Jihwaja Seoul

My wife and I had dinner. We were a little apprehensive due to some of the negative reports. However, we had a delightful time. The food was elegantly presented and tasted exquisite. We had the grilled beef rib course (see photo). Service was also excellent. We were even served a complimentary fish dish. I would highly recommend this restaurant and would certainly return when we are next in Seoul. I am absolutely amazed that Jihwaja is not featured by Michelin!

Absolutely wonderful experience. Our meal was beautifully prepared and it’s definitely one of the best experiences I’ve had visiting South Korea. Our food was delicate and it was a wonderful finish after touring the National Palace Museum of Korea. I recommend them to anyone looking to experience a unique piece of Korean history.

Amazing Traditional Royal Korean Cuisine delivered by Jihwaja. We had chosen the Manchan course and did not feel disappointed. All the ingredients prepared were cooked fresh and to the precision, from the nuts to the meats. The milk porridge was exquisite with well balanced flavor from the rice and the milk. Besides the cuisine, the service was superb! Each dishes were explained well by the waiters/waitresses and were attentive to our needs. The superintendent was extremely friendly to us and he explained the true nature of Korean cuisine to us. He made our day! Overall, it was an enjoyable dining experience and we hope it will improve to a next level before our next visit in the future!! Recommended!

Dining at Jihwaja was one of the most beautiful and memorable experiences of our trip to Seoul. From start to finish, the service felt warm, personal, and genuinely curated. The staff went out of their way to explain the rich history of the restaurant and the royal culinary traditions of Korea, which added so much meaning to the meal. They even surprised us with a printed photo and handwritten card to commemorate our visit. I accidentally left it behind, and they kindly e-mailed it to me afterward, which was incredibly thoughtful. The food was elegant and well prepared. I especially enjoyed the carrot appetizer and the extra fish dish they brought out. My husband’s braised beef was a standout, and while I preferred it to my seafood hot pot, I still appreciated the care and detail in each course. Jihwaja is more than a restaurant. It is an experience, and one that I would highly recommend to anyone looking for something truly special in Seoul.

For gluten free travelers wanting to try Korean palace food, this is the place to go! They have a gluten free course menu. I believe they also have a vegan menu. It's close to the palace and main attractions but a bit pricey. You will get a private dining room experience and taste a variety of bites, so I think it's totally worth it. If you don't know what Korean palace food is like, expect delicate food - not big bold flavors Korean food is usually known for.

Traditional Korean Royal Banquet Cuisine served in accompanying premises n decor, this restaurant boasts of a varied history which caters to delicate n exquisite traditional Korean cuisine usually (past) reserved for those of blue blood - the royals. Each particular course of the total 7 courses was served individually as per European concept of fine dining as opposed to the Asian concept of shared dishes. The decorative presentation and plating of dishes was unique, “pretty” and nouveau. Flavours were delicate but wholesome and clearly defined. The plating was very well done n most tasteful taking into consideration the food served and the manner of preparation. One disappointment was the clear lack of verbal presentation of each course to denote what we were dining upon and the preparatory measures taken for each dish. This lack of explanation or any presentation verbal or otherwise would undoubtedly leave diners guessing what was being served or dinning upon. This, in my humble opinion, is a huge lacunae and does the restaurant or its chefs no justice as to its repute in serving royal type banquet dishes. Discerning Diners need to know and appreciate the preparation of the dishes, its intricacy and of course the ingredients. We were left guessing what each course was and this did not leave a nice impression on a restaurant that boasts of fine royal dining. Serving staff were not trained to perfunctorily explain the cuisine nor were they trained to serve the dishes in an appropriate manner ie not to remove dishes or utensils except from the side and not disrupt any ongoing conversation between guests or blocking the view between guests who were conversing. More training is truly required and would add to the graceful ambience of this restaurant which was decorated exquisitely n historically. Seatings were in private rooms which gave some intimacy to the meal and the utensils n tableware were accordingly tasteful. It was indeed a pleasant luncheon but would have been made much more memorable if several refinements were made.

Visit the restaurant if you want to try the more traditional form of Korean food. Portions are not huge and the price is definitely on the higher end but considering the amount of work that went into the food, it’s justifiable. Service can be a little fast but that’s consistent with what we have experienced in Korea. Otherwise the staff are very friendly and it was an enjoyable evening.