Seoul

Drinking and Eating through the Alleys of Seoul

Seoul, South Korea
Drinking and Eating through the Alleys of Seoul
  • 5 hours (approx.)
  • Mobile ticket
  • Offered in: English

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Overview

  • A half-day, small-group food and drink tour through Seoul
  • Get off the beaten track and learn where Seoul locals eat and drink
  • Explore tiny alleys off the main drag—home to hidden culinary gems

What's Included

  • All Fees and Taxes
  • Alcoholic Beverages
  • Dinner

Meeting and Pickup

Meeting point

  • 407 Dongho-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul, South Korea

    We will meet outside of exit 8 (it is NOT the elevator) of Jongno 5-ga station (dark blue line, line 1). Keep walking until you see the staircase to go outside of exit 8.

End point

  • 103-4 Nagwon-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul, South Korea

    We will end very close to this subway station. We will be near Insadong. I can show you to the subway station, but most people want to keep walking around.

What To Expect

Additional Info

  • Confirmation will be received at time of booking
  • Wheelchair accessible
  • Stroller accessible
  • Near public transportation
  • Infants must sit on laps
  • Transportation is wheelchair accessible
  • Surfaces are wheelchair accessible
  • Most travelers can participate
  • This tour/activity will have a maximum of 11 travelers

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

  • For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
  • If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
  • Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
  • Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.
  • This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.
  • This experience requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund.

Traveler Photos

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Reviews

5.0
275 reviews
Total review count and overall rating based on Viator and Tripadvisor reviews
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Reviews by Viator travelers.
Showing 1-10 of 275 reviews
Excellent
Anna_B, May 2024
Perfect tour. The food was handpicked and fabulous! Mike was service minded and very helpful! Do not miss this opportunity while in S!
Response from Host, May 2024
Thanks so much Anna! It was a pleasure meeting you!
Mexicans k pop tour
Karla_D, May 2024
The rice wine tastingand the fried chicken were the Best … unexpected and great too the living octopus
Response from Host, May 2024
Thanks so much Karla! It was so lovely to meet you both! I hope you enjoy the rest of your time in Korea!
Great tour — book it!
Shawn_P, May 2024
Great tour! Food and drink were interesting and delicious. We had already been to the ganging market to eat before the tour so we were a little nervous about repeating a meal but we shouldn’t have been. We ate at several spots in the market that I never even saw on our earlier visit. It was really fun to get a different perspective on Korean cuisine, and also get fun recommendations for other activities for our trip (Majang beef market was a super fun recommendation that wasn’t on our groups radar at all and turned out to be one of the trip’s highlights).
Response from Host, May 2024
Thanks so much Shawn. I'm so glad you got a lot out our experience. It was a pleasure meeting you both. I'm glad you continued the fun!
Would recommend 100%
Sorya_S, May 2024
Mike is a really great guide ! This 5 hour food tour was fabulous, I would recommend it to anyone who wants to discover Seoul delicious food and drinks. I’m happy I did this at the beginning of my trip so I can go back to places Mike showed us.
Response from Host, May 2024
So glad to have met you Sorya! I'm so glad you enjoyed the experience! Thanks so much! 😁
Fun street eats!
Annie_C, Apr 2024
Excellent food tour. Mike showed us the best places for Korean street eats (food markets are overwhelming with options). Our small group of 5 enjoyed a variety of food stalls, makgeolli tasting, and even a food tent. Pay as you go allows you to control the amount you want to eat and drink. Be adventurous!
Response from Host, Apr 2024
Thanks so much Annie! It was a pleasure meeting you both. I'm so glad you guys were adventurous and tried many things!
The best way to get a taste of Seoul
Ashley_C, Apr 2024
Mike’s tour was definitely one of the highlights of our trip to South Korea. I would highly recommend to any English-speakers visiting Seoul. If you don’t speak the language, it’s great to go around with someone who can converse with the local venders. Five hours seems like a long tour, but trust me, it flies by. You can spend hours compiling all of the “best of” food places to hit up when you visit Seoul, but Mike knows what’s actually good and what’s overrated. We particularly enjoyed the stop at 7.8 Garage where we got to sample a ton of different makgeolis. We immediately became addicted to the stuff and ended up visiting 7.8’s other location later in our trip to pick up some more bottles.
Response from Host, Apr 2024
I'm so glad you enjoyed my experience! 😁 Yes the magkeolli is quite addicting and delicious. I'm glad you picked up more bottles!
Was traveling solo and...
Jenelle_R, Apr 2024
Was traveling solo and looking to share food with other english speakers who were willing to try new foods. This tour didn’t disappoint! Mike did a great job explaining why he took us to certain places over others and surprised me when he said he’s tried every stand in the market. You can’t go wrong choosing this tour!
Response from Host, Apr 2024
Haha thanks so much Jenelle! I'm glad you were brave enough to try some of the dishes you thought you wouldn't like. Really nice to meet you! 😁
Exactly what it sounds like (and more!)
Ian_P, Apr 2024
This is everything you'd want in a back-alley food & drink tour and more. As someone who previously lived in the U.S. and now has lived in Korea for quite a while, Mike is an excellent guide for Westerners. He's knowledgeable about everything food & drink, and will even give you recommendations outside of the tour if you ask for any. Our group of 11 people was awesome. We didn't want the tour to end, so after the last stop ended at around 8:35pm, we all asked Mike for a place we could all head next (on a Monday night). He gave us the name of one of his favorite tap houses nearby, and the we stayed there until almost 11pm. If you're looking for a really cool, unique food & drink experience, go ahead and book this!
Response from Host, Apr 2024
Thanks so much Ian! It was a pleasure meeting you guys! I'm so glad you enjoyed the experience and the rest of the night with the others in the group!
An unforgettable experience in Seoul
Rania_S, Apr 2024
Eating and drinking through the alleys with Mike, our host, was great experience. The food was amazingly tasty and authentic. Everything was so well prepared and organized even in the case of rain. We covered a wide range of places, foods and drinks. Mike did a great performance as a somelier and a host. In addition we were so lucky to have good company in this tour, we made new friends, had lots of laughs. It was one unforgettable afternoon and evening in Seoul.
Response from Host, Apr 2024
Thank you so much Rania! It was such a pleasure to meet you and your sons. Amazing people! I'm glad you enjoyed yourselves on my experience!
Wish we had done this on our first day in Seoul
KATHRYN_T, Apr 2024
Our event began as a food tour but following our first meal, it quickly changed to a fun filled dinner party among friends we hadn't seen in years. Mike, our guide, led us through the streets of Seoul to reveal hidden culinary gems and shared invaluable food etiquettes. Regrettably, we only arranged this 'dinner party' midway through our vacation. In hindsight, I wish we had done so on our first day, allowing us ample time to revisit the delightful spots Mike introduced us to, perhaps more than once.
Response from Host, Apr 2024
I'm so glad you enjoyed the experience Kathryn! It was an absolute pleasure to meet you all as well! Hope to see you guys again in the future!
Passionate Pub crawl and tasty food
Adam_F, Apr 2024
One of the best tours I’ve ever been on! Had a highlight tour of the market, incredibly Margki tasting, and finished the evening out in a tent run by a family. It felt like a pub crawl with a local who loved sharing their passion. And the fried chicken and beer was the best we had.
Response from Host, Apr 2024
So glad you guys had a great time! It makes me so happy when people appreciate my passion!
Great experience!
Carol_G, Apr 2024
We had a great time with Mike! He really has a passion for Seoul street food and is very knowledgeable, friendly and insightful! Highly recommend!
Response from Host, Apr 2024
Thanks so much Carol! It was really nice meeting you!
Just Do It
Dirk_J, Apr 2024
Mike was a wonderful host - we drank - we ate - we toured the back alleys of Seoul and tried some incredible dishes. Thanks Mike ..
Response from Host, Apr 2024
Ah thanks so much Dirk! I'm glad you enjoyed yourselves! Pleasure to meet you both!
Unique, well curated food tour
Gary_H, Apr 2024
Mike was amazing and a very good guide. He grew up in the USA but had a connection to Korea through family history and first hand knowledge. His tour was well curated and thought out. It also made me adventurous to try things, I would never have tried!
Response from Host, Apr 2024
I'm so glad you enjoyed the experience and got to try more adventurous things with me!
Great experience!
Cara_D, Apr 2024
Mike was very knowledgeable and a great guide! The variety of food and different places visited gives you a wonderful local experience.
Response from Host, Apr 2024
Thanks so much Cara! It was a pleasure meeting you all!
Great night out
Steven_S, Mar 2024
Had a great time with Mike the guide. As an American born Korean, I learned a lot of about the culture and history of the food scene here. Would highly recommend it as first thing you do when you visit Seoul so you can get oriented.
Response from Host, Mar 2024
Thanks so much Steven! Hope you made it home safely. It was a pleasure meeting you.
Hidden food gems
Raymond_O, Mar 2024
I have taken many tours in a couple dozen cities in half a dozen countries and this tour ... WAS THE BEST BY FAR. We tried many different foods (including live octopus and tiny sweet crabs) in the food market and down back alleys that we would never have found or known to try on my own. The community sharing food style of the tour allows you to try lots of different foods and alcohol. I HIGHLY recommend the tour and am going to start looking for similar food tours from now on.
Response from Host, Mar 2024
Thank you soooo much Raymond! 🙏🏻 Super happy to hear that you had a great time! It was an absolute pleasure to take you guys around!
Best foodie tour!
Andrea_L, Mar 2024
Fantastic tour. Mike our guide was knowledgeable,friendly and very helpful. Experienced some amazing foods and makgeolli. We are big foodies and thoroughly loved it. A definite if your visiting Korea.
Response from Host, Mar 2024
Thanks so much Andrea! Great to meet you both! Great hanging out with guys and showing you the good stuff!
Drink and eat your way through the middle of Seoul
Jacqueline_C, Mar 2024
One of the best food tours I've ever been on. Mike really takes you around and shows you different types of Korean food and doesn't stick with well known foods you might find in the US. I didn't anticipate that much drinking but between the kalguksu, mandu, bindaedduk, sannakji, yookhwi, KFC, hotteuk, hodo kwaja, soondae... And whatever else I forgot, there was a no lot of soju, makgulli and beer. We ended up finishing up at a cocktail bar at the street of youth. It was such a great way to spend a few hours in Seoul. I never would've tried some of the food or the assortment of makgulli if not for Mike.
Response from Host, Mar 2024
I'm so glad you were still able to try a lot of things (even though you ate before the food tour 😅). You did a very good job of pacing yourself even though you were full. It was a pleasure meeting you!
The best night in Seoul.
Frances_E, Mar 2024
What an incredible evening! Mike's passion for food truly shines through. We had the opportunity to savor the finest dishes, including delicious makgeolli and So-maeg. The experience of eating, drinking, and making new friends was immensely enjoyable. Our five-hour food adventure somehow stretched into nearly nine hours of pure delight. The camaraderie among our group was unparalleled—I've never met a better bunch of people. To top it off, we set a new record by collectively consuming 11 bottles of makgeolli during the tour. Cheers to unforgettable memories!
Response from Host, Mar 2024
Haha props to you guys to achieving this very commendable record! Very very impressive and how you guys were able to continue the party afterwards. Ao glad you had a great time!
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From $85.00

up to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)

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