Namdaemun Market - Seoul

The Namdaemun market is open round-the-clock (though a few retailers close on Sunday) and is a fantastic place to pick up inexpensive clothing, housewares, fabrics, jewelry, accessories, toys, food, flowers, stationery and appliances. But it's easy to get turned around here, as there are thousands of shops located in the 30 or so multistory buildings, not to mention an endless sprawl of street-vendor stalls. The day Al and I first ventured here, all of the big department stores and many of the shops were closed be cause of the Chuseok holiday. As you can see it was still busy. We decided this was a good way to get acclimatized to the bustle and noise.


































What surprised us was the number of cars that drove through the crowded streets. There was no honking or particular tension between the pedestrians and vehicles.

























































I just had to show you the women's toilet in this market. It is the traditional design, and takes a little getting used to. It does however flush like the modern ones.
























Fast food stands were every where. This one had chips and dried sea food,













My idea of chocolate has been challenged! This box is chocolate with antler extract.










Pomegranate....okay.....

























Hazelnut.......sounds good.

























Mushrooms......


























Seaweed..............

















Hot Peppers.......I have heard Mexicans like hot chili peppers in their chocolate
















Kimchi.........























This is where we had a lunch of mung bean pancakes and kim bap......delicious. Kim bap is similar to a sushi roll, that is rice, fresh vegetables and seafood ( we had squid) wrapped in seaweed.



I also (much to Al's surprise) managed to find his favorite dessert snack hotteok! These really are delicious. The stuff legends—er, pancakes—are made of. Grilled warm dough on the outside, molten brown sugar inside. The size of a CD, it is a popular Korean street snack, especially on cold winter nights. The “tteok”—pronounced ‘duk’--means rice cake. The “ho” refers to the sound a person makes after taking the first scalding bite. Al managed to find the recipe. I hope he doesn't think I am going to make them! I am assuming he meant to have the recipe shared with you so here it is.

Hotteok Recipe
1. Warm water (1/2 cup) + sugar (1/2 teaspoon) + yeast (1 teaspoon)
Mix them together and let sit for 10 minutes.

2. Flour (3 cups) + milk (1 cup) + salt (1/2 teaspoon) + fermented yeast
from step #1
Mix them together and let sit for 3 hours until it becomes twice its
size.

3. Mix black sugar + cinnamon powder + ground peanuts (ground peanuts
are just for preference).

4. With oiled hands, take some portion of #2 and put #3 inside as much
as you want and wrap it.

5. On an oiled pan, put #4 and pan-fry it, pressing it occasionally with
a spatula.

This is for about 12 Hotteok.
Enjoy!!






Both of us really liked this market and will definitely come back here to do some serious Christmas shopping. We also want to experience it when all the shops are open and the place is hopping.