Gwangjang Market (광장시장) is a well-known Korean road meals market situated pretty near the Dongdaemun Design Plaza. This conventional meals market presents quite a lot of conventional Korean road 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. In case you are new to Korea or simply touring it’s important to add Gwangjang market to your locations to go to a minimum of 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 road meals, and extra. Gwangjang Night time Market is when many 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 Kwangjang is the outdated spelling and sijang simply means market in Korean.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 Well-liked?
Gwangjang market is a well-liked Seoul meals market as a result of it’s the oldest market in Seoul. It isn’t solely identified for its Gwangjang market road meals, however you can even get numerous nice clothes gadgets 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 yow will discover quite a lot of issues from silk, custom-made hanboks, classic clothes, and conventional Korean road meals. In case you are wanting extra for garments, then I extremely counsel visiting Dongdaemun market.
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What to eat at Gwangjang Market | Well-liked Korean Road Meals in Gwangjang market
There are such a lot of nice meals stalls at Gwangjang Market and it has at all times been common amongst vacationers visiting South Korea. Nonetheless, it has lately change into much more common because of the well-known Gwangjang Netflix sequence on Korean Road Meals. In case you are planning to go to Gwangjang Market, then these are the Korean road meals it is advisable attempt there. I’ve listed Gwangjang market well-known meals choices under.
Not like the meals market Myeongdong, the meals at Gwangjang market is extra conventional compared. Listed below are among the hottest issues to eat at Gwangjang market.
Unsure what to eat or really feel intimidated? Guide this Gwangjang Market meals tour!
Bindaetteok – Mungbean Pancakes – greatest meals at gwangjang market
Gwangjang market Meals is understood for these well-known and common mung bean pancakes and all for good purpose as nicely. You’ll go right here and have one and I’m certain you’ll crave one other and wish to return. This Gwangjang market pancake jogs my memory of potato pancakes and are heat and somewhat crispy on the skin. It’s completely scrumptious and a should eat at Gwangjang market.
Kimbap or Gimbap
This common Korean dish is greatest described as a Korean model of sushi. Nonetheless, as an alternative of uncooked fish, this dish is normally 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 stuffed with knife-cut Korean-style noodles. This soup is nice for retaining you heat throughout the chilly winter months and full of consolation and taste. There are several types of Kalguksu you will get from seafood to beef.
This soup is gentle in taste which means it isn’t spicy nevertheless like most Korean dishes is usually served with a facet of kimchi. In case you plan to go go to the Gwangjang Market Netflix woman, that is one among her hottest dishes and one of the common knife-cut noodles att Gwangjang market – she is named the Netflix kalguksu woman.
Mandu
There are two typical varieties of mandu or dumplings which are typical in Korea. There’s the standard taste stuffed with minced meat and veggies and the kimchi mandu which is stuffed 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 depart this market with out consuming them.
Most Koreans eat it steamed or in a soup, nevertheless, there are locations that pan-fry them. I normally like them panfried, nevertheless, it actually is dependent upon how they’re made and what they’re full of. The girl from the Netflix stand has each the standard and kimchi mandu and let me inform you, that kimchi mandu is one thing I wish to return for.
떡볶이 – Tteokbokki
It is a common Korean road meals at Gwangjang market that’s made from cylinder-shaped rice truffles and coated in a candy and spicy sauce. You’ll be able to see one of these road meals throughout South Korea and it’s one of the common road meals to take pleasure in. In case you haven’t had it or discovered different distributors in different areas, be sure you have some right here.
육회 – Yuk-hoe or Steak Tartare
This market could be very common for the steak tartare. They normally high it off with a uncooked yellow yolk that you simply combine in with the steak tartare. Though I didn’t get an opportunity to attempt it right here as a result of I used to be so full off of every little thing else, it appeared 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 flippantly seasoned.
Soondae
Greatest generally known as blood sausages. This dish is for the adventurous as a result of it’s a bit chewy in texture and blood sausages are normally stuffed pig intestines. They’re fairly scrumptious however might be considerably bland as nicely. I believe the feel is what most individuals dislike about it.
Sannakji
Though you will get dwell 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 case you don’t have an opportunity to go to these locations, then you could possibly attempt 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 somewhat little bit of salt. The octopus remains 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 presents a wealthy, oceanic taste. It’s a hands-on consuming expertise that captures the essence of Korean road meals.
Different choices you’ll be able to 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 common road meals in Korea and normally served throughout the winter months. I solely discovered a couple of stalls on the Gwangjang market that had them, however for those who discover them it’s completely value trying out. It’s my favourite dessert road meals choice in South Korea. A hotteok is a candy rice flour pancake that’s normally 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. It is a highly regarded donut that’s made from rice flour so it’s somewhat stickier than common donuts. They’re normally scorching and contemporary with the intention to be good and coated in sugar and typically cinnamon sugar. In case you are a donut lover like myself, you have to attempt one among these donuts.
붕어빵 – Bungeo-ppang
Now, this can be a common snack amongst many Asian children. It was my favourite rising up and for those who aren’t an enormous fan of candy pink beans then I don’t counsel you order this. It is a fish-shaped pastry full of sweetened pink bean paste. This common dish originated in Japan and was introduced over and change into a well-liked staple in Korean road meals delicacies.
호두과자 – Hodo Kwaja
These pleasant treats are produced from a tender, cake-like batter that’s poured right into a walnut-shaped mildew. Inside, you’ll usually discover a filling of candy pink bean paste, and typically even a bit of walnut for that additional 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 normally bought in little paper luggage, making them the right on-the-go snack as you proceed to discover the wonders of Gwangjang Market.
The place to buy at Gwangjang Market
So all the road meals distributors are usually on the primary ground. If you wish to search for materials, clothes, and extra, they’re totally on the second ground. There are a couple of distributors on the primary ground down some alleyways as nicely. I’d say that the extra prestigious ones are upstairs with larger 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.
How one can get to Gwangjang Market and Opening Hours
- Gwangjang Market Opening hours: Sometimes 8:30 am – 6 pm day by day however the eating places are normally 8:30 am to 11:00 pm, however I counsel you go within the afternoon or night regardless that 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)
- How one can get there: Take the subway to Jongno-5 station and exit quantity 7. Head straight and you will note the doorway to the market in your right-hand facet.
- Costs: Okorean road meals costs differ, 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 is dependent 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 numerous 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 normally 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? Properly, my pal, this market is sort of a treasure trove for genuine, high-quality Hanboks. Not like the mass-produced variations you may 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 variability 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 way more affordable in comparison with specialty boutiques.
Purchase Conventional Souviners
Gwangjang Market is sort of a treasure chest with regards to conventional Korean souvenirs. Let’s go on somewhat digital buying 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 house decor.
- Korean Followers: Hand-painted with intricate designs, these followers should not simply purposeful but additionally extremely lovely. They’re simple to pack and make for a captivating reward.
- Conventional Masks: Often called “Hahoe,” these masks are sometimes utilized in conventional Korean performs and dances. They make for distinctive wall decorations and are an incredible dialog starter.
- Korean Tea Units: In case you’re a tea lover, you’ll adore the standard 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 can be remembered!
- Calligraphy Units: In case you’re into artwork or writing, a conventional Korean calligraphy set might be a significant memento. It normally consists of brushes, ink, and paper—all it is advisable attempt your hand at this historical artwork type.
- Jewellery: You will discover lovely items made from jade, a stone that holds particular significance in Korean tradition. It’s stated to convey 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, and so they add a contact of magnificence to any outfit.
- Korean Ginseng: Recognized for its well being advantages, Korean ginseng is a well-liked reward. You will discover it in varied types, 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 house 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 tackle is 88 Changgyeonggung-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul, 서울특별시 종로구 창경궁로 88 (예지동).
Does Gwangjang market take card?
Not usually. 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 one of the best meals in Gwangjang Market?
I’ve listed them above, however to be quick and concise, the highest selections 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’ll be able to think about: Gohyang Kalguksu, hotteok, 꽈배기 – Twisted Korean doughnut, 붕어빵 – Bungeo-ppang, 떡볶이 – Tteokbokki, some mayak kimbap, and 물냉면 – Mul-naengmyeon – Chilly noodle soup.
How one can go to Gwangjang market by subway
Take the subway to Jongno-5 station and exit quantity 7. Head straight and you will note the doorway to the market in your right-hand facet.
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