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Korean Food Tour: Famous Markets and Food Streets

Famous Korean food markets and streets and what to eat there, with 5 Korean phrases for ordering, with audio and a quick quiz.

  • Jagalchi Fish Market (자갈치시장)
    Data: Korea Tourism Organization (한국관광공사)
    Busan · Jung-gu (Nampo-dong)

    Jagalchi Fish Market

    자갈치시장

    Korea's best-known seafood market, on the harbor in Nampo-dong. Choose live fish, octopus or shellfish at the ground-floor stalls. The restaurants upstairs serve it as hoe (sliced raw fish) or cook it into a spicy stew. BIFF Square and Gukje Market are a short walk away.

    Upstairs restaurants usually charge a small table and service fee per person. Jagalchi Station (Line 1).

    Unconfirmed: The table fee varies by restaurant. Check before you sit down.

  • BIFF Square Ssiat Hotteok (BIFF광장 씨앗호떡)
    Data: Korea Tourism Organization (한국관광공사)
    Busan · Jung-gu

    BIFF Square Ssiat Hotteok

    BIFF광장 씨앗호떡

    BIFF Square in Nampo-dong is where the Busan International Film Festival began in 1996, with film stars' handprints set into the pavement. Its street stalls are famous for ssiat hotteok: a fried sweet pancake split open and stuffed with sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds and nuts.

    Jagalchi Market and Gukje Market are next door. Nampo Station, Line 1.

  • Gukje Market Food Street (국제시장 먹자골목)
    Data: Korea Tourism Organization (한국관광공사)
    Busan · Jung-gu

    Gukje Market Food Street

    국제시장 먹자골목

    A food street with more than 60 years of history in one of Busan's traditional markets. Sit on a small stool by the stalls and try Chungmu gimbap with spicy squid, tteokbokki, milmyeon (wheat noodles), dwaeji gukbap (pork and rice soup) or Busan's bibim dangmyeon (spicy glass noodles). Finish with patbingsu.

    Closed on the first and third Sundays of every month. Opening hours vary by stall.

  • Gijang Market (부산 기장시장)
    Data: Korea Tourism Organization (한국관광공사)
    Busan · Gijang-gun

    Gijang Market

    부산 기장시장

    An outdoor market selling seafood, dried fish and farm produce. Seaweed and anchovies are the stars in spring, and cutlass fish in autumn: the cutlass fish sold in the two months around Chuseok (Korean Thanksgiving) is known across the country for its taste and fair prices.

    Open 07:00-22:00, all year.

  • Haeundae Market (부산 해운대시장)
    Data: Korea Tourism Organization (한국관광공사)
    Busan · Haeundae-gu

    Haeundae Market

    부산 해운대시장

    A lively market a short walk from Haeundae Beach, busiest in the holiday seasons. Fresh vegetables, meat and seafood sell at low prices and there is plenty to eat. It is also known as "Sea Eel Alley", because the smell of grilled sea eel fills every corner.

    Open 09:00-22:00 (varies by store).

  • Gupo Market (구포시장)
    Data: Korea Tourism Organization (한국관광공사)
    Busan · Buk-gu

    Gupo Market

    구포시장

    A large traditional market in Busan that grew up around the old Gupo Ferry on the Nakdonggang River. Permanent shops and a five-day market share the space, so on market days sellers bring in fresh fruit, vegetables and fish, and the lanes feel like an old country market. Many well-known eateries are inside.

    Open 08:00-20:00; days off vary by shop. The five-day market is held on dates ending in 3 and 8. Parking is available.

Data: Korea Tourism Organization (한국관광공사), via TourAPI. Photos are shown as provided, uncropped. Facts are checked against VisitKorea and official festival sites, and the descriptions are our own. Dates can change, so check the official site before you travel.