10 food markets worth the trip across South Korea, editor-ranked by TableJourney. All South Korea guides.
Jagalchi Market ★ 4.8 · Busan
Nampo and Jagalchi · 52 Jagalchihaean-ro, Jung-gu, Busan
Jagalchi Market is Korea's largest fish market, born from Busan's wartime waterfront, where you pick live seafood downstairs and eat it upstairs.
Tip: Buy on the ground floor, then pay a sitting fee at the second-floor hoe rooms to have it cut and served.
Gwangjang Market ★ 4.8 · Seoul
Jongno and Insadong · 88 Changgyeonggung-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul
Gwangjang Market, established in 1905, is the oldest continuous daily market in Korea and the city's most essential food destination for visitors.
Noryangjin Fish Market ★ 4.7 · Seoul
Dongjak-gu · 674 Nodeul-ro, Dongjak-gu, Seoul
Noryangjin is Seoul's wholesale fish market and its most dramatic food experience: buy live seafood at the auction, take it upstairs to be cooked on the spot.
Gukje Market ★ 4.6 · Busan
Nampo and Jagalchi · 32 Junggu-ro, Jung-gu, Busan
Gukje Market grew out of postwar Busan and still runs as a maze of stalls, its food alleys ladling bibim dangmyeon, yubu pockets and chungmu gimbap.
Tip: Head for the food alley crossroads where the ajummas share bench seating; point-and-order works fine.
Bupyeong Kkangtong Market ★ 4.5 · Busan
Nampo and Jagalchi · 48 Bupyeong 1-gil, Jung-gu, Busan
Bupyeong Kkangtong Market runs Korea's first regular night market in Busan, tin-can history by day and cart food at plastic tables after dark.
Tip: Come hungry after half past seven when the carts roll out; work one lap before committing.
Namdaemun Market ★ 4.5 · Seoul
Jung-gu and Myeongdong · 21 Namdaemunsijang 4-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul
Namdaemun is the largest traditional market in Korea, adjacent to Sungnyemun Gate, with hotteok stalls, kalguksu counters and 24-hour food lanes.
Millak Raw Fish Town ★ 4.4 · Busan
Gwangalli · 60 Gwanganhaebyeon-ro 312beon-gil, Suyeong-gu, Busan
Millak Raw Fish Town stacks hoe vendors at the end of Gwangalli Beach in Busan; buy your sliced fish downstairs and eat it upstairs facing the bridge.
Tip: Get a takeaway hoe box and eat on the beach wall; upstairs rooms charge a table fee instead.
Tongin Market ★ 4.4 · Seoul
Jongno and Insadong · 18 Jahamun-ro 15-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul
Tongin Market: buy a dosirak tray and brass yeopjeon coins, fill the tray from banchan stalls across the market, then eat in the communal hall at the back.
Haeundae Traditional Market ★ 4.3 · Busan
Haeundae · 22-1 Gunam-ro 41beon-gil, Haeundae-gu, Busan
Haeundae Traditional Market packs one covered lane behind Busan's busiest beach with tteokbokki counters, grilled hagfish and gukbap kitchens.
Tip: Walk the full lane before choosing; the famous tteokbokki queue moves faster than it looks.
Mangwon Market ★ 4.3 · Seoul
Hongdae and Yeonnam · 2 Mangwon-ro, Mapo-gu, Seoul
Mangwon is the neighbourhood market for Mapo-gu, a covered traditional market that serves the residential community between Hongdae and Yeouido.