Seoul is a sensory blitz, a LED skyscraper metropolis where the hum of the future vibrates against centuries of iron-clad tradition. Whilst the Korean menu is famous for its tabletop BBQ, the capital’s real food story is far broader. With a dizzying maze of stalls and regional specialties, knowing where to go and what to order can be overwhelming. Fear not. Alongside our expert Seoul food hosts, you'll cut through the guesswork and go straight to the city's best eats. Before we get started, our tour reflects the local cuisine and the limitations of street food vendors means we unfortunately cannot cater for every dietary restriction. Here's an honest appraisal for the tour so no-one is disappointed: ✖️ Meat and seafood are used in 3-4 tastings, and vegetarians have limited alternatives. ✖️ Unsuitable for severe allergies, halal and celiac diets, due to risk of traces and cross-contamination.

Begin at Namdaemun market, with a 600-year history stretching back to the Joseon Dynasty. Watch the ajummas women slice dough rapidly into kalguksu - steamy, hand-cut noodles providing a bouncy texture in every bite. Contrast with the icy kick of bibim naengmyeon, legendary cold noodles with roots in the North. This is a country where all backstreets lead to bibimbap, the colour wheel of rice and vegetables, before tackling handmade mandu, succulent parcels of fortune crafted by a master with over 40 years of muscle memory. Taste the original japchae hotteok, a crispy pocket stuffed with savoury glass noodles, invented right here in these laneways.

After a scenic stroll across Seoullo 7017 sky garden to see the old and new faces of the city, we hit the 120-year-old Gwangjang Market. Tuck into grandmother’s half-century-old recipe for nokdu bindaetteok mung bean pancakes, perfectly paired with the milky tang of makgeolli rice wine. Start drooling, as you won't be able to resist the fiery, velvet-glazed tteokbokki rice cakes, and addictive gimbap - seaweed rolls that put sushi on notice.