For such a huge place, we had quite a hard time finding the entrance to Namdaemun Market, which does not make sense as I think about it now. But from what I remember, we were simply just overwhelmed by so many buildings, signs, and people all around, and I guess we just weren’t alert enough. But we did manage to get there, and had a look at Namdaemun Market at night.
We were staying nearby in the Myeongdong area, and if we talk about street foods, there is no shortage of it when night falls in the district’s shopping area. But on my third time in Seoul, I just had to make sure I paid a visit to Namdaemun, even if it is a very brief one.
So one evening, figuring out we had a free hour or two to spare, we made that short train ride to Namdaemun to check out why it’s one of the most frequented markets in the city.
To get there, just take the Subway Line 4 to Hyoyeon Station, and get out at any of Gates 4, 5 and 6. In our case, we got out at Gate 5.
A Gate Next to the Market
“Namdaemun” actually refers to the historic gate, one of the eight gates in Seoul’s fortress walls. If you’re wondering how important the gate is, well, it just so happens to be the first National Treasure of South Korea, a government designation for many of the country’s historical and cultural assets.
But the bigger claim to fame of this area, inarguably, is the market right next to the gate. It’s the Namdaemun Market.
Namdaemun Market is the largest traditional market, not only in Seoul but in all of South Korea. This is where you’ll find lots of stores selling practically everything you can think of to find in a wholesale market. And then, at night, more stalls crop up on the streets and alleys, turning it into a bustling and vibrant night market.
It makes sense, since Namdaemun Market is a 24-hour market, which means it’s ideal for late-night stragglers looking for a street food fix. (Of course, there are some shops that choose to observe strict store hours instead of opening all day and night long.)
And considering how we spent barely a couple of hours, with most of it spent checking out the food stalls, I don’t think we’ve covered even a fourth or an eighth of the entire market.
Shopping for Souvenirs and Gifts
Prior to this, we were able to check out some souvenir shops in the Insadong and Samcheongdong area, but if you ask me, personally, I’d suggest you buy those trinkets and small gifts you plan on taking home with you from Namdaemun.
I’m talking about key chains, small handcrafted items, cutlery, decor, and even locally made Kpop merch. There are even ginseng and other food products here, and I heard they are much cheaper than in department stores. Yes, even those found in the underground shopping areas.
Rip-off Haven?
South Korea, I heard, has a thriving market for designer and luxury rip-offs. I am fully aware how street brands are huge here, so it did not come as a surprise that there was also a market for streetwear rip-offs. There’s also a market for it back home, but I hafta say the quality I saw in Namdaemun and Myeongdong was considerably higher.
Food Galore
And we cannot miss the food.
We were there up until 8pm, and there were already a considerable number of street food stalls open. From what I heard, more stores will open up later at night.
You can find fruit stands, with sliced fruits on skewers for you to enjoy. We went for some skewered honeydew after eating some salty street food.
The sellers/vendors were all welcoming and will even cajole you to come closer to their stalls. You can tell they are used to seeing so many foreigners. One even went so far as call out to us in three different languages, hoping to hit on our correct nationality. (They didn’t.)
So many fried stuff to test out! The “basics” were there, of course, and I’m talking about mandu, odeng, and a whole variety of jeon or pancakes.
They all smelled to savory and inviting. I was not particularly hungry at this time because I just had some pastry from Paris Baguette less than an hour before.
That’s another tip, I guess. If you want to fully enjoy your Namdaemun food-tripping adventure, GO THERE HUNGRY.
The sellers didn’t even mind you taking a photo or video of them preparing their goods. You can tell they’re used to it already.
This red bean-stuffed pancake, or hotteok, were soooo good, especially when hot. Just a tad oily, though.
This, however, I just had to try.
I was always curious about soondae, or “blood sausage”. They are basically cow or pig intestines that are stuffed with various ingredients before being steamed. They are these large intestines when I bought them, but the lady cut them into bite-size pieces before quickly heating them up on the griddle.
As per her suggestion, she just made me add some salt on it before trying it.
Looking at these photos… they don’t look all that appetizing, do they? Haha!
So what did I think about it? Well, it was good, but not as spectacular as I’d thought, after seeing all those shows with great reactions to it. I don’t know what I expected, but it wasn’t this.
The disappointment stemmed from the fact that I was expecting a taste that is mind-blowing. But it was still good, once I let go of all those prior curiosity-driven expectations.
I sure see this being a hit among those who love to drink, though.
If I do go back to Seoul in the future, I will make it a point to go on a street food session back here in Namdaemun or maybe even Gwangjang Market. Yep. And I’ll go there STARVING.
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