A table with tuna gimbap and rabokki at Tongtong gimbap

Let’s try some delicious tteokbokki and gimbap in Seoul. Namdaemun Tongtong Gimbap

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If you’re visiting Seoul, tteokbokki and gimbap are definitely must-try foods. That’s why you should head to a bunsik restaurant. In Korea, restaurants that sell tteokbokki, gimbap, and sundae are called bunsik restaurants. If you’re traveling to Seoul, you’ll likely stay near City Hall or Myeongdong. So today, I’d like to write about Tongtong Gimbap’s Hoehyeon branch, a bunsik shop near Namdaemun Market. It’s a place I visit often and I think I go there at least once a month. It became a globally famous dish after a scene of people eating gimbap appeared in the hit show “K-Demon Hunters” last year.

A table with Tongtong gimbap and spicy rabokki

Location and Directions to Tongtong Gimbap

This place is located right in front of Exit 4 of Hoehyeon Station (Line 4). Come up through Exit 4, walk straight ahead a short distance, and turn left, then you’ll see it right away. I’ve attached a Google Map, so please be sure to check it out.

The interior isn’t very spacious. There’s a kiosk at each table, so you can easily browse the menu and place your order. If you need side dishes or utensils, please help yourself from the self-service counter. When you’re finished eating, please clear your table and return your empty dishes to the return area. If you’re planning to go shopping in Namdaemun after your meal, check out “Namdaemun Market, The Best Market in Korea, as Experienced Firsthand.”

Here’s a tip

Don’t panic if you need to eat but can’t find spoons or chopsticks. Look to the side of your table and there’s a drawer there. You’ll find spoons, chopsticks, tissues, and more inside. Feel free to take what you need.

Menu and Prices (My Recommendations)

This place is already a famous restaurant in Seoul. It’s a restaurant that supplies food to the Blue House and the National Assembly. Every time I go, I see the place packed with people.

  • Tongtong Gimbap (4,500 KRW)
  • Bulgogi Gimbap (6,000 KRW)
  • Tuna Gimbap (6,000 KRW)
  • Spam Egg Gimbap (6,000 KRW)
  • Spicy Squid Gimbap (6,500 KRW)
  • Aged Kimchi Tuna Gimbap (6,000 KRW)
  • Tongtong Tteokbokki (7,500 KRW)
  • Tongtong Rabokki (7,500 KRW)

They have a wide variety of menu items here. The combinations I order most often are the “Tongtong Gimbap + Tongtong Rabokki” combo, the “Tuna Gimbap + Tongtong Rabokki” combo, or the “Tongtong Aged Kimchi Tuna Gimbap + Tongtong Rabokki” combo. I guess it’s because I love tuna. HAHA

Tuna gimbap slices on a plate

Here’s a little tip

If you’d rather not eat inside the shop, you can order takeout. When you order for takeout, they pack the food very carefully.

The Ttongtong Gimbap is the most basic type of gimbap. It’s the most affordable option and is the standard gimbap you’d find in a typical Korean home. The Tuna Gimbap contains tuna, mayonnaise, egg, carrots, and other ingredients. A key feature is that they wrap perilla leaves around the middle to prevent the gimbap from getting soggy due to the tuna and mayonnaise. The “Tong Mukeunji Tuna Gimbap” has a unique name, doesn’t it? “Mukeunji” refers to well-fermented kimchi in Korea. The deliciously seasoned tuna is combined with well-fermented kimchi that’s been rinsed in water, so it’s not spicy at all and it’s savory, sweet, and delicious. This is the gimbap I recommend.

Close-up of spicy Tongtong rabokki

Tongtong Rabokki is a dish made by adding ramen to regular tteokbokki. It’s what I order when I want a heartier meal. It’s not too spicy and it’s sweet, savory, and delicious.

If you’re craving a sweet dessert after eating Korean street food, check out the Seoul Snack Tour (paid for by me) When You Feel Hungry After Lunch.

My Personal Way of Eating It

In Korea, we dip gimbap in tteokbokki sauce! Not many people will tell you this. It’s much more flavorful than eating gimbap on its own, and you can experience a variety of tastes. It’s spicy, nutty, and delicious.

If you’re visiting Seoul after watching K-Demon Hunters, eating gimbap will likely be on your food bucket list. There are many snack bars in Seoul, but finding a truly delicious one isn’t easy. The Namdaemun Tongtong Gimbap branch in Hoehyeon, which I visit often, will treat you to delicious gimbap and tteokbokki. Trust me and I highly recommend giving it a try. The places I feature on my blog are ones I personally find delicious. If you’re visiting Seoul, I hope you’ll make sure to experience this at least once before heading home.

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