Tongin Market

Street FoodFeatured by Best Ever Food Review Show

About

Tongin Market in Jongno-gu is famous across Seoul for its unique coin-operated lunch box experience. Visitors exchange regular currency for old-style Korean coins (yeopjeon) at the market entrance, then use them to buy small portions of banchan (side dishes) from individual stalls — everything from japchae to braised potatoes to seasoned spinach. Once your lunch box tray is full, you find a seat in the communal eating area and enjoy your custom meal. It is a fun, interactive, and very affordable way to taste a wide variety of traditional Korean home cooking.