Rarely should you walk into a spot with a line down the street filled with foreigners and not a single local. But this place is special and it got its Michelin star back when it was a pure local spot. Sometimes these types of places get too big for their breeches, raise prices, and lose their local patrons. The clientele will change to tourists and expats that don't mind the spend. Most of such places later lose their nuanced quality and soul as well. But not at Keungiwajib, which means, Big Manor House.

They serve a specially marinated Korean southern coast style crab, perhaps akin to ceviche, whereby the raw crab is lightly cooked in hot soy sauce. It is a very difficult process to master, and most restaurants make feeble attempts at best. Not here.

Ignore the fact that you can’t spot a single local and just stand in line and order the soy sauce marinated crab and the raw crab bibimbap. You will forget where you are and not even notice the heavily expat crowd.

The line forms before opening hours. We find that the line subsides a bit later, after they turn two rounds of tables. So don’t try to beat the crowd, but rather go at 1:30pm not 11:30 am for lunch.

And from here, start your exploration of Bukchon neighbourhood.

HOURS

Walk-ins only, no reservations

Sun - Mon

11:30 am - 3 pm

5:30 pm - 9 pm

ADDRESS

20-7 Bukchon-ro

CONTACT

+82 2-722-9024

IMAGES

All images by Wonder Shuffle, except for Keungiwajib's illustrated logos.