Dongdaemun Grilled Fish Alley — Attraction in Seoul

Really make this a must do pop in for a truly overwhelming cultural experience - the noise, the smoke from cooking, the smells, colours, all were amazing (but I do love seeing local life, admittedly maybe not for all!).

It was a bit difficult to find, in the end a local lady saw us looking at a map, we said we were looking for ‘grilled fish alley’ and she actually walked us there, to be sure we found it!

We ordered mackerel outside of one of the cafes - you just pick your fish there before going in. it was slightly odd that there were empty tables downstairs but we were hustled upstairs (almost like we ought to be hidden - maybe because we were only tourists around).

So mackerel was huge and delicious, would recommend. only problem we found was the lack of explanation of how to eat - I ended up treating bean sprouts as a starter and covering in a mustard sauce (at that point glad I was hidden!)

Husband was worried we’d be ill, especially as we had excursion booked next day. Can happily report neither of us had any tummy issues, so if you have similar worries, hope that helps reassure you.

Other point - take some nice smelling wet wipes, our hands stank of...

“Dongdaemun” means “Great East Gate.” It's one of the original gates of the old Seoul Fortress Wall.

The area grew around Heunginjimun Gate, built in 1398.

It has evolved into one of Seoul's major commercial and cultural hubs.

🔹 What It’s Known For

Fashion & Shopping

Famous for its 24/7 wholesale and retail fashion malls: Doota, Migliore, Hello apM, and Good Morning City.

A hotspot for designers, retailers, and fashion buyers.

Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP)

A futuristic building designed by Zaha Hadid.

Hosts art exhibitions, design markets, festivals, and night markets.

A popular Instagram spot.

Nightlife & Street Food

At night, the area lights up with food stalls and shopping.

You’ll find Korean street food like tteokbokki, soondae, hotteok, and mandu.

Culture & History

Dongdaemun History & Culture Park includes old fortress walls and museum spaces.

The area blends modern design with deep historical roots.

🔹 Getting There

Subway: Line 1 or Line 4 to Dongdaemun Station, or Lines 2, 4, or 5 to Dongdaemun History & Culture Park Station.

Well-connected...

Definitely recommended ! I visited Seoul back in 2016. There is no stir-fry squid that can beat the one I ate here. Really miss the dish. It was just too delicious that I ate there 3 days in a row. The ahjumma(s) there were also very nice and friendly. (The local customers too) Hope can visit Seoul in future to be able to...