Noryangjin Fisheries Wholesale Market — Restaurant in Seoul

(Detailed post with tips) take the subway to Noryangjin station on line 1 (blue) and follow the signs for exit 9. On ground level, the market is visible and about 3min walk away. Once you enter the ground floor, it’s a massive network of stalls selling all sorts of seafood. Some specialise in different types of fish, some sell plated slices of sashimi, and some have tanks of live crustaceans which is where we headed to. PRO TIP - don’t wear fancy shoes as you can expect the floor to be wet and slippery (but not flooded).

Maybe due to the low season right now, there aren’t many tourists, so the stalls quote similar prices and don’t expect to haggle. Not as stressful as expected. I bought from stall 031 only because the auntie was super earnest and started picking out a crab for me. Other stalls also quoted similar prices. The Alaskan king crabs are 50k won per kg, Alaskan snow crabs which are smaller are 45k per kg. (SG folks, this is a whopping 10 times cheaper than what I saw in Sakuraya mart which sells $500 per kg of air flown live Alaskan crab from Japan.) Live abalones are 2-3 pieces for 10k. PRO TIP - most stall owners can say prices in English, or they will punch it into their calculator. Make sure to clarify if the price is per kg or per piece.

The auntie picked a king crab just over 2kg and stood firm at 100k won, but threw in freebies or “service” as they call it - sea pineapples (more for novelty than taste, I wouldn’t reorder this), a bunch of scallops, and 2 abalones. I topped up 10k for 3 abalones and she kindly gave me 4 instead. Remember to bring cash for the market stalls.

Halfway through this, another lady came by and started translating for us in Chinese, which was good to have but not truly necessary. She is from one of the restaurants on level 2, and once we purchased, she grabbed the bag of seafood and lead us to her restaurant without giving us a chance to browse elsewhere. This was fine for us since we found out that restaurants typically charge the same standard food prep prices and cover charge, so it didn’t really matter which restaurant we went to. But if you intend to browse from multiple stalls, then do turn down their help. This restaurant was first on the left among the row of restaurants on level 2, with a section selling fried seafood upfront, and actually had lots of local Korean customers eating stews and other dishes. So it’s pretty legit.

At the restaurant, the aunties were swift and firm in deciding the cooking style for me - raw for the sea pineapples, and steamed for everything else. PRO TIP - the steamed Alaskan crab comes upside down and if you carefully separate the shell without tilting it, there will be lots of “soup” inside the shell. You can then give them the shell full of “soup” to make seaweed fried rice, which is super yummy. Everything was cooked just right and the seafood was delicious and tender. In total for 3 pax cover, all the seafood prep, and 1 bottle of soju, we paid 57k won at the restaurant.

Awesome experience and I would definitely...

Provides an immersive experience where visitors can observe auctions, interact with vendors, and even participate in the purchasing process. Many vendors offer the option to have seafood purchased at the market prepared and served at nearby restaurants.

About dining options within the market:

Freshness: One of the primary appeals of dining at the restaurants within Noryangjin Market is the freshness of the seafood. Many restaurants source their ingredients directly from the market stalls, ensuring that dishes are made with the freshest catch available.

Menu Variety: The restaurants in the market offer a diverse menu of seafood dishes to cater to different tastes and preferences. From classic Korean preparations like grilled fish and seafood stews to international favorites like sushi and sashimi, there's something for everyone.

Customization: Some restaurants allow customers to select their seafood directly from the market stalls and have it prepared according to their preferences. This level of customization ensures that diners get exactly what they want, whether it's a specific type of fish or a particular cooking style.

Cooking Styles: Depending on the restaurant, diners can enjoy seafood cooked in various styles, including grilling, steaming, frying, and boiling. Each cooking method brings out unique flavors and textures in the seafood, adding to the dining experience.

Ambiance: The ambiance of the restaurants within Noryangjin Market can vary, from casual and bustling to more upscale and refined. Some establishments offer traditional Korean dining settings, while others have a more modern and contemporary vibe.

Affordability: Despite the freshness and quality of the seafood, dining at restaurants within Noryangjin Market is often relatively affordable compared to similar establishments outside the market. This makes it an excellent option for budget-conscious seafood lovers.

Local Experience: Dining at a restaurant within Noryangjin Market provides visitors with an authentic taste of Korean seafood culture. The bustling atmosphere, the sound of vendors haggling, and the aroma of freshly cooked seafood all contribute to a memorable dining experience.

Overall, dining at the restaurants within Noryangjin Fisheries Wholesale Market offers a unique opportunity to savor fresh seafood dishes in a lively and authentic setting, making it a must-visit destination for food...

One of the ‘off-the-beaten-track’, very local, but one of the BEST dining experiences (for me at least, my best and this wins all Michelin restaurants even) ONLY if you do it RIGHT!

First, get your raw food from the first floor. Find this store ‘활어36호’. We have been going there for the last 3 visits. The seafood you get here is of value and quality. I recommend getting the king crab, and ask for some seasonal fish. Language barrier might be a challenge here so have some translated fish names in Korean ready before going into this.

After payment to the lady, the lady will then recommend you a restaurant on the upper level that she can bring the seafood there for you, or you can take your raw fishes and seafood in a black vinyl bag and head up to choose your own restaurant to cook. Do the latter, and head up to restaurant called Jinju (on level 5 I believe).

Jinju is know for cooking the food well and clean. You head in, give your black vinyl bag to the front counter staff, and get ushered to a seat. Wait for your food to be cooked, and you can order other things like drinks and other food along the way. I recommend ordering: 매운탕 after you finished eating your raw seafood fried rice to put on the crab’s head if you ordered crab and the restaurant will put the rice on the crab head.

After a while, the restaurant will serve you the food you got from level 1, either raw or steamed or however you instructed them.

Seafood is the freshest in the world by far, very good quality and is literally “farm or ocean to table”. The side dishes and separate cooked food the restaurant provides is also perfect pairing to your main seafood dish.

Again, cannot reiterate you HAVE to do it right to have a...