Last Updated on April 18, 2019 by Nancie
From Gwangjang Market we headed off to find the Insadong Street food scene. Welcome to week 298 (10/20/2016) of Travel Photo Thursday. First, we trekked along Seoul’s Cheonggyecheon Stream what seemed like forever for about twenty minutes. Returning to street level, we came face to face with a piece of the Berlin Wall located in an outdoor plaza dubbed “Berlin Square.” A piece of the Berlin Wall in downtown Seoul took me completely by surprise! The city is home to three cement slabs from the Wall, along with a Berlin Streetlight, and benches and trees gifted to the city by Germany.
The plaza symbolizes the future reunification of the two Koreas and Berlin provides financial support for the plaza. In fact, the last time I saw the Berlin Wall, it was standing, and I was on the verge of being arrested for not having the correct train ticket to travel between East and West Berlin. What a day that was!
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Seoul: The Berlin Wall
How to get to the Berlin Wall Seoul:
Located along the Cheonggyecheon stream adjacent to Samilgyo Bridge.
There are three subway stations nearby:
Line 1 Jonggak Station exit 5
Line 2 Euljiro 3(Sam)-ga Station exit 1
Line 3 Euljiro 3(Sam)-ga Station exit 3
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Seoul: Korean Traditional Food
Our first stop for Insadong street food was at the Japchae Hotteok cart. My experience with Hotteok’s is that they are filled with a sweet syrupy mixture. These came as a complete surprise, filled with Korean Japchae, which is a combination of noodles and vegetables. I love japchae but must admit that I didn’t try this, and it wasn’t because I didn’t want a little bite. My tummy too full from all the deliciously rich and starchy concoctions that we sampled at Gwangjang Market. I also knew that we were heading to the best mandu restaurant in Insadong, so I was saving myself! I want to return and sample the Japchae Hotteok one of these days soon.
Next, we headed down the street to Bukchon Mandu, which serves a wide variety of tasty mandu. Can you tell that the menu is in both Korean and English? Having an English menu made it even harder to decide! Some of the best Insadong Street food is here at Bukchon Mandu.
One of my favourite shots of the day! I think the steam from the serving table creates an interesting ambience.
I want to sample these shrimp mandu the next time I visit!
My taste buds danced when these little fellas got dipped into a bit of soy sauce and popped into my waiting mouth! 🙂
We ate in the small dining area behind the kitchen. The lights are bright, so taking good photos was a challenge. Each mandu was cooked to perfection, and we savoured every morsel dipped in a bit of soy sauce. My favourite was the galbi with a moist filling that had a hint of sweetness. This is the first time that I have ever seen mandu shaped like cylinders. Usually, they’re shaped like the hats that you see on the other plate. The galbi mandu would be quick and easy to make at home!
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Seoul: How to Get to Insadong Street Food
You can arrive at Insadong via subway Line 3, Anguk Station, Exit 6. On Saturday and Sunday, the street closes to traffic. Try to come early before the afternoon crowds.
Have you tried Insadong street food, or have you sampled mandu somewhere else in your travels? Let us know in the comments!
Please welcome our co-hosts this week: Jan from Budget Travel Talk Ruth from Tanama Tales Rachel from Rachel’s Ruminations
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You can browse the Travel Photo Thursday archives here.
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73 responses to “Seoul: Insadong Street Food”
I love street food and markets – oh the sights and smells & tastes. One of the best things about overseas travel. Wonderful. How amazing to see a piece of the Berlin Wall in Seoul.
I love that unexpected find across the world! Having seen what remains in Berlin, I’d love to put that on my list of sights when I get to Seoul. It’s one of my ‘to visit’ places!
Hi CT! Yes, definitely visit the wall when you’re in Seoul. It was so unexpected!
The shrimp mandu photo is my favourite, but I’m pretty sure that I am biased because I want to eat the whole steamer full! I would love to get there before lunch and sample as many different morsels as I could.
Hi, Jan! I’d be fighting you for the shrimp. Next time I go there, I am going to indulge. I think I’ll go alone, so I don’t have to share. I’m bad! 🙂
I have to admit that the chunk of the Berlin Wall wasn’t expected as part of this tour. And I have to tell Jan, above, that I want part of that steamer full of shrimp!
Hi, Jackie. I couldn’t believe it either. My first reaction was WTH! Until you know what you’re looking at it just looks a piece of ugly cement. We’re all going to be fighting over those shrimp. The day you and I and Jan arrive they better have extra! 🙂
Hi Jill! I was surprised. I had no idea that a piece of the wall had made it here.
I like this food crawl experience! Market first and then some more street food. That is what I am talking about! The mandu look so delicious. I can be eating things like that all day. There is a part of the Berlin Wall in Los Angeles too.
Hi, Ruth! Interesting! I must do some research and find out all of the cities that have a piece. Chronicling a visit to each one could be fun. The mandu was fantastic!
Nancie, I did not know a part of the Berlin wall was in Seoul. Also, I have got to return to Korea and learn how to make mandu! Love the photo of the shrimp! Yum!
Hi, Corrine! I think it’s a well-kept secret, even though it’s very close to Insadong. I’ve made mandu and I think everyone should try it once and of course if you live in a country that doesn’t sell mandu you could make your own all the time. Friends would love you! The wrappers are called “pee” and you buy them frozen (even in Korea!) 🙂
Loved learning about “Berlin Square” in downtown Seoul and South Korea’s hope for a future reunification. (And I look forward to hearing a retelling of your Berlin Wall story in Germany when you make your next visit to Portugal!) The street food looks amazing with so many offerings and a wide variety of tastes. It’s not hard to see that you would have to exercise some restraint to keep your portions to “taste” size so you could get through the whole tour!
Hi, Anita! It was hard not to eat everything in sight! Next time I see you, I will share my Berlin wall story!
I love Seoul’s street food. I absolutely loved Hotteok! There was also this chicken skewer that I really loved at the Ehwa district. So much great food for so cheap! I had no idea there was a piece of the Berlin wall in Seoul though. Wish I had known when I was in the city!
Hi, Bryna! The Berlin Wall is a well-kept secret! I enjoy chicken skewers. Years ago I lived in a neighborhood where we had our own skewer man. Every Friday afternoon was chicken skewer happy hour! 🙂
That photo with all the steam is very eyecatching. Excellent work! All the food looks delicious. I have trouble planning ahead and turning away from food even when I know more is to come. Bravo to you and your willpower. Although, perhaps knowing that you can come back later for the japchae helped versus if you had been a short term visitor in Seoul.
Aw, you are making me hungry for Asia!
Hi, Cindy! Thanks for dropping by. Come for a visit and we’ll eat some delicious food!
This post has made me hungry, that shrimp especially! I’d love to hear more about being on the verge of being arrested for not having the correct train ticket as the Berlin Wall was about to come down. That must be a fun story!
The food in Seoul looks so good. I’d love to take a trip there someday. How wonderful to have seen a piece of the Berlin wall too!!!
I have never been in that place but a lot of my friends told me that it is a beautiful place to visit and the food are all delicious.
Wow! Street food is really the tastiest and most authentic! This sounds fantastic.
I love street food. This looks awesome. I really want to go and try all of this!
Looks like an amazing trip, I’d love to visit there someday. Thank you for sharing your tips and insights.
Thanks for providing specific directions! I hope to visit sometime!
Thanks for providing specific directions! I hope to visit someday!
My pleasure, Alexa. I do hope you’ll get to visit Korea and sample Insadong Street food one of these days.
I love the bit of history regarding pieces of the Berlin Wall! That must have taken you by surprise for sure. If any country knows how to do a reunification, it’s certainly Germany.
Hi Caitlin. Yes, I was surprised to see a piece of the Berlin Wall in downtown Seoul. I think the Koreans talk to Germany about their reunification plans. They could learn some valuable lessons.
This looks delicious! I haven’t tried Korean food before but I’ve seen it made and it looks so good!
Hi Tiffany. To enjoy Korean food you need to like spice or know which dishes have the least. Korean BBQ is always a good choice. I think every visitor should sample kimchi. There are over 100 varieties and some of it can be super hot!
I’ve never been to Seoul but this looks like a nice place to visit. I love a good yummy mandu and kimchi madu is one of my fave.
This food looks really good! My husband loves the Korean cuisine too.
I haven’t been to Seoul before. Neither have I heard about the Insadong Street Food but it sounds amazing! I can’t wait to experience this place myself!
There are quite a few places to enjoy street food in Seoul. This is one of my favourite streets. Believe me, I sampled a lot of street food during my 18 years in Korea.
The food in Seoul looked tasty and authentic. I’m not much of an adventurous eater, but the experience would be great for anyone.
Hi Elie. Beware of the spice if you don’t like spicy food. Though, usually, mandu is not high on the spice scale.
How fascinating that a piece of the Berlin Wall is there!
I love street food – I would definitely need the menus in English!
I love how unique Asian countries are! The food looks delicious, and the area itself looks so interesting. I hope to get to Korea someday. <3
I love the idea of street food and Seoul looks like the perfect place to enjoy a great Korean experience. It all looks lovely.
street food is always fascinating me…i love the post…..
The food looks amazing! I’d love to travel to Seoul one day. My sister-in-law spent a couple of years there and absolutely loved it.
I LOVE street food (although we don’t have much where I’m from). Great article!
I agree with your favorite shot at Bukchon Mandu! The steam makes it look rather mystical. Love the dancing tastebuds comment, too 🙂 Those looked yummy.
I love street food. Thank for this post. The Seoul Berlin wall is cool.
How cool to see a piece of the Berlin Wall in Seoul, I had no idea it was there! Also, I loved the steam shot you took when searching for street food, such an interesting photo.
This sounds (and looks) amazing! I didn’t know they used the bamboo basket things for Korean food too. I would love to visit Asia specifically for the street food!
Visiting Seoul is literally on my must visit places in the next 5 years! I am obsessed with making korean style food.
Wow, this is such an tasting post. Who doesn’t love street food especially in the street of South Korea. The street food featured looks very yummy and delicious.
I’ve heard nothing but great things about Seoul and the food scene there!
I love me some street food! This is my kind of adventure. You are making my mouth water for some Mandu right about now!
All of the food looks delicious, would love to try the shrimp! I’ve never been to Korea, but if I’m ever there I will make sure to follow your advice! Thanks for sharing!
South Korea looks like an interesting place to visit. Especially with all that food, looks great.
I have never been to Seoul but if I ever do I will definitely go to Insadong. I really love street food and everywhere I travel I try it out. It’s a great way to meet locals whilst you wait in line to get your plate of food.
This looks like it would be a dilicious place to visit. I want to make sure I travel and try the local foods.
I love street food because it’s usually the local food at its best. Unfortunately some places have few choices for vegans and vegetarians. Did you see good vegetarian street foods in Korea?
I never really thought about going to Seoul before, it looks beautiful though. May need to add it to my want to do list.
Hi Preet. Seoul is an excellent destination. It’s often a transit point for South East Asia, so it’s relatively easy to arrange a stopover.
I have been to that dumpling store in Insadong! 🙂 I didn’t get to try their mandu, though. My son preferred eating at Ssamziegil because of the poop bread store right beside the entrance. 🙂
Laughing! I hope you get to try the Insadong dumplings one of these days. I believe they’ve opened another location just a street or two away.
Every food looks so yummy and tasty, I love love street foods, their smells and tastes.
xo Corina
https://unbouquetdamour.com/body-and-sexuality/
Hi Corina. I agree! Nothing beats good street food. I find it’s often much more authentic than what you’ll find in restaurants. At least that’s often the case in Seoul.
I have not visited Korea but did have Korean food one day and it was delicious, love the spice.
I’m a huge fan of street food wherever I go, and I believe it is what truly gives an insight into a culture. You have shared some mouth watering pictures 🙂 I’m going to get a bite but want to thank you for this wonderful post !
That food looks delicious! Street food is so fun to experience in other countries.
I love street markets. Knowing I am helping other small businesses.
I have never really tried Korean food but this street food looks delicious, I’d love to try it.
I love street food. That one thing I miss a lot about living in India part from my home
I think it would be so neat to be able to try street food and food from other cultures. If I ever get the chance to travel (like, truly travel), I will be sure to try street food! Thanks for sharing!
This street food all looks so good! I definitely wish I could experience walking around and trying things here and there myself. Thanks for sharing!
OMG that basket of shrimp looked so good. For me travel is all about the food even sometimes just as much as the sites. Definitely on my bucket list!
Hi Alisa. Insadong Street food is an absolute must if you’re ever in Seoul. Those shrimp are amazing.