After already having Namdaemun under my belt, a visit to Gwangjang Market, South Korea’s oldest traditional market, seemed like the next logical spot to check off my Seoul market bucket list.
For a market that’s been around since 1905, Gwangjang doesn’t try hard to impress visitors from the outside. But the second I stepped through the entrance, my senses got slammed all at once. (A reaction any self-respecting Korean market should provoke in a foreigner, if you ask me.)
At this point in my South Korean adventure, I’d spent a few weeks teaching English in a small coastal town. I was still surviving on dishes that felt relatively familiar, and I had yet to dig much into Korea’s culinary scene. Entering Gwangjang Market felt like walking into an alien world.
On my first visit to Gwangjang Market, I had almost no idea what most of the food in front of me was. But I also knew my palate needed to break from its “safe,” well-worn flavor patterns if I were to survive my teacher contract. And I don’t think there was a better way to do it than throwing myself headfirst into the chaos of Gwangjang Market.
From kalguksu (hand-cut wheat noodles) or gimbap (seaweed rice rolls), here’s what I’d recommend looking out for on your first visit to one of Seoul’s favorite street food hotspots…
My recommendations for what to eat at Gwangjang Market
I’m sure you’re not here to research where to find a silk scarf or hanbok. So, let me just cut straight to the real reason most travelers swoop over to Gwangjang Market: street food.
While planning my first time-crunched Seoul itinerary, I knew Gwangjang was one of Seoul’s top food markets. But I wasn’t quite prepared for how overwhelming it was to see the endless stalls (and crowds) laid out in front of me.
To ease your mind, I’ll stick with the same advice I’d give for exploring any of my favorite night markets in Seoul (or street food markets in general). Walk through all the food stalls once to get a feel for what you’d like to try, and then line up for the snacks you’re most drawn to.
A good rule of thumb at Gwangjang Market, like anywhere else, is to follow your nose and the line-ups. Locals know their stuff.
Sure, their tastes might not be 100% attuned to yours. (Actually, that’s an understatement in Korea.) But you usually won’t go wrong with testing out a local favorite that could soon become a favorite of your own.
While you’re rollin’ around, I’d suggest keepin’ on the lookout for these top street foods in Gwangjang Market:
Gimbap
One thing I quickly realized after arriving in South Korea is that any Korean market worth its salt is gonna dish out a healthy supply of gimbap.
One of the most popular snacks in Korea, gimbap is like a Korean version of Japanese maki rolls. It’s loaded with ingredients like cucumbers, eggs, and carrots, all rolled into seaweed-wrapped rice rolls.
I must admit that I was NOT an instant fan of gimbap. It took me a few tries to get used to the dry, scrunchy texture of the seaweed wrap and its light, seafood-like taste.
(In my defense, I should also add that when I first tried gimbap, I didn’t exactly have an adventurous, well-developed palate.)
After several visits to Korean markets (and convenience stores), I finally came to appreciate this healthy, filling snack.
At Gwangjang specifically, look for mayak gimbap (마약김밥). The name translates to “narcotic rice rolls,” as locals consider them dangerously addictive. They’re smaller than standard gimbap and served with a sesame-soy dipping sauce that gives it a different vibe than the more common variety.
Just keep in mind that the rice in gimbap can make it quite dense. Don’t eat too many. There’s plenty of other goodies at Gwangjang Market you’ll want to leave room for.
Tteokbokki
If you’re new to Korean street food, tteokbokki delivers a solid introduction. Bathed in a fermented hot pepper sauce (gochujang), these mildly spicy stir-fried rice cakes aren’t quite what you’d expect from the description.
The texture of tteokbokki isn’t hard like the rice cakes you’d eat as a movie snack. With its silky chewiness, I’d compare it to gnocchi.
Like other rice-based dishes, tteokbokki can feel heavy and filling. (Ask me how I know!)
I’d suggest grabbing a small helping as a starter so you’ll have room to explore other delicious treats at Gwangjang Market.
Keep in mind that every vendor soaks their tteokbokki in their own signature sauces, with varying degrees of spiciness and sourness. You might need a few tries to find a version that suits your tastes.
(I found tteokbokki around Gwangjang Market to be less spicy than I’d tried elsewhere in Seoul, like on the streets of Insadong or Hongdae.)
Bindaetteok
Before I’d eaten okonomiyaki on the streets of Osaka, I got an introduction to the world of savory pancakes through bindaetteok.
One of the tastiest Seoul street foods I’ve tried, this pan-fried savory Korean pancake is made from ground mung beans and seasoned with meat, eggs, and vegetables like kimchi and green onions. When fried in a pan at high heat, bindaetteok come out crispy and packed with flavor.
Until I tried bindaetteok on the streets of Seoul, I’d always labeled pancakes a breakfast staple. I was happy to learn, though, that you can enjoy these tasty snacks any time of day!
Bindaetteok can even be a cheap filling meal on its own in a pinch. (As a budget traveler at the time, I’m not gonna lie, I may have gobbled down these as a full meal more than once.)
Hotteok
While I’m (almost) sure you’ll love savory pancakes at first bite, if you’re craving more familiar sweet pancakes, hotteok might be more to your liking.
As I wandered around Gwangjang Market, I spotted this quintessential Korean street food all over the place. Hotteok are more in line with the Western idea of sweet pancakes. They’re crafted from a wheat-flour dough and filled with ingredients like brown sugar, cinnamon, honey, and nuts.
As you’d imagine, hotteok are perfect to imbibe as a dessert to close out your Gwangjang Market food fiesta.
PRO TIP: Although I’d say these are tastiest when eaten hot off the grill, be careful: The caramelized brown sugar can get molten hot. Let it cool down for a minute or two before committing to a satisfying deep bite.
Kalguksu
Kalguksu was one of the bigger surprises of my time eating through Seoul. I didn’t expect a bowl of hand-cut noodle soup to become one of my most-ordered dishes in the country. But the freshly cut noodles in kalgusku have a springy bite to them that factory-made packaged noodles just don’t.
The seafood version of kalguksu is worth the extra won, in my opinion. The broth is richer and more satisfying than other “regular” versions I’ve tried. (Don’t get me wrong here: Those ones are still pretty delish.)
The kalguksu stall I’d point you towards at Gwangjang is Gohyang Kalguksu (165-14 Jongno 4(sa)-ga), run by Cho Yonsoon, who appeared on Netflix’s Street Food: Asia.
She’s become a minor local celebrity among Seoul foodies, so expect a queue here. I’d try to get to the stall earlier in the day to avoid the worst of it.
Sundae
No, we’re not talking about a delicious serving of soft serve ice cream topped with caramel. In fact, when I tell you what exactly you’re getting into with sundae, you might not be so pumped about it.
Sundae (pronounced soon-day) is a type of Korean blood sausage. Unlike its (frankly, a bit nasty) British counterpart, it’s surprisingly juicy and flavorful—and much milder.
Many sundae varieties found throughout Gwangjang Market throw in dangmyeon (sweet potato glass noodles) and sticky rice instead of meat. It tends to soften the flavor, making it less “wild.”
Sannakji
Hey, no judgment from me if you decide to pass up one of Gwangjang Market’s most gut-heaving street foods, sannakji. You’d truly have to have a stomach of steel (full disclosure: I don’t) to tackle this Korean “delicacy” of live baby octopus tentacles.
As much as eating sannakji is bound to score you some disgusted stare-downs from your friends and family, I should attach a word of caution here. The moving tentacles sliding down your throat can be a choking hazard as the octopi’s suction cups continue to twitch posthumously.
(Sadly, I’m 100% not kidding. A few tourists in Korea have got on the wrong side of this one.)
Makgeolli
One of the things that surprised me most during my time in Korea was that some Koreans take their drinking quite seriously. You’ve probably heard of soju, Korea’s answer to sake. But in traditional Gwangjang Market, the country’s original national alcoholic beverage, makgeolli, reigns supreme.
Like soju, makgeolli is a traditional liquor made from rice but unfiltered, giving it a cloudy, milky appearance. The closest thing I can compare it to is nigori sake. It’s got the same cloudy, milky appearance, similar sweetness, but it’s lighter in alcohol and gives a tangier, slightly fizzy kick.
Wash down your Gwangjang Market street snacks with a little makgeolli, and you’ll even get to enjoy its built-in probiotics to help you digest.
Practical tips
- Bring cash, and more than you think you’ll need. Most vendors at Gwangjang don’t take cards, and I’ve watched the food add up faster than expected.
- Check the menu prices before you sit down. In late 2025, a popular Korean YouTuber exposed vendors overcharging tourists here, sparking a national scandal. Most stalls at Gwangjang are perfectly honest, but I’d double-check their posted prices anyway.
- Skip the noon to 2 pm window. At lunchtime, office workers from the surrounding business district flood the market, and navigating it becomes a chore. I’ve found mid-morning or late afternoon to be a far more enjoyable experience.
How to get to Gwangjang Market
Using Seoul’s public transportation system, hop on the metro Line 1 to Jongno 5-ga Station. Come out to street level through Exit 7 or 8. Walk south along Dongho-ro and take the first right. The entrance to the market will be straight ahead.
- Address: 88, Changgyeonggung-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul
- Opening Hours: 8:30 am to 6:00 pm (General), 8:30 am to 11:00 pm (Restaurants), 9:00 pm to 10:00 am (Clothing)
