Ikseon-dong is known for its Korean food and cafes, so here’s a surprise: one of the most interesting meals on the street is French. Paris Gaok is a French restaurant in Ikseon-dong where authentic French cooking — by a French chef — is served inside a traditional Korean hanok. It’s a genuinely unusual pairing, and it works beautifully: the old-Seoul setting makes the French food feel like a special occasion.
The setting
From the street, the atmospheric facade catches your eye down an Ikseon-dong alley. Inside, the traditional hanok bones are kept intact but layered with French touches and soft, warm lighting — a calmer, more spacious feel than the busy spots nearby, with tasteful props dotted around that make it very photogenic. It’s a natural fit for a date or a special meal. Helpfully for visitors, the staff are Western and English is spoken, and there’s an English menu on request (cards accepted).
What to order
The menu runs from familiar French classics to dishes you rarely see in Seoul — the recipes follow a French chef’s authentic approach. A few of the standouts:
French onion soup (7,000 small / 13,000 big)
A signature starter — sweet, deeply caramelized onions cooked down with wine, topped with baguette and cheese. Spoon up the soaked baguette with each bite. (On my visit it came a touch cooler than I’d have liked, but the flavor was lovely.)
Basil pesto pasta (18,000; +3,000 for shrimp)
My favorite of what I tried — fragrant basil and a just-thick-enough cream sauce, perfectly cooked pasta, and big plump shrimp. A crowd-pleaser if the more adventurous dishes aren’t your thing.
Beef bourguignon (19,000)
The house Signature — beef slow-braised in red wine with seasonal vegetables, served with mashed potato and a soft-boiled egg. The wine sauce is rich and distinctive; a classic done properly.
For the adventurous
This is one of the few places in Seoul where you can try escargot (14,000) — snails in garlic butter with baguette — and classic French frog legs (19,000) in lemon-butter sauce. Other highlights include duck leg confit (28,000) and a chuck-flap steak with potato gratin (32,500). For dessert, the lavender crème brûlée (6,000) is a signature.
Details
- Location: Ikseon-dong, Jongno-gu — 3 min from Jongno 3-ga Station Exit 4 (Google Maps)
- Hours: 11:30am–10:00pm daily, break 3:00–5:00pm (no break weekends/holidays); last order 2:30pm / 9:30pm
- Ordering: English menu on request; English-speaking staff; cards accepted
- Good to know: authentic French by a French chef; atmospheric hanok, good for dates; reservations available
Verdict
For something different in Ikseon-dong, a French restaurant in a hanok is hard to beat — and Paris Gaok does it with real credentials: a French chef, escargot and frog legs alongside a proper beef bourguignon, and a warm, photogenic old-Seoul setting. With English-speaking staff and a menu on request, it’s an easy one for visitors, too. Come for a date or a change of pace, then explore the rest of the neighborhood — salt bread from Jayeondo or a Korean meal at Songam Onban are steps away.
