Various restaurants, vendors, and stores make Gwangbokdong Food Street a hit with travelers of any age and personal taste. It’s also perfect for visitors on a budget, as no admission is required to enter the street and the food is reasonably priced, so your 5,000 won will go a long way. It’s also an excellent opportunity to complete your Korean food bucket list in just an hour (assuming your stomach can handle it).
To get to Gwangbokdong Food Street, take subway line 1 to Nampodong Station. From there, walk north to the entrance of Yongsan Park. Then, turn left onto Gwangbok-ro. The market is a straight shot and stretches less than half a mile to Gukje Market. You can return the way you came or head north to Daecheong-Ro and catch a bus from the International Market stop, or head west to Bupyeong Market bus stop on Heukgyo-ro.
Gwangbokdong Food Street is bustling nonstop from opening to closing, so it’s best to arrive half an hour before you anticipate hunger kicking in. Travelers coming between late June and early August, during Korea’s monsoon season, should arrive in durable rain boots and a reliable umbrella. Nobody likes soggy feet or soggy street food, for that matter.
Gwangbokdong Food Street offers more than just kimbap and jjigae. As you stroll past the dozens of packed restaurants, check out some of the area’s many stores. You’ll find reasonably priced souvenirs, authentic handicrafts, discounted high-end cosmetics, and fun products not found anywhere else in the world.