After exploring Mangwon Market in Mapo, we continued our Seoul market-hopping tour with a visit to Seoul Central Market in Sindang-dong. Opened in 1962, this market is one of the three largest traditional markets in Seoul.

While the market doesn’t have its own parking lot, there are nearby paid parking options. However, the easiest way to get here is by taking the metro, Sindang Station is just a short walk away.

Since we visited on a Sunday, the market was relatively quiet. Unlike some of the busier traditional markets, Seoul Central Market has wider walkways, making it easier to navigate and explore at a leisurely pace.

Even though we didn’t get to sample everything, I’d love to take you on a virtual tour and introduce you to some of the market’s signature dishes!

 

Okgyeong-i-nae

One of the first places that caught my eye was Okgyeong-i-nae, a popular seafood restaurant. Despite being early in the evening, the place was already packed, a clear sign of its popularity.

What intrigued me the most was a sign explaining that the family catches the fish themselves, dries it on their boat, and then sells it. Knowing where the food comes from adds an extra layer of authenticity to the experience.

The menu featured a variety of seafood, including: Croaker, Rockfish, Cuttlefish, etc. Even though it was a Sunday, the line was long, so we decided to save this spot for another visit.

Not far from Okgyeong-i-nae, we spotted Manseon, another eatery specializing in grilled and steamed dried fish.

It quickly became clear that dried fish is the signature dish of Sindang-dong Central Market. This preservation method enhances the fish's texture and flavor, making it a local favorite.

 

Homemade fish cake

Next, we stumbled upon Sanjeon, a shop known for its handmade fish cakes and fish cake soup.

As we passed by, we watched workers kneading and frying fresh fish cakes on the spot. What stood out to me was that their fish cakes are made with 100% fish and potato starch, no flour at all!

​Fish cakes were offered with a variety of fillings, including crab, spicy, fish roe, shrimp, and rice cake.

We decided to try the shrimp and flying fish roe fish cakes, and they were absolutely delicious! The chewy texture combined with the burst of roe inside made it a memorable bite.

Aside from the fish cakes, the shop also served fish cake soup and grilled skewers, making it a great spot to enjoy a drink with some light bites.

 

Pho 25

Since we couldn’t get a seat at the popular dried fish restaurant, we decided to have dinner at Pho25, a cozy little Vietnamese restaurant inside the market.

Rice noodles & bun cha, two essentials of Vietnamese cuisine.

Instead of the usual pho, we ordered Back rib noodles and Buncha.

The rice noodles were served with thinly sliced green onions.

Nuoc mam sauce, bean sprouts, and coriander.

Just like a true Vietnamese diner, I dumped in the coriander and bean sprouts and drizzled the nuoc mam over everything.

The sweet and sour flavors of the bun cha perfectly satisfied my craving for Vietnamese food.

 

Jokbal

As we made our way out of Seoul Central Market, we made one last stop at a Jokbal (pig’s trotters) stall. Even though we were completely full, we couldn’t resist buying a small portion to take home.

Although we couldn’t try everything, our visit to Seoul Central Market was a fantastic experience. From dried fish and handmade fish cakes to Vietnamese noodles and Jokbal, this market offers an incredible variety of flavors.

If you’re ever in the Sindang-dong area, I highly recommend stopping by this historic traditional market. Whether you’re craving Korean seafood, street food, or even something international, there’s something for everyone.

 

Address : 22 Toegye-ro 85-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul OPEN GOOGLE MAP

Phone : +82-2-2232-9559

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Source : https://blog.naver.com/tourandstory/222941436201

Writer : tourandstory

Special thanks to tourandstory

 

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