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Business Dinner in Seoul — Private Rooms and Korean Dining Etiquette

For a business dinner in Seoul, the single most useful step is to book a private room in advance. SEOLYA GALBI Cheongdam has three private rooms — one for four and two for six — bookable online for 2–6 guests, with groups of seven or more booking by phone on +82-2-6941-1179. A dedicated server grills every cut at the table, so neither host nor guest has to cook, and the conversation never has to stop.

Book the room first

For an important dinner, a private room helps: the door closes, nothing carries in from the next table, and the host can speak freely. At SEOLYA GALBI Cheongdam there are three — one four-seat room and two six-seat rooms.

  • No room charge when the four-seat room is used by three or four, or a six-seat room by four to six.
  • Two or three guests in a room pay a ₩40,000 room charge, waived once the bill passes ₩400,000 (four-seat room) or ₩500,000 (six-seat rooms).
  • Online bookings take 2–6 guests. For seven or more, or to take a room outright, call +82-2-6941-1179.
  • Friday and Saturday dinners are best booked 2–3 weeks ahead.

Photos and details of each room are on the private dining page.

Korean dining customs worth knowing

None of these are strict rules, and Korean hosts are generally relaxed with international guests. But knowing them reads as respect, and they explain what you will see around the table.

  • Seating and serving — the most senior person or the guest of honour is usually seated and served first, and others tend to wait for them to start eating.
  • Pouring — it is customary to pour for others rather than for yourself, and to pour or receive a drink with two hands (or one hand supporting the other wrist) when the other person is senior.
  • Drinking — when drinking with someone senior, it is common to turn slightly to the side as you take the glass to your lips.
  • The bill — the host usually pays for the whole table; splitting the bill at a hosted business dinner is uncommon.
  • The grill — at a premium Korean BBQ restaurant the staff do the grilling. At SEOLYA GALBI a dedicated server grills every cut from start to finish, so you never need to reach for the tongs.

Practical checklist

  • Hours: currently dinner only, 17:30–22:00, last order 21:00.
  • Wine for the table: the first bottle is corkage-free, then ₩30,000 per bottle; whisky is ₩50,000 per bottle.
  • Arriving by car: valet parking is available — street parking on Seolleung-ro 152-gil is difficult.
  • Arriving by taxi: the shop info page has the address in Korean to show the driver. By subway it is 414m (about 6 minutes) from Exit 4 of Apgujeong Rodeo Station.
  • Not sure how much to order? The ordering guide has example orders for two and four with totals.

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Last verified: 2026-10-05