MinJi's Kitchen: Gwangjang Market 광장시장 Food Alley

Saturday, June 7, 2014

Gwangjang Market 광장시장 Food Alley

Last Thursday, my husband and I went to Bangsan Market to buy some baking ingredients. After an hour of shopping around at the Baking Street, we felt very hungry. So we decided to drop by Gwangjang Market Food Alley for some delicious traditional food. There, we tried the most indigenous Gwangjang Bindaetteok 빈대떡 (Mung Bean Pancakes). Mung beans were grounded into a batter by huge rotating stone pestles, then fried up into crisp with kimchi, green onions, onions, and bean sprouts. Whoa! It was big... about the size of a medium pizza! So, I just ate a half of it, and my husband ate the other half. I love the mouth-feel of crisp and crunch as I munch. It was my first time to try Bindaetteok. Wow, It was really good!! A very authentic and affordable treat! So, if you want to try Bindaetteok, you need to visit Gwangjang Market. This place is known for it.

Gwangjang Market's deep-fried delicacy, the delicious Bindaetteok 빈대떡 with a side of sauce~

Tireless ajummas busy preparing countless orders of the indigenous Bindaetteok 빈대떡.

We also had Mayak Kimbap 마약김밥 (literally, Drug Kimbap), and Muneo Kkochi 문어꼬치 (Skewered Octopus) at the "아기공룡" (Baby Dinosaur) Food Stall. The couple serving there were very friendly and smiling. Especially ajumma, who was very kind to me and my husband, and to our bench neighbor, halmeoni.

Ajumma even gave us a couple of free Mayak Kimbap. The Kimbap and Kkochi were very tasty and delicious!! I loved the sweet and spicy flavor of the grilled octopus; the spiciness of the Muneo Kkochi really complements with the Mayak Kimbap. They're definitely a must-try if you go to Gwangjang Market. Do visit their stall, "아기공룡"~!

AgiGongryong "아기공룡" (Baby Dinosaur)

"아기공룡" Food Stall's friendly ajumma preparing our yummy Mayak Kimbap 마약김밥...

"아기공룡" Food Stall's smiling Ajussi grilling the tasty Muneo Kkochi 문어꼬치...

Before heading back home, we also bought some Mandoo 만두 (Dumplings) to go, a bag of fresh potatoes and onions, and a pack of 4-flavor seasoned laver. We were very happy that day. All smiles, patting our tummies with extreme satisfaction for the best meal!

Gwangjang Market is located just across the Cheonggye Stream from Bangsan Market. It is one of the oldest traditional markets and the biggest fabric market in Seoul. This market is often jump-packed with locals and tourists for its inexpensive items. Even though most goods are not branded products, they are of high quality and good.

Gwangjang Market is also a hub of traditional culinary culture. Well-known for its food alley. Thus, it is a great place to eat delicious food!

Just as you enter the market's food alley, you will be greeted by energetic and tireless ajummas and ajussis preparing countless orders. Food carts and stalls are all over the place, serving tasty Korean traditional dishes such as Bindaetteok (Mung Bean Pancakes), Bibimbap (Mixed Rice and Vegetables), Jeon (Pancakes), Kimbap (Rice Rolls), Sundae (Blood Sausage), and Tteokbokki (Spicy Rice Cakes), and street foods like Mandoo (Dumplings) and Odeng (Fishcakes).

Everywhere you look, you can see crowds of people, young and old gather on rows upon rows of benches around stalls chowing down delicious slews of Korean food.

Aside from fabrics and food, Gwangjang Market also offers a vast array of fresh seafoods, fresh fruits and vegetables, meats, rice cakes, dried seaweeds and seasoned lavers, and even imported items, including Japanese noodles, snacks, and candies, and American branded products such as food supplements, chocolates, and perfumes and toiletries, at cheaper prices.