I have wanted to visit Tongin Market in Seoul and have the traditional brass coins lunch box.
Brass Coins Lunch Box
The premise is simple: exchange Won with brass coins (and an empty food container). These brass coins can be used to buy food varieties throughout Tongin Market. In addition, the filled lunch box can be eaten inside the lunch box cafe on the second-floor level of the market.
Think food vouchers in food courts – the only differences are it’s in a traditional market and delicious Korean food.
Unfortunately, they weren’t doing the brass coin lunch on the day we were there. But since we were already there, I decided to explore the market because it’s a market, after all.
The first thing I noticed about Tongin Market was how quiet it was compared to other Korean markets I had been to. It’s also much smaller. The single straight-line market can easily be covered in less than 10 minutes.
I first thought the market was closed, but it wasn’t. Most stalls were open, but they lacked a market’s usual hustle and bustle.
We walked past seafood stalls, a butcher and various snack stalls.
There was a stall selling all kinds of Mandu (Korean dumplings), from sweet to savoury ━ including kimchi flavoured, a typical Mandu found in most traditional markets.
Tongin Market Renowned Stir-Fried Tteokbokki
We also stopped by the famous stall selling the renowned stir-fried Tteokbokki. I wanted to try it, but luck wasn’t on my side that morning as none was there to tend to the stall. The stall owner next door tried to tell us something in Korean. I nodded politely, not understanding a word, and waited a few more minutes before leaving the stall with a promise to myself to return to Tongin Market.
Tongin Market is a must-visit in Seoul. Schedule your visit here so that you get to try the brass coin lunch box and the stir-fried Tteokbokki.
Tongin Market Cafe Coin Sales Hours: 11 AM-3 PM daily except Monday and 3rd Sunday of the month.
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