Manduguk, Seoul

During my recent visit to Gwangjang Market, I stopped at one of the food vendors on the main alleyway, this one specializing in mandu. I decided on the mandu and and rice cake soup, bu they were out of the tasty sliced rice cakes, so I ordered the more standard mandu soup. It came with two sides--tasty and spicy kimchi, along with a sweet seaweed side. The soup was excellent; it tasted like the mandu were made with a seafood rather than the more traditional pork or vegetable. I also had a beer, bringing my bill to an amazing 9000 Won.

Gwangjang Market (광장시장) is located in Jongno adjacent to Dongdaemun Market. Gwangjang is best known as one of Seoul's best food vendor alleys, but it is also a great area to buy many other things. Here you can find all kinds of hiking and camping supplies, kitchen supplies, foods, traditional clothing, gifts, silk, handcrafts (including handmade deep fryers), and lacquerware boxes inlaid with mother-of-pearl.

Address: 88, Changgyeonggung-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul
Directions: Located between Jongno-5 station and Euliro-4 Station
Phone: +82-2-1330
Theme: Local Craft
Website: http://www.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/SH/SH_EN_7_2.jsp?cid=273761

GaeSong Dumplings is perhaps my favorite restaurant in Seoul. Located in Insadong, hidden down a side alley near Kyung-In Museum of Fine Arts. If you look in the window you will see an old lady or two making mandu -- or Korean dumplings. Their specialty is manduguk, dumpling soup, and it is amazing. Throughout the restaurant you will see many newspaper and magazine articles about this great restaurant with handmade mandu.

In the evening the place will often be packed and the mandu goes almost as fast as the little ladies can fold up the perfect little pieces. Meals here are downright cheap (under 5000 won) and delicious!