Ultimate Korean food experience
Ultimate Korean food experience
Ultimate Korean food experience
Ultimate Korean food experience
Ultimate Korean food experience
Ultimate Korean food experience
Ultimate Korean food experience
Ultimate Korean food experience
Ultimate Korean food experience
Ultimate Korean food experience

What you'll do

Want to taste the authentic food culture of Seoul and not the tourist version? With a local insider to show you how to eat dak hanmari whole chicken soup, take you to two of Seoul’s meokjagolmok - alleys dedicated to a single dish - and the oldest market in Korea, where hundreds of years of culture are distilled into chaotically organized lanes, you’ll discover exactly that.

Try dishes like soondae (blood sausage) and tteokbokki (sticky rice rolls lavishly coated in a spicy sauce). At Euljiro Nogari Alley, join the locals in ice-cold beers and this alley’s signature dish: dried, then grilled pollock. Finally, you’ll go to a generations-old cafe for traditional tea like yum-cha and sweet rice cakes, the Korean symbol of hospitality to guests. 

Where you’ll go

Your host will lead the way on your food adventure in Jongno-gu, one of Seoul’s most central districts. But don’t let its high-profile location fool you - between futuristic edifices like the Dongdaemun Design Plaza are tiny alleyways packed with old-school cafes, and street eat joints.

You’ll explore Gwangjang Market, a cornucopia of fresh seafood, traditional produce, and stacks of mayak gimbap (rice rolls) piled high on almost every street food stall counter. Just a few streets away is Dak Hanmari Alley.

It’s a quick hop on the subway to Euljiro Nogari Alley, a curious street buzzing every night of the week with hipsters, grandparents, office workers, and students all fighting to nab a plastic chair and tiny table. 

  • Private & 100% personalized tour

  • 4 hours

  • Matched to your ideal host

  • Walking tour (may use public transport)

  • Hosted in English (On request: French, German, Japanese, Korean, Mandarin, Russian, Spanish)

  • Meet at your accommodation or a central location

Experience outline

  • Join a local insider to eat your way around downtown Seoul, discovering the city’s authentic food scene
  • Visit the famous Namdaemun Market and immerse yourself in 600 years of Korean food culture
  • Try street eats like tteokbokki (sticky rice cakes), mung bean pancakes and mayak kimbap, seaweed-wrapped rolls stuffed with carrot, pickled daikon radish, and rice seasoned with sesame oil
  • Visit the food alley dedicated to grilled pollock and ice-cold beer - you won’t spot a tourist in sight!
  • Your host will take you to the food alley which specializes in whole chicken soup, and show you how it’s eaten
  • At a traditional tea house, sip tea and try sweet rice cakes - the ultimate symbol of Korean hospitality
  • Ask your host for their recommendations for where and what to eat during the rest of your trip

Things to know

What’s included

  • Private and personalised experience
  • 4 hours with a host
  • 2 - 3 samples of typical dishes and snacks at Namdaemun Market
  • A sharing dish from a local eatery in a food “town” of your choice
  • Walking experience
  • Meal (including food and drinks) at a Korean barbecue restaurant
  • Hotel meet-up (available on request for central location)

What’s not included

  • Tickets to any attractions
  • Transportation costs
  • Gratuities (optional)

Cancellation

  • Cancel 14 days before the experience for a full refund
  • Worry-free cancellation terms: book with peace of mind knowing that you can cancel for free up to a day before the experience and receive a full refund.

Photos taken by our hosts and guests

City Unscripted guests photos

Reviews

    To say that this tour was great only would be an understatement. The way that I described the experience to Giwon was that it was like finally getting the chance to visit a friend who you’ve been promising to visit. She was extremely accommodating and made the entire experience great for us from start to finish. She took us to all the great spots and added a few hidden gems. We laughed most of the night, and couldn’t help but offer to keep in touch, given how well everything went. If you have your choice of guides, Giwon is simply amazing and my recommended guide.

    January 2023

    Jeremiah J

    To say that this tour was great only would be an understatement. The way that I described the experience to Giwon was that it was like finally getting the chance to visit a friend who you’ve been promising to visit. She was extremely accommodating and made the entire experience great for us from start to finish. She took us to all the great spots and added a few hidden gems. We laughed most of the night, and couldn’t help but offer to keep in touch, given how well everything went. If you have your choice of guides, Giwon is simply amazing and my recommended guide.

    January 2023

    Jeremiah J

    We had a wonderful experience with Oki who is not only knowledgeable but professional in organising this hidden gems Seoul tour. We enjoyed every moment. Highly recommended!

    December 2022

    Penny L

    It was nice to get a sense of Oki's likes and dislikes as a local and it really deepened our experience of the city.

    November 2022

    Melanie W

See more reviews

Meet our local hosts in Seoul. One of them will tailor this experience to your wishes!

We’ll expertly match you to your best suited host based on your interests, personality and the experience vibe you’re after.

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