Top Budget Eating in South Korea: 19 editor picks

19 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.

Jeongjitgan ★ 4.5 · Busan

Saha-gu · 6 Bibong-ro, Saha-gu, Busan 49419

Jeongjitgan keeps its Bib Gourmand dwaeji gukbap near 10,000 won all day and all night in Busan's Sinpyeong, rice and soup that outwork most dinners.

Tip: It sits by Sinpyeong Station with its own car park, and the kiosk ordering moves fast.

Hapcheon Gukbapjip ★ 4.5 · Busan

Nam-gu · 235 Yongho-ro, Nam-gu, Busan 48593

Hapcheon Gukbapjip serves its clear-broth ttaro gukbap at everyday prices in Yongho-dong, Busan, a Bib Gourmand bowl that beats most tourist lunches.

Tip: The red-signed dining room fills at lunch; the Hanaro Mart car park over the road gives an hour free.

Pyeongsanok ★ 4.5 · Busan

Busan Station and Choryang · 26 Choryangjung-ro, Dong-gu, Busan 48818

Pyeongsanok sells a 10,000 won suyuk plate and 3,000 won noodles near Busan Station, over a century of cheap, serious cooking in one old room.

Tip: It can shut early when the suyuk runs out, so treat it as a lunch stop rather than a dinner plan.

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.

Halmae Gaya Milmyeon ★ 4.4 · Busan

Nampo and Jagalchi · 56-14 Gwangbok-ro, Jung-gu, Busan

Halmae Gaya Milmyeon sells Busan's signature cold wheat noodles on Gwangbok-ro, bowls around 8,000 won in the arcade behind the Nampo-dong shopping streets.

Tip: Sit anywhere and order fast; the kitchen turns bowls around in minutes even at peak.

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.

1969 Buwondong Kalguksu ★ 4.3 · Busan

Nampo and Jagalchi · 3 Gudeok-ro 22beon-gil, Jung-gu, Busan 48954

1969 Buwondong Kalguksu keeps hand-cut noodle bowls at 9,000 won in Nampo-dong, Busan, milled in-house and only steps from BIFF Square's snack crowds.

Tip: It sits steps from Nampo Station exit 1; the summer kongguksu is a local ritual worth timing.

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.

Cha Ae Jeon Halmae Kalguksu ★ 4.2 · Busan

Yeonje-gu · 70 Gwajeong-ro 191beonga-gil, Yeonje-gu, Busan 47558

Cha Ae Jeon Halmae Kalguksu has priced breakfast noodles for Yeonsan-dong locals since 1982, Busan's Michelin Guide answer to a cheap morning meal.

Tip: It closes by mid-afternoon and alternate Sundays; go for a late breakfast like the regulars.

Pyeongyangjip ★ 4.2 · Busan

Buk-gu · 21 Geumgok-daero 20beon-gil, Buk-gu, Busan 46547

Pyeongyangjip's 5,000 won mandu baekban in Deokcheon may be Busan's best Michelin-listed lunch deal, dumplings with rice, soup and sides included.

Tip: It is a lunch-only stop five minutes from Deokcheon Station exit 10; go before the office rush.

Bibijae ★ 4.2 · Busan

Gwangalli · 45 Namcheonbada-ro 10beon-gil, Suyeong-gu, Busan 48314

Bibijae turns out Bib Gourmand bibimbap bowls from 11,500 won in Namcheon-dong, Busan, mala or gang-doenjang, each a one-dish argument for lunch.

Tip: It also delivers locally, but the stone-bowl crust only happens if you eat in.

Nagahama Mangetsu ★ 4.2 · Busan

Haeundae · 57 Udong 1-ro, Haeundae-gu, Busan 48088

Nagahama Mangetsu prices its Bib Gourmand tonkotsu at 9,500 won on Haeridan-gil, Busan, which makes it the cheapest Michelin-listed slurp in the city.

Tip: Register on the in-store tablet queue, then browse Haeridan-gil until your number is called.

Sinchang Toast ★ 4.2 · Busan

Nampo and Jagalchi · 21-1 Gwangbok-ro 39beon-gil, Jung-gu, Busan

Sinchang Toast prices a hot Busan breakfast between 2,000 and 4,500 won at the mouth of Gukje Market, butter-griddled and built to order in minutes.

Tip: The jam toast at 2,000 won may be the cheapest hot breakfast in central Busan.

Top Budget Eating in South Korea