Highlights
- Savour the flavours of 15+ tastings from South Korean cuisine
- Explore the streets of Seoul with a local foodie guide
- Amble through Seoul's oldest food markets
- Visit beloved street vendors and local eateries
- Learn about the food cultures of South Korea
Description
Seoul is a sensory blitz, an LED skyscraper metropolis where the hum of the future vibrates against centuries of iron-clad tradition. Whilst the Korean menu is famous for its tabletop BBQ, the capital’s real food story is far broader. With a dizzying maze of stalls and regional specialties, knowing where to go and what to order can be overwhelming. Fear not. Alongside our expert Seoul food hosts, you'll cut through the guesswork and go straight to the city's best eats.
Begin at Namdaemun market, the largest in South Korea, with a 600-year history stretching back to the Joseon Dynasty. Watch the ajummas slice dough rapidly into kalguksu - steamy, hand-cut noodles providing a bouncy texture in every bite. Contrast with the icy kick of bibim naengmyeon, legendary cold noodles with roots in the North.
This is a country where all backstreets lead to bibimbap, the colour wheel of rice and vegetables, before tackling handmade mandu, succulent parcels of fortune crafted by a master with over 40 years of muscle memory. Taste the original japchae hotteok, a crispy pocket stuffed with savoury glass noodles, invented right here in these laneways.
After a scenic stroll across Seoullo 7017 sky garden to see the old and new faces of the city, we hit the 120-year-old Gwangjang Market. Tuck into grandmother’s half-century-old recipe for nokdu bindaetteok mung bean pancakes, perfectly paired with the milky tang of makgeolli rice wine. Start drooling, as you won't be able to resist the fiery, velvet-glazed tteokbokki rice cakes, and addictive gimbap - seaweed rolls that put sushi on notice.
Walk along the Cheonggyecheon Stream before entering the sliding doors of a traditional Hanok teahouse. No Seoul feast is complete without the Ssanghwa ceremony - with omija tea and a set of hangwa traditional sweets, featuring jammy muhwagwa figs, chewy yakbap, and the bitter-gold pop of roasted yellow ginkgo nuts.
Part street food crawl, part cultural immersion, this tour takes you through market stalls and neighbourhood spots to experience the flavours that make Seoul so distinctive. With 12+ tastings, it’s a delicious look at why Seoul is considered one of the world’s great culinary capitals.
Includes
12+ food tastings included, more than any other Seoul food tour
Moveable feast with 7-8 stops around the streets of Seoul
Max 8 exclusive guests, smallest group size in Seoul (private / larger groups by request)
Bottled water
Duration is around 3.5 to 4 hours, depending on the pace of the group
Excludes
Alcoholic drinks
Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included; an easy-to-find meeting point is provided for all guests
Vegetarian diets have 3-4 less tastings due to limited alternatives at some vendors
Unsuitable for severe allergies, halal and celiac disease, due to risk of traces and cross-contamination
Important Information
- The tour reflects the local cuisine, and the limitations of street food vendors mean we unfortunately cannot cater for every dietary restriction
✖️ Unsuitable for severe allergies, halal and celiac diets, due to risk of traces and cross-contamination
✖️ Vegetarian diets have 3-4 less tastings due to limited alternatives at some vendors
We recommend comfortable shoes as this is an easy-paced walking tour
We operate come rain or shine, so please carry rain gear/umbrella if rain looks likely
There are lots of tastings to try, so come hungry!
Easy cancellation
Cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund
