Real Restaurants Found in the 120-Year-Old Gwangjang Market | Honest Review of the Top 3

The Place I Was Curious About from Seeing It So Often on Instagram, Gwangjang Market

Recently, there have been so many food posts from Gwangjang Market on my Instagram feed that I wondered, what makes it so delicious? So, I went there with a friend over the weekend. We got off at Jongno 5-ga Station and came out of exit 8, and there it was, Gwangjang Market!

As soon as we entered, wow... there were so many people, and the aroma of all sorts of delicious foods was overwhelming, making it hard to decide where to start ㅋㅋ The savory smell of oil frying bindaetteok, the sesame oil scent from seasoning yukhoe, the spicy smell of tteokbokki simmering... it was truly a food paradise!

Gwangjang Market is said to be the first permanent market in Korea, established in 1905, and you can feel its over 120-year history. The sight of food stalls nestled between hanbok shops was truly the charm of a traditional market.

So, I checked out some blogs beforehand and tried three recommended restaurants in order, and they were all so delicious that I couldn't decide which one to rank first. Especially, there were so many foreign tourists taking photos and enjoying the food!

1st Place. Original Sunhee's Bindaetteok - This Is Truly Legendary

When you think of Gwangjang Market, you can't leave out bindaetteok! Sunhee's is famous for always having a long line, but luckily, when we went around 2 PM on a Saturday, we only waited about 10 minutes. From in front of the store, the smell of mung beans being ground and pancakes being cooked was truly mouth-watering.

Inside the store, wow... seeing bindaetteok piled up like a mountain was truly a sight! The lady was continuously cooking pancakes on a large iron plate, and the sizzling sound of the oil and the savory smell were amazing.

We ordered mung bean bindaetteok for 5,000 won and meat patties for 3,000 won, and wow... they were crispy yet moist inside, making me realize this is the true taste of bindaetteok. There was no greasy smell at all, and eating it with makgeolli was truly heaven ㅠㅠ

Especially, the abundance of mung beans made the nuttiness spread in my mouth, and the crunchy bean sprouts added a great texture. The meat patties were chewy and perfectly seasoned, making them a perfect combination with the bindaetteok!

My friend tried it for the first time and was amazed, saying, "This is the real taste of traditional Korean food." There were also many foreigners! Seeing Japanese tourists at the next table taking photos and repeatedly saying it was delicious made me proud ㅋㅋ

2nd Place. Buchon Yukhoe - Michelin Recognized Taste

There was a separate alley for yukhoe! Buchon Yukhoe had a sign saying it was featured in the Michelin Guide, so I had high expectations, and it exceeded them. While waiting in line, you can see them slicing yukhoe right next to you, and they were handling the fresh meat right there.

While waiting, I looked around and saw that the entire yukhoe alley was really lively. Men were having a glass of soju with yukhoe as a snack, and foreign tourists were taking photos in amazement... it was truly a unique atmosphere of Gwangjang Market.

We ordered yukhoe tartare for 33,000 won, and the portion was really large, and most importantly, the yukhoe was incredibly fresh! There was no unpleasant meat smell, and the seasoning was just right, allowing you to fully enjoy the natural taste of the meat. The octopus in the tartare was also chewy, and eating it with the yukhoe provided a great contrast in texture.

Personally, I think the seasoning is crucial for yukhoe, and here, the sesame oil, garlic, and pear were perfectly harmonized to enhance the sweetness of the meat. They also provide a separate gochujang sauce, and dipping it slightly adds a spicy flavor, offering another layer of enjoyment.

The accompanying radish soup was savory and warm, providing comfort while eating yukhoe. Especially after eating yukhoe, taking a spoonful of the hot soup cleansed the palate nicely. However, there is a bit of a wait, so you should expect to wait about 30 minutes.

3rd Place. Original Nude Cheese Gimbap - Truly Addictive

This is the gimbap that was famously called 'drug gimbap'! It's now renamed 'nude cheese gimbap,' and it's bite-sized, making it easy to eat and hard to stop once you start. It was a bit hard to find the store, but it's near the West Gate 2 of Gwangjang Market, in the same line as Jinju Yukhoe's 4th branch.

At first, I thought, "How special can gimbap be?" but once I tried it, I understood why it was called drug gimbap. The rice is a bit more seasoned than regular gimbap, and the ingredients inside are in perfect proportion.

We ordered tuna gimbap for 5,000 won, and dipping it in wasabi soy sauce was a fantastic combination. There was plenty of tuna inside, and the rice was perfectly seasoned. The seaweed was not crispy but moist, adding to the chewing pleasure.

But it was so addictive that we almost ordered another plate after finishing one ㅋㅋㅋ My friend stopped me, but... it's the kind of gimbap that magically disappears as you keep picking it up. The wasabi soy sauce is the key, as its sharpness pairs perfectly with the savory gimbap.

They say the japchae gimbap is also famous, but it was sold out when we went, so we couldn't try it ㅠㅠ Next time, I definitely want to try the japchae gimbap!

Bonus: Places I Couldn't Try but Want to Visit Next Time

Honestly, I was too full to try everything, but there were many places that looked delicious as I passed by!

Gwangjang Market Glutinous Rice Twisted Breadstick - The line here was incredibly long! They sprinkle cinnamon powder on freshly fried twisted breadsticks, and just the smell made my mouth water. I definitely want to try it next time.

3:50 PM Sundae Grandma - I saw on a blog that she sells sundae from a stall starting at 3:50 PM. You have to time it right, but they say the sundae is really special, so I'm curious!

Eunseong Raw Fish Restaurant Daegu Maeuntang - They've been in business for over 40 years in Gwangjang Market. Their daegu maeuntang is famous, and I'd like to try it when I'm in the mood for soju.

Gwangjang Market Visit Tips Summary

🚇 Transportation

Jongno 5-ga Station on Line 1, exit 8, is the closest. It's a 5-minute walk from Euljiro 4-ga Station on Lines 2 and 5, exit 4! I used Jongno 5-ga Station, and it was really convenient as it's right in front.

💰 Payment Methods

Many places only accept cash, so bring cash. Some places accept cards, but cash is more reliable. I prepared about 50,000 won, which was perfect for three people to eat to their heart's content.

⏰ Recommended Time

Weekend lunchtime (12-2 PM) is very crowded. Weekday afternoons from 2-4 PM or after 6 PM are more relaxed. We went at 2 PM on a Saturday, and there were still a lot of people!

🏷️ Waiting Tips

Waiting is common at famous places. Plan your time or explore lesser-known but delicious places! It's also fun to look around while waiting.

🧳 Essentials

Bring wet wipes! You'll be eating a lot of greasy food. Also, wear comfortable shoes - there are many places where you stand to eat, and the market is large, so you'll walk a lot.

📱 Photo Taking

When taking photos, be quick to avoid inconveniencing other customers! Especially in lines, ask for permission before taking photos.

Other Nearby Places Worth Visiting

After eating at Gwangjang Market, you can walk along Cheonggyecheon or visit Dongdaemun DDP, which are nearby. Especially in the evening, the lights at DDP are beautiful, perfect for Instagram photos!

There's also a Starbucks inside Gwangjang Market, which feels unique being in the middle of a traditional market ㅋㅋ It's a good place to stop by for dessert after eating.

Cheonggyecheon - Just a 3-minute walk from Gwangjang Market! It's perfect for a stroll to digest after a hearty meal. The light reflections in the evening are beautiful.

Jongmyo Shrine - If you like history, visit Jongmyo Shrine. It's a meaningful place where the ancestral tablets of the kings and queens of the Joseon Dynasty are enshrined.

Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP) - Just one subway stop away! The night view is beautiful, and there are frequent exhibitions, making it great for cultural experiences.

Honest Overall Review

Initially, I thought, "How great can market food be?" but my perspective completely changed. Especially Sunhee's Bindaetteok was a taste I couldn't find anywhere else. The 120-year tradition is there for a reason!

The prices were more affordable than I expected, and the portions were large, making it cost-effective. Three people can eat to their fill for about 30,000 won. However, there are a lot of people, so I recommend going with plenty of time!

And the unexpected highlight was the sheer number of foreign tourists. I heard English, Japanese, and Chinese all around, making it feel like an international tourist attraction. It made me proud to see our traditional food being loved worldwide!

Next time, I want to try the twisted breadsticks and spicy soup. And I definitely want to meet the 3:50 PM Sundae Grandma! There's so much to eat at Gwangjang Market that one day isn't enough ㅋㅋ

Revisit Intent: 100% revisit! Next time, I want to bring my family to show off the taste of Gwangjang Market ㅎㅎ