13 Street Food Market Tours in South Korea Worth the Early Start

1.Seoul Street Food Market Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,226 reviews · from $73Our pick

Spend about two hours tasting Korean market food and drinks with a small group of up to 10 people. Guides such as Juno, Yoon, Tan, Rocky, and Jacob explain each dish, share local stories, teach Korean drinking games, and offer tips for the rest of your Seoul stay. Vegetarian and allergy requests can be arranged in advance.

“Rocky is one of the best tour guides I have ever met in Korea. His English an knowledge is on point and his banter is the same level as a Auzzie, without crossing any lines he gives enough knowledge and information in the tour to really take on more than you need to know”

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2.Night Market Food Tour with Local Guide

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 943 reviews · 2 hours · from $73

Meet your English-speaking guide at Jongno 5-ga Station for a two-hour walk through Gwangjang Market. Expect up to 10 Korean foods and drinks, from mung bean pancakes and dumplings to more adventurous bites, plus market stories, etiquette, and Korean drinking games. Guides may include Juno, Jacob, Yoon, Tan, Kevin, or Roky.

“Excellent information and insight provided. Juno, our guide went above and beyond. Great way to start any trip to Seoul.”

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3.Palace, Temple and Market Guided Foodie Tour at Night

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 750 reviews · from $60

Join a Korean or English-speaking guide such as Mia, Kim, Jay, or Inha for a four-hour evening walk through Jongno. See Changgyeonggung Palace under lights, sample makgeolli, jeon, chopped live octopus, beef tartare, and kkwabaegi at Gwangjang Market, then visit Ikseon-dong and Jogyesa Temple.

“the guide had lots of of information to pass on about each stop”

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4.Seoul Night Palace & Market Food Tour with Vehicle

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 275 reviews · from $79

Start at Hyehwa Station and walk to Changgyeonggung Palace, then ride between the palace, Gwangjang Market, and Jogyesa Temple. Guides such as Ron, Janice, Mia, and Bruce lead the evening in English. Expect Korean pancakes, rice wine, raw beef, chopped live octopus, snacks, and plenty of walking.

“What an amazing evening, thanks to Lena! This was an epic tour from the walking history to the amazing street food. Lena our guide was extremely knowledgeable and an absolute treasure! Thanks so much for this truly unforgettable experience!!”

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5.Busan history and market food tour with local chef

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 58 reviews · from $50

Join local chef Heeyoung for a two-hour food walk through Busan’s Jagalchi Seafood Market, BIFF Square, and Bupyeong Kkangtong Market. You’ll sample Korean street foods, learn how Busan’s food culture connects to its past, and get practical restaurant and market advice. Groups are limited to 10 people, with a 4 p.m. start.

“The tour with Heeyoung was fabulous! We loved that it was a walking tour through the neighborhood, and how much information we learned along the way. The pajeon and tteokkboki we tried were absolutely delicious. We also tried good fish cakes and hotteok.”

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6.Namdaemun Market Food Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 34 reviews · 2h 30m · from $71

Spend 150 minutes with an English-speaking guide such as Joy, Alan, Sally, or Sophie at Seoul’s Namdaemun Market. Taste noodles, dumplings, twisted bread, and fish cake, then explore Food Alley, Kalguksu Alley, accessory stalls, and traditional crafts. Shopping is optional, and groups are limited to 10 people.

“Sally was amazing! She was super flexible with us and gave us such a personalized experience. She shared so much of her cultural and historical understanding and made the tour absolutely fantastic. Highly recommend you book this tour.”

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7.Gwangjang Market Netflix Food Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 31 reviews · 3 hours · from $64

Start at Anguk Station with guides such as Peter, Sally, Alan, Sam, or Charlie, then walk through Insa-dong and Ikseon-dong before tasting three to five Korean street foods at Gwangjang Market. The three-hour tour ends with its largest food portions, so eat lightly beforehand.

“This was an excellent tour. Peter took us on a great walking tour, and provided information about history, culture, art and food. The tour included a visit to a range of places, including the market. It’s a great introduction to Seoul. Thank you Peter!!”

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8.Gukje and Jagalchi Market Food Tour with Tastings

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 27 reviews · 2 hours · from $50

Meet your English or Korean guide at Jagalchi Station at 16:50 for a two-hour food walk through Gukje and Jagalchi markets. Sample handmade snacks, street food, and seafood while guides such as Katrina, Naon, and David explain Busan’s food traditions and fish market life.

“We had a great food tour of Busan's main street markets. Our guides, Katrina and Naon, were really nice and explained lots of history and curiosities about Busan. You get to sample different street food by just asking your guide what you want and then you have the option to have some fresh fish from the market cooked for you. Really worth it if you're a foodie!”

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9.Gwangjang Market Vegan & Vegetarian Food Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 16 reviews · 2 hours · from $89

Meet Jungho outside Jongno 5-ga Station for a two-hour walk through Gwangjang Market. You’ll taste 11-plus vegan Korean dishes and drinks, from filling meals to sweets, while learning market customs and food traditions. The small group is limited to eight, and Jungho handles ordering and ingredient checks in English.

“Awesome tour! Lots of things to eat and a guide with all the knowledge you could ask for. Highly recommended :) *even for people who are not vegan ;)”

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10.Hidden Stories & Flavors: Traditional Market Food Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 13 reviews · 2 hours · from $100

Meet guide Taeseong, or another English-speaking local guide, at Jongno 5-ga Station Exit 8 for a two-hour walk through Gwangjang Market. You will sample dumplings, meatballs, Korean hotdogs, rice rolls, spicy rice cakes, fish cakes, sweet pancakes, fish-shaped buns, and water while hearing about modern Korea, Seoul, military service, and the peninsula’s division.

“Our tour guide was very informative and spoke perfect English. Great conversations and food.”

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11.Fearless Foodie Gwangjang Market Food Adventure

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 10 reviews · 2 hours · from $81

Meet at Jongno 5 ga Station Exit 8 and follow an English-speaking guide through Gwangjang Market for two hours of small food portions, Korean drinks, and stamp-collecting fun. Try about 10 to 12 dishes without ordering full plates, then claim a traditional souvenir. Spicy foods and meat-based dishes are part of the challenge.

“Great food tour of the market and lovely host that shares lots of stories and anecdotes of the history and food / culture. Easy to wander round and you reallly get your moneys worth in terms of trying lots of different foods. Would recommend!!!”

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12.Guided Street Food Tour at Namdaemun Market

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 10 reviews · 1h 30m · from $43Best value

Meet your English-speaking guide at Hoehyeon Station and spend about 90 minutes tasting seven Korean market foods, including kalguksu, wang mandu, hotteok, gimbab, and tteokbokki. Guides such as Kay and EJ lead small groups of up to 10 through Namdaemun Market, with time for food, crafts, photographs, and traditional architecture.

“Kay was a great guide! He knew how to navigate the market efficiently and answered any Qs we had. Would recommend for anyone that wants an authentic and not too touristy market.”

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13.Mangwon Market Food tour By Locals;Cheap Eats to Fancy Feast

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 9 reviews · from $58

Meet Jay or Sam outside Mangwon Station Exit 2 for a two-hour English food walk near Hongdae. You’ll sample freshly cooked market snacks, homemade tofu, Hanwoo beef, and Korean fried chicken with beer. The tour favors meat and dairy, so it is not suitable for vegetarians or vegans.

“This was a fantastic foodie market tour! Jay was just amazing. She was knowledgeable about the local cuisine and the market. She even grilled premium Korean beef for us in the middle of the market! She was so friendly and easy to converse with. She immediately made us feel welcome. I would highly recommend this market tour. Thanks Jay!”

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