Adding to my previous South Korea experience…

If there’s one thing I’ve learned about Seoul, it’s that where you stay can completely shape your experience. Courtyard by Marriott Seoul Namdaemun turned out to be an excellent choice — comfortable, modern, and located right in the middle of everything. Step out of the hotel and you’re directly across from the lively Namdaemun Market, a short walk to the bright chaos of Myeong-dong, and close enough to the train station.

With all that convenience around us, our first meal in the city had to come from the Instagram-famous breakfast stall at the very entrance of Namdaemun Market.

By 9 AM, the queue was already snaking around the corner. Strangely, instead of being annoyed, I felt this childlike excitement — the kind you see in Christmas movies where kids wait to sit on Santa’s lap. That’s exactly how it felt to stand there waiting for my first Korean street breakfast.

The Hotteok Experience

As we inched forward, the air around us grew sweeter and warmer. The smell of Hotteok — Korea’s beloved fried pancake stuffed with molten brown sugar and red beans or salty cabbage and cheese — filled the space like a warm welcome.

The man making them was a character in himself — famously grumpy, barely speaking except to ask, “Which filling?” and “How many?”

No smile, no small talk, no theatrics. Yet his hands worked with such speed and precision that watching him felt like a mini performance.

And oh, the serving style!

No frills, no fancy packaging. He placed the hot, crispy, golden pancake in a paper cup and pressed it slightly to make it easier to hold. No napkins either — just a tissue roll hanging at the side for you to tear on your own. Simple, efficient, intentional.

One Bite, and the Hype Made Sense

The moment I took my first bite, I understood why people queue up every morning. The outside was crisp, the inside was molten, gooey magic. For a moment, the crowd, the cold air, the wait — everything disappeared.

What surprised me most wasn’t just the food, but the atmosphere.

There was no pushing, no cutting lines, no impatience. Everyone waited calmly, collected, almost reverent — as if this humble Hotteok was an unspoken cultural ritual.

That morning taught me something simple yet beautiful:

Sometimes the most memorable travel moments come from the smallest places — a paper cup, a hot pancake, a no-nonsense vendor, and a queue of people who understand the value of patience.

Seoul has many grand sights, but this humble breakfast at Namdaemun Market set the tone for our trip perfectly — warm, grounded, and deliciously authentic.