Gwanghwamun & Gyeongbokgung

A gamjatang (pork-bone stew) and pork-bone soup restaurant at 1F, 42 Jong-ro 3-gil in Cheongjin-dong, 282m from Gwanghwamun Station Exit 2 per Kakao Map. It is open 24 hours every day of the year (Kakao Map and Naver), so you can eat here before dawn or early in the morning. Pork-bone soup, with or without the bone, is ₩12,000, and a small dried-cabbage gamjatang ₩34,000. You order at a kiosk (October 2026 blog).

A branch of the Isaac Toast chain at 1F, 5 Sejong-daero 23-gil, 119m from Gwanghwamun Station Exit 9 per Kakao Map, opening at 07:00 on weekdays. Per the Naver menu, a ham and cheese toast is ₩4,500, French ham and cheese ₩5,000, ham special ₩5,100, scrambled ham and cheese ₩5,200 and bacon best ₩5,500. It suits a light breakfast or something to take away instead of a bowl of soup. Kakao Map and Naver agree on the weekday 07:00 opening.

A branch of the Jeonju-style bean-sprout soup chain at 1F, 19-1 Saemunan-ro 9-gil, 137m from Gwanghwamun Station Exit 7 per Kakao Map. It opens at 07:00 on weekdays but at 10:00 on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays, so it does not work for a weekend breakfast. Nambu Market-style kongnamul gukbap is ₩10,000, spicy pork gukbap ₩12,000, and a poached egg is ₩1,000 extra. Naver lists separate men's and women's toilets, Wi-Fi and takeaway.

A small bean-sprout soup and soft-tofu stew shop at 1F, 3 Jahamun-ro, 8m from Gyeongbokgung Station Exit 2 per Kakao Map. It opens at 06:00, well before the palace opens at 09:00. Per the Kakao Map menu, kongnamul gukbap is ₩7,000, the seafood version ₩8,000 and the soft-tofu stews ₩7,500. Kakao Map lists it as "전주콩나물국밥", but the sign and the Korea Tourism Organization (VisitKorea) listing say "전주콩나물해장국", so look for that name at the door. It is not the shop of the same name in the Le Meilleur building at 19 Jong-ro.

A Naju-style gomtang restaurant at 1F, 8 Jahamun-ro 2-gil, 75m from Gyeongbokgung Station Exit 3-1 per Kakao Map. It opens at 09:00 (sources agree), so it works if you plan to start the palace a little later. Naju gomtang, a clear beef soup, is ₩11,000, the large ₩13,000, dumpling gomtang ₩11,000 and Naju galbitang ₩15,000 (Kakao Map and Naver agree). There is a toilet inside (Kakao Map).

An American-style pancake and omelette restaurant on B1 of the KT Gwanghwamun Building West, 55m from Gwanghwamun Station Exit 2 per Kakao Map. It opens at 09:00 on weekdays and 08:00 on Saturday and Sunday (Kakao Map and Naver). Eggs Benedict is ₩23,000, buttermilk pancakes ₩14,000 (Naver; Kakao Map says ₩13,000) and the Italian omelette ₩25,000 (Naver and an October 2026 blog; Kakao Map says ₩24,000). Naver lists it as the "Diner Gwanghwamun" branch (Gwanghwamun No. 2); a separate Sejong Center branch (No. 1) across the road opens at the same times.