Seoul's Best Gamjatang: Eungam-dong Alley

Brrrrr it’s cold outside! It’s the wonderful month of February and the winter weather is on full blast. To warm myself up, I visited the famous Gamjatang Alley in Eungam-dong for a hearty and spicy stew made of pork bones and potatoes.

Spicy Gamjatang

Gamjatang (also known as Gamjaguk) is a staple in Korean cuisine, especially during the cold weather.  Although the primary ingredients are pork and potatoes, the stew also contains greens, garlic, green onions, sesame leaves, and ground perilla seeds which creates a rich and strong flavor, giving the dish a unique and spice filled dish. 

Top 5 Famous Restaurants in Eungam-dong

Out of the many gamjatang restaurants on this street, my friends and I decided on Daerim Gamjaguk (대림 감자국) since they had good reviews. (Honestly, all the restaurants on this alley are dedicated to gamjatang, so any one of them would have been as good in my opinion).

Delicious Gamjatang

All of us scarfed down the tender meat and delicate potatoes until only the broth was left. We finished off the leftover broth by cooking some ramyeon and rice in it, leaving us VERY full and satisfied. Not only did we get a generous meal for a bargain price, but the gamjatang made us toasty and warm inside.

A snap shot of the potatoes

Fried rice with the left-over broth

Hands down best gamjatang I ever had, and eating it in this weather made it taste even better. Go grab a bowl with your friends at Eungam-dong’s Gamjatang Alley!


How to get here: Saejeol Station (line 6) Exit 2 go over Wasangyo bridge and take an immediate right into the alley. Take the first left street and you’ll see the sign to the Gamjatang alley!
Here's a great site for more information on Gamjatang: www.visitseoul.net

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Gwangjang Market: Over 100 years of history in Seoul

Located in the heart of Seoul’s Jogno, Gwangjang Market is one of Korea’s largest traditional markets as well as Korea’s oldest market with over 100 years of history. Up until the late 1800's, Korean markets functioned as temporary markets, only standing for a few days at a time. In 1905, Gwangjang Market became the first permanently established market that was open every day. It was created with the purpose of reclaiming Korean sovereignty during the period of Japanese occupation. The original building burned down in 1950 and was reconstructed in 1959 as the current three story building.

Specialties of Gwangjang Market

 Each floor specializes in different goods; The first floor is dedicated to the foodies offering a diverse array of street food.  The second floor has vintage clothing and other goods at bargain prices.  The top level carries a variety of high quality silk and fabrics. In fact, a majority of merchants from Namdaemun and Dongdaemun work with Gwangjang Market vendors for their fine-quality textiles.

Luxury Textiles

For anyone interested in fashion, Gwangjang Market is a must visit.  The market is especially popular among young people for its unique vintage clothing and accessories. Retail items include t-shirts, jeans, leather goods and bags which are mainly imported from the US, Japan, and Europe. The market offers a diverse variety of clothing and goods which makes it such an interesting and fun experience. Shoppers can find international designer labels as well as unusual, unique vintage clothing at one convenient location. Smart shoppers with a good eye are able to get high quality goods or even luxury labels at bargain prices.

First floor Food Alley

 Gwangjang Market still thrives today as a popular location for quality silk goods, fabric, hanboks, vintage clothing and its diversity of street foods. The rich culture and history of Gwangjang Market is an experience you shouldn't miss when in Seoul. Visit this charming traditional market for the authentic Korean experience!

Directions: A five-minute walk across from Jongro 5-ga Station (line 5) exit 8.

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