My Solo Adventure in Seoul: A Week of Food and Exploration

In early December 2025, I followed through on a decision that had been brewing for years. I set off on a solo trip to Seoul, South Korea. It wasn't a work trip or a relocation, just a full week of exploring the city, and eating and drinking everything that caught my fancy. Spoiler alert: It was dreamy as heck.

Arriving in Seoul and Getting Situated

I flew into Incheon Airport in the evening and took the fast train to Seoul, then caught an Uber to my hotel in the Namdaemun area. I stayed at the ENA Hotel Namdaemun, which turned out to be a lovely home base. The room was clean and fairly quiet, with a nice pool and gym downstairs. But the real winner was the location. It's right at City Hall subway station, making it super easy to get anywhere in the city.

That first night, jet-lagged and snacky, I headed straight to 7-Eleven to see what Korean convenience stores had to offer. It didn't have quite as much variety as I expected, but it did the trick for the night. I picked up a bottle of apricot soju and a couple of snacks and called it a night.

Early Mornings and Long Walks

Throughout the trip, my internal clock never quite adjusted to the time zone. I woke up around 5 or 6 AM most mornings, which wasn't ideal because Seoul is very much a late-to-rise, late-to-bed kind of city. Even coffee shops (the good ones) don't open till 10 AM. So I spent those early hours relaxing in the hotel jaccuzzi or going on long, meandering walks.

I wandered to Namsan Park and the Seoul Tower, strolled along the Han river for hours, and one day even walked all the way to Seoul Forest and the Seongsu neighborhood. Along the way, I stumbled upon the first of many sweet potato stands. You can find them everywhere in Seoul. In subway stations, at street food carts-and they make the perfect cheap, delicious breakfast.

Market Adventures

Basically every neighborhood in Seoul has its own market, and I wanted to visit as many as possible. I started with the Namdaemun market which was a 5 minute walk from my hotel. There I tried my first hotteok (sweet pancakes filled with a sugary filling) which became one of my favorite treats of the whole trip. In the early December cold (close to zero degrees), nothing beats a hot, crispy sweet pancake in a little paper cup.

Later in the week, I took a cooking class and market tour with Seoul Foodventure. We visited Mangwon market which felt very non-touristy and full of locals. We tried fish cakes on a stick, and picked up ingredients to take back to the cooking studio.

With only about five of us on the tour, including students from New York and Germany, it was intimate! We learned to make bulgogi beef, steamed eggs, and Gimbap. It was a really nice way to connect over delicious Korean food.

The Food Tour I'd Take Again and Again

One of the highlights of my trip was a food tour called "Eat and Drink Your Way Through the Back Alleys of Seoul" with a guide named Mike from It's Seoul Good. We hit up a makgeolli tasting, enjoyed incredible fried chicken and dried fish snacks, live baby octopus, and dumplings at the famous Netflix-featured spot in Gwangjang Market, as well as sampling pickled baby crabs mung bean pancakes which I absolutely loved.

But my favorite thing was the Korean-style beef tartare. It's made with salt, sesame oil, and an egg yolk on top that you mix in to make it creamy. We wrapped it in seaweed and dipped it in a mixture of sesame oil, salt, and pepper.

The freshly pressed sesame oil was toasted and pressed fresh daily at the market and it had an aroma that blew my mind. I brought a bottle home and I'm savoring it as slowly as possible. I even started looking into oil presses so I could make my own. 😄

We also ate in pojangmacha-basically army tents on the side of the road that serve as communal eating and drinking spots. Groups of people gather there to eat and drink late into the night, and the atmosphere was so cool. Mike told us that the leases for those tents live and die with the current owners, and can't be transferred, which means when the owners eventually pass away, the tents will sadly be removed.

Favorite Neighborhoods and Cafes

Seoul's coffee culture is next level. Every café has a unique vibe and takes their coffee seriously. I visited Blue Bottle Coffee near Seoul Forest, which was modern, minimal, and beautiful. I also hit up M1CT near Mangwon market, and Dark Edition Coffee which was charming and cozy, and they poured the milk for my flat white right next to me at my table. Nice touch!

One evening I walked from Namdaemun to Haebangchon (HBC) and had dinner at The Pizzeria Market and had a spaghetti dish that was loaded with local Korean leeks, followed by a smoky, earthy burdock iced cream.

After dinner I popped into a cool listening bar called The Hills and Europa for a nightcap. They have these huge vintage speakers that made everything sound amazing. When I first walked in they were playing Boyz 2 Men and I tell ya, those boyz never sounded so good!

From there I also wandered around Itaewon which is vibey and bustling. It didn't feel quite as lively as HBC, but I think I just didn't find the right section. Something for the next trip!

Other Memorable Meals

One of my favorite meals was at Acheson Grandpa Tofu. They gave me a giant, steaming block of freshly cooked tofu with kimchi, fermented anchovies, and other little side dishes, all for about seven bucks. It was simple, fresh, and delicious.

In Seongsu, I visited a TikTok viral bakery that makes salt bread (shio pan). It was buttery, crispy and soft at the same time. I was an instant fan. (I've already made it once since returning home!)

Toward the end of my trip, I finally squeezed in some budae jjigae (army stew), which I'd been making at home for awhile, but was pumped to have in Korea. It's hard to order as a solo diner since it's such a big dish, but it really hit the spot.

I also had an incredible chicken porridge (dakjuk) in Myongdong, which is a popular shopping area, and discovered a gem (Jojo Kalguksu) right next to my hotel that specializes in hand-cut noodle soup (kalguksu) with clams. I noticed a lineup out the door on multiple evenings when wandering past on my way home, so I finally decided to try it. Full of fresh clams and flavorful broth with hand-cut noodles, it was a perfect winter warmer, especially since we had a sprinkle of snow that night.

Oh - and for some reason winter is strawberry season in Korea! I don't know how they do it (well, greenhouses I suppose), but these were among the best, sweetest strawberries I've ever had!

Beyond the Food

I decided to spend half a day doing a tour of the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), which was fascinating and surreal. Weather-wise, it was a crystal clear day so we could look out over North Korea as far as the eye could see. We were only allowed to take photos in certain places. There's a village on the tour called the Unification Village (Tongilchon) that has really delicious food. It's buffet-style so you get a bit of everything. They also have a gift shop there where you can pick up some souvenirs.

I also spent time at beautiful spots like Gyeongbokgung Palace, Cheonggyecheon, Insadong, and various parks throughout the city. Every neighborhood I stepped into was rich with energy-bustling, full of nooks and crannies, with beautiful tucked-away corners everywhere. Seoul is incredibly safe and clean (I didn't see a single dirty bathroom), making exploring super comfortable. I felt like I could go anywhere without worrying about stumbling into a rough part of town. (I don't think there are any!)

Why Seoul?

I've been an enjoyer of Korean food for quite a long time. Now in my 40s, I decided it was time to see this place for myself. I was hesitant to go such a long way for only week, but it actually turned out to be perfect for my first visit.

Seoul kinda blew my mind, and I know I only scratched the surface. It's a city that's seemingly endless, full of energy and discovery at every turn.

What I Brought Home

I exercised a fair bit of restraint in terms of souvenirs. I brought back a few Korean beauty products: face masks (per a friend's request), sunscreen, and eye cream.

Food and drink-wise, I brought a precious bottle of sesame oil, a bag of gochugaru (Korean red chili flakes), some fun ramen flavors I'd never seen in Canada, a couple bags of coffee beans, ginseng and a DIY makgeolli kit from the DMZ. (I haven't made it yet but I'm super curious how it's going to turn out!) Oh... and LONG SPOONS. I am obsessed with long spoons now.

Final Thoughts

I can't wait to go back. Maybe with a group of people this time, or perhaps to explore more of the country like Busan and Jeju Island. But for a first solo trip, Seoul absolutely delivered.

If you love food, culture, and cities that never stop surprising you, I highly recommend it. Seoul, I'll be back.

Thanks for coming along! If you have any questions about my trip or if you're planning one yourself, let me know!