Around five in the afternoon, carts roll into the middle of Myeongdong’s shopping streets and the smell changes: sugar caramelising, butter sizzling on scallops, spicy red sauce bubbling around rice cakes. By dark the lanes are packed and everyone is holding something on a stick.
Myeongdong, Seoul’s busiest shopping district, turns into an open-air street-food market every evening, with dozens of stalls selling spicy rice cakes (tteokbokki), sweet filled pancakes (hotteok), egg bread (gyeranppang), fish-cake skewers, grilled seafood and sugar-coated fruit (tanghulu). Stalls usually run from late afternoon until about 10pm. In 2026 most items cost roughly 3,000–10,000 won. Some snacks contain pork, but many are meat-free, and Seoul’s halal restaurants are a short ride away in Itaewon.
This guide lists what to eat, which items contain pork, how the stalls work, prices, and where to go for halal meals.
What to eat
| Snack | What it is | Halal check |
|---|---|---|
| Tteokbokki | Chewy rice cakes in sweet-spicy gochujang sauce | Usually no meat; broth may use anchovy (fish) and fish cakes |
| Hotteok | Pan-fried pancake filled with brown sugar, cinnamon and nuts | Usually fine |
| Gyeranppang | Small loaf of sweet bread baked with a whole egg on top | Usually fine |
| Eomuk / odeng | Fish-cake skewers in hot broth | Fish; usually fine |
| Grilled lobster tails and cheese scallops | Seafood grilled with butter and cheese | Seafood; ask about toppings |
| Tornado potato | A spiral-cut potato on a stick, fried and seasoned | Ask about frying oil |
| Tanghulu | Fruit skewers coated in a crisp sugar shell | Fine |
| Bungeoppang | Fish-shaped waffle filled with red bean | Fine |
| Mandu (dumplings) | Steamed or fried dumplings | Often pork; ask |
| Meat skewers (kkochi) | Grilled chicken, beef or pork on sticks | Pork common; meat not halal |
How the stalls work
- Stalls set up from about 4–5pm and close around 10pm. Some open earlier at weekends.
- Prices are displayed on signs, often in English, Chinese and Japanese.
- Most vendors accept cash, and many now accept cards or mobile payment.
- Eat standing near the stall and use the vendor’s bin for sticks and cups.
- Myeongdong prices are higher than neighbourhood markets; it is convenient rather than cheap.
Halal note: sweets such as hotteok, gyeranppang, bungeoppang and tanghulu, and seafood snacks such as fish cakes and grilled scallops, usually contain no pork, though grills and oil are shared. Avoid mandu and meat skewers unless the stall says halal. For halal meals, take the metro to Itaewon, where the Seoul Central Mosque is surrounded by halal restaurants and shops. Look for certification from the Korea Muslim Federation. See our halal food travel guide.
Tips for a good visit
- Go hungry at about 6pm, before the crowds peak.
- Share: try one item from several stalls rather than a full portion from one.
- Carry small notes and a pack of tissues.
- Combine it with Namsan Seoul Tower, a walk or cable car ride away.
Beyond Myeongdong
- Gwangjang Market – an older market famous for mung bean pancakes (bindaetteok) and gimbap; many stalls use pork, so ask.
- Namdaemun Market – next to Myeongdong, cheaper snacks and hotteok stands.
- Itaewon – halal Korean barbecue and Middle Eastern, Turkish and South Asian restaurants.
- Han River parks – picnics with gimbap (ask for no ham) and ramyeon from convenience stores.
What it costs (2026)
| Item | Typical price |
|---|---|
| Tteokbokki cup | About 4,000–6,000 won |
| Hotteok | About 2,000–4,000 won |
| Gyeranppang | About 2,000–4,000 won |
| Fish-cake skewer | About 1,000–2,000 won |
| Grilled lobster tail or scallops | About 10,000–20,000 won |
| Tanghulu | About 3,000–5,000 won |
Plan your budget with the South Korea food budget calculator and read tipping in South Korea (tipping is not expected).
Korean phrases
| Korean | Say | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 할랄이에요? | Hallal-ieyo? | Is it halal? |
| 돼지고기 들어가요? | Dwaejigogi deureogayo? | Does it contain pork? |
| 이거 하나 주세요 | Igeo hana juseyo | One of these, please |
| 맵지 않게 해 주세요 | Maepji anke hae juseyo | Not spicy, please |
| 얼마예요? | Eolmayeyo? | How much is it? |
Frequently asked questions
What time does Myeongdong street food open?
Stalls usually open from about 4–5pm and run until around 10pm.
Is Myeongdong street food halal?
Many sweets and seafood snacks contain no pork, but meat items usually are not halal. For halal meals, go to Itaewon.
How much does Myeongdong street food cost?
About 3,000–10,000 won for most items in 2026; grilled seafood costs more.
What should I eat in Myeongdong?
Tteokbokki, hotteok, gyeranppang, fish-cake skewers and tanghulu are the classics.
More from Korea: kimchi-making classes and Buddhist temple food in Seoul (fully plant-based). See all South Korea food guides.
Sources
- VisitKorea – Korea Tourism Organization.
- Myeong-dong and Seoul Central Mosque.
