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Best street cart food vendors in Seoul?

 
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sluggle



Joined: 25 Jun 2009
Location: suwon

PostPosted: Thu Aug 27, 2009 1:20 pm    Post subject: Best street cart food vendors in Seoul? Reply with quote

I'm leaving for SK in couple of weeks, and for motivation I found an old episode of Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations in SK. I love getting food from street carts, and they had a scene where they had chicken claws, chicken guts and... chicken ANUS from a street vendor.

What parts of Seoul have the best and/or sketchiest street carts?

Also, in the west I think the kebab is the top choice for late night drunk foods. Maybe pizza for American college kids. What is your favorite late night drunk food in Korea?
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SwimminThruAsia



Joined: 20 Sep 2005

PostPosted: Thu Aug 27, 2009 1:26 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I hate to have to be the one to break this news to you, but street food in Seoul is mediocre at best in most cases. You will find a few rare gems, but by and large it's the same 3 things at every cart.

One bright spot I remember: When I was there (in like 2003) my Filipino roommate took me to Mass at a catholic church-I forget exactly where it was, it wasn't normally a filipino church, just at certain times on sunday. Set up after the mass were some amazing carts with all kinds of yummy filipino food for cheap. Anyone know where this is? Might help the OP.

Other than that, I was largely disappointed. Every other asian country I've been to has had significantly better straight food.
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CA-NA-DA-ABC



Joined: 20 Jun 2006

PostPosted: Thu Aug 27, 2009 1:37 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

SwimminThruAsia wrote:
Every other asian country I've been to has had significantly better straight food.


Sure, if pan-fried scorpions, locusts and millipedes are your thing.
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Easter Clark



Joined: 18 Nov 2007
Location: Hiding from Yie Eun-woong

PostPosted: Thu Aug 27, 2009 1:47 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I personally don't buy food from the street carts unless we're in the countryside.

Think about how much exhaust and pollution is at street level. I can't count how many times I've seen a street cart set up right by a bus stop--you've constantly got buses stopping in front, spewing their toxic fumes all over the food. Insanity.

But I may just be paranoid.
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Starla



Joined: 06 Jun 2008
Location: Seoul

PostPosted: Thu Aug 27, 2009 1:57 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

My friends swear by a particular taco stand vendor in Itaewon right by the Hamilton Hotel. But since I'm rarely in Itaewon, I haven't tried his tacos so I can't vouch for them.
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climber159



Joined: 02 Sep 2007

PostPosted: Thu Aug 27, 2009 2:13 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

When the weather gets colder I love to snack on 호떡. You can find the stuff all over the city, but the woman selling 호떡 in Insa-dong (usually located about halfway down the main street) makes exceptional 호떡.
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CA-NA-DA-ABC



Joined: 20 Jun 2006

PostPosted: Thu Aug 27, 2009 2:22 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I usually never eat at those street food carts. Every time I have street-made 떡볶이 I get a full-blown diarrhea attack. But 호떡 is another story. MMMMMMMMMMMMMMM......호떡...
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climber159



Joined: 02 Sep 2007

PostPosted: Thu Aug 27, 2009 2:26 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I've always wondered about those hot dogs that are battered, covered with french fries, and then deep fried. Are they good?
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curiousaboutkorea



Joined: 21 Jan 2009

PostPosted: Thu Aug 27, 2009 3:51 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

SwimminThruAsia wrote:
I hate to have to be the one to break this news to you, but street food in Seoul is mediocre at best in most cases. You will find a few rare gems, but by and large it's the same 3 things at every cart.

One bright spot I remember: When I was there (in like 2003) my Filipino roommate took me to Mass at a catholic church-I forget exactly where it was, it wasn't normally a filipino church, just at certain times on sunday. Set up after the mass were some amazing carts with all kinds of yummy filipino food for cheap. Anyone know where this is? Might help the OP.

Other than that, I was largely disappointed. Every other asian country I've been to has had significantly better straight food.


I concur that the street food here is pretty uneventful. Tteokbokki, soondae, and some fried stuff that's been sitting around for hours...

The Filipino food can be found near Hyehwa station on Sunday (I think it's busiest in the early afternoon). I know there's a church nearby. It's a small street market full of Filipino stuff, including food vendors. To get there, get off at Hyehwa station, walk straight out of exit 1 and go a few blocks, you'll hit it (just follow the Filipinos).
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