Reserve

Reserve a table in Seoul

The short version

Reservation pass

No Korean phone number needed

CATCHTABLE Global · Google or Apple sign-in

CardsForeign OK
Refund3-5 days
WaitlistFree
Deposit Deducted from your bill Varies by restaurant
Languages English · Japanese · Chinese Simplified + Traditional

Step by step

1 Get CATCHTABLE (global version)

Search "CATCHTABLE" in the App Store or Play Store, or use catchtable.net in a browser. The global version is a separate app from the Korean one, in English, Japanese and Chinese.

2 Sign in with Google or Apple

No Korean phone number needed - the global version exists exactly so visitors can sign up with a Google or Apple account before or after landing.

3 Find the restaurant, pick a slot

Search by name (the Latin spelling we list on each eats page works), pick a date, time and party size. Popular fine-dining slots open weeks ahead and go fast - Mingles-tier tables are booked 2+ weeks out.

4 Pay the deposit if asked

Many reservation-only restaurants take a deposit to stop no-shows. On the global app it is paid with a foreign-issued credit card, and it is deducted from your final bill when you show up.

5 Cancel properly if plans change

Cancel inside the restaurant’s stated window and eligible deposits are refunded in 3 to 5 business days. Silent no-shows forfeit the deposit - the whole system exists because of them.

6 No slots? Join the waitlist instead

Waitlists (remote or at the door) are separate from reservations and take no deposit. Some famous spots are waitlist-only: London Bagel Museum opens its CatchTable waiting at 7:30 in the morning.

Where you’ll need it

40 places in our eats guide require a booking, and 161 more strongly advise one. The hardest tables first:

Mingles Modern Korean · Cheongdam ★★★ Mosu Modern Korean · Itaewon (Hangangjin) ★★ La Yeon Korean · Jung-gu ★★ Jungsik Modern Korean · Cheongdam (Dosan Park) ★★ Kwonsooksoo Korean · Apgujeong (Rodeo) ★★ Soigné Innovative · Sinsa ★★ Alla Prima Innovative · Nonhyeon ★★ Sosuheon Sushi · Jung-gu ★★ All 284 places to eat

Keep planning

Michelin Seoul, the full list Where to stay, by neighborhood

Sources: Catchtable Global (VisitKorea feature, app-store listings). Restaurant policies vary - the app shows each restaurant’s own deposit and cancellation terms. Last updated July 2026.

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