I got up specifically early on this day because I was so damn hyped up for Noryangjin Fish Market. Noryangjin Fish Market is the largest and most popular seafood market in Seoul.
How to get here: Take Exit 1, Noryangjin Station (Line 1) After exiting, walk across the bridge over the tracks towards the direction of the 63 building. The fish market is located at the end of the bridge.
Alternatively, there's another exit we took instead because we couldn't find Exit 1 lol. Just look out for signages with the words 'Noryangjin Fisheries Wholesale Market', through the underground tunnels which will eventually lead you to..
This. But, don't get too excited just yet. Apparently, what you're looking at is the new Noryangjin Fish Market building. Word has it that vendors do not want to relocate due to the small space and rental being 40 to 50 percent higher so it's highly likely the old Noryangjin Fish Market will be a thing of the past.
NORYANGJIN FISH MARKET
The old Noryangjin Fish Market is located on the right side, adjacent to the new building. Once you enter the building, you will find many stalls lining the market and many kinds of fresh fish and seafood everywhere. Personally, I like the vibe of the old market better compared to the new one despite it being new and clean. There's just something about it reminds me of our old Geylang market. This was unquestionably one of the places I looked forward coming to the most while planning our itinerary because well...
..freshly caught seafood!
(Photo courtesy of http://www.amybphotography.com/)
We got here rather early but if you were to come down during lunch time or weekends, the market can get pretty crowded. Most of the sellers are not good at English so you need to use body language to talk with the ahjummas. Prices are normally fixed and it honestly wasn't that easy haggling. Unlike older people, I usually settle hahaha. Ask for price but do not bargain unless you are ready to purchase! So do take your time to wander down the aisles, survey and compare prices across the stalls before purchasing anything.
HOW NORYANGJIN FISH MARKET WORKS:
1. Purchase your choice of seafood from any of the stalls
2. Pay directly to the stall owner and the restaurant runner will direct you to the nearby restaurant to have your seafood prepared
3. Kindly inform them how you would prefer the food to be prepared
Total breakdown price of seafood:
King crab - ₩110,000 (₩45,000-50,000 per kg)
Lobster - ₩75,000 (can range from ₩70,000-80,000)
Red fish - ₩12,000
Salmon - ₩5,000 (depending on size)
Baby octopus - ₩2,000 (You can get it at ₩1,000 at other stalls but the ahjumma we bought from gave us a discount at the end of everything we bought)
After purchasing your seafood on the ground floor from the stall owner, the seafood you bought will be handed to a restaurant staff who will usher you to a nearby restaurant to have your food prepared and cooked to your liking.
Useful Phrases:
Does this dish contain meat / ham? – yi yorineun gogi/haem notgoisseoyo
이요리는 고기/햄 놓고있오요?
Please do not put meat / ham – gogi/haem notjimaseyo
고기/햄 놓지마세요
Please remove meat / ham – gogi/haem paejuseyo
고기/햄 빼주세요
I don’t eat meat – naneun gogireul an meogeoyo
나는 고기를 안먹어요
I can’t eat meat – naneun gogireul mot meogeoyo.
나는 고기를 못 먹어요
I can only eat vegetables and seafood – naneun yachaewa haemulman meogeul suyiseoyo
난는 야채와 해물만 먹을 수있어요
You can't get anymore fresher than this. The octopus tentacles were still wriggling when served but they made sure to chop them up into tiny pieces so it was easier to eat.
We requested our red tilapia to be made in maeuntang 매운탕 (korean spicy fish food). It tastes a lot like a crossover between asam rebus and asam pedas, that's the best I can describe this dish but definitely best eaten when it's cold outside. Warms you up instantly!
Price: Small 10,000 / Medium 15,000 / Large 20,000 (Prices may vary by restaurant)
Although the price for fish or seafood itself is cheap, the separate fee applied for condiments and cooking methods (steamed, grilled, stew, porridge), dining in at the fish market is not as cheap. Usually, there will be a fixed sum per headcount ₩3,000 and the cost of preparation varies. Our lunch came in at a total bill of additional ₩75,000 if I remember correctly. But I could be wrong because this trip was at least 2-3 months back.
Nonetheless, it was honestly quite the experiencing having our breakfast cum lunch at the market and definitely something you shouldn't miss out on while in Korea.
Now, off to catch the sunset at our next destination.. Namsan Tower!
MYEONG-DONG STN. - CABLE CAR BOARDING POINT
How to get here: Walk through the underground shopping area at Myeong-dong Station. Take Exit 3, turn left and you'll see Pacific Hotel.
Keep right, walk for about 15 minutes.
Use Namsan Guest House as a landmark leading to the cable car station.
Getting to the cable car boarding point is a long, long walk uphill so be prepared.
Alternatively, take exit 7 or 8 and you will be in front of an office building/bank. Wait here for the free shuttle that will take you directly to the cable car station.
NAMSAN CABLE CAR BOARDING POINT
Operating Hours: 10:00-23:00
*Subject to change on weekends and the day before holidays.
Admission Fees: Adults (Roundtrip): Individuals 8,500 won / Groups 7,000 won
Admission Fees: Adults (Roundtrip): Individuals 8,500 won / Groups 7,000 won
Adults (One-way): Individuals 6,000 won / Groups 5,000 won
Children (Roundtrip): Individuals 5,500 won / Groups 4,500 won
Children (One-way): Individuals 3,500 won / Groups 3,000 won
Children (Roundtrip): Individuals 5,500 won / Groups 4,500 won
Children (One-way): Individuals 3,500 won / Groups 3,000 won
NAMSAN (N SEOUL) TOWER
...And we are here!
Opening hours: (Observatory) Sunday-Friday 10:00-23:00, Saturday 10:00-24:00
*Last admission is 30 minutes before closing
*Operating hours are subject to change depending on weather or business schedules
LOCKS OF LOVE
I highly recommend anyone who wants to lock their "love" to bring their own locks. Love locks are sold here as well but very expensive at a price of ₩5,000 onwards.
Or... you could just bring your own markers and doodle to make your mark here!
Kai tryna kill my Korean vibes as I attempt to make a heart shape.
I must have been crazy to eat this when the temperature was 4°C but the pastel colours on the ice cream was so pretty I just had to!
SUNSET AT NAMSAN TOWER
It's a shame my iPhone 6s camera does it no justice to the scenic view of the paddlepop-like sunset we witnessed from up here at the observatory deck.
Getting to the nearest bus stop from Namsan Tower takes a 4 minutes walk downhill which we then took bus no. 2 to get to Myeong-dong.
If you're an avid K-drama watcher, you'll know that BBQ food is basically their go-to place after work or quite possibly, any time of the day. I mean, who doesn't love BBQ right? It was getting late, we were hungry and Korean bbq sounded really good so there was only one place in Seoul for halal Korean bbq..
YANG GOOD, SEOUL GOOD
..and that's, YANG GOOD!
Opening hours: 04:00pm - 01:00am (closed on Sundays)
How to get here: Yeoksam Station (Line 2), Exit 4. As soon as you exit, walk straight and you'll see Starbucks on your left. Continue walking along Teheran-ro 25-gil..
On the 4th street, take a slight left (still along Teheran-ro 25-gil) and turn left to Nonhyeon-ro 95-gil. You'll soon see Yang Good's bright yellow welcome signage with a lamb on it.
Prices range from ₩11,000-30,000
Choose from either unmarinated lamb to enjoy the tender lamb meat in its full glory, or opt for the marinated lamb to savour juicy lamb rack coated with Korean sweet sauce! Yang Good also serves lamb soup, deonjang-jjigae 된장찌개 (fermented soybean paste soup), mulnaengmyeon물냉면 (cold noodles) and other Korean dishes.
We thought of taking a trip down to Apgujeong Rodeo to catch a midnight movie at CGV but there wasn't anything good screened so we ended the day off with Myeong-dong again since it was nearer to Seoul Station hahahaha. Stayed tuned for Day 4 - Lotte World (Magic Island) Theme Park, Cheonggyecheon Stream & Grilled Fish Alley!
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