I truly believe that the food creates a powerful connection between people and a country's culture. Food has stories and tradition passed down from generation to generation. Whenever I go to a new country, I usually stick to the local cuisine rather than being coaxed by foreign influences. I’ve been living in South Korea for 6 months now, feasting on street food and traditional places thanks to my local friends. I don’t think I could ever get tired of Bibimbap or Bulgogi at this point. Rice has become a new staple in my diet and Kimchi with every meal is my new normal. After another yet exquisite adventure with my friend to Seoul, I have experienced Korean food in a new way.
Think about documentaries that you have seen about those chaotic markets in Asia. Everything is so tightly packed, steaming pots, vendors yelling at you to buy their product. So many fresh fruits, vegetables, and fish heads with the eyeballs out on full display. This is exactly what you will experience at the famous Gwangjang Market in Seoul. It’s definitely a must-see place whether you’re living in Korea temporarily or just visiting. Even though Seoul is a pretty advanced and modern city, you still feel as if you were taken back in time. Before Korea became one of the most technologically advanced countries in the world. If you’re looking for a place to be overwhelmed by culture and super traditional street food, then look no further.
Gwangjang Market is the oldest market in South Korea, operating since 1905. It’s not as well-known as the other massive markets around Seoul, but it still attracts thousands of visitors daily. I went on Buddha’s birthday which is a huge public holiday here in Korea. It was the absolute perfect day to go, sun shining, temps in the upper 70’s. It gave me a glimpse at how wonderful the summer will be to enjoy outdoor things like this. To get to the market, take the subway to Jongno-5 station on the purple line, exit out of either 8 or 9. Before you go to the market, I would definitely stop at an ATM and take out around 20,000 KRW. Well that depends on how hungry you are, but you are looking at around 2,000-6,000 per plate. I didn’t go to every single stall, because there’s too many. I also figured out that a lot of the vendors were selling the same dish, but just had their own twist on it. My friend and I ended up only picking 3 stalls out of the dozens that were available. The coolest part about this market was the fact that some of it was featured on Netflix. Don’t worry about trying to find the stalls that were in that documentary. They all have promotion posters so you’ll know which one is which.
Freshly Squeezed Juices:
This is the first stall I went to. As you enter the market, you will see this guy’s stand on the first right you take. He is literally in the center of all the foot traffic in the market. His specialty is making fresh juices, ades, and smoothies. With single flavors like banana and strawberry, to mixed flavors such as kiwi and pineapple. My friend got the banana juice (it sounds nasty, but it was actually really good), I chose the watermelon and kiwi ade. I’m not even kidding when I say this was the best juice I’d had in my life. They make it right in front of you, there is absolutely no sugar or anything added to it. They simply take a selection of fresh fruits, blending or pressing it, put it in the cup, and voila! The drink was so beyond refreshing and very cheap too, prices ranging between 2,000-4,000 KRW.
Yoonsun Cho:
This is one of the stalls that was featured on the Netflix documentary. Her story was so fascinating that I knew I couldn’t miss the opportunity to sample her food. The menu is very simple with a variety of noodle soups and Mandu (Korean dumplings). She cuts and fills everything by hand right in front of you. There is also a variety of traditional sides such as Kimchi and radishes served alongside your meal. My friend and I ordered one plate of the meat filled Mandu and a bowl of soup. The Mandu was paired with a soy dipping sauce that was out of this world. The soup had a fish based broth, garnished with seaweed, and the noodles were unbelievably soft. Her prices were very reasonable, ranging from 2,000-6,000 KRW. You absolutely cannot miss this carb paradise.
Hotteok:
This was the last stall I went to mostly because I was so full from the previous one. If you walk straight down to the very end from Yoonsun Cho’s stall, you will find this one sort of on the outside of the market. This is a small Hotteok (Korean pancake) stand. The pancakes are fried right in front of you with 3 flavor options; honey filled, cheese filled, and one topped with ice cream. The guy was out of ice cream when I got there so I settled for honey, but it didn’t disappoint. There are so many sweet treats around the market, such as fresh fruits. I know after carb loading and eating fried fish pancakes can be harsh on the stomach. Personally, I think the stall is worth it for the more traditional route.
This market is truly one of the best places I’ve been to so far in my travels. I enjoy it for its authenticity, despite the fact that it’s surrounded by skyscrapers. If you’re craving tradition and something hearty, Gwangjang cannot be missed.
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