Korean Street Foods
Located in Koreatown, Seoul Market Eatery is a popular spot for enjoying a variety of Korean street foods such as tteokbokki, odeng, and fried snacks at reasonable prices. With many familiar yet neatly prepared menu items, it’s a great place to stop by for a quick meal and enjoy Korean-style snacks without any burden.
As soon as we entered the store, the wall covered with customers’ graffiti caught our eyes first, and we naturally felt a familiar and cozy atmosphere, reminiscent of a snack shop near school during our student days. That day, we enjoyed a variety of dishes including fried chicken, tteokbokki, skewered odeng, assorted fried snacks, and kimbap, and chose a pear slush and lychee mango aide for drinks.
First, the tteokbokki was enhanced with ramen and cream cheese, and it was on the milder side with a subtle sweetness. The cream cheese melted well into the broth, adding a smooth flavor, making it a style that was not overly stimulating and easy to enjoy. The chewy ramen complemented the rice cakes well, giving a hearty feel similar to instant tteokbokki. The fried chicken offered a choice between seasoned and galbi flavors, and ordering a large size allowed for a half-and-half option to enjoy both flavors. The crispy batter was topped with a sweet yet slightly spicy seasoning, and the subtly salty galbi flavor highlighted each dish’s charm, making it the most frequently chosen menu item that day. The skewered odeng was served with warm broth in a pot, creating a visual and atmosphere reminiscent of a street vendor. The broth was clean and savory, making it a great accompaniment to the tteokbokki.
The assorted fried snacks included kimbap, fried dumplings, squid tempura, and shrimp tempura, all fried to a crisp and well-seasoned without the need for soy sauce. Each piece of fried food maintained its texture without being soggy, resulting in high satisfaction. We chose bulgogi kimbap, which was packed tightly, allowing for a hearty bite with each piece. The seasoning was not excessive, making it pair well with other snack menu items, and especially tasted even better when dipped slightly in the tteokbokki broth. The pear slush was a refreshing blend of the familiar sweet and cool taste of pear drinks, enhanced with ice granules, providing a satisfying relief from thirst even on a hot day. The lychee mango aide combined sweet mango and subtle lychee aroma, creating a refreshing yet rich fruit flavor that surprisingly paired well with the fried items. It was the perfect combination for a finishing drink.
Seoul Market Eatery
With its familiar menu and cozy atmosphere, Seoul Market Eatery is a place that naturally comes to mind on days when you’re craving snacks. With a variety of menu options and reasonable prices, it seems like a place I would want to return to anytime I want to enjoy delicious food without any burden.
