, cabbage, fish cake—is cooked together in a pot right on your table. But don’t be fooled by the name. Even though it has jjajang (black bean) in it, this dish isn’t mild. It’s more like a spicy tteokbokki sauce with a hint of jjajang flavor—rich, savory, and fiery.
After finishing the tteokbokki, you must order the fried rice add-on. They stir-fry the leftover sauce with rice, and adding cheese is non-negotiable—it takes it to the next level.
Note: Water and pickled radish are self-serve. Because it’s near Sejong and Konkuk Universities, this place is packed with students—and it’s also known as a go-to spot for local celebrities.
Seogangsoi Tteokbokki 서강쇠 떡볶이
- Location: 22 Apgujeong-ro 50-gil, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, South Korea
- Hours: Every day from 10:30 AM – 10:00 PM
- Menu: Tteokbokki (4 pieces) – 6,000 KRW, fish cake (3 skewers) – 4,000 KRW, fried snacks(튀김) – 5,000 KRW
This is one of the top 3 Seoul tteokbokki restaurants in the entire Gangnam area—and it’s famous for a reason. They use thick rice cakes made fresh daily at a rice cake mill. The texture is unbelievably chewy, and it hits differently from regular tteokbokki.
Right after you order, they slice the thick garaetteok (cylindrical rice cakes) with a wooden spatula and serve them up steaming hot. If you’re going for the best experience, get the “mixed(seokkeo 섞어)” set—it comes with 2 pieces of tteokbokki and 2 fish cake skewers.
This is the soup-style tteokbokki, with plenty of spicy broth. The rice cakes soak up the seasoning perfectly, giving you rich, full flavor in every bite. And don’t forget to dip the fish cake and fried snacks into the tteokbokki broth—that’s how locals do it.
Note: Located right in Apgujeong Rodeo, this place is popular among celebrities. If you’re lucky, you might spot one while slurping on some spicy rice cakes.
