Amanda LimSeoul is a city that lives and breathes food. Beyond its famous restaurants and trendy cafes lies a world of culinary alleys: narrow backstreets packed with sizzling grills, bubbling stews, and decades of local flavour.
If you want to eat like a local, here’s your guide to 10 must-visit food alleys in Seoul, complete with directions, tips, and the dishes you shouldn’t leave without trying.
Also read: A Guide to Regional Food in South Korea: Iconic Local Dishes You Should Eat in Each City
Hoegi Pajeon Alley
Image credit: Sanga Park via Canva Pro
A rainy-day favourite, Hoegi Pajeon Alley near Kyung Hee University is famous for crisp, golden Korean pancakes paired with bowls of chilled, cloudy rice wine (makgeolli). The vibe is laid-back, with mostly locals and students filling the rustic restaurants.
What to try: Haemul pajeon (seafood pancake), kimchi jeon, makgeolli
How to get there: Take Line 1 to Hoegi Station, Exit 1. Walk 5 minutes towards Kyung Hee University and the alley will be on your left!
Dongdaemun Dak Hanmari Alley
Image credit: Kuroiniisan | Wikimedia
Hidden behind the busy Dongdaemun shopping area is a row of eateries serving dak hanmari, a soul-warming dish of whole chicken boiled in broth, eaten with a spicy soy-garlic dipping sauce.
Don’t miss out on adding knife-cut noodles (kalguksu) into the broth towards the end of your meal.
What to try: Dak hanmari (whole chicken soup with dipping sauce, noodles and rice cake)
How to get there: Take Line 1 or 4 to Dongdaemun Station, Exit 9. Walk behind the JW Marriott Hotel to reach here.
Jongno 3-ga Bossam Alley
Image credit: ma-no via Canva Pro
Tucked in the alleys between Jongno 3-ga and Jongno 2-ga, this cluster of bossam restaurants dishes out thick pork slices served with house-aged kimchi and generous side dishes like soup, jeon and fried fish. And here’s an extra tip: many eateries offer lunch sets at discounted prices before 2pm!
What to try: Bossam (steamed pork slices), aged kimchi, complimentary dishes
How to get there: Take Line 1, 3 or 5 to Jongno 3-ga Station, Exit 15. Walk towards Jongno 2-ga, the alley sits just off the main road.
Dongdaemun Grilled Fish Alley
Image credit: TopPhotoImages via Canva Pro
Just east of Gwangjang Market, this alley is packed with vendors grilling fish over charcoal. A simple meal includes rice, kimchi, soybean paste stew, and your fish of choice: crispy, smoky and deeply satisfying.
What to try: Grilled mackerel, cutlassfish, croaker
How to get there: Take Line 1 to Jongno 5-ga Station, Exit 6. Walk 3 minutes towards Dongdaemun, the alley is near the old Pyeonghwa Market.
Gongdeok Jokbal Alley
Image credit: kanonsky via Canva Pro
This alley is a haven for meat lovers, where entire menus are built around glistening platters of braised pig’s trotters. Most spots also serve spicy versions and bossam, plus sides like raw garlic, shrimp sauce and perilla leaves. Some shops even stay open until 2–3am, perfect for a late-night feast.
What to try: Jokbal (braised pig’s trotters), spicy jokbal, bossam
How to get there: Take Line 5 or 6 to Gongdeok Station, Exit 5. The alley is a short walk from the station entrance.
Also read: Best Things to Do in Seoul at Night: Late-Night Eats and Views
Namdaemun Kalguksu Alley
Image credit: Somemi_People via Canva Pro
Inside Seoul’s oldest market, this narrow lane is packed with tiny stalls serving hot bowls of kalguksu. The soup is simple but comforting, typically served with kimchi and the occasional bonus banchan.
What to try: Kalguksu (knife-cut noodles), kongguksu (cold soybean noodles), barley rice
How to get there: Take Line 4 to Hoehyeon Station, Exit 5. Enter Namdaemun Market and head towards Gate 6.
Konkuk Univ. Lamb Skewer Alley
Image credit: Petersy via Canva Pro
Popular with university students, this side street near Konkuk University is packed with Chinese-Korean restaurants grilling lamb skewers over charcoal. The mouthwatering aroma will hit you before you see the flames. Many restaurants also offer self-grill skewers with rotating metal racks, letting you decide the perfect doneness of your meat.
What to try: Yangkochi (lamb skewers), Chinese beer
How to get there: Take Line 2 or 7 to Konkuk University Station, Exit 6. Walk 2 minutes towards the CGV building.
Seongsu-dong Galbi Alley
Image credit: laddawanh via Canva Pro
Tucked behind Seongsu’s hipster cafes and design studios is an alley that’s all about fire-kissed galbi. Expect classic Korean BBQ tables, a cloud of smoke, and seriously juicy cuts.
What to try: Charcoal-grilled marinated beef galbi
How to get there: Take Line 2 to Seongsu Station, Exit 3. Walk towards Seongsu Handmade Shoe Street.
Sindang-dong Tteokbokki Town
Image credit: Visit Korea Official Website
Tteokbokki Town is lined with decades-old vendors serving chewy rice cakes in bubbling hot sauce, often cooked right at your table with extras like ramen, fish cake, boiled egg, and dumplings. If you’re overwhelmed by the amount of choices, Ma Bok Lim Tteokbokki is one of the oldest and most famous shops here, and is worth a try.
What to try: Jeukseok tteokbokki (table-cooked spicy rice cakes)
How to get there: Take Line 2 or 6 to Sindang Station, Exit 8. Turn left and walk 3 minutes.
Sundae Town, Sillim-dong
Image credit: Visit Korea Official Website
Sundae Town is a cluster of eateries specialising in a traditional Korean sausage made by stuffing pig’s intestines with a mixture of sweet potato noodles (dangmyeon), barley, and pig’s blood. Most places offer their sundae stir-fried with perilla leaves and glass noodles for extra texture.
What to try: Sundae bokkeum (stir-fried blood sausage with vegetables and noodles)
How to get there: Take Line 2 to Sillim Station, Exit 3. Head straight and look for the red signs that say “Sundae Town”.
Final tips for foodies
- It’s a good idea to bring cash: Not all places take cards.
- Peak time is 6pm–8pm: Go earlier for shorter queues.
- Travel light: Alleys can be tight and smoky, so avoid bulky bags.
- Solo diners welcome: Street stalls will serve single portions if asked.
Also read: What to Do in Jeju for Free: 10 Budget-Friendly Ideas for All Travellers
Time to explore these food streets
From fiery rice cakes and smoky BBQ to rich broths and late-night skewers, these food alleys offer a deep dive into Seoul’s everyday food culture. Come hungry, keep an open mind, and don’t be afraid to follow your nose down the next alley.
