First stop of the day is Noryangjin Fish Market (Noryangjin Fisheries Wholesale Market)! This is one of the largest seafood market in Korea, offering hundred over fish and seafood. The market is mainly divided into two sections - the traditional seafood market, and the new extension of indoor seafood market. The indoor market is air-conditioned and has restaurants at the second level. You can choose your seafood at the various stalls and bring to the restaurants to dine. They will help prepare the seafood and serve with the required condiments.
Noryangjin Fish Market 노량진수산물도매시장
674 Nodeul-ro, Dongjak-gu, Seoul
Wholesale Market: 0100-1800hrs (daily)
Dry Seafood Market: 0300-2000hrs (daily)
Raw Fish Market: 24hrs (daily)
Subway: Noryangjin Station Exit 1 (line 1)
#1: Noryangjin Fish Market.
#2: After the tunnel, turn left and walk straight, up the stairs to the restaurant area at Level 2.
#3: Old wet market.
#4: New wet market, air-conditioned.
#5: The new wet market is a lot brighter, more structured and wide variety.
#6: Check out all those live seafood!
We got salmon and octopus as sashimi, abalone and scallops to steam, and giant prawns to butter-grill. Everybody were so hyped about eating the raw octopus that were still "alive" despite being killed and chopped up. So we had to try it too! It was still moving because of muscle reaction. The tentacles have yet to lose their suction and you can still feel the suction on your lips and tongue while chewing on it. Great experience but taste so-so. Really fishy and chewy. On top of the seafood paid to the wholesaler, you have to pay the restaurant a cooking fee as well. It varies and ours was KRW21,000. It was way too much for the two of us to finish though.
#7: Our seafood spread! 🐟🐙🦐
#8: This slab of salmon sashimi for just KRW10,000!
#9: Sannakji (octopus sashimi), 2 for KRW10,000.
#10: Abalone - steamed, 3 for KRW10,000. Giant scallops - steamed, 3 for KRW10,000.
#11: Giant prawns - butter grilled, 5 for KRW10,000 (+2 regular prawns complimentary).
If you are someone that can't take fishy taste and smell that well, you might want to give this place a miss. After our meals, the fishy taste still lingers on our lips and in the mouths. The smell stayed on our hair as well. Next, we went to Deoksugung. It is not one of the main palaces in Seoul, but is one of those where you can try on hanbok (Korean traditional costume) for free. Otherwise you can rent it at KRW10,000 for 2hrs and KRW15,000 for 4hrs. It is really really warm, so trying on for 5mins for photo-taking is good enough. I was already perspiring. Deoksugung 덕수궁
99 Sejong-daero, Jeong-dong, Jung-gu, Seoul
0900-2100hrs (Tue-Sun)
Closed on Mondays
Admission: KRW1,000
Guided tours in English at 1030hrs, 1330hrs (Tue-Sun)
Changing of Guards ceremony at 1100hrs, 1400hrs, 1530hrs (30mins)
FREE Hanbok Experience at 1040-1130hrs, 1340-1430hrs, 1520-1600hrs (10mins per individual)
Subway: City Hall Station Exit 2 (line 1), Exit 12 (line 2)
#12: Deoksugung.
#13: Junghwajeon (中和殿) - main throne hall.
#14: Junghwajeon was built in 1902. It originally had a two tier roof structure, but due to the fire damage in 1904, it was reconstructed to the current single tier structure in 1906. Junghwajeon and the court in front of it are symbolic spaces for state ceremonies. The marker stones standing upright indicates the posts of officials who stood there at royal assemblies.
#15: It's weird that suddenly you have 2 roman buildings within the compound.
#16: National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art.
#17: Such beautiful flowers within the compound.
Continuing the traditional Korean experience, Tosokchon is next on line. Tosokchon serves one of the best Samgyetang (Korean Ginseng Soup) in Korea. It is prepared by boiling a young chicken stuffed with glutinous rice, whole ginseng, red dates and gingko nuts, in a chicken broth with a variety of herbs, nuts and scallions. It is popular as it has a rich chicken broth with strong ginseng taste, so it is very worth for money. Tosokchon 토속촌
5 Jahamun-ro 5-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul
1000-2200hrs (daily)
Subway: Gyeongbokgung Station Exit 2 (line 3)
Instagram: tosokchon_samgyetang
#18: Tosokchon.
#19: Tosokchon Samgyetang (Korean ginseng soup), KRW16,000.
#20: It consists of a whole young bird, stuffed with glutinous rice, whole ginseng, red dates and gingko nuts; boiled in a chicken broth with a variety of herbs, nuts and scallions.
Next, we went to check out Bukchon Hanok Village. It is an area where many hanoks (traditional Korean houses) are still well preserved. Some of these are converted to shops, museums or eateries; while some are still used as a home. There is definitely some slopes and stairs, and navigation skills required to get to the right areas for photos. It probably takes about an hour or less to walk around that area. We stopped by Churro 101 for some Red Bing Bingsu (milk bingsu + red bean) before we head to our next stop. Bukchon Hanok Village 북촌한옥마을
37 Gyedong-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul
Subway: Anguk Station Exit 2 (line 3)
#21: Bukchon Hanok Village.
#22: Bukchon Hanok Village.
#23: A great walk around this area to digest our tummies for more food!
#24: A hanok (Korean traditional house) with people still living in there!
Next stop is Insadong. Insadong is a great place to shop for traditional Korean art pieces and souvenirs. We dropped by O'sulloc Tea House first. O'sulloc is a Korean green tea (Korean matcha) themed cafe that specializes in their Jeju green tea. They also have other kinds of tea such as in season, hojicha and tangerine tea. Right now they have a new creation, cold brew. Cold brew is the act of brewing and allow to steep in cold water. For cold brew tea, just have to steep the leaves in iced water for at least 2hrs, and you are ready to drink! I also bought the green tea powder for KRW10,000 (40g). A glass of Iced Matcha Latte only requires 1.5tsp (7.5g), which means I am able to make about 25 glaases, so it is worth it to buy. Insadong 인사동
62, Insadong-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul
Subway: Anguk Station Exit 6 (line 3)
O'sulloc Tea House (Insadong) 오설록티하우스-인사동
170 Gwanhun-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul
0900-2230hrs (Mon-Fri), 0900-2300hrs (Sat, Sun)
Subway: Anguk Station Exit 6 (line 3)
Instagram: osulloc_official
#25: O'sulloc Tea House.
#26: O'sulloc Tea House.
#27: O'sulloc Matcha Powder, KRW10,000 (40g).
#28: Cold brew coffee has been quite a hype, now it's cold brew tea! 2+1 for KRW15,000, so KRW5,000 per pack (20 sticks).
Finish the O'sulloc experience off with some in-house desserts and drinks. We tried the Black Roll Cake (charcoal cake with matcha cream), Jeju Tangerine Milk Tea and season special, Green Grape Matcha Apple Ade (crushed green grapes, apple ade and concentrated matcha). The roll cake was so-so, but the Ade was pretty refreshing!
#29: Jeju Tangerine Milk Tea, KRW8,000.
#30: Green Grape Matcha Apple Ade, KRW7,800 - crushed green grape, apple ade and concentrated matcha, with crushed ice.
#31: Black Roll Cake, KRW5,500 - charcoal cake, matcha cream.
Next, we head to Miss Lee Cafe to try the traditional Korean shake-bento meal. The meal is served in a traditional metal lunchbox with rice, kimchi, spam, fried egg and seaweed strips; with a side of seaweed soup. You are supposed to shake the lunchbox to mix up everything and dig in! Not that it is really delicious, but it does taste like homecooked food, something your mom would prepare for you to bring to school.
Miss Lee Cafe (Insadong) 별다방미스리-인사동
144 Gwanhun-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul
1000-2300hrs (daily)
Subway: Anguk Station Exit 6 (line 3)
Instagram: missleecafe
#32: Miss Lee Cafe.
#33: Introduction of their popular Dosirak (Korean lunchbox).
#34: Miss Lee Dosirak (Korean lunchbox), KRW6,500. It consists of white rice, spam slices, seaweed, kimchi, and a fried egg.
#35: Cover and shake well till you get this mess!
#36: Other offers of Miss Lee Cafe.
#37: More seating up the stairs.
#38: Seating at Level 2.
#39: The wishing tree? Love tree?
#40: We penned down a visit note!
After which, we headed back to Myeongdong to grab last minute shopping and cosmetics. Quickly got myself some masks and eyeliners, before we head to our last destination for the day, Angyeong Halmeoni Gopchang for dinner. They specialize in BBQ pork intestines in four types of seasoning. We tried the roasted spicy sauce version (막창양념구이) and it was really really good, highly recommended! We were so busy taking photos that some of it got charred! The "grandma" was really nice and quickly came to help us trim off the burnt parts and make sure we are enjoying our meals. 😁👍🏻
Angyeong Halmeoni Gopchang 안경할머니곱창
522 Hwanghak-dong, Jung-gu, Seoul
Subway: Sindang Exit 2 (line 2)
#41: Angyeong Halmeoni Gopchang.
#42: Magchang Yangnyeomgu-i Gobchang (roasted spicy intestines), KRW22,000.
Expenses of the Day [Noryangjin Fish Market] Salmon Sashimi: 10,000 (÷2) = KRW5,000 Abalone: 3 for 10,000 (÷2) = KRW5,000 Octopus (for Sannakji): 10,000 (÷2) = KRW5,000 Giant Prawns: 5 for 10,000 (÷2) = KRW5,000 Scallops: 3 for 10,000 (÷2) = KRW5,000 Cooking for Seafood: 21,000 (÷2) = KRW10,500 Teriyaki Chicken Onigiri: KRW1,000 Toms N Toms, Iced Americano: KRW4,600 Deoksugung: KRW1,000 Tosokchon Samgyetang: 16,000 (÷2) = KRW8,000 Churro 101, Red Bean Bingsu: 14,000 (÷2) = KRW7,000 [O'sulloc] Green Tea Cold Brew: KRW5,000 (20 sticks) (Promotion 2+1, actual KRW7,500 each) Matcha Powder: KRW10,000 (40g) Black Roll Cake: 5,500 (÷2) = KRW2,750 Jeju Tangerine Milk Tea: 8,000 (÷2) = KRW4,000 Green Grape Matcha Apple Ade: 7,800 (÷2) = KRW3,900 Miss Lee Cafe, Dosirak: 6,500 (÷2) = KRW3,250 Angyeong Halmeoni Gobchang: 22,000 (÷2) = KRW11,000 Tony Moly, Sparkle Eyeliner: 7,000 (x2) = KRW14,000 Innisfree, assorted masks 10pcs: KRW8,760 Total for day 7: KRW119,760 = SGD144.45 Balance brought forward: SGD1,834.85 Current total: $1,979.30