Street Food & Markets
Koreans love to eat and street food is a great option for something quick and delicious. Street food stalls serve food at all times of the day but they’re especially a welcome sight on a cool evening. And people of all ages stop by the stalls for a bite late into the night.
Whether you’re craving a bowl of noodles, corn dogs, or even lobster, you can find it on the streets and in markets.
If you’re looking for a crash course in Korean cuisine, street food is a great place to start.
The first time you encounter Korean street food, the variety and unfamiliarity can be overwhelming. You’ll see pans of rice cakes in a fiery red sauce, stacks of fried foods, and other snacks being prepared.
Many street food stalls serve a category of Korean food called bunsik. Bunsik developed during a rice shortage in the 1970s. As such, many bunsik dishes are flour-based. Tteokbokki, one of the most popular dishes, is steamed rice cake and fish cake in a spicy sauce. Other popular bunsik dishes include noodles and batter-fried foods. As bunsik is cheap and filling, it is very popular with students.
There are guided tours to help you navigate the food stalls and the many dishes. These tours take groups to well-known markets and eating alleys to sample and learn about all the various dishes. Tours are especially enjoyable in the evenings when you can join the crowd and hop around the stalls for food and drinks.
Tong-in Market in Seoul is notable because of its unique token system. At the market, visitors exchange money for tokens that resemble Joseon-era currency. Then visitors can tour the market and exchange the tokens for food at the stalls. Markets like Tong-in are great places to sample the great assortment of street food options and try the regional specialties.
Each market has their own specialities visitors should look for when visiting an eating alley or market. For example, Tong-in Market is known for its oil fried tteokbokki, Bupyeong Market in Busan for its fish cakes, and people line up for hours for fried chicken at Sinpo Market in Incheon.