Tongin Market (통인시장) - Build Your Own Lunchbox with Brass Coins

Tongin Traditional Market 通仁市場 (통인시장) - Build Your Own Lunchbox with Brass Coin

If you ask me what's interesting in Seoul other than the shopping street and cafe, I think Traditional Korean Markets should be a place to visit too. Today I want to introduce you Tongin Market (통인시장), a place where you will able to try different local food at one same place with the fun of getting your food with Yeopjeon(엽전), their traditional brass coins.

Tongin Market established in 1941, a market originally caetred ofr local need, has now become a place with Dosirak Cafe (도시락카페), a cafeteria where you can enjoy your lunchbox located at the middle part of Tongin Market. This Tonging Traditional Market is located near Gyeongbokgung Palace. Hence you will see tourists in beautiful Hanbok come here and have their meal. 

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Yeopjeon (엽전) brass coins which worth 500 won each

You can use 5000 won to buy 10 Yeopjeon (엽전) brass coins and usually it is enough to get your self a decent meal. Lunch box will be given once you got yourself enough brass coins. Now let's have a look what are the available thing in Tongin Market

Sweet Rich Punch selling at 1500 won (3 Brass Coin) - I had this drink, love it!

Look for the sign with number of Yeopjeon required for different food

Not all the food stall in Tongin Market is participating in the LunchBox Making Session, but you can always pay it with your cash if you are interested to try that delicacies. So look for the Dosirak (도시락) sign, you can always ask if you can buy your food with their brass coins.

Looks like Korean Style YongTauFu to me @ Tongin Market (통인시장) 

Sweet and Sour Chicken at Tongin Market (통인시장) 

Several kind of nuts and seeds solidified with sweet caramel at Tongin Market (통인시장) 

Home-made dumplings freshly prepared everyday at Tongin Market (통인시장) 

Korean Desserts at Tongin Market (통인시장) 

Fresh seafoods available at Tongin Market (통인시장)  too

Lots of fried food (even fried 'Pikachu') including pork skin at Tongin Market (통인시장) 

Local vegetable stall at Tongin Market (통인시장) 

Meat store at Tongin Market (통인시장) 

Fruit stall at Tongin Market (통인시장) 

Grandma selling fruits at Tongin Market (통인시장) 

Rolled omelet and fried pancake sold at Tongin Market (통인시장) 

Here's our completed lunch box bought using Yeopjeon at Tongin Market (통인시장) 

Seems like our lunchbox lack of greens, wait I got fruit salad hahaha

Basically with 5000 won (10 brass coins) you can get yourself enough food for your lunchbox. If you feel like they are not enough, rice and soup is available at 1000 won at the Dosirak Cafe (dining place at second and third floor). Utensils like chopstick is available at the cafe for free. You can also use the microwave here to heat up your food too.

Dosirak Cafe (dining place at second and third floor) at  Tongin Market (통인시장)

Since it was lunch time, it was challenging for us to look for space to eat in Dosirak Cafe. Hence the staff was quite strict that sharing lunch box is prohibited. A couple sharing one lunchbox is all right, but if three or four people occupy the table but with just one lunchbox, you will be asked to leave politely.

So here's a tips, pay a visit to Tongin Market (통인시장) before lunch time so you can enjoy the freshly prepared food starting 11am in the morning and easily grab a seat at Dosirak Cafe.

I find this is a fun traditional market experience that you should try! Here's more tips for you, must try their freshly prepared dumplings, fried pork skin, pork stew and of course paired with a bottle of cold rice punch drink!

Remember to finish your food and keep your food tray/utensils with the trays available at the side.

Don't forget to check out beautiful girl in Hanbok during your visit to Tongin Market (통인시장)

Tongin Traditional Market 通仁市場 (통인시장)

Address
18, Jahamun-ro 15-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul
서울특별시 종로구 자하문로15길 18 (통인동)

Inquiries
• 1330 Travel Hotline: +82-2-1330
(Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese)
• For more info: +82-2-722-0911
* Call center: Weekdays 09:00-18:00 / Saturday 09:00-13:00 / Sunday & National Holidays: No operations on national holidays and Sundays)

Homepage
tonginmarket.co.kr (Korean only)

Closed 
Third Sunday of each month (Dosirak Cafe is closed Mondays)

Convenient Facilities 
Restroom, customer resting area, Dosirak (lunchbox) Cafe, office, etc

Restrooms 
Available



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