Gwangjang Market (광장시장) is a well-known Korean avenue meals market situated pretty near the Dongdaemun Design Plaza. This conventional meals market gives quite a lot of conventional Korean avenue meals from Mungbean pancakes, mandu (Korean dumplings), and extra. If you wish to get conventional Korean meals in South Korea, that is the place to do it. If you’re new to Korea or simply touring it’s a must to add Gwangjang market to your locations to go to not less than as soon as in your lifetime.
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Gwangjang Market | What to eat in Seoul’s Conventional Market
This market is Seoul’s oldest conventional market to get conventional clothes, conventional avenue meals, and extra. Gwangjang Evening Market is when a lot of the motion occurs, however there are some employees that are available to eat meals throughout the lunch rush. Gwangjang Market is also referred to as Gwangjang sijang and Kwang jang Market. Kwangjang is the outdated spelling and sijang simply means market in Korean.
Why is Gwangjang Market Standard?
Gwangjang market is a well-liked Seoul meals market as a result of it’s the oldest market in Seoul. It isn’t solely recognized for its Gwangjang market avenue meals, however you can too get a number of nice clothes objects on this space. It’s thought of to be one among Korea’s largest markets and is situated within the coronary heart of Seoul. Right here you will discover quite a lot of issues from silk, custom-made hanboks, classic clothes, and conventional Korean avenue meals. If you’re wanting extra for garments, then I extremely counsel visiting Dongdaemun market.
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What to eat at Gwangjang Market | Standard Korean Avenue Meals in Gwangjang market
There are such a lot of nice meals stalls at Gwangjang Market and it has at all times been well-liked amongst vacationers visiting South Korea. Nevertheless, it has not too long ago turn into much more well-liked as a result of well-known Gwangjang Netflix sequence on Korean Avenue Meals. If you’re planning to go to Gwangjang Market, then these are the Korean avenue meals it’s good to strive there. I’ve listed Gwangjang market well-known meals choices beneath.
Not like the meals market Myeongdong, the meals at Gwangjang market is extra conventional as compared. Listed here are a few of the hottest issues to eat at Gwangjang market.
Unsure what to eat or really feel intimidated? E-book this Gwangjang Market meals tour!
Bindaetteok – Mungbean Pancakes – greatest meals at gwangjang market
Gwangjang market Meals is understood for these well-known and well-liked mung bean pancakes and all for good cause as nicely. You’ll go right here and have one and I’m positive you’ll crave one other and wish to return. This Gwangjang market pancake jogs my memory of potato pancakes and are heat and a bit crispy on the skin. It’s completely scrumptious and a should eat at Gwangjang market.
Kimbap or Gimbap
This well-liked Korean dish is greatest described as a Korean model of sushi. Nevertheless, as a substitute of uncooked fish, this dish is often full of greens and meat together with carrots, cucumbers, pickled radishes, and meats like bulgogi (marinated beef), tuna, and extra. You may get quite a lot of several types of kimbap, though the smaller or mini ones referred to as Mayak kimbap additionally spelled Mayak gimbap are thought of to be extra favorable on this market.
Kalguksu
This Gwangjang market kalguksu conventional Korean soup is crammed with knife-cut Korean-style noodles. This soup is nice for preserving you heat throughout the chilly winter months and full of consolation and taste. There are several types of Kalguksu you may get from seafood to beef.
This soup is gentle in taste that means it isn’t spicy nevertheless like most Korean dishes is usually served with a facet of kimchi. In the event you plan to go go to the Gwangjang Market Netflix woman, that is one among her hottest dishes and one of the well-liked knife-cut noodles att Gwangjang market – she is named the Netflix kalguksu woman.
Mandu
There are two typical varieties of mandu or dumplings which can be typical in Korea. There may be the normal taste crammed with minced meat and veggies and the kimchi mandu which is crammed with imply and kimchi. Kimchi mandu is just widespread in Korea and it’s one among my favorites to eat in Korea. They’re so scrumptious and you’ll’t go away this market with out consuming them.
Most Koreans eat it steamed or in a soup, nevertheless, there are locations that pan-fry them. I often like them panfried, nevertheless, it actually depends upon how they’re made and what they’re full of. The lady from the Netflix stand has each the normal and kimchi mandu and let me inform you, that kimchi mandu is one thing I wish to return for.
떡볶이 – Tteokbokki
This can be a well-liked Korean avenue meals at Gwangjang market that’s made from cylinder-shaped rice desserts and coated in a candy and spicy sauce. You’ll be able to see one of these avenue meals throughout South Korea and it’s one of the well-liked avenue meals to take pleasure in. In the event you haven’t had it or discovered different distributors in different areas, make sure you have some right here.
육회 – Yuk-hoe or Steak Tartare
This market could be very well-liked for the steak tartare. They often prime it off with a uncooked yellow yolk that you just combine in with the steak tartare. Though I didn’t get an opportunity to strive it right here as a result of I used to be so full off of all the things else, it regarded completely scrumptious and I plan to return and have some. I actually take pleasure in beef tartare in South Korea as a result of it’s so flavorful and calmly seasoned.
Soondae
Greatest often called blood sausages. This dish is for the adventurous as a result of it’s a bit chewy in texture and blood sausages are often stuffed pig intestines. They’re fairly scrumptious however might be considerably bland as nicely. I feel the feel is what most individuals dislike about it.
Sannakji
Though you may get reside octopus right here, I’d counsel you wait and get it at one of many fish markets in Seoul or Jagalchi market in Busan. In the event you don’t have an opportunity to go to these locations, then you can strive it right here. It’s one among my favourite dishes to eat in South Korea. It’s a freshly lower octopus coated in sesame oil, sesame seeds and a bit little bit of salt. The octopus continues to be shifting on the plate and chances are you’ll want to make use of your chopsticks to pry the shifting tentacles, however actually, don’t let that scare you away.
Soy Marinated Crab
Soy Marinated Crab at Gwangjang Market in Seoul is a must-try delicacy. This dish options crab marinated in a mix of soy sauce, garlic, and a touch of sweetness. The meat is tender, and the roe gives a wealthy, oceanic taste. It’s a hands-on consuming expertise that captures the essence of Korean avenue meals.
Different choices you may eat at Gwangjang Market
- 비빔밥 – Bimbimbap – A spicy rice dish with veggies and meat
- 물냉면 – Mul-naengmyeon – Chilly noodle soup
- 족발 – Jokbal – Pigs toes
- 닭발 – Dalkbal – Hen toes
Desserts at Gwangjang Market
Hotteok
This well-liked avenue meals in Korea and often served throughout the winter months. I solely discovered just a few stalls on the Gwangjang market that had them, however for those who discover them it’s completely price testing. It’s my favourite dessert avenue meals choice in South Korea. A hotteok is a candy rice flour pancake that’s often full of brown sugar and typically sunflower seeds and nuts relying on the seller.
꽈배기 – Twisted Korean doughnut
Proper subsequent to the hotteok stand I noticed contained in the Gwangjang market was a stall promoting Gwabaegi which is a well-liked Korean doughnut. This can be a extremely popular donut that’s made from rice flour so it’s a bit stickier than common donuts. They’re often scorching and recent with the intention to be good and coated in sugar and typically cinnamon sugar. If you’re a donut lover like myself, you will need to strive one among these donuts.
붕어빵 – Bungeo-ppang
Now, it is a well-liked snack amongst many Asian children. It was my favourite rising up and for those who aren’t an enormous fan of candy purple beans then I don’t counsel you order this. This can be a fish-shaped pastry full of sweetened purple bean paste. This well-liked dish originated in Japan and was introduced over and turn into a preferred staple in Korean avenue meals delicacies.
호두과자 – Hodo Kwaja
These pleasant treats are produced from a comfortable, cake-like batter that’s poured right into a walnut-shaped mildew. Inside, you’ll sometimes discover a filling of candy purple bean paste, and typically even a piece of walnut for that further crunch. The mildew is then closed and baked till the skin turns a golden brown. The outcome? A heat, fluffy pastry with a gooey, candy heart.
Hodo Kwaja is a well-liked snack not only for vacationers but additionally for locals. It’s like a hug to your style buds—comforting, candy, and oh-so-delicious. Plus, they’re often bought in little paper baggage, making them the proper on-the-go snack as you proceed to discover the wonders of Gwangjang Market.
The place to buy at Gwangjang Market
So the entire avenue meals distributors are sometimes on the primary flooring. If you wish to search for materials, clothes, and extra, they’re totally on the second flooring. There are just a few distributors on the primary flooring down some alleyways as nicely. I’d say that the extra prestigious ones are upstairs with increased high quality, nevertheless, I discover all of them to be fairly nice in design. I extremely counsel taking one among Gwangjang Market’s day excursions in Seoul to get extra out of it.
Find out how to get to Gwangjang Market and Opening Hours
- Gwangjang Market Opening hours: Usually 8:30 am – 6 pm each day however the eating places are often 8:30 am to 11:00 pm, however I counsel you go within the afternoon or night though locations are opening within the morning, most of them are prepping the meals for the day. Some locations are closed on Sunday.
- Tackle: 88 Changgyeonggung-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul, 서울특별시 종로구 창경궁로 88 (예지동)
- Find out how to get there: Take the subway to Jongno-5 station and exit quantity 7. Head straight and you will notice the doorway to the market in your right-hand facet.
- Costs: Okayorean avenue meals costs fluctuate, on the Netflix stall we paid 10,000 received (~$9USD) for a bowl of Kalguksu and Mandu. We shared the dish and it was fairly filling for two folks. The Bindaetteok was about 2 for 3,000 received (~$2.50). So actually, it depends upon the place you go and what you get. Most locations are 1,500 received and up.
- Web site: www.kwangjangmarket.co.kr
Issues to do close to Gwangjang Market
There are a number of issues to do close to Gwangjang Market. Apart from consuming foot at Gwangjang market, right here are some things I counsel you do whereas right here.
Buy a Hanbok
The Hanbok is a conventional Korean costume characterised by its vibrant colours and easy strains. The ladies’s model often consists of a jeogori (shirt) and a chima (skirt), whereas the lads’s model has a jeogori and baji (pants). It’s a logo of Korean tradition and heritage, usually worn on particular events and holidays.
Now, why do you have to purchase it at Gwangjang Market? Nicely, my buddy, this market is sort of a treasure trove for genuine, high-quality Hanboks. Not like the mass-produced variations you would possibly discover elsewhere, the Hanboks right here are sometimes handmade, stitched collectively by artisans who’ve honed their craft over a long time. You’ll be able to really feel the love and custom in each thread. Plus, the range is astounding—whether or not you need one thing conventional or a contemporary twist, you’ll discover it right here. And let’s not overlook, the costs are sometimes rather more cheap in comparison with specialty boutiques.
Purchase Conventional Souviners
Gwangjang Market is sort of a treasure chest in relation to conventional Korean souvenirs. Let’s go on a bit digital procuring spree, we could?
- Korean Pottery: Whether or not it’s a celadon vase or a cute kimchi pot, Korean pottery is famend for its craftsmanship. These make for elegant presents or residence decor.
- Korean Followers: Hand-painted with intricate designs, these followers should not simply practical but additionally extremely stunning. They’re simple to pack and make for an enthralling reward.
- Conventional Masks: Generally known as “Hahoe,” these masks are sometimes utilized in conventional Korean performs and dances. They make for distinctive wall decorations and are an ideal dialog starter.
- Korean Tea Units: In the event you’re a tea lover, you’ll adore the normal Korean tea units. They usually include a teapot, cups, and a serving tray, all exquisitely designed.
- Korean Snacks: From dried seaweed to honey-filled “Yakgwa” cookies, Korean snacks are a tasty memento that received’t final lengthy however shall be remembered!
- Calligraphy Units: In the event you’re into artwork or writing, a conventional Korean calligraphy set might be a significant souvenir. It often contains brushes, ink, and paper—all it’s good to strive your hand at this historic artwork kind.
- Jewellery: You’ll find stunning items made from jade, a stone that holds particular significance in Korean tradition. It’s mentioned to carry good luck and prosperity.
- Silk Scarves: These are sometimes hand-painted and have conventional Korean patterns. They’re light-weight, making them simple to pack, they usually add a contact of class to any outfit.
- Korean Ginseng: Identified for its well being advantages, Korean ginseng is a well-liked reward. You’ll find it in numerous varieties, from roots to extracts and teas.
Gwangjang Market FAQs
Is Gwangjang market indoors?
It isn’t situated indoors, nevertheless, it’s below a coated construction. It’s a big open area with roofing which prevents rain and different climate from ruining your probabilities of consuming at this classic market in Seoul.
The place is Gwangjang market situated?
It’s situated in Seoul, South Korea. The handle is 88 Changgyeonggung-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul, 서울특별시 종로구 창경궁로 88 (예지동).
Does Gwangjang market take card?
Not sometimes. This Korean meals market in Seoul is just about a cash-heavy space to seize low-cost and scrumptious meals. Myeongdong meals market is just about the identical as nicely.
What’s the kimbap Korean spelling?
김밥 is the Korean spelling for Gimbap or Kimbap.
What are the very best meals in Gwangjang Market?
I’ve listed them above, however to be quick and concise, the highest decisions are binddatteok, kimbap particularly mayak kimbap, Kalguksu, mandu, 떡볶이 – Tteokbokki, 육회 – Yuk-hoe or Steak Tartare, Soondae, Sannakji, 비빔밥 – Bimbimbap – A spicy rice dish with veggies and meat, 물냉면 – Mul-naengmyeon – Chilly noodle soup, 족발 – Jokbal – Pigs toes, 닭발 – Dalkbal – Hen toes, Hotteok, 꽈배기 – Twisted Korean doughnut, and 붕어빵 – Bungeo-ppang.
What are some halal meals at Gwangjang market?
Whereas I can’t assure any of the meat is halal, listed here are some halal choices you may take into account: Gohyang Kalguksu, hotteok, 꽈배기 – Twisted Korean doughnut, 붕어빵 – Bungeo-ppang, 떡볶이 – Tteokbokki, some mayak kimbap, and 물냉면 – Mul-naengmyeon – Chilly noodle soup.
Find out how to go to Gwangjang market by subway
Take the subway to Jongno-5 station and exit quantity 7. Head straight and you will notice the doorway to the market in your right-hand facet.
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