My First Time In Seoul: Myeongdong Street Food Tour šŸ‡°šŸ‡· South Korea Is Amazing

It’s my first day in Seoul South Korea so let’sĀ  head out into the Heart of the City and get ourĀ Ā  first taste of South Korean food let’s do it allĀ  right first stop and it’s going to be breakfastĀ Ā 

I’ve come to Isaac toast and coffee it’s wellĀ  as the name suggests it’s a little toast shopĀ Ā  you can get coffee as well but I’m off theĀ  caffeine so won’t be having any of that forĀ Ā 

Me but I’m here to have a toasted sandwich itĀ  is a chain but this is the one in MyeongdongĀ Ā  next to the cathedral so I think it’s calledĀ  the cathedral branch opens at 8:00 a.m. soĀ Ā  absolutely perfect for breakfast it is open allĀ  day so don’t worry about that but this is goingĀ Ā 

To be our first stop let’s order here’s the menuĀ  you have a whole host of options as you can seeĀ Ā  all toasted sandwiches but from the humbleĀ  ham and cheese all the way up to the baconĀ Ā  and potato pizza you’ve got sausage you’ve gotĀ  shrimp you’ve got corn cheese anything you wantĀ Ā 

In a toasted sandwich I’m thinking let’s tryĀ  the shrimp hi um can I get one shrimp please I’ve got it and I can already tell fromĀ  looking at it it’s going to be a littleĀ Ā  sweet the bread looks like a sweeter kindĀ  of bread but inside you have shaved raw

Cabbage an omelette egg omelette and thenĀ  I guess this like shrimp Fritter all insideĀ Ā  this toasty buttery can just it’s notĀ  greasy but you can fill the butter onĀ Ā  the outside little sandwich so let’s digĀ  in first food of the day here in meongĀ Ā 

As we seek to find out if you can get goodĀ  food in meong so fingers crossed let’s try it just look at that inside it is sweet but it’sĀ  not too sweet there’s obviously a sweetness to theĀ Ā 

Shrimp as well but that shrimp fruit is absolutelyĀ  packed with ground shrimp really strong punch ofĀ Ā  shrimpy flavor the egg is nice face is RichĀ  kind of rounds out the sandwich and then youĀ Ā 

Get the crunch from the Cabbage as well there isĀ  a Mayo in there as well which just brings it all together but The Buttery bread it is a touchĀ  sweet I would prefer it if there wasn’t aĀ Ā 

Sweetness to it the cabbage in there is geniusĀ  because I wouldn’t have thought to put cabbageĀ Ā  in there but without it it would have beenĀ  too much be too mushy too much one of theĀ Ā  same texture but with it in there that slightĀ  crunch just yeah keeps it interesting greatĀ Ā 

Sandwich you know I didn’t expect the shrimpĀ  to be how it is I thought it was going to beĀ Ā  like a ground paste but actually there’s wholeĀ  chunks of shrimp in there it’s just inside theĀ Ā  Fritter I actually think there’s also a cheeseĀ  sauce in there as well which is adding to thatĀ Ā 

Well deliciousness it’s super tasty it’s pureĀ  comfort food especially on a cooler day likeĀ Ā  today it’s warming it’s comforting it’s prettyĀ  delicious oh what a start let’s go see what elseĀ Ā  we can find you might have noticed I’ve hadĀ  a little shave made a mistake with the razorĀ Ā 

This morning so I had to take it all off I’mĀ  feeling a little bit exposed but hey life isĀ Ā  about being out of your comfort zone right whenĀ  it comes to Korean street food there aren’t manyĀ Ā 

More popular than tteokbokki and I found a littleĀ  store that’s selling some so let’s try it and thisĀ Ā  is what we’re here tteokbokki very good veryĀ  good but it is a little rice cake covered inĀ Ā 

Spicy sauce yes please can I have one no spicyĀ  no spicy spicy a shame I like spicy you like IĀ Ā  like spicy it’s spicy can I have uh can I haveĀ  one order please it’s spicy yeah I’ll eat hereĀ Ā 

Thank you yeah please first I spicy but nowĀ  I eat now more spicy look at that thank you thank you got my tteokbokki look at theĀ  color of that deep deep red thick must beĀ Ā  tomato and chili based sauce you have theseĀ  white rice cakes underneath which are thenĀ Ā 

Cut into little pieces of rice dumplingĀ  essentially is what they are they’re riceĀ Ā  cake dumplings and then covered in thatĀ  sauce I don’t think I’ve ever tried thisĀ Ā  before so this will be the first time for meĀ  as I say synonymous with street food in Korea

Wow incredibly chewy I mean you have to chew andĀ  chew and chew to get through it this sauce is aĀ Ā  good level of garlic in there it tastes a littleĀ  bit fishy maybe a bit like squid I’m not entirelyĀ Ā 

Sure maybe I should ask her but she’s she’s aĀ  bit busy at the minute there’s a nice kick toĀ Ā  it at the back of the throat it’s not spicy butĀ  there is spice there for sure such a nice flavorĀ Ā 

Combination you can just imagine well I can’tĀ  just imagine because I am but you guys can justĀ Ā  imagine on a cold day in Korea having that warmingĀ  filling street food I can see why is so popularĀ Ā 

Very good Street snack check out this place inĀ  mayong okay 4,000 very very good thank you thank you it’s called cafe switch soul and it’s notĀ  really my type of place usually but hey whyĀ Ā  not let’s mix it up it looks pretty cool onĀ  the inside you have uh these screens as youĀ Ā 

Walk in playing well cute let’s say cuteĀ  characters I mean look at that Mr big headĀ Ā  Teddy let’s do it you only live once thisĀ  is where the big kid in meat comes out ohĀ Ā  look at that that is pretty cool ridingĀ  through space with Mr bige head Teddy

Let’s go grab a drink see what they have asĀ  caffeine free options uh can I have a berryĀ Ā  yogurt smoothie please in here uh yeah pleaseĀ  well I’m in in a different type of cafe that IĀ Ā 

Normally come into and because I can’t order theĀ  coffee and the tea I’ve ordered what is probablyĀ Ā  one of the most girly drinks going but I don’tĀ  care I don’t care about the Judgment as long asĀ Ā 

It tastes good I don’t care in the slightestĀ  and it looks pretty good it’s an iced yogurtĀ Ā  berry drink super thick let’s try it oh brainĀ  freeze very very delicious who needs coffee whoĀ Ā  needs tea but this place is quite cool I meanĀ  visually cool as I said for families and kidsĀ Ā 

Absolutely perfect to hang out in is pretty coolĀ  I can’t tell whether it it was half like scienceĀ Ā  museum versus Cafe I mean you have all theseĀ  like characters set around but then you haveĀ Ā  digital art as well digital art on the wallsĀ  which is super cool I don’t think I’ve seenĀ Ā 

Digital art on the place like that before butĀ  really like that however I also brought youĀ Ā  here for another reason and that is because thisĀ  place is a little bit special in another way theyĀ Ā  actually employ people who are hearing impairedĀ  or deaf and giving those people opportunitiesĀ Ā 

To work so yeah I’m definitely behind initiativesĀ  like that and just wanted to come in and show youĀ Ā  this place as I say in the heart of MyeongdongĀ  great drinks they also have very deliciousĀ Ā  looking Sweet Treats but given that we haveĀ  more Savory food to eat maybe we’ll save theĀ Ā 

Sweet treats for now but yeah a nice littleĀ  cafe to come and hang out in in Myeongdong thank you anyway let’s continue the eating all right guys I’ve come to Myeongdong Kyoja andĀ  don’t let the empty restaurant put you off itĀ Ā 

Has literally just opened we’re early but thisĀ  place is busy there are actually two locationsĀ Ā  here I’ve just come into the one that I walk pastĀ  to be honest but you can go to either of them itĀ Ā 

Is one of the most famous places in MyeongdongĀ  to eat proper old style in here just Rosen rowsĀ Ā  of tables okay menu as I said very very shortĀ  we’re going to order this 10,1 it’s called ChoĀ Ā 

Noodles but I find the name in Korean and thenĀ  these dumplings I do know they’re called Mandu,Ā Ā  you can have spicy noodles they look superĀ  delicious but I think this is what they’reĀ Ā  famous for so definitely want to try that andĀ  then the other one which I didn’t know is ahĀ Ā 

Okay soybean noodles and it looks like you haveĀ  the green noodles inside there anyway we knowĀ Ā  what we’re having what’s the name of this oneĀ  in Korean yeah can I have one of these pleaseĀ Ā 

And and these are Mandu there you go see IĀ  can fail on this one and then press on thisĀ Ā  one so yeah one of these and one of these pleaseĀ  thank you and 21,000 yeah sure I’ll pay now okayĀ Ā 

Thank you okay thank you thank you thank youĀ  this is crazy this is wait the server and it goes it can we can we can help you ohĀ  sure okay oh the food has turned up asĀ Ā 

I was stunned thank you the Mando has turnedĀ  up we’ll get to that in a second I’m goingĀ Ā  just stand they have a robot which actsĀ  as a server and goes around and collectsĀ Ā  the trays how crazy is that you know I amĀ  a lover of the skill of homemade dumplingsĀ Ā 

And you can tell these are handmade but lookĀ  at the pleating and the wrinkling on thoseĀ Ā  dumplings so so good and of course on the sideĀ  nothing other than kimchi to note so you knowĀ Ā 

It’s coming when you order you pay and you canĀ  pay with cash and card but you pay as soon asĀ Ā  you order the other Quirk that will almostĀ  certainly confuse you is this here are your

Chopsticks and a spoon so I’ll will save you thatĀ  embarrassing I am going to get onto these straightĀ Ā  away dumplings you have to eat when they’re hot soĀ  I’m not even going to wait for the noodles to comeĀ Ā 

The noodles will take care of themselves but youĀ  can see how thin and perfect these dumplings areĀ Ā  you can see the filling inside them the noodleĀ  breath has come but that will definitely keepĀ Ā  so we’ll move that out of the way as I wasĀ  saying you can see the filling inside themĀ Ā 

The filling is actually minced pork with leaksĀ  spring onions some herbs in there obviously it’sĀ Ā  been seasoned too you take it with a little bitĀ  of black vinar so I poured a little bit of blackĀ Ā  vinegar and soy sauce into the little tray thatĀ  they give you then we dip that dumpling intoĀ Ā 

There let it soak a little sekin it’s not likeĀ  a soup dumpling it’s not going to be super juicyĀ Ā  on the inside well it’s not going to be soupy onĀ  the inside hopefully it will be juicy let’s try

It wow it is dripping cuz it is so juicy on theĀ  inside but look you can see coarsely chopped mintsĀ Ā  you can see the greens in there the spring onionsĀ  and the leaks gives a nice onion gives a niceĀ Ā 

Oniony flavor it’s such high quality very PorkyĀ  fatty that’s why it’s so moist on the inside andĀ Ā  there’s so much flavor because it’s fatty veryĀ  very tasty dumplings I absolutely love dumplingsĀ Ā  and for 11,000 you get 10 dumplings and they areĀ  much bigger than I expected I mean they are properĀ Ā 

Mouthfuls we’re definitely not going to leaveĀ  this place hungry that is for sure in fact youĀ Ā  could just have these on their own as a as aĀ  meal in thems I really like of course that’sĀ Ā 

Why you do it I really like dipping it into theĀ  black vinegar because they are so rich they areĀ Ā  so not heavy in the mouth but the flavor isĀ  heavy because it’s so strong and so powerfulĀ Ā  the black vinegar Cuts straight through it withĀ  its acidity and actually black vinegar has aĀ Ā 

More rounded Taste of normal white vinegar too soĀ  actually as a combination spot on right let’s tryĀ Ā  this huge bowl of noodles still can’t get overĀ  this by the way can’t get over the robot doingĀ Ā 

Its job behind me every now and then it justĀ  whizzes past behind me all right let me showĀ Ā  you this straight away you can see on top theĀ  chicken it is chicken it is so dark though itĀ Ā 

Looks like beef I mean if I didn’t know it wasĀ  chicken I would definitely think it’s beef butĀ Ā  yes it’s ground chicken you have little dumplingsĀ  or wantons in there too I’m not sure what’s insideĀ Ā  them definitely will check I can see woodenĀ  mushroom little bit of wooden mushroom thereĀ Ā 

You have those oh look at that silky noodlesĀ  this broth this chicken broth that is cookedĀ Ā  for hours and hours to make this soup and thisĀ  is the one that the kimchi or at least I’m goingĀ Ā 

To eat the kimchi with but I think this is theĀ  one that the kimchi should be eaten with tooĀ Ā  and look at that you know that is going to beĀ  good quality just by looking at it the colorĀ Ā 

The depth of color from the chili on that pickledĀ  cabbage love it first and foremost let’s try theĀ Ā  broth every noodle soup lives and dies by itsĀ  broth so that would be the first thing that we

Try oh man if you could bottle the essence of aĀ  chicken and put it into a food that is exactlyĀ Ā  it you can tell those bones I think they’ve beenĀ  roasted first that’s why they’re slightly darkerĀ Ā 

And the broth isn’t so it’s been roasted andĀ  then it cooked for hours and hours and hoursĀ Ā  you can tell it’s the bones because you wouldn’tĀ  get that depth of flavor if it wasn’t the chickenĀ Ā  bones themselves it’s so damn good there’s aĀ  little bit of pepper in there it is salty notĀ Ā 

Too salty there’s a nice saltiness to it but IĀ  am actually going to add maybe just a touch ofĀ Ā  that black vinegar just into there just toĀ  lighten it up just a little bit give that a mix oh yeah okay for me much better stillĀ  salty still chickeny but slightly thatĀ Ā 

Black vinegar just lifts it just a littleĀ  bit this place is busy now it’s properlyĀ Ā  filled up and the nice thing about it isĀ  there’s a handful of tourists in here butĀ Ā  the majority of the customers are KoreanĀ  so we’re eating in the right place that’sĀ Ā 

For sure onto trying these noodles andĀ  it’s the metal Chopsticks I am so badĀ Ā  at using these metal Chopsticks it’s anĀ  absolute disaster for me so watch me as I struggle really nicely cooked not softĀ  little bit of chew to them but they areĀ Ā 

So silky smooth if I’m choosing a type ofĀ  noodle this is probably the exact thicknessĀ Ā  that is perfect for me there’s a lot ofĀ  texture there there’s a lot of bite as IĀ Ā  say but when it’s the stick the soup the brothĀ  just clings to it and you can see there’s thoseĀ Ā 

Little bits of minced chicken there as wellĀ  so you get pops of that flavor each time you eat I’d actually just quite like to tryĀ  it just like this just to get the flavorĀ Ā  of it first that might be some of the bestĀ  kimchi I’ve eaten obviously the quality ofĀ Ā 

Kimchi outside South Korea is hit and miss soĀ  in the UK well it’s not even comparable to beĀ Ā  honest but this one has a depth of flavorĀ  it has a spice in there which I can’t putĀ Ā 

My hands on but it’s totally changing it it’sĀ  spicy yes of course there’s a lot of chili inĀ Ā  there it’s fermented so it’s funky it’s sourĀ  there’s a slight sweetness to the cabbage theĀ Ā  cabbage is still crunchy seriously seriouslyĀ  good and works so well with those noodles

It is my first time in South Korea, Seoul is amazing, I cannot believe it. SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA (ķ•œźµ­ģ–“ ģžė§‰ ź°€ėŠ„) is famous for its street food and the Myeongdong Neighbourhood is one of the most visited places in Seoul by tourists. In this Myeongdong Street Food Guide I will show you the best places best foods and best experiences to try when you visit Myeongdong neighborhood. I eat Korean toast at the popular Isaac Toast & Coffee shop, try tteokbokki for the first time at a street food stall, check out one of the many cafes in Seoul and then finally eat mandu (traditional Korean dumplings) and noodles at the famous Myeongdong Kyoja restaurant. Myeongdong has some AMAZING Street Food, you just need to know where to eat in Myeongdong to find the best Korean food.

This Myeongdong Seoul Travel Guide šŸ‡°šŸ‡· contains āœ… Best Places to visit in Mye-ongdong
āœ… Best Food in Myeongdong so join me on my first day in Seoul and let’s explore this amazing Seoul Neighborhood together to find the best Seoul food in my first Seoul vlog

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šŸ“ LOCATIONS

1) Myeongdong Seoul (ėŖ…ė™): https://maps.app.goo.gl/PM32ohWBhcvktNtG6
2) Isaac Toast & Coffee Myeongdong Cathedral (ģ“ģ‚­ķ† ģŠ¤ķŠø ėŖ…ė™ģ„±ė‹¹ģ ): https://maps.app.goo.gl/CAN7NKuMK3NNwo8k6
3) Sinsegae Tteokbokki (ģ‹ ģ„øź³„ė–”ė³¶ģ“): https://maps.app.goo.gl/WwyYRyrcWMjopmSj7
4) Cafe Switch Sol (ģ¹“ķŽ˜ģŠ¤ģœ— ėŖ…ė™ģ ): https://maps.app.goo.gl/zfxBDRhm5y4xZnXW6
5) Myeongdong Kyoja Main Store (ėŖ…ė™źµģž 본점): https://maps.app.goo.gl/xE6rJT3SrpyeLEsa6

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26 Comments

  1. Great video Joe! You always do such a great job describing the food you eat. I think all the Thai food prepared you for the tteokbokki…lol.

  2. My memory of food in Korea is one of my bf complaining constantly about those slippery metal chopsticks. He calls them knitting needles. Many trips to Asia later, my bf still refuses to use chopsticks and is still forking around.

  3. Always love the dumplings but it's the noodle soups that are really good, especially in winter. I often wish there were more of these where I live.

  4. A note to myself, when visiting Korea to bring my own wooden chopsticks 🄢🄢. I love dining in Korean restaurants, all the included side dishes are so delish šŸ˜‹.

  5. If you use Naver ( as google is flaky due to security reasons in S.Korea) looking them up via their phone number will get you exactly where they are as well.

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