When I first saw the neon lights of Seoul blurring past on a jet-lagged bus ride to my new teaching job, I knew this’d be a place I couldn’t wait to explore at night.
A few weeks after arriving in South Korea, I finally found time to escape my small-town coastal Korean living for a weekend in the big city. And, of course, my first evening was already planned in my head: It was time to start exploring Seoul’s exciting night markets.
What I discovered that first night in Seoul was a city coming alive after dark in a way I had yet to experience anywhere else. Venturing around Seoul at night helped me to ditch (my very wrong) idea that Korean cuisine was way too weird to enjoy.
Fast-forward from that first experience, and a few of the dishes I tasted here for the first time became some of my all-time favorites. (Anywhere!)
Here are a few exciting Seoul night markets I’d recommend checking out on your first trip to Korea’s capital, and which dishes I think are worth a try—even if you’re a picky eater!
Dongdaemun Night Market
Although it wasn’t the first one I visited, Dongdaemun Night Market would be one of my first recommendations for first-timers. One of the city’s most famous shopping areas, this popular local spot lives true to Seoul night market form, surging to life long after most of the city shutters for the day.
When I visited on my weekend jaunts to Seoul, I’ve found that most of the shops at Dongdaemun Night Market don’t start pumpin’ until after 10 pm. And, keeping with the city’s reputation for sleepless nights, I was able to shop and eat here until as late (or early?) as 5 am.
(Okay, I’ll be honest: I didn’t quite make it that late.)
Around Dongdaemun, you can find just about everything you’d ever need for your Korea trip itinerary—whether it’s clothing, fashion accessories, toys, or souvenirs.
The bulk of Dongdaemun Market is holed up around the multi-story buildings and tents near Dongdaemun History & Culture Park Station and the retail malls around Dongdaemun Station. And although I noticed on visits that the market caters to fashionistas and bargain-hunters, I’ve got another brilliant reason to spend your night hangin’ out here: street food.
Dongdaemun Night Market’s reputation for offering tasty Korean treats is well-known to Seoulites and visitors alike. In fact, it’s one of my favorite spots to visit when I can no longer handle my Korean food cravings.
(Even if I could only spend one day in Seoul, I’d make an effort to get out to this one.)
For the tastiest street food in the market, I’d suggest searching out Mukja Golmok (“Let’s Eat Alley”), a small alley off the food street of Jong-ro 40-gil. The area specializes in grilled fish and whole chicken soup. I also spotted other Korean favorites like hotteok (Korean rice flour pancakes) and tteokbokki (Korean rice rolls) around here.
Getting there: Both the Dongdaemun Station and the Dongdaemun History & Culture Park Station will put us in the vicinity of the Dongdaemun Night Market. Use exit #4 of the Dongdaemun History & Culture Park Station for the open market. For Mukja Golmok, I’d suggest popping out at exit #9 of Dongdaemun Station.
Namdaemun Night Market
Part of Seoul’s most famous 24-hour market (and the first one I explored), Namdaemun Night Market wheels and deals from late evening until the sun comes up. One of my favorite places to find a bargain when I’m visiting Seoul, this bustling night market will keep you on your toes, perfecting your haggling skills with Seoul’s most skilled vendors.
(Well, at least if you can find ones that speak English.)
Walking around Namdaemun Night Market on my weekend trips to Seoul, I’ve stumbled upon just about anything anyone would ever want, from household goods to clothing.
The real excuse for dropping in at night, though, is (surprise, surprise!) a chance to sample the market’s gastronomical goodness.
While just about all the tastiest Seoul street food delicacies will be at your fingertips here, I learned on my visits that Namdaemun Night Market is especially famous for two:
- galchi jorim (braised hairtail fish)
- kalguksu (hand-cut Korean noodles)
Each of these unique Korean dishes has its own alleyway in Namdaemun Market. Each alleyway is lined with restaurants serving up some of South Korea’s finest samples of these dishes.
Galchi Jorim Alley is in the northern part of the market. It’s located just southeast of Gate 2 on the first alleyway south of Namdaemunsijang-gil. On the other hand, Kalguksu Alley is north of Gate 6 on the first alleyway to the left of Namdaemungsijang 4-gil.
As a self-professed noodle fiend, I prefer kalguksu, and it’d be my main recommendation for first-timers deciding what to eat in Namdaemun. With its rich broth (the seafood one is my fav) and soft noodles, it’s well worth the detour here.
PRO TIP: Namdaemun Night Market is closed on Sundays. If your visit falls on a weekend, I’d suggest aiming for Saturday evening instead.
Getting there: Take subway Line 4 to Hoehyeon Station. Use Exit 5 to enter the market through Gate 6, close to Kalguksu Alley and a large concentration of excellent food stalls.
Gwangjang Market
Like Namdaemun, I knew my first trip to Seoul needed to squeeze in a visit to Gwangjang Market. As the oldest market in the city, Gwangjang Market draws upon over a century of tradition to deliver one of the most authentic night market experiences I’ve found in Seoul.
The market is most famous for its textiles, and is a popular place for locals to buy traditional Korean clothing (hanbok).
Gwangjang Market’s true worth, however, shines through the taste buds. On the ground floor of Gwangjang Market, foodies can relish the chance to sample some of Seoul’s tastiest Korean street food. While exploring the market on my first trip to Seoul, I spotted all the city’s favorite snacks here, including bibimbap, gimbap, hotteok, and tteokbokki.
What Gwangjang Market is especially famous for, though, is its bindaetteok. These traditional Korean pancakes are unlike any “pancakes” I’ve ever tasted.
(And that includes okonomiyaki, Japan’s addition to the savory pancake world, which I absolutely love!)
Bindaetteok are made from mung beans rather than wheat flour, and they’re packed with flavor. Recipes vary, but most feature kimchi, ground pork, sesame oil, scallions, and other savory ingredients for a powerful taste profile.
The other dish worth seeking out specifically at Gwangjang Market is mayak gimbap. These thumbnail-sized rice rolls are smaller than regular gimbap, and are brushed with sesame oil and dipped in mustard and soy sauce.
As much as I came to enjoy regular gimbap while living in Korea, the sesame oil gives mayak gimbap a more addictive flavor. (After the fact, I learned that mayak is the Korean word for narcotic, and it all made sense.)
PRO TIP: Most stalls at Gwangjang Market are closed on Sundays. If your visit falls on a weekend, Saturday is the best option. The food alley runs later than the rest of the market, too. The textile and clothing stalls close around 6 pm, but food vendors stay open until around 11 pm.
Getting there: Take Subway Line 1 to Jongno 5-ga Station. Exit 8 is closest to the market.
Bamdokkaebi Night Market
Originally starting off in Yeouido, the popular Bamdokkaebi Night Market is distinctive among Seoul night markets. Unlike the others, Bambokkaebi is spread over several locations around the city. In my experience visiting a couple of them, each market gives off its own unique vibe and specializes in different goods and foods.
NOTE: Bamdokkaebi Night Market is seasonal. It runs on Friday through Sunday evenings, from around April through October. If your trip falls outside of those dates, you might be out of luck.
Yeouido World Night Market
The original Yeouido location of the Bamdokkaebi is still one of Seoul’s most exciting night markets. The Yeouido World Night Market is the largest and oldest of the Bamdokkaebi locations, making it the obvious pick if you can only get to one.
Set upon the shores of the Han River, the Yeouido World Night Market draws visitors in with fun performances, handicrafts, and, of course, plenty of great food.
The food trucks lean toward international flavors. Korean barbecue tacos and bulgogi sticks sit next to churros and pad thai in a way I haven’t seen at any other night market around Seoul. This alone, in my opinion, makes Yeouido World Night Market worth a gander.
Getting there: Take Subway Line 5 to Yeouinaru Station. Take Exit 2 and walk about 600 meters northwest along Yeouidong-ro to the market.
Dongdaemun Design Plaza Youth Runaway Market
From my experience, the trendiest night market in Seoul is the Dongdaemun Design Plaza Youth Runaway Market. Each week, this bustling area drops the bass with music performances and fashion shows flaunting all the newest Korean styles.
When I popped into Dongdaemun Design Plaza Youth Runaway Market on my second visit to Seoul, I found a killer selection of street food and handmade goods popular among younger Seoulites.
Although I didn’t get a chance to try it, my hotel recommended Daetongnyeong (249-24 Jangchungdan-ro) in the area for its samgyeopsal (BBQ pork belly) and king crab kalguksu.
Getting there: Hop on Subway Line 2/4/5 to Dongdaemun History & Culture Park Station. Exit 1 or 2 will put you just outside the market.
Cheonggyecheon Time Slip Market
With a funky name like Cheonggyecheon Time Slip Market, I wasn’t surprised to see some interesting stuff here. Some of the city’s most atmospheric evening scenes unfold here as the Cheonggyecheon Stream is lit up with dokkaebi lights (goblin lights).
On the north side of the stream, you’ll get a chance to sample some of Bamdokkaebi Night Market’s tastiest street food at one of the many food trucks parked here.
On the south side, more active pursuits and a chill-out zone await. In this zone, you can admire the Cheonggyecheon Stream under the faint glow of Seoul’s city lights.
(After several weekend trips to Seoul, I think it’s one of the coolest spots in the city center.)
Getting there: Take Subway Line 1 to Jonggak Station. Exit 5 is about 80 meters north of the market.
Banpo Romantic Moonlight Market
If you’re traveling to Seoul as a couple, I’d recommend carving out an evening at Banpo Romantic Moonlight Market.
The market’s backdrop is the Banpo Bridge Moonlight Rainbow Fountain. At 1,140 meters, it holds the Guinness World Record for the world’s longest bridge fountain, and shoots out water from 380 nozzles timed with music. It’s one of the coolest places I’ve seen after dark in Seoul.
Jazz and soft acoustic guitar performances run throughout the evening, and the Han River setting does the rest of the work for a romantic night on the Seoul riverside.
PRO TIP: The food trucks at Banpo Romantic Moonlight Market don’t have seating. Bring along a picnic mat or towel to enjoy a meal on the grass or at the riverbank. In my opinion, this is half the charm of choosing this market over the other, more “urban” ones.
Getting there: Take Line 3/7/9 to Express Bus Terminal Station. From Exit 8-1 or 8-2, it’s about 10 minutes on foot to the market via Sinbanpo-ro and Banpo-daero.
Myeongdong Night Market
One of Seoul’s most famous night markets, Myeongdong Night Market is in a league of its own when carving out evening plans. When I first visited, I didn’t find it as traditional as places like Dongdaemun Market or Namdaemun Market, but it dominates discussions of what to see & do in Seoul with the same vigor.
Although it’s more famous as one of the most popular shopping districts in Seoul by day (and filled with some of my favorite hotels in Seoul), Myeongdong continued to impress me as the sun dipped below the city.
Even more than during the day, I love visiting Myeongdong from about 5 pm onward, when the area’s main street fills up with food stalls.
I easily found all my favorite Korean fixings at Myeongdong Night Market, from tteokbokki and fried Korean chicken to gyerangbbang (Korean egg bread) and the less traditional “tornado potato.”
Getting here: Grab a train on Subway Line 4 to Myeong-dong Station. Exits 6 & 7 are closest to Myeongdong Shopping Street, where you can start to dig into all my favorite Myeongdong attractions.
Noryangjin Fish Market
Yes, I’m aware: Not everyone will get on board with a visit to Noryangjin Fish Market. But if you can stomach the strong smells and sight of sometimes oddly disturbing sea creatures, I think that visiting this traditional market will be one of the most memorable experiences in your South Korea itinerary.
Not just a night market, Noryangjin Fish Market operates 24 hours a day, with activity buzzing at all hours of the day. One of my recommended times to visit the market is in the wee morning hours. Before the crack of dawn, a fish auction draws a group of over-caffeinated wholesalers who try their luck at getting their hands on the day’s finest catches.
At whatever time of day you visit Noryangjin Fish Market, all the world’s edible (and, if you ask me, not-so-edible) marine life makes an appearance. You’ll see everything here: shrimp, crab, squid, stingray, octopus, mackerel, tuna, lobster, clams, mussels, and more.
Got an instant hankering for fresh seafood? Buy something that catches your eye and head to the second floor. Many restaurants here will prepare you a fresh meal with your newest catch.
PRO TIP: I know this sounds great on paper, but be aware that the restaurants on the second floor charge a separate cooking fee on top of whatever you paid for the fish downstairs. These extra fees are not always obvious until the bill arrives.
Getting there: Take Subway Line 1 to Noryangjin Station. Follow the signs for Exit 1 and walk over the tracks (about 100 meters) using the bridge. Go downstairs to enter the fish market.
