Seoul
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On this day-into-night crawl through the heart of Seoul, we’ll explore this bustling city’s almost magical power to take outside influences and turn them into something uniquely – and deliciously – Korean. By the end of our tour, we’ll learn that “Made in Korea” might be the most appetizing seal of approval to be found.
ABOUT
From appliances to pop music, Korea has in recent years become an unstoppable global powerhouse. The country seems to have a knack for taking the best of outside influences, adding its unique flair, and then exporting the distinctly Korean result back out for worldwide consumption. The same goes for food – Korea thrives on reinvention. On this day-into-evening food tour in the backstreets of Seoul’s bustling Dongdaemun and Jongno neighborhoods, we’ll taste how this almost magical process plays out, with each stop revealing how resilience, creativity, and cultural pride fuel the city’s dynamic food scene.Our day will start in a busy alley filled with restaurants serving a classic chicken and noodle dish that draws on a variety of regional flavors. We’ll savor this iconic dish at the very restaurant that pioneered it, a family-run spot helmed by the same woman for 40 years. From there, we’ll work our way through the heart of Seoul, stopping for traditional cookies and sweets, before having a second lunch of grilled beef and bibimbap at an old school bbq joint. At a nearby locals-only indoor market, we’ll work our way through the countless stalls, stopping to taste some signature banchan – flavorful side dishes served with rice – and gimbap, Korea’s homegrown “sushi” roll. Diving deeper into the backstreets, we’ll stop into another alley restaurant for the umami-rich bossam – steamed pork belly, oysters, and kimchi all wrapped up in a fresh cabbage leaf. For a “lighter” bite, we’ll visit a local bakery that serves a beloved version of a Korean fusion sensation known as “salt bread” – a buttery pastry that is like the love child of a croissant, baguette, and fluffy dinner roll.
Along the way, we’ll visit local institutions, including a cozy record shop and a wholesaler of traditional outfits known as hanbok, to get a sense of Korean culture, both new and old. To end our time together and prepare you for a night out on the town, we’ll join the locals for an al fresco happy hour at one of the area’s numerous pojangmacha, open-air “tent bars,” where soju – Korea’s national spirit – is downed along with a plethora of savory bar snacks.
Read more Show lessDETAILS
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Group size: 2-7 -
5.5 hours long -
Monday-Saturday 1pm -
Dongdaemun - Jongno -
Price: Adults x $195
Dietary
Mobility
- FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
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What is included in the fee? In addition to your Culinary Backstreets guide, all food consumed on the walk – almost a dozen different edible specialties – are included in the price.Why is the Culinary Backstreets tour more expensive than some other walking tours? Our approach is different than most tour companies. Each of our culinary walks is the outcome of considerable research. We work with academics in the field and our own team of experienced professionals – both guides and local journalists. Our ongoing publishing of articles, from restaurant reviews to features about the intersection of food and culture, constantly feeds new material into the culinary walks, so they evolve and constantly improve. Though costly, we believe that this is how to create the quality experiences we strive for. We practice honest tourism and would never accept a free lunch or any sort of commission. On the contrary, we are proud to know that the money spent during the culinary walk goes to support businesses that we believe in, helping to preserve the social and cultural fabric of the cities we love so dearly.How does the payment process work? Once you have made a reservation, we require the full fee to be paid in order to complete the online booking. Our online booking system uses Stripe to process secure payments.What is your cancellation policy? 90% will be refunded if given 1 week notice prior to walk and 50% will be refunded if given 72 hours notice or more. Less than 72 hours is non-refundable.Are your walks public or private? How many people are on them? Our walks are 2-7 people and are open to the public. If you would like to do a private walk, you can book it for a supplement by selecting book entire excursion. If it is not available on booking, we may be able to arrange one for an additional fee. Please contact us at walks@culinarybackstreets.com for more information.Can I get a discount if I join more than one walk? Yes, we offer a 10% discount to those who join more than one walk. Please email us at walks@culinarybackstreets.com if you’d like to join multiple walks.Are your walks suitable for people with food allergies? This can vary based on a number of factors, including the food item in question. Please email us at walks@culinarybackstreets.com to discuss your situation before booking.Are your walks suitable for vegetarians and pescatarians? This route is not suitable for vegetarians, pescatarians and those on a dairy-free diet. It is not suitable for vegans or those on a gluten-free diet.Are your walks suitable for a gluten free diet? We cannot accommodate a gluten free diet on this walk.Is alcohol served on the walks? Alcohol is not served as part of this experience.Can children join the walks? Of course! We offer a 50% discount to children ages 12 and under, and we charge $25 for children 6 and younger.Can you pick me up from my hotel? How will I return, once the tour is over? Our tour prices don’t include transportation. If you book a tour, you’re responsible for arriving to the pre-arranged meeting spot on your own. Once the tour is over, we will help you get an authorized, safe taxi to your hotel, or provide directions on public transportation, if you’re interested in that.How much food will I get to try? This is really up to you. We generally make between 9 and 12 eating stops on our walk and try to include some breaks from eating along the way. The price includes as much food as you’re open to trying. We offer a suggested portion size at each stop and you can take our recommendation if you’d like. Our walks often involve street food and sharing food.How are you dealing with COVID-19 risk on your walks? We have reinforced our commitment to safety with new guidelines to assure maximum safety of our guests on our walks in terms of social distancing and hygiene while maintaining the quality of the experience. For more details on our precautions, read here. Our routes have been altered during this period of time to ensure the safety of our guests, guides and community. Our cancellation policy is extremely flexible to deal with changes in travel plans.
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