7 Places Where Locals Love to Eat in Incheon

Seafood cannot be missed in Incheon, a city close to the sea. Try out different seafood dishes that are made special by their sauces and seasonings, such as steamed anglerfish or gejang (marinated fresh raw crab). There are many famous restaurants in Chinatown, which was established many years ago, serving delicious white jjajangmyeon (black bean noodles) and spicy jjamppong (seafood soup).

On top of this, there are also many cafes where you can enjoy the wonderful scenery. Look out for unique places that use renovated factory buildings or look like historical country houses. Incheon even has food markets famous enough to attract people from all over Korea.

1. Original Sinpo Dakgangjeong

A long-standing local favourite for fried chicken

Good for: Food

Sinpo Dakgangjeong is located inside Sinpo Market in Incheon and close to Exit 27 of Sinpo Underground Shopping Mall. It is famous for its consistent taste, which has been a favorite for over 30 years. Throughout the day, the chicken is constantly fried and seasoned with spices. The restaurant’s popularity means that there’s often a queue, so be prepared for a little wait.

There are only 2 items on the menus: fried chicken and sinpo dakgangjeong (sweet crunchy fried chicken). The crispiness of the fried chicken is incredible. Dakgangjeong is crispy, spicy, and sweet, leaving you with a lasting memory that will make your mouth water.

Location: 3, Woohyeon-ro 49beon-gil, Jung-gu, Incheon, South Korea

Open: Weekends from 9.30am to 9pm, weekdays from 10am to 9pm

2. Seongjin Multeombeong

Delicious anglerfish dishes

Good for: Food

Seongjin Multeombeong has been selling steamed anglerfish since 1970, when restaurants specializing in multeombung began to gather in Yonghyeon-dong, Nam-gu, Incheon. First you’ll be presented with a side dish that goes well with the anglerfish, followed by the bright red and spicy steamed anglerfish itself.

Anglerfish is a must-try for fish lovers and for people who like to try something new. The soft and tender flesh is lightly seasoned with soy sauce, so it is perfect to eat with crunchy bean sprouts. No matter how full you are, don’t forget to try the fried rice.

Location: 10, Dokbae-ro 403beon-gil, Michuhol-gu, Incheon, South Korea

Open: Daily from 11 am to 9.30 pm

3. Samsong Garden

A gem of a Korean barbecue spot

Good for: Food

In Dorim-dong, Namdong-gu, Incheon, you’ll be pleased to stumble across Samsong Garden, a wonderful Korean barbecue restaurant. It prides itself on the quality of its ingredients, using only domestic pork ribs and no artificial seasonings and preservatives.

As is traditional, the meats are cooked at the table. After placing the pork ribs on the charcoal broil, turn them quickly to avoid burning them. Try the broiled ribs with naengmyeon (iced noodle soup) or pickled onions. The richly juicy and savory pork tastes even better when eaten with cold naengmyeon.

Location: 7, Deokgol-ro, Namdong-gu, Incheon, South Korea

Open: Daily from 11am to 10pm

4. Onggi Kkotgejang

Mouth-watering crab dishes

Good for: Food

Onggi Kkotgejang is a restaurant where you can eat gejang (marinated fresh raw crabs) with unlimited refills, and soy sauce gejang and seasoned gejang appear quickly as soon as you order. It is nicknamed “the rice thief’ “as the dishes pair so well with rice. Whether you have fresh soy sauce gejang that is unsalted and plump, or seasoned gejang that is spicy and seasoned well, you can eat a bowl of rice alongside it with ease.

The hot and spicy blue crab soup is also recommended. The hot soup relaxes the stomach, leaving a refreshing aftertaste. It’s a taste you really can’t forget.

Location: 31, Dorimbuk-ro 16beon-gil, Namdong-gu, Incheon, South Korea

Open: Tuesday–Sunday from 11 am to 3 pm, then from 4.30 pm to 9 pm (Closed Monday)

5. Maehwamareum

Charming cafe in lush surroundings

Good for: Food

Maehwamareum is a cafe in Ganghwa Island that resembles a country house, surrounding by a pretty, tree-filled garden. The hand-drip coffee, roasted by the baristas themselves, is delicious, as are the variety of exquisite homemade cakes and bakery items.

There is plenty of seating in both the main building and the annex, so there’s no excuse not to visit and sample a variety of dishes from the menu. It’s a wonderful cafe set in delightful scenery that provides a charming and positive ambiance, sure to leave visitors smiling.

Location: 28, Gilsang-ro 25beon-gil, Gilsang-myeon, Ganghwa-gun, Incheon, South Korea

Open: Daily from 10 am to 7 pm

6. Yanjing

Popular Chinese restaurant

Good for: Food

Yanjing is the most famous place in Incheon’s Chinatown, boasting an impressive exterior. Among Yanjing’s many menu items, the most popular is the white jjajangmyeon (black bean noodles) made with chunjang, which is made of white beans aged for 60 days. It is more popular than regular jjajangmyeon because it is light and savory.

Jjamppong (spicy seafood soup) with plentiful of seafood is also a popular menu item not to be missed, so no matter which dish you choose here, you won’t regret it.

Location: 101, UN-ro 157beon-gil, Nam-gu, Busan, South Korea

Open: Daily from 10.30 am to 9.30 pm

7. Joyang Textile

Cafe in a refurbished factory

Good for: Food

Joyang Textile gets its name from the fact that the building was formerly a textile factory on Ganghwa Island. This factory was transformed into a cafe that boasts plenty of space, so you don’t have to worry about it running out of seats.

Thanks to many original features, which have been left on purpose, this cafe feels like the set of a movie or drama. The beverages and bakery items sold here are delicious, but there are also so many things to see in every corner of the building, so you can easily pass time just walking and looking around.

Location: 12, Hyangnamu-gil 5beon-gil, Ganghwa-eup, Ganghwa-gun, Incheon, South Korea

Open: Daily from 11 am to 8 pm

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