Enjoy Seoul Station and Namdaemun! Savor the locally loved Najukomtang and the trendy Han Jeong-sun fruit daifuku♡
meru
4 days ago
Namdaemun Market is one of the long-loved traditional markets, and I highly recommend this spot called Geumseonggwan Naju Gomtang, located right at the entrance to Namdaemun!
They open from 8:00 AM, so it is perfect for breakfast, and you can also eat here for lunch or dinner, so it is always packed with customers.
Namdaemun Market is also very close to Seoul Station, and it is just a short walk from the center of Myeongdong,
so even though it is not a trendy cafe or restaurant, it is a great place to experience something truly Korean. Whenever people ask me where I recommend, I always suggest this place.
Kimchi is set out on the table,
and you use scissors and tongs to serve yourself, cut it up, and eat.
All-you-can-eat napa cabbage kimchi and kkakdugi!
It is nicely fermented without being too sour, and I think it suits Japanese tastes really well.
The gomtang is very simple, a clear, transparent broth with scallions and Korean beef (Hanwoo).
It also comes with rice inside.
You can get one free rice refill, and there is a rice cooker inside the restaurant, so you serve yourself.
When people go for more rice, they come around and top up your soup too.
We were full with just one bowl and did not get refills, but since you can refill the rice and soup, and eat as much kimchi as you like, I think the value is great.
The menu is only in Korean and posted on the wall, but there is also a menu you can view online, so even if you do not speak Korean, you can check what they have there.
It seems you can also order by showing them that screen.
There is an EDIYA Coffee right next door, so it seems like a nice option for tea after your meal.
That day, I enjoyed their summer-limited watermelon drink.
The Sanrio collab was cute too!
If you cross the road, you are at Namdaemun Market, so you can buy foods like seaweed, pick up popular street foods, and browse clothes, shoes, and more. So it is either Naju Gomtang as a stop while you are at Namdaemun Market, or Namdaemun Market as a stop after Naju Gomtang.
Either way, it is a recommended route.
Namdaemun Market is always lively.
There are lots of tourists, but locals shop here too, and you really get a taste of Korea.
One of my personal favorites is this wrapping shop.
It is useful for wrapping souvenirs to hand out, and the bags are very affordable.
The prices are clearly displayed, so there is no need to bargain. There are several similar shops, and from what I could see, the prices were the same everywhere.
If you find something you like, I recommend just buying it at that shop.
Also, if you walk a little, you can reach Seoul Station, so it is a very convenient area.
It takes about 10 to 15 minutes from Namdaemun Market to Seoul Station. You can also go by bus or subway, but the scenery around Seoul Station is fun too, so I recommend taking a relaxed walk.
This building right in front of Seoul Station is also famous as a drama filming location.
Next to it is the old Seoul Station as well.
And the thing I recommend most at Seoul Station is this fruit daifuku.
Hangjeongseon is always crowded with a huge line, but if you go early in the morning, it is relatively quiet.
This is the line at around 10:00 PM. I gave up and did not buy any that day.
When I went around 7:00 AM the next morning, it was not that crowded, and I was able to buy them in about 10 minutes. I was surprised to see a line so early, but with a line like this it goes quickly, and nothing was sold out, everything was on display, so I could buy what I wanted.
You can take your time looking while you wait, and it is fun to choose.
They also have illustrations, so it is easy to imagine what each one is like.
It is on the right-hand side as soon as you enter Seoul Station, so I think you will spot it right away.
There were more Koreans than tourists, but since it is Seoul Station, I figured lots of people probably buy them as souvenirs before heading somewhere else.
It seems there are times when they are not open because they need prep time, but the shop at Seoul Station is open 24 hours, which really surprised me!
Since there is a line even at 10:00 PM, I had never really seen a quiet time before, but I think early morning is your best bet, so if you have a chance to be around Seoul Station, definitely stop by.
The insulated bag is optional, but since they need refrigeration and it looks cute, I bought it as an add-on too.
I bought pineapple, peach, and mandarin orange,
and the peach is a bit firmer than peaches in Japan.
I felt the sweetness was a little more subtle, but the yogurt cream was so good, and even though the daifuku are quite big, you can easily finish one.
The mandarin one is a guaranteed winner, I do not think anyone would dislike it.
The pineapple one felt a bit smaller, but it was super sweet and delicious, so I recommend it for pineapple lovers!
There are so many varieties, so it could be fun to buy them a few times during your trip and try different ones.
Trends move fast in Korea and there are so many different sweets, but trying this made me think that popular shops really are popular for a reason, so when you visit Seoul, I hope you will give it a try.
