Best Street Food In Myeongdong
Seoul is a foodie haven with a vast array of delicious street food and bustling markets, and one of the main reasons people travel to South Korea is to try the famous street food.
One of the most popular spots to try street food in Seoul is Myeongdong. The two main shopping streets in the area are lined with street food vendors selling a wide variety of Korean treats and snacks.
This article will outline the best street food in Myeongdong, including the best savoury street foods and sweet treats.
We also give you a rough outline of how to get to Myeongdong, how much the street food in Myeongdong will likely cost and the best time to visit the markets in Myeongdong.
So, let’s dive into: Best Street Food In Myeongdong
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Myeongdong Street Food at a Glance
Our favourite savoury street foods: Gyeran Bbang; Bindaetteok; Gimbap
Our favourite sweet treats in Myeongdong: Dalgona; Hotteok; Bungeoppang
Best culinary experience in Seoul: Kimchi and tteokbokki cooking class in Myeongdong
Best place to stay in Myeongdong: Royal Hotel Seoul
How to get to Myeongdong?
Jumping on the Subway or a Bus is probably the easiest way to get to Myeongdong to try street food. Taxis are also a good option but are more expensive and sometimes difficult to track down during busy times.
Alternatively, Myeongdong is one of the best places to stay in Seoul, so perhaps you should just book your accommodation there and then you can simply walk to try all the amazing Korean street food.
Subway - you can choose to get Line 4 (Exit 6) and get off at the Myeongdong station or Line 2 (Exit 5 or 6) for the Euljiro 1-ga station. The main shopping streets in Myeongdong are just a short walk from either of these stations.
Bus - several bus routes can get you to Myeongdong that either stop at the Lotte Shopping Centre or the Euljiro 1-ga station.
Seoul travel tip: to get around South Korea as easily as possible, we discovered how to buy a Korean SIM card at Seoul Incheon Airport and downloaded Naver Map - a great navigational app that works far better than google maps in South Korea!
Where to find street food in Myeongdong?
While you can basically find street food on any corner in Myeongdong, for the most choices and range of street food, you want to head to the two main shopping streets - Myeongdong-gil and Myeongdong-8-gil.
Here, you will find various street food vendors selling all kinds of Korean treats and delicacies. We have heard reports that prior to 2020, the Myeongdong night market was a lot busier than it is today.
For us, that is hard to imagine because it felt like both main streets had a vast array of options. You’ll definitely find something for any taste bud in Myeongdong.
More options for exploring the local cuisine
When is the best time to get street food in Myeongdong?
When we stayed in Myeongdong, most street vendors set up their stalls by 4 pm and were there throughout the evening.
Typically most of the vendors will be packed up around 12pm so for the best time to get street food in Myeongdong, we would recommend between 8-10pm.
You can honestly spend hours walking up and down all the vendors in Myeongdong, so what we used to do was to grab 1 or 2 things, go sit somewhere for a late-night coffee and then head back out again to grab another street food.
People lining the streets at the Myeongdong Street Food Stalls
How much does it cost to buy street food in Myeongdong?
The Street food in Myeongdong naturally varies in price depending on what you will be buying. For example, a single Gyeran Bbang (Korean Egg Bread) can cost as little as 1000 won, whereas a portion of Yangnyeom Chicken (Sweet and Spicy Fried Chicken) can cost around 5000 won.
As a rule of thumb, if you are going to have street food in Myeongdong as your main meal for the evening, then you will probably need 2 or 3 savoury items and 1 or 2 sweet treats - this is likely to cost you in the region of around 10000 - 15000 won.
Obviously these prices can change regularly and it is wholly dependent on what street food you opt to try in Myeongdong.
Quick Tip : most of the street food vendors don’t accept cards so be sure to bring cash with you.
Can you get vegetarian street food in Myeongdong?
While it is possible to get vegetarian street food in Myeongdong, you do have to tread carefully. Even when asking for ‘no meat’ in Korea, you can still sometimes get served something with fish in it, which is why one of our South Korea travel tips is always to make sure something is vegetarian before taking a bite out of it.
Some of the best vegetarian street foods to search for in Myeongdong are Gyeran Bbang, Tteokbokki and plain Bindaetteok.
Best street food in Myeongdong
Gyeran Bbang
Gyeran Bbang - Warm Korean Eggy Bread
One of the most famous street foods in Korea, particularly on a cold winter’s night, Gyeran Bbang is a wonderful eggy bread combination that serves as a delicious snack on the go.
This was actually the first street food we tried in Myeongdong, and it was certainly a great introduction to the food scene in Seoul. The egg is actually cooked within the bread so it takes a few bites to get to the yolk in the middle!
2. Tteokbokki
Tteokbokki is one of the most traditional street foods to find in Myeongdong and is essentially a spicy stir-fried rice cake. We found that they have quite a similar texture and consistency to Gnocchi.
‘Tteok’ is the Korean word for ‘rice cake’, and ‘bokki’ means ‘fried’, hence the name Tteokbokki. It usually comes served in a sticky sauce that is both sweet and spicy. Ask any Korean what their favourite street food is, and they will likely say Tteokbokki.
3. Sundae
Before you ask - no, this is not an ice cream. Sundae is a very traditional Korean Sausage and is not for the faint-hearted.
It is traditionally made by steaming or boiling the intestines of cows or pigs stuffed with various ingredients. Sundae is a blood sausage, so is quite similar to black pudding in the UK.
Sundae may not seem appealing at first glance, but it proved very popular in Myeongdong, with several different street vendors selling variations of the sausage.
4. Bindaetteok
Bindaetteok - one of our favourite street foods in Seoul
Bindaetteok is a Korean pancake that primarily consists of ground Mung Bean. Perfectly crispy on the outside and soft like a hash brown on the inside, these pancakes come with various fillings.
The most traditional is the plain Bindaetteok, which is usually filled with spring onions (scallions) and spicy green peppers, served alongside a dipping sauce of white onions in soy sauce. Make sure to have some onion and soy sauce with each bite of Bindaetteok if you want to blend in with the locals!
We actually tried a seafood Bindaetteok in Gwangjang Market, and it was delicious - it had chopped-up pieces of clam and prawns in it. They are very filling, though, so if you plan to try a few different street foods in Myeongdong, then maybe you should get one to share.
5. Hweori Gamja (Tornado Potato)
Sometimes referred to as twist potato or tornado fries, Tornado potato is basically deep-fried spiralled potato on a skewer - what more could you want?
Hweori Gamja can be found in markets and on street corners all throughout Seoul, but they seemed to be a hit in Myeongdong particularly. They are usually brushed with seasonings and herbs such as onion and cheese but rather uniquely, you can also get sweet tornado potato that is brushed with honey.
6. Freshly Squeezed Fruit Juice
Thankfully there are plenty of street food vendors in Myeongdong selling freshly squeezed fruit juice so you have something to wash down all those wonderful flavours.
Pomegranate and orange juice are the most common fruit juices you’ll find in Myeongdong and they often come served in a little plastic container that reminds us of Capri-sun cartons.
Do you want to try even more Korean street food? Try this Food tour through the alleys of Seoul to discover those hidden gems you won’t be able to find in any guidebook.
7. Odeng or Eomuk
While on the face of it, Odeng doesn’t sound like the most appealing street food you can try in Myeongdong, it is a Korean staple and actually a lot tastier than it sounds.
Odeng is essentially a fish cake on a skewer, but instead of a traditional fish cake that you’d expect at home, it is minced fish added together with flour or starchy ingredients to make it into a paste (we did warn you that it didn’t sound appealing on paper).
The Odeng is then boiled in a fish broth and served on a skewer, usually with a sauce or flavouring on top. It is surprisingly very tasty!
8. Gimbap
Often referred to as the Korean Sushi Roll, Gimbap is a staple of Korean cuisine and arguably one of the healthiest street foods in Myeongdong.
Made from cooked rice and fillings, rolled in sheets of dried seaweed and served in bite-sized slices, Gimbap differs from sushi in that it never contains raw fish, and the rice is seasoned with sesame oil rather than vinegar that is traditionally used by the Japanese for sushi.
You’ll see plenty of street food stalls in Myeongdong selling Gimbap
9. Mandu
Mandu are dumplings served in Korea that can be pan-fried, boiled, steamed or deep-fried. More often than not, when you buy mandu from a street food vendor in Myeongdong, it will have been deep-fried.
Generally filled with one of two fillings, Pork or Kimchi, these dumplings are a delicious street food to try during the colder evenings in Seoul, as they are sure to give you a lovely, warm feeling. Interestingly, mandu is often added to soups and broths in Korean cuisine, but from the street food stalls, they will be served alone with a garnish of soy sauce.
Kimchi-flavoured mandu (dumplings) were our favourite in Seoul
10. Roasted Chestnuts
A warm autumnal snack, roasted chestnuts are a popular street food around the world and it is no surprise to see them being sold in Myeongdong.
The soft texture and nutty flavour isn’t for everybody, but they certainly warm you up and keep you going as you explore more of the area.
11. Grilled Cheese
Grilled cheese is a simple street food that you can find in Myeongdong that represents a quick and easy bite to eat.
Some street food vendors alternate the grilled mozzarella on a skewer with Tteokbokki rice cakes, but most prefer to sell pure grilled mozzarella chunks. Either way, it’s quick and tasty!
Grilled or baked, you’re likely to find plenty of Cheese in Myeongdong
12. Yangnyeom Chicken
Yangnyeom chicken is a variety of Korean fried chicken served in a sweet and spicy sauce. The sauce is made from gochujang, garlic, sugar and other seasonings.
Yangnyeom chicken is a favourite bar-food snack in Seoul, often served alongside a beer or Soju (Korea’s most famous alcoholic drink), but you can happily eat it from a street food vendor without adding a drink to accompany it.
The Yangnyeom chicken we had came served with Tteokkbokki, making a delicious meal
13. Roasted Sweet Potato
One of the simplest street foods in Myeongdong, roasted sweet potato is precisely as you’d expect - in fact, in Myeongdong the potatoes are so hearty and sweet that they don’t even serve them with toppings.
Walking around with a roasted sweet potato in hand is the perfect way to spend a cold winter night on the main shopping street of Myeongdong.
14. Shine Muscat Grapes
Often, when trying street food around the world, you will come across vendors selling fruit of all varieties. It’s rare, however, to find a street food stall dedicated to grapes and only one specific variety of grapes at that.
In Myeongdong, though, you will find plenty of stalls offering the famous Shine Muscat Grape - large green, seedless grapes that are grown all over Korea.
Most of the time in Seoul you will find street food stalls selling the grapes on their own, but in Myeongdong you will also come across vendors selling the grapes surrounded by a sugary syrup for extra sweetness.
An entire street food stand dedicated to one type of grape!
15. Korean Corn Dog
If you’re looking for a sweet and salty snack in Seoul, look no further than the Korean Corn Dog.
Typically, Korean corn dogs are hot dogs coated in batter, deep-fried and then finished with a layer of sugar. You can then choose to add ketchup, mayonnaise or mustard on top. Some brave souls even add all 3!
Uniquely, Korean corn dogs don’t always come with an actual hot dog, instead having a centre of mozzarella cheese, fish cake or even rice cake.
Best street food desserts in Myeongdong
The street food in Myeongdong isn’t just limited to savoury dishes. There is also a huge variety of sweet treats to try when walking around the lively district's streets. So here is a quick rundown of the best street food desserts in Myeongdong.
16. Hotteok
A trip to the Myeongdong street food stalls isn’t complete without trying one of these decadently sweet and sticky delicacies.
Though more traditionally a Chinese dessert, hotteok is ubiquitous in South Korea, and you will be spoiled for choice at the street food vendors in Myeongdong.
Hotteok is a sweet-filled pancake made from a yeasted dough that can be filled with a variety of fillings such as honey, brown sugar, cinnamon, sesame seeds and syrup.
Balls of filled dough are placed on a heavily greased griddle and pressed down with a steel circle as it cooks, resulting in a piping hot, caramelised treat.
A delicious warm hotteok waiting to be eaten
17. Bungeoppang (Taiyaki)
One of the more unique street food desserts to try in Myeongdong, Bungeoppang is a fish-shaped sweet pastry - you won’t miss them as you’re walking around the streets.
It comes with a variety of fillings, but the most traditional (and the one you’re most likely to find in Myeongdong) is a sweet red bean paste. It sounds bizarre, but we promise they are actually delicious.
18. Fruit Mochi
Mochi is actually more of a Japanese dessert, but we saw plenty of stalls selling fruit Mochi balls in Myeongdong.
A sweet pounded rice dough is wrapped around whole pieces of fruit such as strawberries and kiwis, resulting in an aesthetically cute and fresh sweet treat. Most vendors in Myeongdong make them right in front of you, so you can be sure they are nice and fresh!
19. Dalgona (Ppopgi)
The word ‘Dalgona’ might initially spring to mind images of the creamy, hand-whipped coffee topping popularised during the pandemic. However, its origins lie in an old Korean street food. A particular favourite of the older generation of Koreans, Dalgona (Ppopgi) is a sort of thin, honeycomb-like candy on a stick.
When we were walking around Myeongdong, we noticed that despite the vendors being of an older generation, their customers were of all ages and particularly popular with Korean youth. This is likely due to the candy’s resurgence into popular culture via the South Korean/Global hit TV show ‘Squid Game’. Customers can be seen reenacting the “game” (albeit a slightly less deadly version!) and attempting to eat the Ppopgi candy without ruining the indented image in the centre.
Stop by one of the stalls and try the Ppopgi game yourself!
20. Waffles
A street food staple around the world, waffles can easily be found in the streets of Myeongdong.
Again, the variety here is key, but the traditional toppings of fruit, sugar and Nutella are all available. We also saw plenty of stalls offering buttercream or ice cream as a topping, and they definitely looked like the best waffle toppings in Seoul to us.
21. Crepes
Another staple street food dessert around the world, Crepes can also be found in Myeongdong.
The traditional toppings are all available and they seemed to prove particularly popular with the locals - while the majority of tourists seemed to flock towards something slightly more unique to Korea.
Nutella and banana crepes in Myeongdong - you can’t ask for anything more
22. Frozen S’mores
S’mores are definitely not something we expected to be able to try from a street food vendor in South Korea. Having worked at an American Summer Camp for so many years, we absolutely love s’mores and we couldn't believe it when we saw them on the streets of Myeongdong.
For those that aren’t familiar, s’mores are made from a toasted marshmallow and a layer of chocolate sandwiched between a graham cracker. The Korean frozen s’mores look a little different as the chocolate and crackers are actually encased inside the marshmallow, but the overall flavour is still the same.
Quick Seoul Travel Tips:
We’d recommend staying in Myeongdong during your time in Seoul. There are many great things to do in Myeongdong, including sampling the best street food in the area. You can check out the best hotels in Myeongdong here.
Seoul Incheon Airport is the main international airport in Korea and is likely to be your first stop in the country. Thankfully, getting from Incheon Airport to Seoul is relatively straightforward - we’d recommend taking the Airport Railroad Express Train (AREX) as it’s the cheapest and quickest option.
Buy a Korean SIM Card at the airport once you land so you can use your data all throughout the country. Here’s how to do it:
One of the best South Korea travel tips is to download Naver Map and Google Translate before you arrive, both apps are going to come in handy during your time in Seoul
Consider buying a Discover Seoul Pass which covers 65 tourists attractions in Seoul and doubles up as your Transportation Card - meaning easy access to the subway system in Seoul
There we have it folks, our full round-up of the best street food in Myeongdong. Visiting the night market for some street food is one of the best things to do in Myeongdong and is a truly wonderful culinary and cultural experience.
Seoul, South Korea, is routinely voted one of the world’s most walkable cities - but how walkable is Seoul in reality? In this article, we discuss how easy it is to walk around Seoul.