Cover These Korean celebrities who own restaurants aren’t resting just on their showbiz skills. (Photo: IMDB)
These Korean celebrities who own restaurants aren’t resting just on their showbiz skills. (Photo: IMDB)
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Whether it’s a family-run café or a full-fledged restaurant chain, these Korean celebrities who own restaurants prove that good taste goes beyond the stage
If you’ve ever watched a K-drama and thought, “Wow, I want to eat whatever they’re having,” you’re not alone. Korea’s food culture is strong, and its celebrities know it. While some stars invest in skincare lines or fashion brands, others go straight for the stomach. From cosy barbecue joints to hip cafés with espresso and ego in equal measure, these K-drama and K-pop celebrities are turning their star power into culinary real estate. The best part? These places are real, open to the public and might even come with a side of autograph. Celebrities who own restaurants definitely know how to get people through the door.
Here are the most buzzworthy star-owned cafés and restaurants you’ll want to add to your next Seoul itinerary.
1. Suzy – Caffé Soo
Before she was Korea’s “Nation’s First Love”, Bae Suzy was just a girl from Gwangju. In 2013, she bought a cafe for her mom to run. The charming eatery is called Caffé Soo, and fans love stopping by not just for the drinks but for the mini-museum of Suzy memorabilia. While she doesn’t run it herself, she’s been known to pop in, and the café reflects her warm, wholesome vibe with cosy interiors and a loyal local following.
2. Jin (BTS) – Ossu Seiromushi
BTS’ Kim Seokjin co-owns this upscale Japanese restaurant, specialising in seiro-mushi, a traditional steamed dish served in wooden boxes, with his brother. The BTS member reportedly helped shape the concept himself. And during the pandemic and his military training, fans continued to visit, drawn by the delicately plated wagyu, minimalist interiors and the chance to support his venture.
3. Leeteuk (Super Junior) – Meat-ing
Leeteuk is a man of many talents: singer, host and yes, meat ambassador, making him another one of those celebrities who own restaurants. Meat-ing, his chain of Korean BBQ spots, which you can find all over Seoul, serves quality cuts in a casual, buffet-style setting. It’s the kind of place where you can overeat and not feel judged—just the way Leeteuk would want it. Fans love the chance to eat like an idol without the price tag of a Michelin-starred restaurant.
4. Yesung (Super Junior) – Mouse Rabbit Café
Looks like Super Junior loves producing celebrities who own restaurants. The group’s resident crooner owns Mouse Rabbit, a multi-story café with sleek decor, strong coffee and walls lined with fandom flair in Seongdong-gu. Co-owned with his brother, it’s part hipster coffeehouse, part celebrity shrine. Yesung himself has been spotted manning the counter and occasionally giving surprise acoustic sets. Come for the latte art, stay for the K-pop vibes.
5. ZM-ILLENNIAL – Jimin (BTS)
Becoming celebrities who own restaurants feels like a natural next step for many pop stars. Formerly known as Magnate, this Busan café owned by Park Jimin’s dad is a pilgrimage site for ARMYs. With chic industrial interiors, buttery pastries and BTS memorabilia, it’s a stylish hangout with K-pop lineage. It was rebranded in 2024 but still serves the same charm, just under a new name.
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