Gwangjang Market (광장시장) is a well-known Korean road meals market situated pretty near the Dongdaemun Design Plaza. This conventional meals market provides 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 a must 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 a lot of the motion occurs, however there are some staff that are available to eat meals in the course of 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 Kwangjang is the outdated spelling and sijang simply means market in Korean.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 identified for its Gwangjang market road meals, however you may also get loads of nice clothes gadgets on this space. It’s thought-about to be one in all 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 wanting 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 common amongst vacationers visiting South Korea. Nevertheless, it has not too long ago turn into much more common 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 it’s essential strive 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 as compared. Listed here are a few of the hottest issues to eat at Gwangjang market.
Undecided 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 common mung bean pancakes and all for good purpose as nicely. You’ll go right here and have one and I’m positive you’ll crave one other and need 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. Nevertheless, as a substitute of uncooked fish, this dish is normally filled with greens and meat together with carrots, cucumbers, pickled radishes, and meats like bulgogi (marinated beef), tuna, and extra. You will 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-about 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 holding you heat in the course of the chilly winter months and filled with consolation and taste. There are several types of Kalguksu you will 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 facet of kimchi. If you happen to plan to go go to the Gwangjang Market Netflix woman, that is one in all her hottest dishes and probably the most common knife-cut noodles att Gwangjang market – she is called the Netflix kalguksu woman.
Mandu
There are two typical forms of mandu or dumplings which can be typical in Korea. There may be the normal taste stuffed with minced meat and veggies and the kimchi mandu which is stuffed with imply and kimchi. Kimchi mandu is simply widespread in Korea and it’s one in all my favorites to eat in Korea. They’re so scrumptious and you may’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 normally like them panfried, nevertheless, it truthfully is determined by how they’re made and what they’re filled with. The girl from the Netflix stand has each the normal and kimchi mandu and let me let you know, that kimchi mandu is one thing I need to return for.
떡볶이 – Tteokbokki
This can be a common 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 probably the most common road meals to take pleasure in. If you happen to haven’t had it or discovered different distributors in different areas, make sure to 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 strive it right here as a result of I used to be so full off of all the things 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 evenly seasoned.
Soondae
Finest often 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 may be considerably bland as nicely. I believe the feel is what most individuals dislike about it.
Sannakji
Though you will 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. If you happen to don’t have an opportunity to go to these locations, then you might strive it right here. It’s one in all my favourite dishes to eat in South Korea. It’s a freshly lower octopus lined 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 truthfully, 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 provides a wealthy, oceanic taste. It’s a hands-on consuming expertise that captures the essence of Korean road 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 – Rooster toes
Desserts at Gwangjang Market
Hotteok
This common road meals in Korea and normally served in the course of the winter months. I solely discovered a number of stalls on the Gwangjang market that had them, however for those who discover them it’s completely price trying out. It’s my favourite dessert road meals possibility in South Korea. A hotteok is a candy rice flour pancake that’s normally filled with 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. This can be a very fashionable donut that’s fabricated from rice flour so it’s somewhat stickier than common donuts. They’re normally sizzling and contemporary as a way to be good and lined in sugar and generally cinnamon sugar. If you’re a donut lover like myself, you have to strive one in all these donuts.
붕어빵 – Bungeo-ppang
Now, it is a common snack amongst many Asian youngsters. 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. This can be a fish-shaped pastry filled with sweetened pink bean paste. This common dish originated in Japan and was introduced over and turn into a well-liked staple in Korean road meals delicacies.
호두과자 – Hodo Kwaja
These pleasant treats are created from a gentle, cake-like batter that’s poured right into a walnut-shaped mould. Inside, you’ll usually discover a filling of candy pink bean paste, and generally even a piece of walnut for that further crunch. The mould 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 in addition for locals. It’s like a hug on your style buds—comforting, candy, and oh-so-delicious. Plus, they’re normally offered 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 all the road meals distributors are usually on the primary flooring. If you wish to search for materials, clothes, and extra, they’re totally on the second flooring. There are a number of distributors on the primary flooring down some alleyways as nicely. I’d say that the extra prestigious ones are upstairs with greater high quality, nevertheless, I discover all of them to be fairly nice in design. I extremely counsel taking one in all Gwangjang Market’s day excursions in Seoul to get extra out of it.
The way to get to Gwangjang Market and Opening Hours
- Gwangjang Market Opening hours: Sometimes 8:30 am – 6 pm every 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.
- Deal with: 88 Changgyeonggung-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul, 서울특별시 종로구 창경궁로 88 (예지동)
- The way 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: Okorean road 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 individuals. The Bindaetteok was about 2 for 3,000 received (~$2.50). So truthfully, it is determined by 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 loads 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 standard Korean gown 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, typically worn on particular events and holidays.
Now, why do you have to purchase it at Gwangjang Market? Properly, my good friend, 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 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 far 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 somewhat digital purchasing 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 items or dwelling decor.
- Korean Followers: Hand-painted with intricate designs, these followers will not be simply practical but in addition extremely stunning. They’re simple to pack and make for a captivating 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: If you happen to’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 received’t final lengthy however might be remembered!
- Calligraphy Units: If you happen to’re into artwork or writing, a standard Korean calligraphy set might be a significant souvenir. It normally contains brushes, ink, and paper—all it’s essential strive your hand at this historical artwork kind.
- Jewellery: You will discover stunning items fabricated from jade, a stone that holds particular significance in Korean tradition. It’s mentioned 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 class to any outfit.
- Korean Ginseng: Identified for its well being advantages, Korean ginseng is a well-liked present. You will discover 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 beneath a lined construction. It’s a big open house 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 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 – Rooster 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.
The way 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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