Gwangjang Market (광장시장) is a well-known Korean road meals market situated pretty near the Dongdaemun Design Plaza. This conventional meals market affords a wide range 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. If you’re 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 Evening Market is when a lot of the motion occurs, however there are some staff that are available in to eat meals through the lunch rush. Gwangjang Market is also called Gwangjang sijang and Kwang jang Market. Kwangjang is the outdated spelling and sijang simply means market in Korean.
Why is Gwangjang Market In style?
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 road meals, however you may as well get quite a lot of nice clothes gadgets on this space. It’s thought of to be one in every of Korea’s largest markets and is situated within the coronary heart of Seoul. Right here you’ll find a wide range of issues from silk, custom-made hanboks, classic clothes, and conventional Korean road meals. If you’re trying extra for garments, then I extremely counsel visiting Dongdaemun market.
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What to eat at Gwangjang Market | In style 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 widespread amongst vacationers visiting South Korea. Nonetheless, it has lately turn into much more widespread as a result of well-known Gwangjang Netflix collection on Korean Avenue Meals. If you’re planning to go to Gwangjang Market, then these are the Korean road meals you’ll want to strive there. I’ve listed Gwangjang market well-known meals choices under.
In contrast to the meals market Myeongdong, the meals at Gwangjang market is extra conventional compared. Listed here are a number of the hottest issues to eat at Gwangjang market.
Unsure what to eat or really feel intimidated? Ebook this Gwangjang Market meals tour!
Bindaetteok – Mungbean Pancakes – greatest meals at gwangjang market
Gwangjang market Meals is thought for these well-known and widespread mung bean pancakes and all for good motive as properly. 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 of crispy on the surface. It’s completely scrumptious and a should eat at Gwangjang market.
Kimbap or Gimbap
This widespread Korean dish is greatest described as a Korean model of sushi. Nonetheless, as an alternative 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 a wide range of several types of kimbap, though the smaller or mini ones known 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 full of knife-cut Korean-style noodles. This soup is nice for maintaining you heat through the chilly winter months and filled with 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 commonly served with a aspect of kimchi. Should you plan to go go to the Gwangjang Market Netflix girl, that is one in every of her hottest dishes and one of the widespread knife-cut noodles att Gwangjang market – she is named the Netflix kalguksu girl.
Mandu
There are two typical kinds of mandu or dumplings which are typical in Korea. There may be the normal taste full of minced meat and veggies and the kimchi mandu which is full of imply and kimchi. Kimchi mandu is simply frequent in Korea and it’s one in every of 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 is determined by 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 let you know, that kimchi mandu is one thing I wish to return for.
떡볶이 – Tteokbokki
It is a widespread Korean road meals at Gwangjang market that’s fabricated from cylinder-shaped rice muffins and lined in a candy and spicy sauce. You may see this sort of road meals throughout South Korea and it’s one of the widespread road meals to take pleasure in. Should you haven’t had it or discovered different distributors in different places, make sure to have some right here.
육회 – Yuk-hoe or Steak Tartare
This market could be very widespread for the steak tartare. They often prime it off with a uncooked yellow yolk that you simply 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 every little thing else, it seemed 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 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 often stuffed pig intestines. They’re fairly scrumptious however could be considerably bland as properly. 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. Should you don’t have an opportunity to go to these locations, then you may strive it right here. It’s one in every of my favourite dishes to eat in South Korea. It’s a freshly lower octopus lined in sesame oil, sesame seeds and a bit of little bit of salt. The octopus continues to be transferring on the plate and you could want to make use of your chopsticks to pry the transferring 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 affords 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 widespread road meals in Korea and often served through 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 value testing. It’s my favourite dessert road meals choice in South Korea. A hotteok is a candy rice flour pancake that’s often full of brown sugar and generally 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 very talked-about donut that’s fabricated from rice flour so it’s a bit of stickier than common donuts. They’re often scorching and contemporary with a purpose to be good and lined in sugar and generally cinnamon sugar. If you’re a donut lover like myself, you will need to strive one in every of these donuts.
붕어빵 – Bungeo-ppang
Now, it is a widespread snack amongst many Asian youngsters. 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. It is a fish-shaped pastry full of sweetened purple bean paste. This widespread dish originated in Japan and was introduced over and turn into a preferred staple in Korean road meals delicacies.
호두과자 – Hodo Kwaja
These pleasant treats are produced from a comfortable, cake-like batter that’s poured right into a walnut-shaped mould. Inside, you’ll usually discover a filling of candy purple bean paste, and generally even a piece of walnut for that additional crunch. The mould is then closed and baked till the surface turns a golden brown. The consequence? A heat, fluffy pastry with a gooey, candy middle.
Hodo Kwaja is a well-liked snack not only for vacationers but in addition for locals. It’s like a hug in your style buds—comforting, candy, and oh-so-delicious. Plus, they’re often offered in little paper baggage, 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 the entire 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 just a few distributors on the primary ground down some alleyways as properly. 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 in every of Gwangjang Market’s day excursions in Seoul to get extra out of it.
The right way to get to Gwangjang Market and Opening Hours
- Gwangjang Market Opening hours: Usually 8:30 am – 6 pm day by day however the eating places are often 8:30 am to 11:00 pm, however I counsel you go within the afternoon or night although locations are opening within the morning, most of them are prepping the meals for the day. Some locations are closed on Sunday.
- Deal with: 88 Changgyeonggung-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul, 서울특별시 종로구 창경궁로 88 (예지동)
- The right way to 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 aspect.
- Costs: Okayorean road meals costs range, on the Netflix stall we paid 10,000 gained (~$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 gained (~$2.50). So actually, it is determined by the place you go and what you get. Most locations are 1,500 gained and up.
- Web site: www.kwangjangmarket.co.kr
Issues to do close to Gwangjang Market
There are quite a lot of issues to do close to Gwangjang Market. Moreover consuming foot at Gwangjang market, right here are some things I counsel you do whereas right here.
Buy a Hanbok
The Hanbok is a standard Korean costume characterised by its vibrant colours and easy traces. The ladies’s model often consists of a jeogori (shirt) and a chima (skirt), whereas the boys’s model has a jeogori and baji (pants). It’s a logo of Korean tradition and heritage, typically worn on particular events and holidays.
Now, why do you have to purchase it at Gwangjang Market? Effectively, my buddy, this market is sort of a treasure trove for genuine, high-quality Hanboks. In contrast to 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 many years. You may 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 neglect, the costs are sometimes way more cheap in comparison with specialty boutiques.
Purchase Conventional Souviners
Gwangjang Market is sort of a treasure chest in terms of conventional Korean souvenirs. Let’s go on a bit of digital buying spree, lets?
- 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 dwelling decor.
- Korean Followers: Hand-painted with intricate designs, these followers usually are not simply purposeful but in addition extremely stunning. They’re straightforward to pack and make for an enthralling present.
- Conventional Masks: Referred to as “Hahoe,” these masks are sometimes utilized in conventional Korean performs and dances. They make for distinctive wall decorations and are an excellent dialog starter.
- Korean Tea Units: Should you’re a tea lover, you’ll adore the normal Korean tea units. They typically 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 gained’t final lengthy however will likely be remembered!
- Calligraphy Units: Should you’re into artwork or writing, a standard Korean calligraphy set may very well be a significant souvenir. It often contains brushes, ink, and paper—all you’ll want to strive your hand at this historic artwork kind.
- Jewellery: You will discover stunning items fabricated from jade, a stone that holds particular significance in Korean tradition. It’s mentioned to deliver good luck and prosperity.
- Silk Scarves: These are sometimes hand-painted and have conventional Korean patterns. They’re light-weight, making them straightforward to pack, they usually add a contact of magnificence to any outfit.
- Korean Ginseng: Identified for its well being advantages, Korean ginseng is a well-liked present. You will discover it in numerous kinds, from roots to extracts and teas.
Gwangjang Market FAQs
Is Gwangjang market indoors?
It isn’t situated indoors, nevertheless, it’s below a lined construction. It’s a big open area with roofing which prevents rain and different climate from ruining your possibilities 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 properly.
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 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’ll be able to contemplate: Gohyang Kalguksu, hotteok, 꽈배기 – Twisted Korean doughnut, 붕어빵 – Bungeo-ppang, 떡볶이 – Tteokbokki, some mayak kimbap, and 물냉면 – Mul-naengmyeon – Chilly noodle soup.
The right way to 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 aspect.
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