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The Most Delicious Eats in Gwangjang Market

You’ll never run out of dining options in Korea. From day til night, there’s always somewhere open to eat, be it at a samgyeopsal place, a 24/7 convenience store, or a posh restaurant. But if you want a taste of local life, you should definitely try food sold at local markets. 

Gwangjang Market, one of the oldest markets in Korea, offers a variety of traditional Korean dishes that are affordable and delicious. Wander around and try cheap eats in generous servings that are fresh and home-cooked! Here are some of them:

Mayak Gimbap

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One of Gwangjang Market’s must-try dish is mayak gimbap. These rice rolls are filled with rice, carrots, pickled radish, and spinach, wrapped in toasted seaweed, then topped with sesame seeds. Aptly called Mayak, these rice rolls are extremely addictive, making you crave more! 

Bindaetteok

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Going on an early market run? Don’t miss Gwangjang Market’s bindaetteok, a traditional Korean pancake made of mung beans. This chunky, savory pancake is a delicious treat that’s crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside, thanks to its generous filling of meat, vegetables, and mung bean sprouts. Bindaetteok is usually served with kimchi or drizzled with pancake sauce. Make sure to try these freshly cooked.

Kalguksu

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Another must-try in Gwangjang Market is the famous kalguksu or Korean knife-cut noodle soup. This refreshing noodle dish is made with thin, flat noodles and a tasty broth. There are different types of kalguksu too, depending on the meat. There’s seafood called Haemul kalguksu and Dak for chicken. In Gwangjang, there’s a popular stall that sells this handmade noodles topped with chewy dumplings that many tourists come to try. Their kalguksu is so slurp-worthy you’d want another bowl to devour.

Soondae

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Not to be confused with the sundae, the dessert, Korea’s soondae is a dish that’s more commonly known as blood sausage. The name might not be appetizing but once you get a taste of it, you’ll know exactly why it’s loved by the locals. Soondae is a street food made of minced meat, boiled pork innards, and glass noodles, with dipping sauce. This stir-fried goodness is best eaten like your ordinary street food, but you can also have it in a bowl of soup.

Seafood

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You’ll also find several stalls that sell fresh-off-the-boat seafood in Gwangjang market. You can buy them raw for your cooking, but you can also eat fresh catch in the store. One of the must-tries is sannakji, live, wriggling octopus sashimi cut into thin slices and drizzled with sesame oil. Sannakji has a slightly fishy taste and is best paired with ssamjang and tea. It’s a bizarre dish but you can’t miss this unique food adventure in Gwangjang.

Yukhoe

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Another unique food experience to try around the market is yukhoe or raw beef. It’s actually a Korean steak tartare, marinated with soy sauce and sesame with egg yolk in the middle. The way to eat it is to mix the fresh beef and yolk together to mix the flavor. There’s a raw beef alley in the market where you can get a serving of this flavorful yukhoe.

Tteokbokki

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Tteokbokki is a popular street snack in Korea that you can find in many restaurants and markets. In Gwangjang, you can also find these chewy rice cakes that are smothered with sweet and mildly spicy sauce. This filling snack is now also sold in ready-to-eat packs, but nothing beats an ajumma’s cooking.

 

 

Boribap

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Vegetarians can also find delicious food around Gwangjang Market too like boribap, a meal made of steamed rice and barley. It’s often served with a variety of side dishes and miso soup, a healthy dish to consider if you’re not into street food. Boribap is usually topped with more vegetables and is made flavorful with red bean paste. It’s very filling too, ideal for a lunch meal. 

Bungeoppang

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This fish-shaped pastry is a staple in many Korean markets and cart vendors around. It’s basically a fish-shaped bun with a red bean paste filling inside. It has a crispy texture on its edges and a chewy, flavor-filled bite. It’s popular as a childhood snack too, so kids will surely love them. 

 

 

Find more traditional dishes and delicacies in Korea by going on food experience tours! Visit KKDay and browse exciting activities for you and your travel buddies!

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