Drinking and Eating through the Alleys of Seoul
5
Drinking and Eating through the Alleys of Seoul
By itseoulgood
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About
THIS TOUR IS DIFFERENT THAN OTHER TOURS! I focus on food and drinks. The main focus is drinking at each spot while we eat some great food. I provide 5 hour tours. I will be taking you around the neighborhood that has the best food in Seoul, HANDS DOWN! There are tiny alleys that even Koreans don't know about! I have taken many people around here including my native Korean friends and they will agree that it is the best of the best! Just make sure to bring a huge appetite since we will be trying a ton of dishes!
I do not take you to places that you will be able to find on google or are commercialized. I take you to places you would typically not be able to go to on your own.
If you have dietary restrictions, please don't book or contact me first. There aren't many non-meat options.
The food and drinks are NOT included in the price of the tour. Everything is cheap and you will split the cost with the other people in the group. It gives you more flexibility to try or not try things.
Lowest price guaranteeReserve now & pay laterFree cancellation
Ages 0-70, max of 11 per group
Duration: 5h
Start time: Check availability
Mobile ticket
Live guide: English
More
- All Fees and Taxes
- I will buy a round of drinks at the last stop on the tour.
What's not included- The food and drinks are not included in the price of the tour. The food is fairly cheap and is split amongst the people in the group.
- Start:
- 407 Dongho-ro, Jongno District, Seoul, South KoreaWe 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:- 103-4 Nagwon-dong, Jongno District, Seoul, South KoreaWe 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.
- Wheelchair accessible
- Pushchair accessible
- Near public transportation
- Infants must sit on laps
- Transportation is wheelchair accessible
- Surfaces are wheelchair accessible
If you have questions about accessibility, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 133390P1- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Most travellers can participate
- This experience requires good weather. If it’s cancelled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund
- This experience requires a minimum number of travellers. If it’s cancelled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 11 travellers
- For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.
- If you have questions about this tour or need help making your booking, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 133390P1
From
AU$131.63
per adult
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Itinerary
- 407 Dongho-ro, Jongno District, Seoul, South KoreaWe 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.
- 1You will get to taste a variety of different foods and drinks at the market.Pass bySewoon Arcade (Makercity Sewoon)
- 103-4 Nagwon-dong, Jongno District, Seoul, South KoreaWe 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.
About the operator
Don’t take it from us – here’s what people have to say about this operator:
- Itravelsometime0 contributionsTastebuds you can trust!Mike is the real deal. It was a joy to explore Seoul through his experienced and well-researched taste buds. Every dish on the tour, was the best version of that dish I had ever tasted. And if it was a dish I'd never tried before, it was delicious and fun to taste. It's clear Mike loves and knows Seoul's food scene. Mike even tailored parts of the tour to our group's favourite foods, which was very kind of him.Written 21 October 2024
- 5fromAustralia0 contributionsLots of food/drink to try - just would prefer all costs to be in tour priceGreat range of food and drink - in a variety of places within a market, plus a roof top bar serving fried chicken, plus a street side stall and also a bar to try a range of alcoholic drinks. Mike is a great communicator and explained lots about what we were seeing/eating - plus happy to answer questions re Seoul that weren't food related. Really glad we did the tour as it meant when we next walked through the market that we knew what much of the food was, knew about Korean drinks when we next ate dinner, etc. Only reason for giving 4/5 rather than 5/5 is that I would prefer the tour price to include the food and drink so the price is clear. I paid 110,000 Korean Won for the tour but then handed over another 30,000 Won during the tour. The extra money was pooled for the food/drink purchases. Some travellers budget carefully and they may have been surprised that the food/drink cost was another 25% of the cost. It would be better if the price was 140,000 Korean Won which is what it actually cost.Written 23 April 2023
- taliafs3330 contributionsIt’s well worth it! 🍶We had an amazing time with Mike on his food tour. It was our favourite part of our trip. We were skeptical at first to pay the price of the tour because we went to the market ourselves a couple nights prior, however it was totally worth it. We wouldn’t have been able to try all the authentic Korean dishes that only the locals know without Mike’s guidance and recommendations. Excellent tour!Written 20 December 2019
- Janice0820140 contributionsTotally awesome!Very informative tour with excellent food and drinks! Highly recommended, especially if you are travelling solo. You get to try a variety of local food in one evening.Written 2 November 2019
These reviews are the subjective opinions of Tripadvisor members and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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5.0
146 reviews
Excellent
139
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Maria
2 contributions
Mar 2023 • Solo
I was not satisfied regarding the price you pay before and the fact that the guide keeps taking money from you throughout the tour. We were a group of 9 and if you keep track of the times he would collect 10000 kwn from each person in comparison to what you get at the end it doesn’t really add up.
If you are not that open to food or stayed more inside your hotel than going out the tour is quite good but if you are a foodie the things he is showing you are things you could find on your own by strolling through the city.
I cannot recommend the tour from my side but if you are traveling alone the rice wine testing is nice since you have the opportunity to try up to 4 different wines of your choice although you can get that experience for a less expensive price. (Example: The most expensive bottle is 27000kwn but if you go to the grocery store it would be only 13000kwn)
If you are not that open to food or stayed more inside your hotel than going out the tour is quite good but if you are a foodie the things he is showing you are things you could find on your own by strolling through the city.
I cannot recommend the tour from my side but if you are traveling alone the rice wine testing is nice since you have the opportunity to try up to 4 different wines of your choice although you can get that experience for a less expensive price. (Example: The most expensive bottle is 27000kwn but if you go to the grocery store it would be only 13000kwn)
Written 20 March 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I'm sorry you were disappointed but I have worked very hard to build an experience that would be something that I would like to do if I were to go to another country. I am personally a very big foodie and enjoy my drinks as well and I try to provide something that I would want to do when I travel to another country. I'm sorry you didn't feel the same way.
Written 7 April 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Gus N
Adelaide, Australia17 contributions
Sept 2022 • Couples
This was an amazing food and drink experience in Seoul. Our tour guide Mike did an incredible job showing us the hidden gems of Seoul’s food scene. We got to visit lots of different and exciting locations throughout the city and sampled a wide selection of truly delicious food. The Makgeolli (Korean rice wine) bar we visited was my favourite part of the tour. Mike is a makgeolli sommelier in training and so was able to guide us through the different varieties of the drink and expose us to the craft that goes into making it. I absolutely recommend doing this tour when you’re in Seoul - it’s definitely one of the best food tours I’ve been on!!
Written 10 September 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
savannahdg
New Orleans, LA10 contributions
Oct 2022
I hate to leave a negative review, but we had a terrible time on this tour. After completing a few more food tours on our trip to South Kore and Japan, I highly recommend booking a tour where the food and drink are included in the price of the ticket. I'd like to give our tour guide the benefit of the doubt and think he was having a bad day because it was obvious he didn't enjoy taking our group on the food tour. In the description he says three drinks are included, but they are not. He also says you'll need 'some' cash, but you need more than that. We quickly ran out of cash and when asked to use a card to pay, he was quite rude and difficult. He talked down to our group and even made a rude comment about one of the guests. He was also quick to tell you how he hates certain cities, countries, etc. and when guests asked him for his recommendations, he would say how he has no favorites. To be honest, I was nervous for the other food tour we had booked because of how terribly this one went. Our group almost cancelled it, but we decided to give it a try and we had a great time. Our second food tour showed me what this tour could have been like if the guide would have been more engaged and welcoming with our group.
Written 7 January 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi. I'm sorry that you didn't enjoy the experience. Everything that is written in the tour description is exactly the way I run my tours.
I have never once in my life been rude to any of my guests though. This is my personal business so there would be absolutely no reason for me to be rude. I am not an employee and I have never had anybody give this tour besides me to this date.
As for the cash situation, I would always find a solution to assist you whether you pay with your card and I give you the difference in cash or I take you the thousands of ATM's that we have throughout the city and on my tour.
I am more than happy to give any sort of recommendations to any guests on my experience during the tour or after. I give you my personal contact just so that you can message me for more recommendations for entire stay in Korea. It honestly makes me sad when people don't take advantage of my recommendations because I truly want everybody that visits my country to have the best experience with food and drinks.
Written 8 January 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Lainey T
Silver Spring, MD25 contributions
Nov 2020 • Couples
If you want to experience the rich culture and delicious food of South Korea, this is the tour to book! Mike takes you off the beaten path. He introduces you to restaurants that have been around for generations and have not wavered on their authenticity or sacrificed quality for mass popularity. Mike’s tour felt more like I was hanging out with a close friend who introduced me to his city and culture. The food was absolutely delicious. A must do when you come to Seoul!
Written 7 November 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thanks a lot Lainey! It was really great meeting you! 😁
Written 27 March 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Sabrina C
2 contributions
Jan 2020
Can't say enough about how great of time I had during this tour. The experience started even before I arrived in Korea. Mike and I started talking well before my trip (initiated by Mike) so he had a clear idea of what I was looking to do in Korea. That alone is a key point! He wasn't just interested in what I wanted to do on the tour but also offered multiple suggestions about what I could do in the days before and after we met up. I was traveling to Korea solo and he was thoughtful in his suggestions to make sure I got the most out of the experience.
I ended up injuring myself the day before I was supposed to go on this tour, Mike was seriously fantastic about modifying his itinerary so I wouldn't have to walk far while still making sure I had a good time. He was even willing to go to the pharmacy with me in case I needed additional supplies.
This tour felt like a regular night out with friends in the best of ways. Highly recommend.
I ended up injuring myself the day before I was supposed to go on this tour, Mike was seriously fantastic about modifying his itinerary so I wouldn't have to walk far while still making sure I had a good time. He was even willing to go to the pharmacy with me in case I needed additional supplies.
This tour felt like a regular night out with friends in the best of ways. Highly recommend.
Written 15 April 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
BChase
Santa Monica, CA7 contributions
We had the most wonderful evening with Mike and some really cool folks from the US and Singapore. We were visiting our 21 year old son who was writing for a Korean website on a summer internship thru his University. Mike did an outstanding job educating us on the Korean delicacies, walking us thru a fantastic vibrant market - tasting various items along the way, then taking us out into the streets and learning about the fried chicken and beer craze, architectural history and late night traditional treats. He was warm, informative, and fun to be around. We loved our evening learning, eating, drinking and laughing with our new found friends. Well done Mike!
Written 27 August 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Morganne K
9 contributions
May 2023 • Couples
My boyfriend and I enjoyed this tour but there were a few things that could be improved. The tour guide was insightful and seemed to know a lot about the local culture, food and drinks. However, he wasn’t enthusiastic or passionate about being a tour guide. When my boyfriend and I asked him about bars that friends had referred us to, he had a judgy attitude that was a little off putting. Maybe he was having a bad day or something, who knows, but thought it was worth mentioning. He did refer some other bars which was nice. Lastly somehow my boyfriend and I left the tour hungry despite eating and drinking for 6 hours… the portions were pretty small, and we’re not that big of eaters. So we ended up getting McDonald’s after we left the tour. Overall I would give this experience a 6.5/10. At $85 usd per person and paying for all the food ourselves, coming out still hungry was a little disappointing.
Written 30 May 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi Morganne. I'm sorry you felt this way. I don't know why you would think that I would be "judgy" when all I did was tell you my opinions o the places your friends suggested. If it's a college bar then it's a college bar. Not a place for me but if I was just explaining the atmosphere of the places. I gave you my personal recommendations which are places I like to go to. If you like college bars, by all means, go to them. It has absolute zero effect on me.
I'm sorry that you left hungry. Thr reason why I don't charge for the food is because you have the option of ordering more things (or less). That is the flexibility of this experience. If you were still hungry, you should've ordered more food. Most people leave stuffed after my experiences.
Written 1 June 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Erik J
17 contributions
You won’t go wrong with this experience. Up front I’ll say the best part is that Mike is great ambassador for South Korea. He loves what he is doing and where he is doing it. He didn’t just take us to eat and drink, he shared the history of the places, the people, the dishes, and shared why this food was different and better than others. We had a full 5 hour experience and tried unique local dishes like live octopus. We would have never known to order let alone where to find it and get just a small sampling. The group concept is great for doing that. Mike knows the people that own and operate the places you go and it was amazing that despite a large line, we got right in front of the line, we’re able to enjoy dishes, then move on.
Written 12 August 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you so much Erik! It was really nice to meet you and your daughter. I'm so glad you enjoyed and got to experience a part of what I love!
Written 13 August 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Natasha V
45 contributions
Nov 2022 • Couples
We had a great time exploring Seoul through food! Mike took us to some famous spots in the popular market, but also some hidden gems. Mike gave us some great history too especially about the red tents and how the culture has changed over the years. He had some great restaurant recs post tour too! He got us to try some things I wouldn't normally (like beef tartar! & for some live octopus!!!). It was a great experience and we recommend everyone takes a food tour in a country or city to them!
Written 25 July 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you so much! I'm glad you were able to go out of your comfort zone a little bit and try a few different items!
Written 27 July 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Carryonforone
Washington DC, DC297 contributions
July 2022
This was probably one of the best food tours (in any country) I have ever done. I can’t recommend the experience enough. With a small group capped at 6-7 or people, Mike takes you to top spots you would never get to on your own while describing background historical and modern day developments in food and drink. Mike personally eats out weekly to keep his research and knowledge current in the ever changing food/drink community and his expertise is incredible. Had an amazing time with Mike and the group. Bring smaller change for settling checks and settle in for 5+ hours of fun. If you do this tour early in your trip, you can appreciate Seoul all the more. Afterwards he is happy to continue to assist with restaurant recommendations so you can experience the best of this wonderful city.
Written 22 September 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi! My husband and I are interested in this tour. Will we be grouped with other people? Or is this a private tour?
Written 13 March 2023
Hello! my friend and I are interested in this tour but she is allergic to seafood/fish. Will we still have plenty to eat by avoiding seafood? or was this pretty heavy on the seafood?
Written 1 August 2022
it was about 50-50 between seafood and non-seafood. so there is plenty to eat and also the guide can make the apropriate accomodations for you. many places make sure to ask if you have any allergies so i think there is awareness to such issues
Written 13 August 2022
I was wondering if this is still a thing or if this is different now nowadays. Travel restrictions have just been lifted and I will be visiting in late April and would like to participate.
Written 2 April 2022
I'm going with my 15y daughter - can she participate on the tour?
Written 19 February 2020
I can’t see why not. There are parts of the tour that involve alcohol, but she could obviously have a soft drink instead.
He’s a great communicator, so I’d recommend you get in touch with him. I’m sure he’d be able to let you know either way.
Written 23 February 2020
Can I buy this as a gift and the person can schedule with you at a later date?
Written 27 October 2019
Hi Mike. My friend and I had booked your tour but ended up having to cancel because our trip got canceled due to the Typhoon. We will now be there from the 21-24 and are hoping to get on your tour again. Will you let us know if you have any cancellations for two people any of those dates?
Written 14 October 2019
Hi mike, if you get any cancellations or availability for 1 extra person on Wednesday Oct 9 or Thursday Oct 10, I would love to join your tour! Kind regards, Anne - Denmark
Written 6 October 2019
We have my 6yo godchild and my 65 year old mom with us. My mom has bad knees, i am wondering if wheelchair can be provided for the tour?
Written 15 September 2019
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