Namdaemun Market Gourmand Alley (Kalguksu Alley) (남대문시장 먹자골목(칼국수 골목)) - Area information - Korea travel information

Namdaemun Market Gourmand Alley (Kalguksu Alley) (남대문시장 먹자골목(칼국수 골목))

Namdaemun Market Gourmand Alley (Kalguksu Alley) (남대문시장 먹자골목(칼국수 골목))

3.3Km    2023-11-06

42-1, Namdaemunsijang 4-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul

Namdaemun Market is a massive market in Seoul filled with history and traditions. In the market, there is a place where people can dine without worrying about time or money, in an unmistakably Korean atmosphere, and that is the Gourmand Alley (Kalguksu Alley). The alley is lined with stalls selling similar fare, and people sit down in front of them, shoulder to shoulder, to enjoy their meal. Namdaemun Market’s Gourmand Alley specializes in noodle soup and steamed barley rice sets. The latter is a mixture of rice and barley, which is then steamed together. Its call to popularity is the nutty flavor imparted by barley. It has a healthy taste like no other, so make sure to check it out. Each order often comes with two or three separate menus (noodle soup, steamed rice, cold buckwheat noodles, etc.), along with a sumptuous array of side dishes like kimchi. Because this spot is beloved by diners of all ages, one often has to wait to get one’s turn during meal hours or on weekends. Keep in mind that the alley’s age often manifests itself in its crowdedness and lower attention to hygiene.
Another thing to note is that first-time visitors often find it difficult to find the entrance to the alley. The entrance is the transparent plastic door right next to “Segye-ro Eyeglasses Shop,” which can be found right across from Exit 5 of Hoehyeon Station on Seoul Subway Line 4. The door is rather small and difficult to find, but once you enter the doorway, you will immediately see the stalls unfolding in front of your eyes. 

TV program “Life Masters (2005-)”
TV program “A Walk Around the Neighborhood (2018-2022)”

Gyeonghuigung Palace (경희궁)

3.3Km    2024-07-09

45 Saemunan-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul
+82-2-724-0274

Gyeonghuigung Palace, a designated Historic Site, was originally called the large palace by Saemun Gate, or the Western Palace, for its location within the city. It was not until the eighth year of Gwanghaegun (1616) that the palace was used as a royal residence for the king, changing the name to Gyeongdeokgung Palace. The name later changed again to the current Gyeonghuigung Palace in 1760. The palace grounds included many halls but they were mostly all burned down in a fire in 1829. After the Japanese occupation began, all remaining buildings on the site were torn down and the palace grounds were turned into Gyeongseong Middle School (now Seoul High School). The school moved to Gangnam area in 1987, afterwhich the previous location was turned into a park. The palace grounds currently hold Seoul Museum of Art and walking paths, as well as a restoration of Heunghwamun Gate, the main gate of the palace, and Sungjeongjeon Hall, the main hall, completed in November 1994.

Hanaro Optics [Tax Refund Shop] (하나로안경원)

Hanaro Optics [Tax Refund Shop] (하나로안경원)

3.4Km    2024-04-19

48, Namdaemunsijang 4-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul

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Samsung Digital Plaza - Wangsimni Branch [Tax Refund Shop] (삼성 디지털 왕십리점)

Samsung Digital Plaza - Wangsimni Branch [Tax Refund Shop] (삼성 디지털 왕십리점)

3.4Km    2024-04-18

217, Gosanja-ro, Seongdong-gu, Seoul

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Mangnae Hoejip (막내회집)

Mangnae Hoejip (막내회집)

3.4Km    2021-04-09

34-11, Namdaemunsijang, 4-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul
+82-2-755-5115

It is a Hoejip (raw fish restaurant) with 26 years’ tradition. This Korean dishes restaurant is located in Jung-gu, Seoul. The representative menu is sliced raw flatfish.

Jeongdong-gil Road (정동길)

Jeongdong-gil Road (정동길)

3.4Km    2024-06-19

2-1 Jeongdong-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul

Jeongdong-gil Road is one of Seoul's most famous walking paths, stretching from the intersection in front of Jeongdong Church to Saemunan-gil Road. The street holds importance in Korea's modern history, with the surroundings serving as a living museum of this. During the Joseon dynasty, the area developed into a residental space for distant members of the royal family, with a palace and royal tombs in the area. In 1999, the pedestrian walking area was expanded by turning the two-way road into a one-way road. Since then, the road has earned many awards and honors.

Mirakjeong (미락정)

Mirakjeong (미락정)

3.4Km    2021-03-30

52, Sejong-daero 9-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul
+82-2-778-7210

It is a place where pork cutlet is made directly with domestic pork. This restaurant's signature menu is house-made jumbo sized pork cutlet. This Korean dishes restaurant is located in Jung-gu, Seoul.

Bugak Skyway Palgakjeong Pavilion (북악스카이 팔각정)

Bugak Skyway Palgakjeong Pavilion (북악스카이 팔각정)

3.4Km    2024-12-31

267 Bugaksan-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul

Bugak Skyway Palgakjeong Pavilion exudes a tranquil, serene beauty regardless of the season. The pavilion, which sits on Bugaksan's 1,652,900 square meter summit at an altitude of 345 meters, was built in a traditional Korean-style and became a popular attraction within the city. There are also spaces for visitors to enjoy food and drinks.

Namdo Bunsik Seochon Branch (남도분식 서촌점)

Namdo Bunsik Seochon Branch (남도분식 서촌점)

3.4Km    2024-02-20

1F, 2 Ogin 2-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul

Namdo Bunsik is a snack restaurant that caters to the tastes of the younger generation by adapting regional traditional cuisine. The flagship menu features namdo tteokbokki, an jeukseok tteokbokki (instant tteokbokki) crafted with various ingredients such as pollack, scallions, and radish, with the broth prepared in-house. The spiciness of the tteokbokki can be adjusted from level 1 to level 3. Another popular item is sangchu twigim (deep-fried lettuce), where deep-fried dishes and pickled onions are wrapped in lettuce for consumption.

Hanyangdoseong Seoul City Wall Stamp Tour (서울 한양도성 순성길)

Hanyangdoseong Seoul City Wall Stamp Tour (서울 한양도성 순성길)

3.4Km    2025-06-30

Nusang-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul

Hanyangdoseong Seoul City Wall is a 18.7 km-long trail that encircles the old capital city of Hanyang, covering Bugaksan, Inwangsan, Naksan, and Namsan Mountains. The urban trekking course provides the opportunity to see Seoul's history, culture, and nature all at once, including four large gates, four small gates, and 169 cultural heritages. To enjoy the trail even further, take part in the stamp tour. Travelers who complete the full trail, collecting stamps and taking pictures at the designated locations will recieve a completion certificate.