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Exploring Seoul’s Trendiest Spots: Oldies Taco and Seosunra-gil Guide

Bysoykim

Plans don’t always pan out, but sometimes that’s exactly what makes a day more memorable and fun. My original plan was to watch the movie ‘The Devil Wears Prada 2‘ at CGV Yongsan, grab a wood-fired sandwich at PAZAC, and then head over to a cafe in Gwanghwamun (and maybe visit the Sungkok Art Museum if time permitted).

As a side note, CGV Yongsan I’Park Mall is one of Seoul’s premier movie theaters. It offers premium specialized screens like IMAX, 4DX, and ScreenX. Since it’s directly connected to the I’Park Mall shopping complex, it’s a fantastic place for shopping and checking out various pop-up stores, making it a highly recommended stop.

CGV Yongsan I’Park Mall
A Spontaneous Lunch at Oldies Taco

Because the movie started around 11:00 AM, it was already past 1:00 PM by the time it ended. While walking to the bus stop to head toward the Jongno area, I realized that PAZAC had a break time starting at 2:00 PM. Since it’s a sandwich place, it never crossed my mind that they would have a break time—it was totally my oversight.

I decided to visit PAZAC after their break time ended. Since I was starving and needed something quick to eat, a place suddenly came to mind: OLDIES TACO.

OLDIES TACO (1st Location)

As you walk a bit from Euljiro 3-ga Station (을지로3가역), you will notice one specific spot where people are exceptionally crowded—that’s the taco shop.

Tip: You can check the live waiting status on the Catch Table Global app, but you must register for the queue at the physical kiosk on-site.

At the first location (the main branch), you can either eat standing up inside the shop, use the outdoor standing ledges, or get it to go.

Since the weather was incredibly beautiful the day I visited, many people opted for takeout. (Honestly, grabbing takeout and eating it by the nearby Cheonggyecheon Stream(청계천) sounds incredibly romantic!) Because of this, the waitlist for dine-in was actually shorter, so I put my name down for a spot inside.

Just a short walk down the alley, you’ll find OLDIES TACO 2nd Location. It’s a good idea to check the wait times at both spots and sign up for both if needed. The main difference is that the second location has proper sit-down tables. Perhaps because of this, the line at the first location seemed to move a bit faster.

Exploring the Neighborhood While Waiting

Around 2:00 PM on Saturday, the estimated wait time was about 30 minutes, so I decided to explore the surrounding area. First, a shop right next door called HANJU DIARY caught my eye. They were selling leather-bound notebooks in various sizes and various stationery items at incredibly affordable prices. I managed to score a simple, black leather-bound lined notebook here for just 3,000 KRW (approx. $2.20 USD).

HANJU DIARY

After that, I crossed the Myeongbo Crossroads—which looked stunning thanks to the beautiful weather—walked past Sector Coffee (which was completely packed), and popped into the newly opened SEOUL FILM CENTER. They were screening classic movies to celebrate their grand opening, though there wasn’t a whole lot else to see inside just yet.

SEOUL FILM CENTER
Finally, The Tacos!

Exploring the neighborhood made time fly, and I soon received a notification to enter the first location. Since I wanted to focus purely on the tacos rather than side menus, I ordered the Oldies Taco, the Birria Taco, and a bottle of grapefruit Jarritos. The system here is to order and pay outside first, then go inside to wait for your food.

While the Oldies Taco felt like a classic, standard taco loaded with beef brisket, the Birria Taco was absolutely phenomenal. I love tacos and have tried Birria tacos at several different places, but the flavor profile here felt like it had the strongest, most memorable impact. The pairing of the tacos with the Jarritos was excellent, though I think it would be amazing with beer next time.

In my mind, my top favorite taco spots have officially been saved as…:

  1. The Tripas at TACO STAND in Itaewon
  2. The Fish Taco at MEXICALI near Achasan
  3. The Birria Taco at Oldies Taco in Euljiro
Facing the Fierce Korean Waiting Culture (Again)

With a full stomach, I walked up toward the nearby Cheonggyecheon Stream. Since it was the hottest time of the day, I wanted to grab an iced coffee quickly. However, all the popular cafes were already packed to the brim. Plus, since I planned to head back to Pazac at 5:00 PM, I decided to just rest and pass the time at a Coffee Bean cafe right in front of Cheonggyecheon.

In the end, though, my second attempt at Pazac failed as well. I had let my guard down, assuming the remote queue on the app would open exactly at 5:00 PM. As it turned out, the queue actually opened 30 minutes prior. By the time I logged into Catch Table, registration was already closed for the day.

Note: I really wanted to get it to go and eat it by Cheonggyecheon. The waiting culture in Korea is honestly tough, even for locals! It definitely requires thorough, advanced research.

PAZAC
Walking Along Seosunra-gil

Having missed out on the sandwiches, I headed to my backup destination: Seosunra-gil.

Seosunra-gil(서순라길) is a long, narrow alleyway that stretches along the western stone wall of Jongmyo(종묘) Shrine. Over the past few years, it has garnered a lot of attention for its unique, charming vibe that blends traditional Korean aesthetics with an exotic, trendy atmosphere. It is an especially magical place when the weather is nice, as you can enjoy outdoor dining and drinking (commonly referred to as Yajang(야장) in Korean).

By the time I arrived around 5:30 PM, all the popular spots on the main street—such as THE QUEEN’S GUARD, SEOUL GYPSY and JONGMYO HAEJANGGUK(종묘해장국) —already had long waiting lines.

Tip: Some places allow you to join the waitlist in advance via Catch Table, so I highly recommend looking them up beforehand!

I ended up wandering into a restaurant in a back alley just to find an empty seat. Looking back, I think it would have been better if we had waited a bit longer or searched around more on the main street, where you can actually enjoy the view of the stone wall. (The place we went to wasn’t very satisfying, so I’ll leave out the name.) Keep this in mind if you plan to visit Seosunra-gil!

SEOUL GYPSY (Seosunra-gil Branch) 

(This is a popular taphouse located right on the main street of Seosunra-gil. You can just stroll along this specific line of shops!)

Why May is the Best Time to Travel to Korea

After spending some time there, we walked past Nakwon Music Mall(낙원악기상가) and Insadong(인사동), making our way down toward Myeongdong(명동). Along the streets, colorful lotus lanterns hung everywhere in celebration of Buddha’s Birthday.

When we returned to Cheonggyecheon Stream, it looked absolutely breathtaking. This magical atmosphere is exactly why I personally recommend traveling to Korea in May.

  • The weather is absolutely perfect for walking.
  • It’s the ideal temperature to grab takeout and freely enjoy it outdoors at places like Cheonggyecheon or the Han River. (Note: Alcoholic beverages are strictly prohibited at Cheonggyecheon!)
  • The entire cityscape is beautifully illuminated by traditional lotus lanterns for Buddha’s Birthday.
Cheonggyecheon Stream

(Cheonggye Plaza / Main Area near Gwanghwamun)

Safe travels, Soy Kim

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