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.

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 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 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? 🤩🤩🤩

Are you just looking for cheap? Or variety? Or "best tasting?"

Gwangjang Market

Hongdae is college town where the prices are usually reasonable.

I liked Myeongdong and Edae. There was a guy who sold dumplings with chili sauce and cabbage in Myeongdong and it was incredible. Edae had some different options and I can't resist a good cup chicken.

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.

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

Maybe Euljiro pocha street?

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.

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!

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?)

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!

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.

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!!