Gwangjang Market in Jongno is one of those places I never get tired of. It’s noisy, a bit chaotic, smells like frying oil and garlic everywhere… and that’s exactly why I love it. This time I went with my dog, so I skipped the classic raw beef alley and focused on easy “walk and eat” snacks. Let me share my personal top 3: Garlic Boy, Gwangjang Snack, and Hwanghaedo Original Bindaetteok.
📍 Location
Gwangjang Market, 88 Changgyeonggung-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul
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1. Hwanghaedo Original Bindaetteok – The Classic Pancake Stop
If it’s your first time at Gwangjang Market, you really can’t skip bindaetteok, the mung bean pancake. Among all the stalls shouting at you, Hwanghaedo Original Bindaetteok is one of the most famous ones.
They grind the mung beans themselves and make two main types: plain mung bean pancake and meat pancake. Prices were around 5,000 KRW for mung bean, 6,000 KRW for meat. If you’re like me and hate choosing, get the half‑half for 8,000 KRW so you can try both on one plate.
We ordered the half‑half, and it came out sizzling hot. The outside was super crispy, the inside soft and nutty, not too greasy. If you have time to sit, pairing it with makgeolli here is honestly one of those small life joys. I actually caught myself saying, “I could eat this again tomorrow.”
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2. Garlic Boy – The Viral Garlic Bread by the Entrance
Near the main entrance of Gwangjang Market you’ll probably notice one thing first: a long line. That’s Garlic Boy. Even before you see the stall, you can smell the garlic butter.
They sell round garlic bread that kind of looks like a mini burger. The outside is toasted and a bit crispy, inside is soft, stuffed with butter and cheese. When I first saw it I thought, “Okay, this is not traditional Korean at all,” but one bite and I understood why everyone is lining up.
The price is in the 5,000 KRW range, so not too heavy on the wallet. We waited about 15 minutes, which went by pretty fast because the line keeps moving. The bread is chewy, full of strong garlic flavor and a bit of sweetness from the sauce. We shared one between us and it was more than enough as a snack. If you don’t like sweet garlic bread, you might find it a bit sugary, but for me it was addictive.
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3. Gwangjang Snack – Shrimp Dumpling Heaven
Next stop: Gwangjang Snack, a small handmade dumpling shop inside the market. The menu has a bunch of different dumplings, but the shrimp dumplings are the star here.
A portion of shrimp dumplings is 5 pieces for 7,000 KRW. These are not tiny; they’re pretty plump. The skin is chewy in a good way, and inside it’s packed with bouncy shrimp. When you bite into it, the juice actually comes out, which I loved. There’s no meat inside, so it feels lighter and cleaner than normal pork dumplings.
I bought a bunch to take to my brother’s place in Seoul, and even after a bit of travel time they were still tasty. If you want something easy to share while walking around the market, this is perfect.
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Final Thoughts
Gwangjang Market is one of the best places in Seoul to just wander, snack, and people‑watch. If you’re overwhelmed by all the choices, doing this simple route is enough for a great food tour:
– Garlic Boy for garlic bread by the entrance
– Gwangjang Snack for shrimp dumplings
– Hwanghaedo Original Bindaetteok for classic mung bean pancake and makgeolli
You’ll get a mix of traditional and trendy Korean street food in one loop. If you’re planning a Seoul trip, I’d honestly say block at least half a day just for Gwangjang Market and these three spots.