Where to eat street food in Seoul? — 9+ famous, must eat places & best food market in Seoul

December 7, 2022

South Korean cuisine has become more and more refined, gaining international recognition from travelers. For those who have never been to the land of Kimchi and only tried Korean food in their hometown, one question arises. Do authentic Korean dishes taste the same, or they are even better as the rumors say? If you have a chance to travel to Seoul, try visiting one of the following places for the answer.

Gwangjang Market, the street food paradise of Seoul. | best food market in seoul

Myeongdong night market, — Myeongdong night market | best food market in seoul

So, where to eat street food in Seoul and where to eat korean street food in Seoul? Let’s check out our suggested 8 best food market in Seoul, famous food market in Seoul (Seoul street food market, traditional food market Seoul), must eat places in Seoul to find Seoul cheap eats as follows!

namdaemun market seoul — Namdaemun Market Seoul

Gwangjang Market (#best food market in seoul)

Korean street food gwangjang market — | best food market in seoul

It would be a shame if you missed trying the amazing food at Gwangjang Market during your trip to Seoul. This is the first settled market in South Korea selling local goods, including silk, satin, and bedding. The market has continued to attract both locals and tourists because this is one of the ideal places for foodies to try all Korean street foods.

Gwangjang market,best street food area in seoul,where to eat korean street food in seoul,where to eat street food in seoul (4) — Odeng (fish cake) and tteokbokki (rice rolls) | best food market in seoul

Gwangjang traditional food market seoul — Gwangjang traditional food market in Seoul | best food market in seoul

There are numerous eateries in the market, most of which offer bindaetteok (green bean cakes), bibimbap, gimbap, sundae, tteokbokki, and noodles. Among the typical treats, mayak kimbap, literally meaning narcotic rice roll, is the most favored one just as its name suggests. The seaweed rice rolls contain various ingredients, including carrot, pickled radish, and sesame-oiled rice, landing at the top must-try dishes for the tourists here. Let’s go to Gwangjang and experience this wonderful food paradise!

Mayak gimbap | best food market in seoul

Seoul Bamdokkaebi Night Market (#where to eat street food in seoul)

One important thing to note about this market is it’s open in the evening only, which means you can’t find the stores during the day. For locals, Dokkaebi Market is no longer an unfamiliar name. Taking place on Friday and Saturday nights from March until October at Yeouido Hangang Park and Banpo Hangang Park along the Han River, this is a great destination to shop for unique handicrafts made by local artists or enjoy music concerts.

Seoul-Bamdokkaebi-Night-Market south korea (1) — | famous food market in seoul

With over 50 food trucks catering to different flavors, from Korean tacos and beefsteaks to lobster rolls and Cuban sandwiches, you will definitely find something that meets your taste. Remember to get here early because there will be a huge crowd.

Bamdokkaebi Night Market, Korea | famous food market in seoul

Myeongdong Street Food Alley (#seoul street food market)

Myeongdong is not only a promised land for shoppers in Seoul but also a heaven for street food lovers who want to try exotic and innovative dishes of the beautiful country of South Korea. This place attracts thousands of people coming to explore the maze of alleys for shopping, eating, and experiencing! Myeongdong not only offers clothing and cosmetics but also a lot of food. You will find lots of tourists lining up around a food cart for sweet treats.

Bbopkki (Sugar Lollipop),myeongdong food blog,myeongdong food guide,myeongdong must eat,what to eat in myeongdong (1) — Bbopkki stall | famous food market in seoul

Coming here, you don’t try to remember all the names of the foods, just keep in mind how good they taste. And for those who haven’t tasted them, you can always visit Myeongdong in the afternoon, walking along the alleys and choosing any street foods you want to try. Besides the typical ones, travelers may enjoy grilled lobsters, deep-fried milk, grilled cheese sticks, tteok galbi meatballs, strawberry mochi, pomegranate juice along many others. Remember to bring with you some cash because credit cards are not accepted at these shops.

tteokbokki-korean-street-food,myeongdong food blog,myeongdong food guide,myeongdong must eat,what to eat in myeongdong (1) — Tteokbokki stall | famous food market in seoul

Pomegranate Juice,myeongdong food blog,myeongdong food guide,myeongdong must eat,what to eat in myeongdong (1) — Pomegranate Juice at Myeongdong | famous food market in seoul

Common Ground (#where to eat korean street food in seoul)

You may have heard of the first pop-up store in South Korea which was made of intermodal containers. This fashionable Common Ground shopping place became a popular phenomenon for South Korean youth in 2015. It is built from 200 blue shipping containers, giving an energetic and lively touch to Seoul where you can take as many great photos as you’d like. Common Ground is always busy since it is located near Konkuk University.

common ground-best concept mall in seoul-korea2 — | seoul street food market

shopping area-common ground-best concept mall in seoul-korea7 — | seoul street food market

Here, you may not only take photos, shop, and enjoy good food, but also find a source of new distinctive inspiration. Besides shopping, souvenir, and photo areas, the rooftop zone is home to various eateries. You can easily make your choice with four food trucks, namely Bold (bread and meat), Space Bar (seasonal desserts and alcoholic drinks), The Coast (ordinary seafood), and Kimchi Bus. Other bakeries and cafes here are rather small, but give off a cozy and comfortable vibe. Especially, the foods and drinks here are decent and worth a try. Another selling point is if you travel here during the weekend, you can enjoy small music concerts while having great food and shopping for your favorite items. Such an incredible experience, right?

Sunset afternoon -common ground-best concept mall in seoul-korea3 — | famous food market in seoul

food paradise-common ground-best concept mall in seoul-korea3 — | seoul street food market

Tongin Market (#famous food market in seoul)

To the West of Gyeongbokgung Palace, you will find Tongin Market. Tongin Market appeared in Seoul as early as 1941, which was then a local marketplace for the Japanese community living in the Hyoja-dong area during the Japanese occupation. The market’s most famous food was the Doshirak meal set with coffee, a unique and affordable meal for everyone. Its popularity has been revived thanks to such a combination. After the war, the population increased exponentially in South Korea, leading to greater demands for daily essentials and commercial goods. The condition has allowed Tongin Market to grow constantly until reaching the number of 75 stores today.

Most merchant stores provide food and ingredients. Despite its ordinary look, this market is one of the best places to try the famous Korean tteokbokki as well as pyjama (savory pancake), mandu, and a variety of kimchi. Another special thing about Tongin Market is that visitors can use old Korean coins here. For trading convenience, everyone is requested to make purchases using these coins. You can exchange the won bills for these coins at the exchange counters located at the entrance to the market, or at the center of the second floor. To encourage money exchange, you will receive a free plastic tray to select as much food as you’d like for convenience. Using ancient coins not only supports the traditional shopping style but also renews travelers’ experience when coming to Tongin Market.

Sindang-dong Tteokbokki Town (#seoul street food market)

As one of the most well-known dishes in South Korea, tteokbokki has a longer history than most people expect. Although it is a popular light snack today, tteokbokki can be traced back to the palace cuisine of the Korean royal family. The dish has been present along with the historical development of South Korea. Sindang-dong Tteokbokki Town began its business in the late 70s and gained popularity during the 80s. Tteokbokki became the favorite treat for local Koreans who sought stress relief by chewing on their comfort food.

There must be no other better place to try this specialty than Sindang-dong Tteokbokki Town. First, tteokbokki was simply made of gochu jang (Korean chili paste), but over time, the chefs decided that this couldn’t only be a light snack. By adding more ingredients including eggs, ramen, fish cake, as well as squid, shrimp, and cheese, tteokbokki become more and more savory as a full meal.

Dongdaemun Night Market

dongdaemun-market night market seoul (1) — | where to eat street food in seoul

Dongdaemun is the largest retail shopping area in South Korea, with 26 shopping centers, 30,000 specialty stores, and 50,000 manufacturers. As home to art galleries, parks, plazas, and fashion markets, it is famous for welcoming international travelers all year round for shopping and food. Visiting Dongdaemun, you may spend at least one to two hours. But in case you want to have a more in-depth interesting experience, you can spend up to an entire day.

Dongdaemun is one of the few places in the world where you can shop until 3 a.m. Of course, there are a lot of night snacks available for your hungry stomach. To enjoy the best food, pay a visit to Gwanghui Market and Jeil Pyeonghwa Market. There are traditional eateries offering typical Korean dishes such as mandu (dumpling) and sundae, as well as fusion food such as sandwiches and corndogs. This place is a perfect blend of fashion, cuisine, taste, and atmosphere.

If you want to experience the energetic life and explore the world-class fashion of South Korea, at the same time admire the beauty of Dongdaemun, let’s select the right time to visit it during your trip.

Namdaemun Market (#where to eat korean street food in seoul)

Famous for products such as branded clothing, cosmetics, electronics, ginseng, fungus, or handicraft souvenir, people not only think of shopping malls but also of the traditional markets when shopping in South Korea. Namdaemun is the largest and oldest conventional Korean Market in Seoul, having operated since the 1400s. It is a marketplace for affordable goods, as well as fresh local fruits and vegetables.

| where to eat korean street food in seoul

The best thing about this market is that the stores offer wholesale prices where you can find all kinds of clothes and foods at a reasonable cost. Moreover, food suppliers at Namdaemun also provide you with the opportunity to try local light snacks during your shopping time. For the best eating experience, let’s visit Food Alley where there is typical Korean food including dakkochi (chicken skewer), sundae (blood sausage), and jokbal (pig’s trotters). They all meet your expectations and even more!

namdaemun market south korea seoul (1) — | where to eat korean street food in seoul

This market is open all day long with thousands of shops, big crowds of visitors, and amazing food zones. You can totally enjoy the shopping atmosphere and look for the items you need, and try the food you like any time with nearly 1,700 distinguished products for your selection.

Above are the best places for street foods in Seoul that we highly recommend. You must be overwhelmed by the number of fascinating choices, right? Save this list and eventually try them all!

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