Tongin Market: Eat On A Budget Near Gyeongbokgung Palace

Traditional markets dot the map of Seoul with some becoming more popular than others either due to a central location, the size, or a delicacy or item you just won’t get anywhere else. Tongin Market (통인시장) probably became famous due to it’s location in the high traffic area just west of Gyeongbukgung Palace, but over the years it has become popular with tourists for another reason.

Tongin Market offers a fun and budget friendly place to try a plethora of Korean eats in small portion sizes perfect for tourists and locals who want a little everything when it comes to Korean cuisine. Want a unique experience in downtown Seoul? Head to Tongin Market.

Visit Tongin Market in downtown Seoul for lunch when you visit Gyeongbokgung Palace:

• How To Get There
• Basic Info
• History
• What To Do
• Why you should eat at Tongin Market

(This page contains affiliate links. That means if you click on them and purchase something, I will get a percentage of the transaction to keep up this blog and maybe if there’s a little extra to buy a bottle of red wine to go with dinner. Thanks for the support!)

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How To Get There

Address: 10-3 Tongin-dong Jongno-gu Seoul (서울특별시 종로구 통인동 10-3)

Directions: Head to Gyeongbukgung Subway Station, exit 2. Walk straight and the entrance to the market will appear on your left less than 10 minutes up the road.

Join a tour: There is a half-day walking tour on Viator that includes Gyeongbokgung Palace and Tongin Market for lunch which is exactly how I’d plan a visit to the market into my itinerary.

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Basic Info

Hours:  Market: Tuesday – Sunday: 7:00am ~ 9:00pm; Dosirak Cafe: Tuesday – Sunday: 11:00am – 5:00pm

• Closed Mondays and the third Sunday of every month.

Amenities: restrooms, lunch cafe

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History

Tongin Market was established in 1941 as a public market for the Japanese residents in the area at the time, but after the war ended, street vendors and store owners swooped in to grab a spot. Now, 75 shops and stores, mainly focused on delicious Korean food sit side by side ready to share their goods. 

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What To Do

Tourists from all over come to Korea and though many want to be adventurous and try the spicy and delicious Korean cuisine, going all in and getting a whole meal without knowing what’s in store can be a risk many do not wish to undertake. Some portion sizes are just a bit too big when it’s your first time trying something in Korea.

Head to Gwangjang Market, for example, and you can have a delicious and filling helping of kalguksu, handmade noodle soup, huge dumplings, and more. But, before you head there, take a visit to Tongin Market. Why? Because Tongin Market offers a unique opportunity to try a lot of different foods in smaller portions but in one place.

At Tongin Market, visitors can opt to pay W5,000 and try a small helping of numerous Korean fare at a great price at the “Dosirak” Cafe, or Lunchbox Cafe, inside. Go there to be cheap or go there to try something new, either way, it’s a good decision for a lunch while out in the city. If you’re planning a visit to Gyeongbokgung Palace, stop here afterward for lunch. 

Get Started

At the Customer Service Center located in the center of the market, visitors can pay W5,000 and receive your Tongin Market lunch box much like those used by children in elementary school along with a string of coins to pay the vendors in the market. The coins are each worth W500 in the market and most dishes range in price from W500 (1 coin) to W1000 (2 coins) with just a few being as much as W1500 (3 coins).

Spicy side dishes, fried fish and veggies, noodle soups and kimbab (rice rolled in seaweed with other vegetables inside) are ready and waiting to be eaten.

Choose The Food

I recommend walking the entirety of the market first to see what is offered before diving in. The vendors that are open to accepting the coinage have a sign that sits at their stall and they can be seen slicing, dicing, flipping and frying away in anticipation of hungry customers. Koreans and tourists alike line up to get their share of fried fish, broiled meat, spicy vegetables and more.

One of the more popular dishes at the market is the tteokbokki, rice cakes in a spicy sauce, but this isn’t just any tteokbokki. The dish here is different from others you’ll find on street carts around the country because it is stir-fried in oil. At Tongin this specialty comes with two flavors, the first being just fried in oil or the second fried in oil with a spicy sauce. Don’t miss your chance to try some!

The aromas waft along the corridor and vendors invite you to their stall ready to spoon big helpings into your tray. There is something for everyone.

Where To Eat

After the trays have been filled, head back to the Customer Service Center and walk up the steps to find a two story cafe/cafeteria where you can take a seat and indulge. There are drinks, rice, and utensils provided once upstairs to complete the meal. 

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Why you should eat at Tongin Market

I think it’s pretty clear, but just to wrap it up:

1. You can try many different kinds of Korean cuisine in small portion sizes at once and see what you like.
2. Tongin Market is a budget friendly place to eat near Gyeongbokgung Palace.
3. The location is downtown and easy to find in Seoul.
4. The food is delicious!

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