Seoul Food: Banchan, Bibimbap, and Beyond

On this day-into-night crawl through the heart of Seoul, we’ll explore this bustling city’s almost magical power to take outside influences and turn them into something uniquely – and deliciously – Korean. 

• Traditional Korean Sweets from local makers
• Tasting of signature banchan and gimbap
• Al fresco happy hour at a pojangmacha
• Authentic local experiences in Dongdaemun

From appliances to pop music, Korea has in recent years become an unstoppable global powerhouse. The country seems to have a knack for taking the best of outside influences, adding its unique flair, and then exporting the distinctly Korean result back out for worldwide consumption. The same goes for food – Korea thrives on reinvention. On this day-into-evening food tour in the backstreets of Seoul’s bustling Dongdaemun and Jongno neighborhoods, we’ll taste how this almost magical process plays out, with each stop revealing how resilience, creativity, and cultural pride fuel the city’s dynamic food scene.

Our day will start in a busy alley filled with restaurants serving a classic chicken and noodle dish that draws on a variety of regional flavors. We’ll savor this iconic dish at the very restaurant that pioneered it, a family-run spot helmed by the same woman for 40 years. From there, we’ll work our way through the heart of Seoul, stopping for traditional cookies and sweets, before having a second lunch of grilled beef and bibimbap at an old school bbq joint. At a nearby locals-only indoor market, we’ll work our way through the countless stalls, stopping to taste some signature banchan – flavorful side dishes served with rice – and gimbap, Korea’s homegrown “sushi” roll. Diving deeper into the backstreets, we’ll stop into another alley restaurant for the umami-rich bossam – steamed pork belly, oysters, and kimchi all wrapped up in a fresh cabbage leaf. For a “lighter” bite, we’ll visit a local bakery that serves a beloved version of a Korean fusion sensation known as “salt bread” – a buttery pastry that is like the love child of a croissant, baguette, and fluffy dinner roll.

 
Along the way, we’ll visit local institutions, including a cozy record shop and a wholesaler of traditional outfits known as hanbok, to get a sense of Korean culture, both new and old. To end our time together and prepare you for a night out on the town, we’ll join the locals for an al fresco happy hour at one of the area’s numerous pojangmacha, open-air “tent bars,” where soju – Korea’s national spirit – is downed along with a plethora of savory bar snacks.

• Bukhansan National Park, 262 Bogungmun-ro, Seongbuk District, Seoul, South Korea
• Gyeongbokgung Palace, 161 Sajik-ro, Jongno District, Seoul, South Korea
• Changdeokgung Secret Garden, 율곡로 Jongno District, Seoul, South Korea
• Bukchon Hanok Village, Gyedong-gil, Jongno District, Seoul, South Korea
• Jogyesa Temple, 55 Ujeongguk-ro, Jongno District, Seoul, South Korea
• Myeong-dong, Myeong-dong, Jung District, Seoul, South Korea
• Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP), 281 Eulji-ro, Jung District, Seoul, South Korea
• Gwangjang Market, 88 Changgyeonggung-ro, Jongno District, Seoul, South Korea
• N Seoul Tower
• Cheong Wa Dae (Blue House) Sarangchae, 45 Hyoja-ro 13-gil, Jongno District, Seoul, South Korea
• Insa-dong, Insa-dong, Jongno District, Seoul, South Korea
• Namdaemun Market, 21 Namdaemunsijang 4-gil, Jung District, Seoul, South Korea

Liability Waiver

By completing the reservation you acknowledge the following:

If you have food allergies, you are ultimately responsible to ensure your own health and safety. If you share information about your allergies, we can provide you with some guidance about the food purveyors on your tour, but we are not responsible for any allergic reactions that you may have. We are not responsible for any damages or losses incurred as result of acts by entities beyond our control, including but not limited to restaurants, shops, market stalls, eateries and food carts. We are not responsible for acts beyond our control, including but not limited to acts of God, act of nature, acts of war, or other unrest caused by state or non-state actors. If you are disruptive, we have the right to ask you to leave the tour without refunding you or providing you with a credit for your tour. You are aware of and responsible for all damages or losses that may arise during the course of the tour resulting from:

Risks associated with food, water or other drinks, including alcoholic beverages; physical accidents during the tour or at any of the locations visited; transportation failures; forces of nature; criminal activity; damage, loss or misplaced property; or accident or illness without means of rapid evacuation or availability of medical supplies or services. You agree that any claims that may arise will first go to arbitration and only if not resolved in that manner shall be heard in court. In both cases, grievances shall be heard in the jurisdiction of Washington, DC. You further agree to be responsible for your own welfare and property and accept any and all risks of delay, unanticipated events, inconvenience, illness, injury, emotional trauma or death. You further acknowledge that participation in Culinary Backstreets tours is based upon execution of this Liability Waiver. By completing the reservation process you release and discharge forever Culinary Backstreets, its employees, owners, affiliates, officers, directors, successors, agents, and assigns, from and against any liability arising from participating in this tour. You further agree that this release shall be legally binding upon you personally, all members of your family, all minors traveling with you, your heirs, successors, assigns, and legal representatives, to the maximum extent of the law.

I am aware that while on or traveling to or from my activity with Culinary Backstreets, I might be exposed to COVID-19 from other people, animals or objects. I assume all risk of any such contacts, including sickness, incapacity or death and agree to hold harmless Culinary Backstreets from any such developments. In addition, I recognize that the World Health Organization, U.S. Department of State as well as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention may have warnings concerning same and am choosing to travel and assume all risk myself.