Places & Food

Eating Alone in Korea (Honbap): Solo Reservations at Higher-End Restaurants and How to Book

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AI-generated single place setting at a wooden counter, with grilled fish, vegetables, rice and the handwritten words a table for me.

AT A GLANCE

Term
Honbap: eating alone (from hon-ja, alone, and bap, rice or meal)
Reported figure
67.7% of solo reservations (Jan–Jul 2026) were at restaurants averaging ₩50,000+ per guest (Catchtable, via MoneyToday)
Where to check
Reservation apps such as Catchtable; each restaurant sets its own rules
Check first
Does it accept one guest, menu price, deposit and cancellation terms

Eating alone is called honbap in Korean, and a September 2026 report says many solo diners are booking tables at higher-priced restaurants. On September 14, 2026, MoneyToday reported on a solo-dining report from Catchtable, a restaurant reservation and waiting-list service: 67.7% of solo reservations in its Korean and global apps from January to July were at restaurants with an average spend of ₩50,000 or more per guest (MoneyToday, in Korean). This guide explains how to read that figure and how to book a table for one. Checked on 2026-10-12.

The hero image is AI-generated and is not a restaurant recommendation.

What the figure covers

I could verify the news report but not Catchtable’s original report. The numbers are reported app data, not a survey of everyone who eats alone in Korea. A restaurant’s average spend is also not proof of what each guest paid. It does suggest that a solo reservation can be a meal someone chooses to enjoy, including at a more expensive restaurant.

What else the report says

The Catch Table “2026 Honbap Trend Report,” as covered by Money Today, analyzes domestic and global app data for January to July 2026.

  • Growth: solo reservations rose 38.1% year over year and solo waitlist entries rose 48.5%. Searches for “honbap” rose 139.1% in January from a year earlier, the highest growth on record.
  • Price range: restaurants in the 50,000–100,000 won range have the biggest share, and restaurants above 100,000 won make up about 30%.
  • Areas: Cheongdam stays near the top, Hannam and Yeouido center on high-end types such as sushi omakase, fine dining and bars, and Seongsu doubled its solo-friendly venues from last January to this July.
  • Types: sushi omakase still has the largest share as of July, and buffets grew fastest at 216%. Japanese food, tonkatsu and noodles rose 73%, and Italian rose 46%.
  • Timing: demand is strong on Saturdays, and on Sundays more than half of solo reservations fall at lunchtime.
  • Age: in July, people in their 20s made 42.9% of solo reservations and those in their 30s made 34.9%. Growth in users was higher among people in their 50s (54%) than in their 20s (51%).

The report reads this as honbap spreading beyond a quick meal into gourmet spending on personal taste.

How to book a table for one

  • Look for solo-friendly options. A reservation service such as Catchtable lets you check available party sizes, but each restaurant sets its own options. Counter seats and set menus are common at places that welcome solo diners.
  • Confirm that one guest is accepted. Some set-course restaurants require two or more guests.
  • Check the menu price. Compare the course price with your budget, and see whether drinks and service charges are extra.
  • Read the deposit and cancellation terms. These depend on the restaurant.
  • Arrive on time. Courses are often served at a set pace.

The report’s spending categories are not a price guide, so check each restaurant’s own menu.

Honbap at any age

Eating alone is a habit many people have always enjoyed, and others may still find uncomfortable. It is not tied to one age group. Booking a good meal for yourself can be a plan on its own, without matching anyone else’s schedule.

Good for / not for

Good for

  • Solo travelers who want a proper sit-down meal
  • Anyone who prefers choosing food at their own pace

Not for

  • Anyone who needs fixed prices. Costs vary widely, and the report’s figures do not set prices.

FAQ

Is it normal to dine alone in Korea? Honbap is common, and the report suggests solo reservations at higher-priced restaurants are not rare. Practices still vary by restaurant.

Can I book a table for one? Often, but not always. Check the reservation page for party size.

Do I need to pay a deposit? It depends on the restaurant. Check before you book.

Sources

Checked on 2026-10-12. The figure comes from a news report of company data, not the original report.