The simple bliss of gastronomic bliss and the abundance of time spent around the table makes us willing to open our wallets to eat out. However, at the end of the month, we start to worry about our pocketbooks. Traditional markets are a fresh and satisfying option. Here are seven traditional markets in Seoul that specialize in food.
1. Gwangjang Market
As Seoul’s largest market and Korea’s first traditional market, Gwangjang Market is located close to Gyeongbokgung Palace, Jongmyo, Changgyeonggung Palace, and Changdeokgung Palace. The market is also known for its variety of food, and here are some of the most famous.
Drug Gimbap
It’s a small kimbap with just a row or two of beets, carrots, and leeks, and the mustard paste that comes with it adds a lot of flavor. The flavor is addictive and the price is reasonable at around 3,000 won.
Bindaetteok
The savory smelling bindaetteok can be found all over the market. They have a crispy texture and are fried in oil, but surprisingly you don’t feel it. They cost around 5,000 won per piece.
Sundae
There are several Sundae restaurants, but the most famous one doesn’t even have a sign. It’s called “4 o’clock grandma’s sundae” because they show up at 3:50pm and start selling sundae and disappear as soon as they sell out. The price is around 6,000 won per serving, and the texture is thicker and chewier than regular sundae because it contains a lot of glutinous rice. It’s not as easy to find a sundae grandmother as you might think, but they often appear around Daehan Sanghoe and Samwususan.
Yukhoe
Yukhoe is a specialty of Gwangjang Market. Jinju Yukhoe, Buchon Yukhoe, and Sister House make up Yukhoe Alley, where you can expect more than basic flavors and similar prices.
2. Tongin Market
Seochon’s Tongin Market is famous for its postcard lunch boxes. One postcard costs 500 won and can be purchased at the bento cafe in the customer service center. When you buy a postcard, you get an empty bento box, and you can fill it with the food you want to eat at a place marked with the bento cafe’s merchant sign and pay with the postcard. It has become a representative content of Tongin Market as it is fun to taste various foods little by little.
3. Dongdaemun Market
Dongdaemun Market, a combination traditional market and shopping mall, was designated as a tourist special zone in 2002. It is the largest clothing market in Korea, with over 30,000 stores. Each area specializes in different products, allowing you to shop effectively. The Dongdaemun General Market specializes in fabrics, materials, and accessories, while apparel is sold at Dot, DDP Fashion Mall, Bellpost, Pyeonghwa Market, and Shinpyeong Fashion Town for sportswear. Many restaurants stay open late due to the nighttime wholesale business, so it’s worth checking out.
4. Noryangjin Fish Market
At Noryangjin Fish Market, you can find seasonal fish, dried fish, pickles, and other seafood products. You can buy cheap and fresh fish at auction, wholesale, and retail. The prices vary from store to store, so it’s best to check the prices on the official website beforehand.
5. Defense Market
The defense market specializes in printing and packaging. With a wide range of packaging containers in all price ranges and designs, and the ability to customize them, it’s a great place to stop by if you’re thinking about starting a cafe. Hobby bakers will love the small selection of cake and cookie molds and beautiful parchment paper. You can find ingredients like chocolate, shaved ice, food coloring, butter, and more, as well as commercial ovens and other bakery products.
6. Namdaemun Market
Namdaemun Market sells a wide variety of items, including clothing, kitchen appliances, electronics, and disposable goods, but it’s especially famous for its cameras and glasses. It’s still a popular place to find the right camera or have it repaired, and you’ll find a wide selection of eyeglass frames, as most of them originate here.
7. Mazang-dong Livestock Market
Mazangdong Chuksan Market specializes in meat, and is known for its fresh, high-quality Korean beef from all over the country. You can see the line of the meat in person, which is reassuring, and you can also buy specialty cuts by the gram like a regular butcher shop. The shop is especially crowded around the holidays, with a wide variety of gift-wrapped products. This specialized market sells not only beef, but also imported beef, pork, and other meats, accounting for 60 to 70 percent of Korea’s meat.