5 Must-Try Tteokbokki Spots in Seoul That Locals Love

5 Must-Try Tteokbokki Spots in Seoul That Locals Love

If you’re looking to dive into Korea’s iconic spicy rice-cake snack (떡볶이, tteokbokki), look no further than Seoul (서울, Seoul). Here are five spots that locals and visiting food lovers both agree on.

---

1. 마복림 떡볶이 (Maboklim Tteokbokki) – The Classic Pioneer

📍 Address: 5 Dasan-ro 35-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul, South Korea

Established in 1953, this legendary shop in Sindang-dong (신당동, Sindang-dong) is considered the birthplace of table-cooked tteokbokki.
The hot pot arrives filled with rice cakes (떡, tteok), fish cakes (어묵, eomuk), instant noodles (라면, ramyeon) and dumplings (만두, mandu). Local tip: finish your meal by mixing in steamed rice to the leftover sauce (볶음밥, bokkeumbap).

---

2. 먹쉬돈나 (Mukshidonna) – Build-Your-Own Hot Pot Style

📍 Address: 90-1 Samcheong-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul, South Korea

This spot in Samcheong-dong (삼청동, Samcheong-dong) near Bukchon (북촌, Bukchon) lets you build your own tteokbokki pot by choosing toppings like cheese, seafood, sausage, or veggies. It’s fun, social and perfect for sharing with friends.

---

3. 애플하우스 떡볶이 (Apple House Tteokbokki) – Late-Night Hot Pot Experience

📍 Address: 29 Dongjak-daero 27da-gil, Dongjak-gu, Seoul, South Korea

Located near Isu Station (이수역, Isu-yeok), this restaurant is celebrated for its hot-pot style tteokbokki you cook right at the table, along with fried dumplings (군만두, gunmandu). It’s a late-night favorite for groups and friends.

---

4. 홍대 조폭 떡볶이 (Hongdae Jopok Tteokbokki) – Youthful & Lively Street-Food Scene

📍 Address: 38 Hongik-ro 6-gil, Mapo-gu, Seoul, South Korea

In the energetic Hongdae (홍대, Hongdae) area near Hongik University (홍익대학, Hongik Univ.), this food-truck-turned-institution serves tteokbokki and fish-cake skewers (어묵꼬치, eomuk-kkochi) well into the early hours. This spot perfectly captures the vibrant, youthful street-food culture of Seoul.

---

5. 철길 떡볶이 (Cheolgil Tteokbokki) – Retro Railway-Side Charm

📍 Address: 35-6 Chungjeong-ro, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, South Korea

A hidden local gem located next to train tracks (철길, cheolgil) in Seodaemun (서대문, Seodaemun). This retro-style eatery, founded in the 1970s, serves chewy rice cakes in a sweet-spicy sauce while you watch trains rumble nearby.

---

These five spots in Seoul (서울, Seoul) show how versatile and beloved tteokbokki (떡볶이, tteokbokki) really is—from the historic original to modern custom-built pots.
Have you tried any of these places yet? Which one would you like to visit next? Share your experience, photos, or recommendations in the comments below!