Top 10 Must-Visit Specialty Food Streets in Seoul Known Only to Locals

By MOOK Scenic Spots Family Travel Life Network Editorial Department, compiled and reported
 
Korean cuisine is full of unique charm, attracting both domestic and international tourists on a culinary pilgrimage. In various regions, there are specialty food streets—known only to locals—that cluster around a single type of dish. If you’re craving a specific food, these spots are the perfect place to find it. Below is a list of ten uniquely distinctive and authentic food streets. Next time you visit Korea, don’t forget to come here and enjoy a hearty meal.

● Gyeonghui University Pancake Street
Located in front of Gyeonghui University, this street specializes in pancakes and makgeolli, offering a youthful campus-town vibe. It still retains the atmosphere of the 1980s, where many adults come to reminisce about their youth. The generously filled seafood pancakes can be up to 2 cm thick and 30 cm in diameter, with a crispy exterior and soft interior that lets you enjoy both a hearty texture and fresh ingredients. Additionally, the menu includes a wide variety of options such as acorn jelly, stir-fried blood sausage, spicy chicken soup, stir-fried squid, tofu kimchi, and spicy pork, which can also be combined into diverse set meals—perfect for student gatherings, drinking, and chatting.
 
Location: 9th block of 28, Hoegi-ro, Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul
Transportation: Exit 1 of Hoegi Station on Seoul Subway Line 1, walk about 5 minutes toward Gyeonghui University

● Yongdu-dong Short-Arm Octopus Street
This street started selling short-arm octopus dishes in the 1980s as an experiment, but it quickly became a hit and transformed into a food street specializing in spicy stir-fried short-arm octopus. Its standout feature is the “spiciness”—vibrant red chili sauce is mixed with the octopus, and just the aroma is enough to signal how hot it is. Devoted customers can’t get enough of its heat. Besides octopus, you can also add side ingredients like pork belly, rice cakes, and fish cakes. The most common staple is noodles, or you can also use the broth to make fried rice.
 
Location: 10th block of 36, Musul-ro, Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul
Transportation: Exit 6 of Jeil Station on Seoul Subway Line 1, walk about 5 minutes

● Mapo Seasoned Grilled Beef and Pork Chop Street
On the northern section of Mapo Bridge, between Mapo Station and Gongdeok Station, there are plenty of grilled meat restaurants. This area used to be Mapo Ferry Terminal, a distribution hub on the Han River for goods like shrimp paste, salt, and grains. The grilled meat here is especially delicious when dipped in shrimp paste, and the Yanghak-dong area is known for grilling meat using the traditional pottery that once preserved shrimp paste. Although many shops closed after the ferry terminal disappeared with the completion of Mapo Bridge, the grilled meat restaurants here have become even more popular, forming a whole street dedicated to grilled fare.
 
Location: 12th block of 35, Dodong-ro, Mapo-gu, Seoul
Transportation: Exit 1 of Mapo Station on Seoul Subway Line 5, walk about 2 minutes

● Heukseok-dong Pork Chop Street
Near universities, there’s usually one or two food streets—and the one near Chung-Ang University is Heukseok-dong Pork Chop Street. This alley, located right across from Heukseok-dong Cathedral, has a 40-year history. Until the mid-1990s, its main patrons were Chung-Ang University students. Recently, it has gained fame for its grilled pork chops, drawing food lovers from all over Seoul. While grilled pork chops are the most popular, salt-grilled meat, charcoal-grilled pork belly, spicy ribs, and grilled seafood also have their fans.
 
Location: 6th block of 13, Heukseok-ro, Dongjak-gu, Seoul
Transportation: Exit 4 of Heukseok Station on Seoul Subway Line 9, walk about 10 minutes toward the Heukseok-dong Community Center