What to Eat at Gwangjang Market

What should you eat first?

Start with what you enjoy, rather than trying to finish a list of everything the market sells.

Visiting alone? Order one dish, eat it, then decide what comes next. With a companion, ask whether a portion is suitable for sharing.

3 foods to try first at Gwangjang Market

1. Tteokbokki with radish

In my three-food short, I eat tteokbokki with shredded radish. The radish is the detail I highlight in the clip. If that combination caught your attention, look for a menu that specifically offers it rather than expecting every tteokbokki stall to serve the same version.

A separate tteokbokki video shows the sign for Ganggane Tteokbokki (강가네떡볶이). Its listed address is 2 Jong-ro 32-gil, Arcade 101, Jongno-gu (서울 종로구 종로32길 2 아케이트 101호). Search the Korean name in your map app and match the sign. The address is also listed by DiningCode.

Current hours are not consistently reported, so check before making this your main reason to visit. At the counter, ask whether you are ordering rice cakes alone or a rice-cake-and-fried-snack set, and confirm what that set includes.

2. Kkwabaegi: the twisted doughnut

The next food in my short is a twisted doughnut, or kkwabaegi. I show the counter queue and then eat the doughnut. It is an easy sweet option to keep for after something savoury.

Look for 꽈배기 on the menu. Confirm the flavour and number of pieces before paying, and let a freshly fried doughnut cool before biting into it. This guide recommends the snack; the vendor in this clip is not yet confirmed.

3. Mayak gimbap: small seaweed-and-rice rolls

The third stop shows small gimbap rolls with pickled radish. If you want a savoury option without ordering a whole plate of spicy rice cakes, start by checking this menu.

Ask how many rolls come in one portion and what is inside. Check the accompanying sauce separately if you avoid spicy or sharp flavours.

More Gwangjang Market food: bindaetteok, sundae and yukhoe

• Bindaetteok (빈대떡): a mung bean pancake. Do not assume “mung bean” means vegetarian; recipes can contain pork and other ingredients.
• Sundae (순대): Korean blood sausage. My tip: I find the options similar enough that I would choose a less crowded stall with an available seat instead of joining a long queue just for sundae. Check the menu and price, ask whether offal is included, and order from the stall whose seats you use.
• Yukhoe (육회): seasoned raw beef. For this guide, my suggested stop is Hyeongje Yukhoe, main branch (형제육회 본점), at 200-1 Jong-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul (서울 종로구 종로 200-1). Find Hyeongje Yukhoe on Google Maps. This address is listed by Polle; confirm current hours and menu with the restaurant. Yukhoe is raw beef; choose another dish if you prefer cooked food.

Ordering at Gwangjang Market: cash, prices and portions

Do you need cash at Gwangjang Market?

Yes—bring some Korean won as a backup, because card acceptance varies by stall. Keep small notes available. Some market businesses may only take cash, while others accept cards. Ask before ordering instead of assuming either rule applies everywhere. The Korea Tourism Organization recommends carrying a small amount of cash for traditional markets and street shops. KTO payment guidance.

Confirm what the displayed price buys

1. Point to the item you want. Check whether the price is for one piece, one serving or a set.
2. Confirm the quantity. Ask how many pieces or rolls you will receive.
3. Check extras. Before accepting additional food, ask whether it is included or costs more.
4. Confirm the total and payment method. If the total is unclear, ask the vendor to show it on a calculator before preparation.

There is no single “market price” that covers every vendor. Compare menus if you are deciding between stalls, and use the price displayed where you actually order. Agreeing on the order is more useful than assuming food prices are negotiable.

A few practical precautions

If you have dietary restrictions, check the filling, sauce and broth—not just the dish name. A photo cannot establish that a meal meets your needs. Keep your bag close, step out of the walkway to take photos, and be careful around hot pans and bowls. Ask where you may eat before taking a seat, especially if you have food from another vendor.

Getting to Gwangjang Market and choosing a time

For a food-focused visit, leave room around lunch or the afternoon in your itinerary and check any must-visit stall first. Avoid putting a timed booking immediately after the market if you want flexibility to browse.

The station choice answers how to reach this stop. If you are deciding what to use for the rest of your journeys, read how to assess a Seoul transit pass against your itinerary.

A coffee break and a simple next stop

For an outdoor follow-up, consider Cheonggyecheon Stream. KTO’s market guide places South Gate 1 in the direction of the stream. Check a walking route from your actual exit and any access notices before heading down. You can keep this as a short walk rather than adding another full neighbourhood to the day.

When planning beyond this visit, the five-day Seoul planning guide helps you group stops around your hotel and fixed bookings.