K Cultures · Celebrity Food Trails in Korea 2/4
Price references checked on November 3, 2026. Menus, prices and opening hours may change. The series title covers BTS and international celebrities collectively; it does not mean that every person visited every venue. Some featured visitors are musicians or other public figures rather than Hollywood actors.
This guide to Gwangjang Market food follows Sam Smith’s noodle stop and adds a mung bean pancake stall nearby, with menus, reference prices and a sample budget.
One of the most vivid ways to experience Seoul is to eat in a traditional market. Pancakes crackle on hot griddles, steam rises from noodle pots, and strangers sit shoulder to shoulder over lunch. At Gwangjang Market, the setting becomes as memorable as the food.
International stars have enjoyed that experience too. In 2023, Sam Smith queued at Gohyang Kalguksu before eating noodles and kimchi dumplings. Brie Larson has also been reported enjoying small gimbap rolls at the market. This installment focuses on their market experiences; it does not claim that BTS visited the stalls below.
Gohyang Kalguksu: Sam Smith’s noodle stop
Gohyang Kalguksu appeared in the Seoul episode of Netflix’s Street Food: Asia. A world-famous singer sharing a long market bench with other customers captures its appeal: an ordinary local dining scene becomes part of a visitor’s journey.
Kalguksu means knife-cut noodle soup. Pairing a bowl with dumplings is an approachable first order, particularly when traveling with someone unfamiliar with Korean menus. The 2023 report specifically mentions noodles and kimchi dumplings during Sam Smith’s visit.
Sunhee’s Bindaetteok: add a pancake stop
To extend your market tasting, try a mung bean pancake at Sunhee’s Bindaetteok. Its golden exterior and savory filling offer a contrasting texture after a bowl of noodles. Meat patties are another option for sharing.
This is an additional recommendation for your market route. It is not presented as a confirmed visit by Sam Smith, Brie Larson or BTS. Keeping those details separate makes it easier to follow a celebrity story while still building a practical food itinerary of your own.
Menus, prices and locations
| Restaurant | Menu & reference price (KRW) | Address |
|---|---|---|
| Gohyang Kalguksu | Knife-cut noodle soup: ₩7,000 Dumplings: ₩7,000 Noodle soup with dumplings: ₩8,000 | East Section Stall 70, Gwangjang Market, 88 Changgyeonggung-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul |
| Sunhee’s Bindaetteok | Mung bean pancake: ₩6,000 Meat patty: ₩4,000 Assorted platter: ₩16,000 | 5 Jong-ro 32-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul |
Several market businesses have similar names or multiple locations. Compare the map, sign and stall details before ordering, and check the posted menu for the current price and portion.
A sample food budget for two: ₩24,000
Using the reference prices above, two bowls of noodle soup cost ₩14,000. Add one mung bean pancake at ₩6,000 and one meat patty at ₩4,000 for a combined food total of ₩24,000. Drinks and extra orders are not included.
If you want to sample several stalls, leave room after the first meal. You could approach the market from Jongno 5-ga Station, enjoy the noodle and pancake stops, then continue toward Cheonggyecheon for a walk.
Let the market set the pace
The fun is not limited to finding a seat once occupied by a star. Notice the cooking, browse before ordering, and discover which dish makes you want to come back. That personal discovery is what turns a famous market into your own memory of Seoul.
More from the Celebrity Food Trails in Korea series
- Part 1. K-BBQ Lovers: Korean BBQ spots linked to BTS and visiting stars
- Part 3. The Hipster Foodie: trendy Seoul restaurants, cafes and vegan food
- Part 4. Eat Like a Local: Tom Cruise’s Seoul chicken and barbecue stops
Sources and photo information
Use the links beneath each map to see actual restaurant photos. The illustrated header is AI-created and does not depict an actual celebrity visit or restaurant interior.