Gwangjang Food Market: Must-Know Tips

Was as tasty as it looks: Different food options at Gwangjang Market.

Address: 88, Changgyeonggung-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul (서울특별시 종로구 창경궁로 88)

To all food lovers, street food enthusiasts and those curious about Korean cuisine: Listen up, we’re talking about must known tips for this famous tourist destination: the Gwangjang Market.

Adventure for Your Taste Buds

This food lover’s paradise is a bustling marketplace that offers an enormous range of traditional Korean dishes, snacks, and culinary delights. Bring your appetite and get ready for a culinary adventure. Please make sure to be respectful to the vendors, fellow market visitors, and the market itself by following local customs and general etiquette. :)

1. Come Here Early
   Gwangjang Food Market is so popular that it can get quite crowded here. And it definitely will be during peak hours and during the weekends. To have a better chance for lesser crowds and long waiting lines, I recommend you come here early in the morning or during off-peak times. I preferred to visit on for example Tuesdays in the morning.

2. Don’t Rely on Your Credit Card
   It’s right that more and more vendors tend to accept card payments. Still though, in my opinion it's smarter to bring some cash with you when visiting the market. Especially smaller stalls and sellers rely on cash. So if you’re having some with you, transactions will be more comfortable for everyone.

3. Enjoy the Diversity
   Gwangjang Market is a melting pot of aromas and flavors. I love that there’s such a big range of Korean dishes from different regions. To name some classics: From Tteokbokki (spicy, little rice cakes) to Kalguksu (handcut noodles; omg I love these so much<33) and Jokbal (one form of grilled meats) - there's something for everyone and every taste. I guarantee it!

4. Snack and Explore
   Thanks to the many street food options, you can just munch on the go while keep on exploring the market. So convenient! Some of the most well known snacks are: Kimchi Mandu (basically dumplings), Mayak Gimbap (the classic Gimbap but in mini version, so these rice rolls don’t fill you up that much) and for your sweet tooth Hotteok (kinda like a pancake but even better, I swear). If I’d have to pick one of these options as the ultimate must try… I couldn’t. :’D You need to try all of these! You won’t regret it.

5. Ask for Recommendations
   And if you want to take a seat for your next meal, then just choose one of the many food stalls. All of them are quite unique, because they tend to specialize in only a very few dishes each. It’s really worth it to take a step into the unknown and try something you don’t know yet. I loved to ask for their recommendations or basically their signature dish. That brought the best Manduguk (dumpling soup) to me and thanks to Gwangjang Market Mul Naengmyeon (cold noodle soup) became one of my all-time favorite Korean dishes.

6. Dress Comfy and Casual
   With all the food stalls, cooking spaces and of course people, the food market can get pretty hot and maybe even overwhelming. So please dress comfortably and probably don’t wear your most expensive pair of shoes. There can be some messy eating situations and that sauce might find its way to your shirt. ^^ Take your time and don’t rush, there’s always a quieter street alley to take a little break. :)

7. Most Importantly: Come With an Empty Stomach ^^
   I think it became clear already: Make sure to come hungry and be ready to try a wide range of different dishes and street foods. Trust me, there are so many tempting snack options to choose from, that you won’t stop until you had (nearly) all of them, haha. But: Please don’t overeat and get one snack after another so that you don’t end up throwing away food.

Those are the tips you can keep in mind for the food market. Don’t forget that the general Gwangjang Market consists of quieter alleys, as well. If you need to get away a little from the buzz, here you can find some nice specialty shops, small family-run businesses and much more. Keep on exploring here as well, it’s very worth it. :)