Seoul: Korean Home Cooking Class & Market Tour with Street Food

Summary

Cook Korean classics in a Seoul home after tasting street food at Mangwon Market

You’ll meet your guide at Mangwon Station before diving into Seoul’s lively market scene—tasting street food, learning ingredient secrets, then heading to a cozy home kitchen for hands-on cooking. You’ll chop, fry, laugh (probably mess up a pancake), and share a meal with new friends over makgeolli. It’s warm, real, and you’ll leave knowing more than just recipes.

What’s the experience like?

Li waved us over at Mangwon Station—she had this big smile and a tiny grocery cart that squeaked every few steps. I tried to say “annyeonghaseyo” but probably butchered it (Li just laughed and said, “Close enough!”). Right away, we ducked into Mangwon Market, which was already buzzing even though it was barely 10am. The air smelled like hot oil and something sweet—maybe those honey rice cakes? I lost track of how many times someone brushed past me carrying bags of greens or stacks of tofu. Li handed us little skewers with tteokbokki, spicy and soft, and I swear my lips tingled for half an hour after.

I didn’t expect the market part to be so much fun. Li stopped every few stalls to chat with the vendors—sometimes switching between Korean and English mid-sentence—and explained why she picked certain mushrooms or how to spot good sesame oil. She let us try saying the names ourselves (I still can’t pronounce “doenjang” right). There was this moment when an old man selling seaweed grinned at us and gave a thumbs up; maybe he liked our effort? Anyway, after sampling some fried mung bean pancakes (greasy fingers, worth it), we followed Li back through side streets to her apartment.

The kitchen felt like someone’s actual home—because it is. Shoes off, aprons on. The window was cracked open so you could hear distant traffic mixed with K-pop from somewhere upstairs. We chopped vegetables for bibimbap while Li showed us how not to ruin the rice (“Don’t stir too much!”). Making haemul pajeon got messy fast—my pancake looked nothing like hers but tasted pretty great dunked in soy sauce. Lunch turned into this long meal where we tried homemade kimchi and drank makgeolli out of little bowls. I kept thinking how different it felt from any restaurant meal—more relaxed somehow. And yeah, I still think about that view from her kitchen window over all those tiled rooftops.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Market visit and Korean cooking class

• Meet at Mangwon Station Entrance 2
• Explore local market and taste street food
• Attend hands-on Korean cooking class
• Enjoy meal with homemade dishes and makgeolli

Top questions

Where does the Korean cooking class in Seoul start?

The tour meets at Mangwon Station Entrance 2 in Seoul.

Is street food included in the market tour?

Yes, street food tasting is included during the local market adventure.

Are dietary requests like vegetarian or halal possible?

Yes, all dietary requests such as vegetarian, vegan, halal, or gluten-free are welcome.

How many people are in each cooking class?

The small group class hosts up to 10 guests per session.

Is this Korean cooking class suitable for children?

Yes, infants and small children can join and use prams or strollers if needed.

What dishes do you cook during the class?

Dishes include dakgalbi (or mushrooms), bibimbap, haemul pajeon, doenjang jjigae plus sides and dessert.

Is everything needed for cooking provided?

Yes, all ingredients and equipment are included in the class price.

Will I learn about Korean table etiquette?

Yes, useful Korean words and table etiquette are part of the experience.

What’s included

Your day includes meeting at Mangwon Station before exploring a lively local market with your guide for street food tastings; all fresh ingredients for your hands-on cooking class; use of all kitchen equipment; plenty of homemade side dishes; dessert; beverages including makgeolli rice wine; plus tips on useful Korean words and table manners—all with no extra charges along the way.