Bored & Hungry Seongsu — The World's 1st NFT Restaurant, Now in Seoul's Hippest Neighborhood

An NFT became a real restaurant, Bored & Hungry Seongsu. In the heart of Seongsu-dong, Seoul’s answer to Brooklyn, a graffiti-covered building houses one of the most unique dining experiences in the city. This is Bored & Hungry — the world’s first NFT-themed burger restaurant — and I went to check it out.

Table of Contents

The Origin Story

It all started with a single NFT purchase. In March 2022, American restaurateur Andy Nguyen — co-founder of Afters Ice Cream and several other food concepts — bought Bored Ape Yacht Club #6184 for approximately $267,000. BAYC grants its holders full commercial rights to use their ape’s image, and Nguyen saw an opportunity no one else had seized: building a real restaurant brand around an NFT’s intellectual property.

On April 9, 2022, Bored & Hungry opened as a 90-day pop-up in Long Beach, California. The response was immediate — roughly 1,500 people lined up on opening day. Partnering with rapper Bun B’s Trill Burgers, the concept served American-style smash burgers and even accepted cryptocurrency payments (Ethereum and ApeCoin), bridging Web3 culture with real-world dining.

The original Long Beach location closed on April 8, 2024, but by then the brand had already expanded internationally through franchise partner Hungry DAO. Today, Bored & Hungry operates locations in Manila (Philippines) and Seoul, South Korea — with the Seongsu flagship becoming a must-visit destination for both foodies and Web3 enthusiasts.

Visiting the Seongsu Location

Getting There

The restaurant is about an 11-minute walk from Seongsu Station Exit 3 (Subway Line 2). You’ll spot it from a distance — the entire building is wrapped in bold, colorful BAYC-style graffiti murals. A bright yellow door marks the entrance.

Address: 17-1 Seongsui-ro 12-gil, Seongdong-gu, Seoul (서울 성동구 성수이로12길 17-1, 1층)

Parking: Seongsu High-End Tower parking lot nearby (₩3,000 for first 60 min / ₩3,000 per additional 60 min / max ₩15,000)

Hours

Open daily from 11:00 AM to 8:50 PM. On weekdays, there’s a break time from approximately 3:40–5:00 PM (no break on weekends). Last order is at 8:10 PM for dinner, 3:10 PM for lunch. Reservations are available via Catch Table — highly recommended, as waits can get long, especially on weekends.

The Vibe

Walking in feels like stepping into an American diner — but with a heavy dose of NFT culture.

The interior is decked out in bold yellow tones with Bored Ape and Mutant Ape characters hidden throughout. A digital-style menu board, ape murals, retro neon signs, and a fully committed BAYC aesthetic make it one of the most Instagram-worthy restaurants in Seongsu. The restaurant is also pet-friendly and offers takeout.

The Menu – Bored & Hungry Seongsu

Interior of Bored & Hungry Seongsu showing a crowded dining room with yellow chairs, checkered floors, and a large colorful BAYC mural covering the back wall. Text section below explains the restaurant's origin — founded by Andy Nguyen who purchased Bored Ape #6184 for $267K. — Bored & Hungry Seongsu

Bored & Hungry’s core identity is the smash burger — beef patties pressed thin on a hot griddle for crispy, caramelized edges and juicy centers.

Signature Items in Bored & Hungry Seongsu

OG Champion Burger (₩11,900) — The flagship. A crispy grilled beef patty with cheese, caramelized onions, and the house signature sauce. This burger was voted “America’s Best Burger” on ABC’s Good Morning America in 2022.

Big Shrimp OG (₩11,900) — A thick, generously stuffed shrimp patty with onions, lettuce, cheese, and toppings. The most praised item in local reviews — the texture of the shrimp is bouncy and satisfying, with a slightly spicy sauce that keeps it from being heavy.

Mutant Shrimp Burger — An upgraded version of the Big Shrimp OG with an even more impressive size and presentation.

Close-up of two smash burgers and seasoned fries on a metal tray with Bored & Hungry branded packaging. Menu items listed below: OG Champion Burger (₩11,900), Big Shrimp OG (₩11,900), Original Recipe Fries (₩5,900), Corn Rib (₩5,900), and Chilliz Mutant Cheesestick. — Bored & Hungry Seongsu

Sides & Extras

Corn Rib (₩5,900) — Sweet and savory corn ribs. A must-order side. Butter Garlic Fries — Seasoned fries drenched in butter garlic sauce. Pairs perfectly with beer. Hot Wings (6pc) — Spicy-glazed wings for those who want some heat.

Prices are on the higher end for Korean fast food but fair for a quality smash burger experience. Combo sets (burger + side + drink) offer better value.

What Makes It Special

Two side-by-side photos: left shows the BAYC wall art with vintage-style posters and a large Bored Ape illustration; right shows close-up wall details with original Bored Ape #6184 painting. Text describes the ape-covered walls, retro diner aesthetic, merch corner, and photo spots. — Bored & Hungry Seongsu

Overhead close-up of a smash burger with melted cheese, lettuce, red onion, and tomato in Bored & Hungry branded packaging. Text overlay reads "Every Detail is Ape-Branded." — Bored & Hungry Seongsu

1. A Living Case Study in NFT Business This isn’t just ape artwork slapped on a wall. Bored & Hungry represents one of the most successful examples of NFT intellectual property being used to build a real-world consumer brand — from packaging and interior design to merchandise, everything ties back to BAYC #6184’s commercial IP rights.

2. The Food Actually Delivers Hype aside, the burgers hold up. Bored & Hungry carries a 4.7 out of 5.0 rating on Diningcode (a major Korean restaurant review platform) and consistently ranks among the top burger spots in Seongsu-dong.

3. A Top-Tier Photo Spot The exterior graffiti, interior murals, yellow-toned decor, and playful ape characters throughout make it a content creator’s playground. Even if you’re not into NFTs, the visual experience alone is worth the visit.

Tips for Your Visit

Reserve ahead. Weekend lunch and dinner slots fill up fast. Use the Catch Table app to book in advance.

Try the takeout hack. If the wait is too long, takeout orders skip the line entirely. Grab your burgers to-go and enjoy them at the nearby Han River or Seoul Forest — a perfect Seoul date combo.

Watch the break time. On weekdays, the kitchen closes around 3:40 PM and reopens at 5:00 PM, so plan accordingly.

Nitrile gloves provided. These are messy burgers. The restaurant has disposable gloves available so you can dive in without worrying about cleanup.

Final Thoughts

Interior photo of Bored & Hungry showing diners at yellow tables with BAYC murals in the background. Call-to-action text reads "Follow for more Seoul food spots" with @reputis.mag handle highlighted. — Bored & Hungry Seongsu

In a post-hype NFT landscape where most projects have faded into irrelevance, Bored & Hungry stands as one of the rare examples that survived — and thrived — by delivering real-world value. The Seongsu location perfectly captures the neighborhood’s creative, trend-forward energy, and the smash burgers give you an actual reason to come back beyond the aesthetics.

Whether you’re a Web3 enthusiast, a burger lover, or just someone exploring Seongsu’s ever-evolving scene, this one belongs on your list.

📍 Bored & Hungry Seongsu 17-1 Seongsui-ro 12-gil, Seongdong-gu, Seoul Open Daily 11:00 AM – 8:50 PM | Last Order 8:10 PM 📞 0507-1373-8638 📲 @borednhungry_kr

Bored & Hungry Seongsu — The World’s 1st NFT Restaurant, Now in Seoul’s Hippest Neighborhood

The Origin Story