Best Food Tours of Seoul

The capital of South Korea, Seoul, has a gastronomic culture capable of surprising the most demanding diners. In the city you will find traditional meals based on rice, vegetables, seafood and meats, which are the most commonly used products in its cuisine. There is also a wide range of street food on offer.

You can eat sashimi at the Noryangjin seafood market or sit outside at the food stalls in the Euljiro neighbourhood and enjoy a nogari banchan (dried fish dish). In addition, some of the best things to do in Seoul, which will give you an insight into South Korean culinary traditions, include a cooking class with a local chef.

If you want to discover some of South Korea' s culinary culture, you should incorporate a cooking class into your itinerary for at least 3 days in Seoul. You will learn how to prepare some of the traditional dishes of this land: kimchi, banchan, deonjang jjigae, etc.

This type of experience usually starts with a visit to a local market. There, your senses will be surprised by the aromas and colours of all the fresh produce: vegetables, exotic fruits, seafood, meats, spices, etc. After acquiring everything you need to carry out the recipes, you will head to the market kitchen together with a professional chef.

In this Korean cooking class and market visit in Seoul you will see the step-by-step cooking of a series of dishes that are part of the everyday gastronomic life of South Koreans. For example, bibimbap or rice with egg, vegetables and meat; the iconic kimchi, which consists of fermented Asian cabbage, galbitang, which is a beef rib soup, among other banchan (small portioned food dishes).

Useful information

• Price: about €78 per person approximately.
• Duration: about 3 hours and 30 minutes.

If you are a seafood enthusiast, then you must make a stop at Seoul's Noryangjin Market. It is a place with a history dating back to 1927, visited daily by dozens of locals and tourists. Take a stroll through this market and delight your palate.

During the tour you will see a series of stalls with all kinds of seafood: fish, octopus, sea cucumber, clams, squid, crabs, shrimps and more. You will also find some restaurants where you can eat sashimi with daikon radish, among other dishes. All this, wrapped in a very lively atmosphere.

This is an activity that although you can undertake on your own, you will find it more convenient to do with a local guide from a private tour of Seoul. This way, not only will you get to do a series of tastings, but you will also learn about each product and immerse yourself in Korean food culture.

Useful information

• Price: Access to the market is free. If you take a private tour of the place, the average cost is €70 per person.
• Opening hours: The market is open 24 hours a day.

Another destination for a food tour is the historic Namdaemun Market, founded during the Joseon period in 1414. Here you'll find extensive food alleys with street stalls and restaurants.

Once in the market you can walk freely through its picturesque and bustling pedestrian streets, with the following being some of the most popular to satisfy your taste buds:

• Foodie Alley, where you'll enjoy classic South Korean culinary street food. Such is the case of kimchi, Tteokbokki (rice cake with pepper sauce), kimbap (Korean sushi), bungo ppang (fish cake), which is very popular during the winter in Seoul and much more.
• Kalguksu Alley, with hand-cut noodle restaurants. Try naengmyeon (wheat noodles), jajangmyeon (Chinese-style noodles with jajang or sweet wheat paste sauce), jjamppong (noodles with seafood broth), etc.
• Galchi Jorim Street; this area is noted for its hairtail stew stalls. This is a dish created in the market itself.

This gastronomic tour can be done at your own pace or with a local guide. The latter option will allow you to get a deeper insight into Korean culture, thanks to the commentary of the culinary expert. Whichever you choose, this is a must-do activity on your itinerary along with the guided tour of Seoul's Deoksugung Palace and the best day trips from Seoul.

Useful information

• Price: Entrance to the market is free, but if you take a tour it could cost around €45 per person.
• Opening hours: 9:00 am to 7:00 pm (Monday to Saturday). Please note that some restaurants and food stalls are open later in the evening.

Over 100 years old, Gwangjang Market is a showcase of Korean culture and history. Here you can sample the traditional food of this Asian land, prepared by hand in front of your eyes and in a lively environment. You will have a rewarding experience.

The market is located in Ikseon-dong Alley. This is a well-known hub area of the city where the traditional and the modern coexist in harmony. Once you enter the market, you will be captivated by the appearance of the place and the aromas of the hundreds of preparations.

On this food tour you can try the famous mandu (steamed dumplings stuffed with meat or kimchi), bindae-tteok (bean flour pancake, meat and vegetables), barbecue, bibimbap (rice bowl with vegetables and meat). Also, stews, a variety of rice noodles, wheat, vegetables, among other preparations.

After this experience you can continue exploring the city. Perhaps go to one of Seoul's best museums such as the Seoul City Wall Museum, which is about 12 minutes away by car, or take a guided tour of Seoul's Gyeongbokgung Palace, among other activities.

Useful information

• Price: admission to the market is free.
• Opening hours: daily from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm.

Euljiro is one of Koreans' favourite neighbourhoods to eat and relax after a long day's work. It is a lively place with many food stalls, restaurants, cafes and bars, where you can take a food tour and discover Seoul at night like a local.

This destination is made up of three long streets, with Nogari Alley having the largest number of food stalls. Sit at an outdoor table and enjoy nogari (dried fish) with soju (beer). Ideal if you visit Seoul in summer.

But that's not all. In Euljiro, you will find a wide range of street food: Korean doughnuts, the famous spicy ramyeon (instant noodles) that you have probably seen in more than one kdrama, jeon (fried vegetable pancake), roasted chestnuts, corn dog (Korean skewers), fish cake, etc.

You can visit the Coffeehanyakbang, with a rich filter coffee and the Hyemindang pastry shop, where you will taste a chocolate pavé. At the end of the dining experience, you can also visit the bars hidden in the buildings of this district and start a pub crawl in Seoul.

Useful information

• Price: Access to this district is free, but you have the option of joining a guided tour, which generally costs €59 per person.
• Opening hours: 11:00 am to 9:00 pm (daily).

If you're visiting Korea you should join a cooking experience in a traditional house. This could be one of the best tours in Seoul, as it allows you to experience the local culture and cuisine up close and personal. You will feel like a local.

This immersive experience starts with a visit to one of Seoul' s local markets. There, together with your host-guide, you will buy the necessary ingredients for the respective preparation. He or she will also tell you about the history of the place and give you some tips on how to select the products.

After the market tour, you will go to an authentic Korean traditional house to cook. Some of the local dishes you could make include samgyetang (chicken soup with ginseng), kimchi (fermented Asian cabbage), bulgogi (beef strips with soy, sesame and garlic), japchae (sweet potato starch noodles with sesame and meat), among others.

You will sit at the table with your hosts to taste the dishes, observing the real Korean family etiquette up close. After this enriching experience, you can continue with your itinerary: visit Changdeokgung, considered among the best palaces in Seoul; buy tickets for Figure Museum W in Seoul and spend a different moment observing its exhibits, etc.

Useful information

• Price: the cost of this experience usually starts at around €80 per person.
• Duration: maximum 4 hours.

Mangwon Market is another destination where you can take a food tour during your trip to Seoul. You will surprise your taste buds with the flavours and textures of the different chicken preparations.

In this market, you will find a large number of food stalls dedicated to the preparation of chicken. You can try Korean fried chicken with sweet and sour sauce and sesame seeds; barbecue chicken, which combines a smoky flavour with a thick sauce; sizzling chicken , which consists of a boneless thigh topped with cheese and sauce, among others.

This tour can be done on your own or with a guide. Whichever you choose, in this market you will enjoy preparations that combine years of history with the ingenuity of the new generations. Don't forget to serve them with soju, Korean style.

Useful information

• Price: admission to the market is free. And, if you want to take a guided tour, the cost of the activity is around €100 per person.
• Duration: every day from 9:00 am to 9:00 pm.

The South Korean capital has a wide range of culinary offerings that incorporate vegan and vegetarian options. So, if you are a vegan and vegetarian food enthusiast and plan to spend 1-5 days in Seoul, or even more, you should join a food tour to discover the best dishes free of meat and animal ingredients.

For this adventure you should head to Gwangjang Market, which is one of the largest markets in the city. There, you'll find more than enough dishes to suit your vegan, vegetarian and even gluten-free diet.

For example, you can try boribab (barley, rice, assorted vegetables with Korean herbs), kimbap (rice with vegetables, Korean herbs and dried seaweed rolls). Also, hotteok (a Korean pancake with seeds and honey inside).

Although you can do this adventure on your own , it is best to connect with a professional guide. Keep in mind that this person knows each of the preparations and, therefore, can guarantee their vegan and vegetarian origin.

Useful information

• Price: the cost per person is approximately €99.
• Duration: the activity generally lasts around 2 hours and 30 minutes.

Bukchon, a traditional village in Seoul, dates back to the Joseon period (1392-1910). This place, formerly occupied by the noble class, is a popular tourist destination, due to its architectural beauty and gastronomic variety of its restaurants. You can try Korean and foreign dishes.

During your visit to Bukchon you will find traditional Korean restaurants where you can eat deonjang jjigae (mushroom, vegetable and seafood stew), bibimbap (rice mixed with vegetables, meat and mushrooms), galbitang (Korean soup), among others. You will also have the option to enjoy Italian and Portuguese food.

You will also find several terraces with a privileged view of the village. You can sit and relax while sipping a glass of soju (Korean beer), makgeolli (rice wine), tea, among other drinks. And, if you're in Seoul in December during the winter festival, you'll see the sky light up with fireworks.

Useful information

• Price: Admission to Bukchon Village is free.
• Opening hours: The villa is open from Monday to Saturday (10am-5pm).

South Korean cuisine is not only limited to sweet and savoury preparations, but also incorporates herbal teas and alcoholic beverages. Take a culinary tour of Seoul and learn how to taste the ancient tea and make rice wine.

On this tour, you will visit the Tea Museum, with a series of exhibits that will help you discover the history of tea culture. You will also have access to a special room where you will taste a variety of teas (green, black, flower, aromatic herbs, etc). In total, more than 130 flavours are available.

To complement this culinary experience, the guide will take you to a traditional wine studio. There, you will learn step-by-step how to make makgeolli; a Korean wine formerly consumed by farmers and prepared with sticky rice and yeast.

Useful information

• Price: the price of this tour starts at 105€ per person.
• Duration: approximately 4 hours.