We went to Gwangjang Market and ate our way through the entire thing. It might be the single best food experience of our whole Korea trip.
Here's exactly what happened, dish by dish, and everything you need to know before you go.
Quick Facts
| Where | Jongno-gu, Seoul |
|---|---|
| Food section | Ground floor, inside the covered market hall |
| Hours | Open from early morning |
| Budget | ₩10,000–20,000 (~€7–14) per person for a full grazing session |
| Pair it with | Gyeongbokgung Palace / Bukchon Hanok Village (same morning), Insadong afterward |
What to Eat at Gwangjang Market
Raw Octopus and Beef Tartare
Our first stop, and the most memorable. The octopus tentacles were, genuinely, still moving on the plate — the people around us were eating it like it was the most normal thing in the world, because here, it is. Zé tried it immediately and loved it: the freshness, the texture, the soy and sesame dipping sauce. If you're going to try raw octopus once in your life, this is the place.
Green Bean Pancakes
A market specialty most visitors walk straight past without knowing what they are. Crispy outside, savoury inside, made fresh in front of you. The kind of thing you eat and immediately go back for a second. Don't skip these.
Gimbap — Our Favourite
If you don't know gimbap: it's the Korean version of a sushi roll — rice, vegetables, pickled radish, egg, sometimes meat, all rolled in dried seaweed. It sounds simple, but it was genuinely delicious, and it was our favourite single item from the whole market visit.
Korean Fried Chicken
The one letdown — ours was cold and not that crispy. Worth trying elsewhere in Seoul rather than judging the dish by this stall alone.
Fried Gimbap
Traditional gimbap, taken and fried until golden. More substantial, crispier, and with a depth the original doesn't have. A great twist on the classic if you've already had regular gimbap.
Rice Dough Donuts — The Highlight
We almost skipped these because we were full. We did not skip them. Crispy outside, soft and chewy inside, exactly the right amount of sugar and cinnamon — one of the best bites of the entire trip. We bought two more for the subway ride home.
Pairing your market visit
Practical Tips
- Go early to mid-morning. The market gets busier as the day goes on, and stalls are freshest early.
- Bring cash. Like most Korean markets, stalls are easiest to navigate with cash on hand for small purchases.
- Graze, don't commit to one stall. This is a market designed for eating your way across multiple stands, not sitting down for one big meal.
- Pair it with a palace morning. We did Gyeongbokgung Palace and Bukchon Hanok Village first, then arrived at Gwangjang for lunch — a natural, walkable sequence.
FAQ
Is Gwangjang Market worth visiting?
Yes — it might be the best single food experience in Seoul. The range of dishes, the price, and the atmosphere make it unmissable for anyone who travels for food.
What's the must-try dish at Gwangjang Market?
Gimbap was our favourite, but the rice dough donuts are the one we still think about. Try both.
Is Gwangjang Market good for someone who doesn't like raw seafood?
Yes — plenty of cooked options exist (gimbap, green bean pancakes, fried gimbap) if raw octopus or tartare isn't for you.
How much should I budget for Gwangjang Market?
₩10,000–20,000 (roughly €7–14) per person covers a genuinely full grazing session across multiple stalls.
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