13 food tours worth the trip across South Korea, editor-ranked by TableJourney. All South Korea guides.

O'ngo Food: Luxury Food and Culture Tour ★ 4.7 · Seoul

Jongno and Insadong

O'ngo's luxury food and culture tour is a full-day private experience combining a market walk with a cooking session and shortlisted restaurant visits.

O'ngo Food: Small Group Night Dining Tour ★ 4.6 · Seoul

Jongno and Insadong

O'ngo Food Communications runs Seoul's most established English-language night dining tour, starting at Anguk Station Exit 5 at 17:00 on Tuesday and Saturday.

★ 4.6 · Seoul

Mapo-gu · Gongdeok Station Exit 7, Mapo-gu, Seoul

ZenKimchi's Anthony Bourdain Korean BBQ Experience walks Mapo for three hours of charcoal pork, jeon savoury pancakes and a hidden traditional pub.

Tip: Two departures, 13:00 and 18:00, and the ticket covers all food and drink. Book at least 24 hours ahead or the slot is cancelled.

★ 4.6 · Seoul

Bukchon · Anguk Station Exit 1, Jongno-gu, Seoul

Korean Gourmet Hunters (formerly Gastro Tour Seoul) runs the Bukchon walk: a hanjeongsik multi-course Korean lunch, hanok lanes and a traditional tea room across three hours.

Tip: Runs every Monday through Saturday from 13:00 at Anguk Station exit 1. Two people minimum and the quoted fare includes VAT.

★ 4.5 · Seoul

Mapo-gu · Mangwon Station Exit 2, Mapo-gu, Seoul

ZenKimchi's chimac crawl of fried chicken and beer leaves Mangwon Station at 18:00 for an old-school hof, a market walk and a smoked chicken bar.

Tip: Beer is included at every stop and a non-alcoholic option is offered. Discounts apply for groups of two or more; book 24 hours ahead.

★ 4.5 · Seoul

Jung-gu · Seoul Station Exit 2, Jung-gu, Seoul

Korean Gourmet Hunters (formerly Gastro Tour Seoul) walks Namdaemun Market and Myeongdong along the Seoullo 7017 skywalk, tasting up to ten dishes including kalguksu knife-cut noodles.

Tip: Departs 13:00 from Seoul Station exit 2, not the KTX exit 2. Two people minimum and the quoted fare includes VAT.

★ 4.5 · Seoul

Jongno-gu · 229 Changgyeonggung-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul

The Sool Company's Insadong taster tour spends three hours across three makgeolli bars, each pouring its own house style of the Korean rice brew.

Tip: The company also runs brewing classes from its Hyehwa-dong tasting room, so check which product you are booking before you pay.

★ 4.5 · Seoul

Hapjeong · Hapjeong Station Exit 8, Mapo-gu, Seoul

Delectable Travels runs Daniel Gray's west side walk from Hapjeong Station: a local market, charcoal beef, jeon with makgeolli and street dessert.

Tip: Starts at 18:00 at Hapjeong Station exit 8. Three people minimum for a private booking, or join an existing open tour at no surcharge.

★ 4.4 · Seoul

Jongno · 88 Changgyeonggung-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul

Secret Food Tours Seoul runs a Gwangjang Market and Insadong walk with a traditional Korean BBQ sit-down stop, a makgeolli pour and a secret dessert at the closer.

★ 4.4 · Seoul

Jongno · Anguk Station, Jongno-gu, Seoul

Withlocals Seoul Private Food Tour pairs you with a local host for a Jongno tasting walk: Gwangjang Market, Tongin Market and a Korean BBQ sit-down.

★ 4.3 · Busan

I Love Hansik walks Busan's three central markets in one three-hour sweep, tasting street food through Jagalchi, Kkangtong and Gukje with a local guide.

Tip: Tastings and bottled water are included; come hungry and skip lunch beforehand.

★ 4.2 · Busan

I Love Hansik's two-day Busan package strings the market circuit to Cheongsapo hands-on sessions, making fish cake, seaweed pancake and rice wine.

Tip: Transport, tastings and workshops are included; book ahead so the interpreter languages line up.

★ 4.2 · Busan

Busan Cooking Class folds a local market walk into its daily seafood cooking session, so the morning ends with lunch you shopped for and cooked.

Tip: The market leg depends on the day's shopping list; flag allergies when you send the inquiry.