Gyeongdong Market in Seoul brings together two places that many international visitors now want to see: Andongjip, a restaurant featured on Netflix’s Culinary Class Wars, and Starbucks Gyeongdong 1960, a former theater transformed into one of the city’s most unusual cafés.
I had saved both places while traveling around Southeast Asia. After returning to Seoul, I finally visited them together on the same morning.
The route worked well because I could begin with an early Korean lunch, walk through the traditional market and finish with coffee inside a restored theater. If you want to experience Korean food and a distinctive Seoul café without spending an entire day, this Gyeongdong Market itinerary takes approximately two to three hours.
Why Visit Gyeongdong Market?
Gyeongdong Market (경동시장) is a large traditional market in eastern Seoul. It is known for medicinal herbs, dried ingredients, fruit, vegetables, seafood and local Korean food.
The market feels very different from tourist-oriented markets in central Seoul. Many visitors are local shoppers buying ingredients, while vendors sell products that may be unfamiliar to international travelers.
In recent years, the market has also added newer cultural and dining spaces. Andongjip attracts fans of Culinary Class Wars, while Starbucks Gyeongdong 1960 brings visitors into a former neighborhood theater.
These two destinations show contrasting sides of the market: traditional Korean food in a busy shopping arcade and a global café inside a preserved local building.
How to Get to Gyeongdong Market
- Korean name: 경동시장
- Address: 3 Gosanja-ro 36-gil, Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul
- Korean address: 서울특별시 동대문구 고산자로36길 3
- Nearest subway station: Jegi-dong Station, Line 1
- Recommended visit: Weekday morning
- Suggested time: Approximately two to three hours
View Gyeongdong Market on Google Maps
The market consists of several connected buildings and shopping areas, so finding a specific restaurant can be confusing. Signs inside the buildings are more helpful than relying only on the blue dot on your map.
I recommend starting at Andongjip before the lunch rush and visiting Starbucks afterward.
Stop 1: Early Lunch at Andongjip
Andongjip (안동집) is located inside Gyeongdong Market. I found it easier to follow the signs for the Gyeongdong Market Youth Mall than to rely entirely on the map.
The market has multiple entrances, levels and connected sections. I had to look around before finding the restaurant, so allow extra time if it is your first visit.
Andongjip is run by chef Kim Mi-ryeong, better known as Imokase No. 1 from Netflix’s Culinary Class Wars. The television appearance made the restaurant popular with both Korean and international visitors.
I arrived at approximately 10:20 a.m. A few groups were already eating, but seats were still available.
For detailed directions, menu prices and my honest review, read my complete guide to Andongjip at Gyeongdong Market.
What to Eat at Andongjip
Andongjip has a short menu focused on four traditional Korean dishes:
- Son-guksi: handmade noodle soup
- Baechujeon: napa cabbage pancake
- Suyuk: boiled pork
- Bibimbap: rice mixed with vegetables
I visited alone and originally planned to order only the handmade noodle soup. Fortunately, two women sitting beside me ordered all four dishes and kindly let me taste each one.
This gave me an unexpected opportunity to compare the entire menu.
Son-guksi
Son-guksi (손국시) is a regional noodle dish associated with Andong. The word guksi is a regional form of guksu, the standard Korean word for noodles.
The broth at Andongjip was clean, mild and refreshing. It may suit travelers who want Korean comfort food without strong spice.
The handmade noodles had a noticeable grain aroma and a very soft texture. I loved the broth, but the noodles took time to get used to. I finished nearly all the broth while leaving part of the noodles.
My Favorite Dishes
The boiled pork was my favorite item. It was tender and mild, and I enjoyed wrapping it in napa cabbage with garlic, chili pepper and soybean paste.
The cabbage pancake was another highlight. Unlike thick seafood or kimchi pancakes, it was made from a whole cabbage leaf coated in a light batter. The cabbage added a subtle sweetness and pleasantly chewy texture.
If two people visit together, I would order the noodle soup, boiled pork and cabbage pancake to share. Solo travelers can comfortably order one bowl of noodles at the counter.
Stop 2: Walk Through Gyeongdong Market
After eating, take time to walk through the market rather than going directly to Starbucks.
The market is filled with dried seafood, grains, vegetables, fruit and traditional medicinal ingredients. Even as someone who has lived in Seoul for many years, I found the scale and layout unfamiliar.
You do not need a strict shopping list. Walking through the aisles and observing what local customers buy is part of the experience.
The narrow passages can be busy, and the connected buildings are easy to confuse. Comfortable shoes are useful, especially if you plan to explore several floors before reaching the café.
If you enjoy traditional markets, see my guide to the five best traditional markets in Seoul for Korean food.
Stop 3: Starbucks Gyeongdong 1960
Starbucks Gyeongdong 1960 is hidden inside the market building. Like Andongjip, it was not immediately easy to find.
Rather than searching only for the familiar green Starbucks logo, look for signs marked “Gyeongdong 1960.” The dark entrance doors look more like an old cinema than a modern coffee shop.
Walking through the doors creates an immediate contrast with the market outside. The narrow shopping aisles open into a large space with high ceilings, exposed walls and tiered seating.
A Former Theater Turned Into a Café
Starbucks Gyeongdong 1960 opened in 2022 inside the former Gyeongdong Theater, which was built in the 1960s.
The renovation preserved the theater’s sloping structure, high ceiling and rough concrete walls. Seats descend toward the lower counter in a layout that still resembles an auditorium.
From the upper section, I could look down over the entire café. The old surfaces were not hidden behind polished new walls, which gave the space more character than a standard Starbucks.
I visited shortly after 11 a.m. on a weekday and found seats without difficulty. There were international travelers, market visitors and several people working on laptops.
The café is large, but many tables are low. It is a good place to rest and explore the architecture, although not every seat is comfortable for extended laptop work.
Read my full review of Starbucks Gyeongdong 1960, Seoul’s unique theater café.
The Performance Stage
A small stage remains near the lower seating area. It is not simply a decorative part of the interior.
The space is used for cultural performances by local artists and students. Even when no performance is scheduled, the microphones, speakers and music stands reinforce the feeling that this is more than an ordinary coffee shop.
The café is most memorable when viewed as part of the market visit. Drinking coffee inside a restored theater feels more meaningful after walking through the traditional shopping areas surrounding it.
Recommended Gyeongdong Market Route
Follow this order for the easiest visit:
Jegi-dong Station → Andongjip → Gyeongdong Market → Starbucks Gyeongdong 1960
Suggested schedule
- 10:00–10:30 a.m.: Arrive at Gyeongdong Market
- 10:30–11:30 a.m.: Eat at Andongjip
- 11:30 a.m.–12:00 p.m.: Walk through the market
- 12:00–1:00 p.m.: Visit Starbucks Gyeongdong 1960
The exact timing will depend on restaurant queues and how long you spend exploring the market.
Arriving early is the most important part of this itinerary. Andongjip becomes busier around lunchtime, while Starbucks also attracts more visitors later in the day.
Who Will Enjoy This Itinerary?
This Gyeongdong Market route is a good choice for:
- Fans of Netflix’s Culinary Class Wars
- Travelers interested in traditional Korean food
- Visitors looking for unusual cafés in Seoul
- Solo travelers who prefer counter seating and a flexible route
- Repeat visitors who want to explore beyond Seoul’s major landmarks
- Travelers who do not mind navigating a large local market
It may be less suitable for visitors who want a polished tourist attraction with clear English signs at every turn. Part of the experience involves finding your way through a market used primarily by local shoppers.
Looking for an Evening Show in Seoul?
After exploring Gyeongdong Market, you may want to continue your day with a Korean performance. JUMP combines martial arts, acrobatics, and slapstick comedy in an energetic live show. Because it relies more on physical comedy than dialogue, international visitors can enjoy it without understanding Korean.
At the time of writing, the show has a 4.7 rating from more than 1,300 Klook reviews, with many visitors mentioning the action, audience interaction and humor that can be enjoyed without understanding Korean.
👉 Check JUMP Show tickets and available dates on Klook
This post contains an affiliate link. I may earn a small commission if you book through it, at no additional cost to you.
Is Gyeongdong Market Worth Visiting?
Yes, particularly when Andongjip and Starbucks Gyeongdong 1960 are combined into one route.
Andongjip alone offers an interesting Korean meal, but the market surroundings give the restaurant more context. Starbucks Gyeongdong 1960 is visually impressive on its own, but approaching it through a busy traditional market makes the transformation of the former theater more noticeable.
My favorite part of Andongjip was the tender boiled pork, although the clean noodle broth was also memorable. At Starbucks, I enjoyed looking down over the tiered seating and seeing how the old theater structure had been preserved.
Together, the two stops created an easy half-day trip with food, local market culture and an unusual café. For travelers searching for a less predictable Seoul itinerary, Gyeongdong Market is worth adding to the list.