EKSEAT KOREAN STYLE
HOME

SEOUL · ORDER · EAT · SHARE

KOREAN
STREET FOOD
GUIDE.

Do not just find the food. Know what to say and how to eat it.

Five practical chapters explain where to go, what to order together, how each stall or tent works, and how Koreans actually enjoy the food.

01

NORYANGJIN CUPBAP STREET

CUPBAP:
SEOUL’S FAST MEAL.

Noryangjin Cupbap Street in Dongjak-gu is the best-known home of cupbap. It grew around the academy district as an inexpensive meal that could be assembled and eaten quickly.

American fast-casual Cupbop is related in idea, but Noryangjin cupbap is a smaller Korean student street meal built around rice, egg, kimchi, meat and sauce.

02

POJANGMACHA · STREET FOOD & DRINKS

SEOUL’S CASUAL
NIGHT TENTS.

A pojangmacha is a casual tented street pub where friends, coworkers and young adults share affordable drinks and anju such as pajeon, spicy pork, chicken gizzards, tofu kimchi and fish-cake soup.

FROM SEAT TO PAYMENT

  1. Look for an open table and ask before sitting.
  2. Choose soju, beer or makgeolli, then order one or two dishes to share.
  3. Balance a spicy or fried dish with a warm soup.
  4. Call “여기요” when you need another order.
  5. Ask whether cards are accepted if you have no cash.
  6. Request the bill at your seat or pay as you leave, depending on the tent.
  • 여기 앉아도 돼요?May we sit here?
  • 막걸리 하나하고 파전 주세요.One makgeolli and one pajeon, please.
  • 계산해 주세요.The bill, please.

03

TTEOK-SUN-TWI · 떡순튀

TTEOKBOKKI,
SUNDAE & TWIGIM.

Tteokbokki and assorted fried snacks coated in spicy sauce

THE CLASSIC BUNSIK ORDER

“Tteok-sun-twi” is the familiar shorthand for ordering tteokbokki, sundae and twigim together. Choose tteokbokki first, add one portion of sundae, then point to the fried pieces you want.

  1. Decide whether you want sundae with organ pieces.
  2. Choose squid, sweet potato, dumpling, seaweed roll or other available twigim.
  3. Keep the twigim crisp for dipping, or ask for it to be cut and mixed in tteokbokki sauce.
  4. Share all three from the middle rather than treating them as separate courses.
  • 떡순튀로 주세요.Tteokbokki, sundae and twigim, please.
  • 순대는 내장 빼주세요.Sundae without the organ pieces, please.
  • 튀김 섞어 주세요.Please mix the fried snacks with the sauce.
OPEN THE FULL TTEOKBOKKI GUIDE →

04REGIONAL STREET-FOOD SPECIALTIES

A FOOD WORTH
GOING THERE FOR.

These Seoul destinations have a recognizable food identity. Each card keeps its location, ordering method and eating method together.

01

SEOUL DESTINATION

Sindang-dong Tteokbokki Town

Jeukseok Tteokbokki

Order by the number of diners, cook the shared pan at the table, add noodles during the meal, then use the remaining sauce for fried rice.
02

SEOUL DESTINATION

Gwangjang Market

Bindaetteok & Mayak Gimbap

Share the crisp mung-bean pancake with onion soy sauce. Eat the small sesame-scented gimbap whole or in two bites with mustard sauce.
03

SEOUL DESTINATION

Namdaemun Market

Vegetable Hotteok

This is savory hotteok filled with glass noodles and vegetables. Hold the paper cup carefully—the filling and oil stay extremely hot.
04

SEOUL DESTINATION

Dongmyo & Seoul Folk Flea Market

Gilgeori Toast

Look around the market and station exits for griddle stalls. Egg, cabbage, ketchup and sugar create the classic sweet-savory taste.
05

SEOUL DESTINATION

Tongin Market

Yeopjeon Lunchbox

Buy the coin set and lunchbox first, then exchange the brass coins for small servings. Walk through the market before spending every coin.
06

SEOUL DESTINATION

Sillim Sundae Town

Baeksundae

This is an indoor food-town experience. Dip the mild stir-fried sundae and glass noodles in perilla-rich sauce, then order fried rice if offered.

05POPULAR STREET FOOD · EASY TO FIND

FIND IT AS
YOU EXPLORE.

These foods do not require a special food street. Look around markets, station exits and subway or train concourses as noted.

Sweet-spicy crispy chicken

Dakgangjeong

Widely available at traditional markets and street-food shops. You do not need to visit one particular neighborhood.

Hot brown-sugar pancake

Hotteok

Hold it in the paper cup and wait before biting. The melted syrup can be much hotter than the outside.

Warm custard-filled mini cakes

Delimanjoo

Commonly found inside subway and train stations rather than outdoor stalls. The sweet smell often leads you to the shop.

Red bean or custard fish-shaped cake

Bungeoppang

Usually found near markets and station exits in cold weather. It can be difficult to find during summer.

Fish-cake skewers

Eomuk & Red Eomuk

Eat one stick at a time, sip the hot broth when offered, and keep the sticks for counting at some stalls.

Chicken skewers

Dakkochi

Choose salt, teriyaki-style or spicy sauce, then eat directly from the skewer while it is hot.