9 budget eating worth the trip across South Korea, editor-ranked by TableJourney. All South Korea guides.
Gwangjang Market Stalls ★ 4.7 · Seoul
Jongno and Insadong · 88 Changgyeonggung-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul
Gwangjang Market is the best place in Seoul to eat for very little: bindaetteok for 4,000 won, mayak gimbap for 3,000 and soondae blood sausage for 5,000.
Imun Seolnongtang ★ 4.5 · Seoul
Jongno and Insadong · 38-13 Ujeongguk-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul
Imun Seolnongtang has served the same bowl since 1904 -- seolnongtang, a milky ox bone and brisket broth, for ₩10,000. Michelin Bib Gourmand recognised.
Hadongkwan ★ 4.4 · Seoul
Jung-gu and Myeongdong · 12 Myeongdong 9-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul
Hadongkwan has served seolleongtang (milky ox bone and brisket soup) from its Myeongdong address since 1939, at a price that remains practically unchanged.
Tongin Market Coin Lunchbox ★ 4.3 · Seoul
Jongno and Insadong · 18 Jahamun-ro 15-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul
Tongin Market's coin lunchbox is one of Seoul's best budget eating experiences: trade traditional brass coins for banchan at stalls across the covered market.
Namdaemun Market Kalguksu Alley ★ 4.3 · Seoul
Jung-gu and Myeongdong · 21 Namdaemunsijang 4-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul
The kalguksu stalls inside Namdaemun Market serve knife-cut wheat noodles in a clean anchovy-and-kelp broth with zucchini and green onion for ₩7,000-8,000.
Myeongdong Tteokbokki Carts ★ 4.1 · Seoul
Jung-gu and Myeongdong · Myeongdong-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul
Myeongdong pedestrian strip has dense street food carts: tteokbokki, gyeran-ppang (egg bread), and fish cake skewers from 2,000 won in central Seoul.
Maru Jayeonsik Kimbap ★ 4.0 · Seoul
Jongno and Insadong · 3-20 Insadong-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul
Maru Jayeonsik Kimbap is a small counter in Insadong serving gimbap made with natural, MSG-free ingredients and a rotating selection of plant-based banchan.
Euljiro Jjajangmyeon Alleys ★ 4.0 · Seoul
Jung-gu and Myeongdong · Euljiro 3-ga, Jung-gu, Seoul
The Euljiro industrial backstreets have a cluster of Chinese-Korean (jungshik) restaurants serving jjajangmyeon (wheat noodles in black bean paste sauce).
Pig Company Hongdae ★ 4.0 · Seoul
Hongdae and Yeonnam · 28 Hongik-ro 5an-gil, Seogyo-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul
Pig Company's Hongdae outpost runs a foreigner-friendly all-you-can-eat samgyeopsal counter with pork belly, neck, marinated cuts and a banchan spread on a flat two-hour clock.