December's things to do

Doesn’t matter if you’re still full from your earlier meal; you just have to go here early and grab a seat first. Once the clock hits 5:30, Yukjeon Sikdang is crammed with all hungry people and waiting for 30 minutes to 1 hour is nothing. Must admit, this is the best pork restaurant in Seoul. Thick-cut pork belly (samgyeopsal) is Yukjoen Sikdang’s signature menu, notably for its extremely tender and juicy meat. Though Samgeyopsal is one of the most beloved foods of Koreans, after a few servings, you feel the urge of stop eating from its greasiness, but put your worry aside for Yukjeon Sikdang. Once you start, you won’t be able to stop eating – you’ll know what “pigging out” truly means.

Mija Seoul has been making waves since it first opened in May. The restaurant focuses on creating a dinner menu inspired by hearty Korean fare made with local and seasonal ingredients. Apart from using produce from the restaurant's rooftop garden, they also take time to source from local farms. Here, you’ll find Danish chef Kevin Kroløkke, who brings with him 10 years of restaurant experience from the now defunct, Michelin-starred, Restaurant Relæ. He helms the restaurant with his partner Tina Choi (also known as Doobydobap on TikTok and Instagram).

Salmon sashimi lovers, here’s one for you. Mibbeudong is famed for its tomato salmon noodles – a refreshing, cold tomato broth packed with vegetables and long strands of salmon sashimi cut lengthways to resemble noodles. If you’re a little less excited over this, another popular item on the menu here is the Mibbeudong itself, a rice moat topped with a tower of mixed sashimi, uni and ikura.