I’m finally getting back to writing about our Seoul trip that we took all the way back in March. On the first day of our trip, we had one goal: to get familiar with the public transportation system. That was it. That was the only thing we hoped to accomplish that day. And I’m glad we took the time to understand the subways because it would have been so easy to get overwhelmed with the different routes and stops. Thankfully, Naver makes it really easy to use the subways and buses – once you understand what it’s telling you! Besides familiarizing ourselves with the subways, we were able to hit up something that has been on my bucket list for a while: Gwangjang Market.
Gwangjang Market in Seoul
Gwangjang Market is the oldest permanent daily market in South Korea. It may not be as flashy or famous as others in Seoul, but it’s home to the best bindae-tteok in the city (according to my research) and it’s really an experience that cannot be matched elsewhere. It has over 5,000 different stands and shops offering everything from incredible food, to clothing, and even some of the more reasonably-priced souvenir shops I’ve seen. Whatever you’re looking for, there is something for everyone at Gwangjang Market.
Our purpose in coming to the market was for one thing and one thing only: food. Ever since watching the Seoul episode of “Somebody Feed Phil,” I’d been dying to grab some bindae-tteok – a mung bean pancake fried in oil. And while mung beans were definitely giving me flashbacks of The Office episodes (remember when Creed admits to sprouting mung beans in his desk?), I could not wait to try them for myself.
We wandered the market for a while before we found bindae-tteok. We purchased one for our whole family to share, and I’m glad we did because I was the ONLY one who liked it. But that’s fine because that meant there was more for me. Because I didn’t just like it – I LOVED it. It reminded me a lot of the Potato Latkes that my friend’s Jewish grandma made for a Hannukah party they were having. Delicious, crispy, flavorful – what more could anyone want!?
Since the kids didn’t care for bindae-tteok (although they did try it which is really all I ask), we stopped by a waffle stand and got them some street waffles. Here’s the thing: I lived in Belgium in high school. So when it comes to waffles, I can be a bit of a snob. There really is not much better than a Belgian Suiker Waffel straight off the griddle, smothered in melted chocolate and strawberries. *Wipes drool from chin.* But somehow, the street waffles in Seoul are AT LEAST as good as the Suiker Waffels – sorry Belgium!
Thin, crispy waffles filled with a variety of creams and fillings… I’d make a trip up to Seoul again for those alone! I personally recommend getting a waffle filled with strawberry cream and apple cream – a combination that I never would have picked myself, but was so surprised by how delicious it was!
In all, we only spent about an hour at Gwangjang Market. We found it difficult to cut through the crowds with two strollers and five kids (and on a Saturday night it was INSANELY busy), and honestly by the time we’d spent an hour there our kids were tired and ready to just head back to the hotel to swim. But even only spending an hour in the famous market was enough to get a feel for it. And the next time we’re in Seoul, we plan to go back!
’til next time…
Ash
Tips for visiting Gwangjang Market in Seoul
Directions: We used Naver to navigate our way through the subways to get to the market. If you paste 광장시장 into Naver it will take you to one of the entrances. But in short, to get to the market, you’ll take Line 1 to to Jongno 5-ga Station and exit the subway station from exit 7.
Tips for visiting with kids: Leave the bulky strollers behind if you’re visiting with kids. The narrow walkways of the market are difficult or even impossible to navigate if you have a large or wagon-style stroller. Even our umbrella strollers proved to be a challenge, although it was possible with them. Still, I recommend carrying small children or using a baby-carrier rather than trying to bring strollers.
