Gwangjang Market is Seoul’s most famous food market and one of the oldest traditional markets in Korea, dating back to 1905. Its covered food alley is packed with stalls frying mung bean pancakes, rolling mini gimbap and slicing raw beef, and it stays open late every night. This guide covers what to eat at Gwangjang Market, fair 2026 prices, the Netflix kalguksu stall, opening hours and how to get there.
Searching in another language? The market is 広蔵市場 (Japanese), 廣藏市場 (Traditional Chinese) and 广藏市场 (Simplified Chinese).
| Gwangjang Market | 광장시장 |
| Address | 88 Changgyeonggung-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul (서울 종로구 창경궁로 88) |
| Nearest station | Jongno 5-ga Station (Line 1), Exit 8, about 1 minute. Euljiro 4-ga Station (Lines 2, 5), Exit 4, about 100 m |
| Food alley hours | Daily 09:00–23:00, open all year |
| General market hours | Mon–Sat 09:00–18:00, closed Sundays |
| Budget | About ₩3,000–10,000 per street dish, ₩20,000+ for a plate of yukhoe |
| Map | Open in Naver Map |
Gwangjang Market Opening Hours: Know the Three Sections
The question “what time does Gwangjang Market open?” has three answers, because the market is really three parts under one roof.
| Section | Hours | Sundays |
|---|---|---|
| Food alley (the part most visitors want) | 09:00–23:00 | Open |
| General market (fabric, hanbok, dried goods) | 09:00–18:00 | Closed |
| Vintage clothing arcade (upstairs) | 10:00–19:00 | Closed |
- Each stall keeps its own hours inside those windows. Named shops often close earlier than 23:00.
- The food alley is the only part open on Sundays, so a Sunday evening visit works for eating but not for shopping.
- Best time to go: weekday late morning for short lines, or after 18:00 for the lively night atmosphere. Weekends are very crowded.
What to Eat at Gwangjang Market
| Dish | Korean | Fair price (2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Bindaetteok (mung bean pancake) | 빈대떡 | About ₩5,000–6,000 |
| Mini gimbap (mayak gimbap) | 꼬마김밥 / 마약김밥 | About ₩3,000–5,000 |
| Yukhoe (seasoned raw beef) | 육회 | About ₩20,000–23,000 a plate |
| Yukhoe bibimbap | 육회비빔밥 | About ₩10,000–11,000 |
| Kalguksu (knife-cut noodle soup) | 칼국수 | About ₩5,000–8,000 |
| Sundae (Korean blood sausage) | 순대 | About ₩8,000, confirm the portion |
Bindaetteok: The Mung Bean Pancake
Bindaetteok is the smell of Gwangjang Market. Mung beans are ground on the spot and fried into thick pancakes that are crispy outside and soft inside. The best-known stall is Soonhee-ne Bindaetteok (순희네 빈대떡), where a pancake costs about ₩6,000. It is listed as open from about 09:00 to 21:00, with last orders around 20:30. Naver Map
Mayak Gimbap: Mini Rice Rolls
These finger-sized seaweed rice rolls come with a mustard dipping sauce and are famously hard to stop eating, which is how they got the nickname “mayak” (drug) gimbap. Seoul’s official media now calls them kkoma gimbap (꼬마김밥), “little gimbap,” so you may see either name on signs.
Yukhoe: Korean Raw Beef
Gwangjang has a whole yukhoe alley. Yukhoe is raw beef seasoned with sesame oil and served with pear and egg yolk. Buchon Yukhoe (부촌육회), slicing beef here since 1965 and featured in the MICHELIN Guide as a Bib Gourmand, sells a 200 g plate for about ₩23,000 and yukhoe bibimbap for about ₩11,000. If raw beef sounds like too much, the bibimbap is the easy way to try it. Naver Map
The Netflix Kalguksu Stall
The hand-cut noodle stall run by Cho Yonsoon was featured on Netflix’s Street Food: Asia (Seoul episode), and fans still line up for it. Look for Gohyang Kalguksu (고향칼국수), stall A70 in the east section of the market. A bowl costs about ₩7,000. Its opening days are not consistently listed, so check Naver Map before you go. Naver Map
How to Avoid Overpaying at Gwangjang Market
After complaints about overpriced food in recent years, Seoul and Jongno district stepped up inspections in 2026. Stalls must now post price boards with portion sizes. A few simple habits help:
- Check the price board first. If a stall has no posted prices or portions, move on.
- Ask the portion before ordering, especially for sundae and mixed plates.
- Skip the touts at the central crossroads. Named shops deeper inside are usually fairer.
- Scan the QR menus. Many food stalls have multilingual QR codes with photos and prices.
- Carry some cash. Many stalls take cards, but not all of them.
How to Get to Gwangjang Market
- Subway Line 1: Jongno 5-ga Station, Exit 8. The market entrance is about 60 m away. There is an elevator between Exits 8 and 9.
- Subway Lines 2 and 5: Euljiro 4-ga Station, Exit 4, about 100 m.
- It pairs well with Cheonggyecheon Stream, Jongmyo Shrine and Dongdaemun, all within walking distance.
Gwangjang Market Food Tour Route (2–3 Hours)
- Start with a bindaetteok at Soonhee-ne, shared between two.
- Grab a plate of mini gimbap from a stall in the central food alley.
- Walk to the yukhoe alley for yukhoe or yukhoe bibimbap at Buchon Yukhoe.
- Finish with a bowl of hand-cut kalguksu, or a twisted doughnut for dessert.
FAQ
What time does Gwangjang Market open and close?
The food alley is open every day from 09:00 to 23:00. The general market is open Monday to Saturday from 09:00 to 18:00 and closed on Sundays.
Is Gwangjang Market open on Sunday?
Yes, the food alley is open on Sundays. The fabric and clothing sections are closed.
How much money should I bring to Gwangjang Market?
About ₩20,000–40,000 per person covers several dishes. Most street dishes cost ₩3,000–10,000, and a plate of yukhoe costs about ₩20,000–23,000.
Where is the Netflix kalguksu stall at Gwangjang Market?
It is Gohyang Kalguksu, stall A70 in the east section, run by Cho Yonsoon from Netflix’s Street Food: Asia.
Which subway exit is closest to Gwangjang Market?
Jongno 5-ga Station (Line 1), Exit 8.
Prices and hours were checked in November 2026 and can change. Check Naver Map before you go.
Planning more meals? See our guide to the best Korean restaurants in Seoul, our Noryangjin Fish Market guide, or browse all Seoul restaurant guides.