Closed? What day and time did you go? That's definitely the best one and it's open post-pandemic.

Namdaemun is the second one I can think off of the top of my head. But to be honest, street food in Seoul is kind of overrated. The best foods are things like dumplings, noodles and fritters that you can find in mom n pop shops across the country, and especially these days you don't have very many innovative food stands.

The parts of the market that sell non food items like korean traditional clothes and textiles may be closed but food is always open

Gwangjang Market is definitely not closed - I go there almost daily.

Don't go to Gwangjang market. It's massively overpriced and has notoriety among locals. Go to Gyeongdong market instead. Way cheaper and more options.

If you want a truly authentic experience, go to the food stalls in Shindaebang station at night. There's a road full of street food vendors near the third exit.

Gwangjang Market by Jongro 5 station…must try are Yukhoe (beef sashimi) but ONLY from 자매집 (sisters place), bindae-ttok(?) (mungbean pancakes 빈대떡) ONLY from Soon-hee’s pancakes (순희네 빈대떡), and round it all off with Ho-tteok (호떡) from the old lady you passed at the front of the market on your way in. Really nice woman…there’s much much more to eat but these three are the standouts

South side of the smaller bridge under Banpo has a whole bunch of food trucks on weekends, I like it since there's more variety than just the usual teokbokki/odeng/etc. It'll only get better in the coming weeks / months, there is often live music and various events from May through September. Hangang park around Yeouinaru station is also decent, much busier and more spread out though.

Can you wait until May to eat?

Gwanghwamun to host ‘K-Food Night Market’ in May

Avoid Myeongdong, it’s overpriced tourist food. Not overly delicious but for fun, I would stick to the Jongno 3-ga exit 5 area (turn left first and walk around that street, then go back and go straight. There are the food tents which are fun for drinking. My folks enjoyed it. Also, in Insadong nearby exit 5 but across the street has some street food that’s decent. A little touristy but better than Myeongdong.

Sadly most look better than it tastes.

I was in Busan for a month. At a restaurant I asked the owner what hotteok shop he liked. He walked us a few streets over and showed us his favorite place.... it was AMAZING.

I want to eat my way through all of Korea! Everywhere the food looks amazing!

Looks yummy. My only complaint is that you showed only one of ALL the street food.

Tasty adventure

Hotteok? 🤩🤩🤩

I was in SK 3 weeks ago, loved Myeong Dong street. Tried about 6-7 different things and the only one I didn’t love were the mochis. Also there are some Michelin referenced cheap restaurants along the street that I recommend for the dumplings. I don’t have the name right now but if you have trouble find just let me know. But definitely loved Myeong Dong street

Mangwon Market near Hongdae is, imo, a much better choice for street food compared to Myeongdong or Gwangjang. Cheaper and plenty of options.

Maybe Euljiro pocha street?

Gwangjang is overpriced and not worth the wait. Mangwon is is much better. Noryangjin Cupbap street is small but nice

Namdaemun market is a good alternative. Gyeongdong market as well, there are not too many tourists too (except for the cinema-turned-starbucks branch inside the market). I think any market that is near where you are staying is worth visiting if you just like to try their street food. There are even the food stalls near universities that might offer better-tasting street food.

I stick with the classics: 김밥 and 떡볶이

I like the deep fried thing on the stick with sugar and sauce on it

dumplings are always the best

but don't mean to troll, but i never understood the iced strawberries it's so hard to eat!

Colpop chicken

Oh man, tie between 순대/어묵 for me.

I think I only eat street food in colder weather. Custard-filled fish bread or roasted sweet potatoes. My favorite will always be fish cake (o-daeng). Took me years to warm up to it though. (Haaa, get it?)

First, Korean street food is nothing like you see in Southeast Asia. It’s not bad, but there’s not a giant selection. Usually the same suspects.

Spicy rice cakes Fish cakes Fried goodies and blood sausage to mix with rice cakes Kimbap

These four above are usually always together.

Now that it’s getting cooler:

The Choux cream or red bean fish shaped bread Sweet cornbread with an egg dropped in it Silkwork larva Chestnuts Hoddeok aka cinnamon sugar filled pancakes Roasted sweet potato

And randomly you will find:

Chicken/meat skewers

All that other stuff you see on blogs - that’s created for the Chinese tourist masses in Myeongdong usually.

Konkuk University does have some unique stuff though!

Eww. Don’t.

If you want decent street food, go to Japan, where it’s actually hygienic, or SE Asia, where it’s actually good.

Korean street food combines lack of quality with poor hygiene standards. It’s probably the worst in Asia.

Korea is not really street foody, because eating with hands historically was never really done for meals, only for snacks so sweets and breads are good street food stuff but I wouldn't recommend going after a full meal in the streets. Usually market food you buy and then eat in a restaurant above where you bought it, at least at the coasts/Jeju.

Get some 붕어빵 / Boong-uh-bbang / carp bread

It has nothing to do with carp, it's just a hot cake with red bean paste inside and it's shaped like a carp, hence the name.

풀빵 / Pool-bbang / grass bread is really similar, (the ingredients and the naming method is virtually the same) too bad you can't find them around nowadays.

Boring. Gotta try the chicken feet and 곱창. But you should get recommendations on where to try it.

That’s not common for street food. But yes the feet are fucking spicy.

Spicy chicken is always a good go to.

Go to Myeongdong for a long street full of authentic Korean street foods! Hundreds of choices!

Great trip report!  Was Sokcho worth the 2 nights out from Seoul and was it fairly easy getting there and around?  Thanks 🙏🏼 

Thanks for info! I also plan to clim Ulsanbawi but wasnt sure if the trail is going to be open already :)

great photos! thanks for sharing!!

The good thing about Myeongdong night market is you don’t need to see every stall. There are only about 5 unique ones, otherwise they are all dupes.