Restaurant Scams in Seoul, South Korea
Inflated bills, hidden charges, tourist menus, and food service tricks. Below are the restaurant scams scams reported in Seoul — how they work and how to avoid them.
For broader context, compare this scam type with nearby destinations like Kyoto, Beijing, and Taipei.
Last updated: April 2, 2026
2
Restaurant Scams Scams
11
Total in Seoul
How it works
Bars in Itaewon's tourist district charge tourist-inflated prices for drinks and sometimes add items to the bill not ordered. Some female-staffed bars use the hostess model: friendly attention from staff leads to an enormous bill.
How it works
Restaurants near major palaces and Insadong display English menus with inflated prices. Some charge double the local rate for identical dishes available cheaply one street over.
See all scams in Seoul
11 total warnings across all categories