What You Need to Eat In Seoul

Nov 22

If you're planning to visit Seoul and are hoping to learn about their culture and enjoy the trip, get ready to dig into some authentic Seoul food. Seoul food is known everywhere around the world because of its mouthwatering taste. Seoul is a foodie's heaven with a vast collection of traditional Korean dishes and a Korean touch on international cuisines. This list of the top 10 things to eat in Seoul will introduce you to the best tastes you must try when visiting Korea.

Let's look at some of the local street foods in Seoul that are a must-have on your next trip. This article will help you learn about all the famous restaurants and street food cuisine of Seoul, South Korea.

The Foods You Need To Eat In Seoul (Find Out Here)

To make things easier, let's make a precise list of the best and most famous cuisine in Seoul that is a must-try. This list includes starters, soups, entrees, and desserts that Seoul is known for:

Korean BBQ.
Samgyetang Ginseng chicken soup.
Tteokbokki street food.
Korean fried chicken.
Bibimbap.
Busanjin seafood stew.
Nolboo Budae Jjigae army stew.
OmoriJjigae kimchi stew.
Byeolnan Ori smoked duck.
Souffle pancakes.
Lemon tart.
Sulbing Bingsu.

What Foods Is Seoul Known For?

Rice Cakes In Sauce

Although rice cakes in sauce sound bizarre, they are a traditional Korean cuisine, locally known as Tteokbokki. These cylindrical-shaped rice cakes are served with red chili and pepper sauce. They are like the Korean version of fries. This tasty food is available as street food and served at restaurants along with vegetables, fishcakes, and other condiments.

Cold Noodles

This dish was introduced to beat the summer heat of Seoul. Noodles are served in a bowl full of chilled buckwheat noodles with delicious red onions and other chopped vegetables and gochujang sauce as a side. It can also be served as a soup with ice flakes.

Savory Pancakes

Drinking is quite common in Seoul and other parts of Korea. Hence, people here have come up with delicious savory dishes to snack on while drinking. Hence, savory pancakes are one of those snacks. Traditionally, these pancakes are stuffed with seafood, pork, and Kimchi and served with a fizzy milky rice wine: Makgeolli.

Seafood Stew

Traditionally known as Haemultang, it is originally a stew made with seafood with rich spices to enhance flavor. Many people also like adding spring onions, bean sprouts, mushrooms, etc., to the broth.

Where Can I Buy Korean Street Food In Seoul?

Seoul is like an open-air restaurant. It is packed with markets dedicated to just street food items. Most of the traditional snacks and foods listed above are available in the streets of Seoul. Here, customers wait in long lines to try the authentic Korean taste. Let's look at Korea's most famous street food markets and see what they are famous for.

Seoul Bamdokkaebi Night Market

If you're a night owl or are still stuck in jetlag, here's a nice way to enjoy Seoul nightlife. Bamdokkaebi night market is organized by the city from March to October along the Han River. It is usually active on weekends and packed with local food, art, clothes, and other vendors. The market is famous for Korean Tacos, seafood items, Cuban sandwiches, chilled noodles, etc. Long lines gather around the food trucks all night to enjoy these delicious cuisines.

Myeongdong Street Food Alley

The Myeongdong Food alley is the most popular street food market in Seoul among tourists. It has a huge variety of traditional and innovative food stalls and bars. Apart from the common Korean fried chicken and Kimchi, this market also offers desserts like fried milk, strawberry mochi, and souffle. Being an old market, most vendors only accept cash as they don't have card machines, so you must carry a lot of change.

Gwangjang Market

Last but not least on the list is the most famous market for food in Seoul. This is one of the oldest markets in South Korea. It has all the best cuisines that Seoul has to offer. The list can go on and on, ranging from sushi, chicken, noodles, seafood, steak, tacos, bread, and mochi. Vendors are warm and friendly; if you ask politely, they will customize a few ingredients according to your liking. The Gwangjang market is like a hub for South Korean food and is at the top of the list for most tourists.

What Are The Most Popular Restaurants In Seoul?

Here's a list of the top-rated restaurants in Seoul, starting from the best.

Anju Mael: Rating 5/5
Charles H: Rating: 4.6/5
Tosokchon:Rating: 4.3/5
Omnium: Rating: 4.2
Mapo Jeong Daepo: Rating: 4.1/5
Hadongkwon: Rating: 3.7/5

Visit the delicious food scene in Seoul, it’s made for the soul!

Korea is a cultural country packed with flavors and traditional cuisines famous worldwide. The best part is that all these food items are easy to access on streets and famous food markets. Each dish has its unique blend of flavors and nutrition. Read more about international foods in our blog.

Sarina Swalm

Sarina is a self-taught cook and self-proclaimed foodie. She enjoys sharing her love of cooking, and sharing new recipes. When Sarina isn’t traveling she enjoys her home base in New York, NY with her Labrador Retriever, Bailey.