Namdaemun Market and Gwangjang Market, Seoul, Korea

Namdaemun market is one of the largest outdoor markets in Seoul selling wholesale goods. There are also all these little shops and food stalls where people sell dumplings, various kimchis, crabs, fish, and fried bugs(ew). I ate a giant steamed bun filled with pork, veggies and clear noodles. The dough was soft and pillowy and the inside was warm and tasty. We shopped for a bit more and then walked into a food hall with skinny long tables on both sides of the room that seemed to go on forever, and ladies calling you to eat at their station. First we got a small complimentary bowl of spicy naengmyong (thin buckwheat noodles), which immediately set my mouth on fire. Koreans take spice like no other country. Extreme chili peppers for us in the US is mild for Koreans. After that the lady gave us a bowl of udon. The freshly made handcut noodles were chewy and served in a hot seaweed broth. Delicious, Korean comfort food. Another market we tasted is Gwangjang market, the oldest outdoor market in Seoul which specializes in fabrics. In one section of the market there are lots of food stalls. Only women were cooking. They mainly cooked bibimbop, bindaedukk and varieties of pork dishes. Bindaedukk is made out of mungbean batter with shredded kimchi and onions. A giant spoonful of soaked mungbean is dumped in a giant grinder which pours out mungbean batter into a giant vat. It poured out very slowly. The bowl was almost full, so she must have been sitting there for a looooonnnnnggggg time. We sat down on a wobbly wooden bench and munched up some fried bindaedukk. They were large, hot and crispy, and the onions gave a little sweetness. You dip the pieces in a raw onion and soy dipping sauce which gave it a salty complement. Then we sat down at another stall for some BIBIMBOP!!!!!! This bibimbop had no meat. The lady got a metal bowl, added seaweed, rice and barley, assorted kimchi, raw lettuces and micro greens. Everything tasted extremely fresh. It also had a nice spice. I find it interesting that they they cram you onto little benches and give you toilet paper for napkins. You also have to keep your coat on because everything is outside even though you're under a tent. The market stays open till 1:00 in the morning when people also eat with Korean rice whiskey! Overall, I give Namdaemun 4 pineapples and Gwangjang market 5 pineapples. See ya-tdg