Tongkeun Nuine: Gwangjang Market's Yukhoe & Bindaetteok Spot

Hello everyone!

I'm Ogu-rung, your travel blogger.

Gwangjang Market is packed with incredible spots for yukhoe (beef tartare) and bindaetteok (mung bean pancakes), right?

The place I recently visited is

Tongkeun Nuine Yukhoe Bindaetteok, a renowned restaurant recognized by both the Blue Ribbon and Red Ribbon guides.

With seating on both the first and second floors,

we were able to get a table right away without any waiting.

It's a truly authentic Gwangjang Market gem where you can savor yukhoe, nakji tangtangi (chopped live octopus), and bindaetteok all in one go!

01. Tongkeun Nuine Yukhoe Bindaetteok Basic Information

Personally, this was the first time I've ever had

such incredibly chewy and fresh yukhoe at Gwangjang Market!

Even on a public holiday, we walked right in without any wait –

a true gem for yukhoe and bindaetteok! And thanks to the wonderful

*imo-nim* (a respectful term for older women) who served us with bright smiles, we had a truly satisfying meal.

It's located just a 1-minute walk from Jongno 5-ga Station Exit 7,

and after entering through Gwangjang Market's East Gate,

look carefully to your right,

and you'll spot Tongkeun Nuine with its distinctive red lettering.

02. Exterior, Interior, and Parking Information

Out front, the *imo-nim* are diligently preparing mung bean batter and cooking bindaetteok,

so the savory aroma wafting through the air is enough to make anyone stop in their tracks!

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The restaurant is split across two floors,

so there's plenty of seating.

This meant we could grab a table right away, without the long waits that are often common at popular Gwangjang Market eateries!

Even if there's a short queue, the service is quick,

and the high turnover rate means you likely won't wait long.

One wall was completely covered with celebrity signatures,

which was fun to browse while we waited.

Gwangjang Market is indeed a hot spot in Seoul, and it felt like almost half the customers were international visitors – surprisingly, there weren't as many Koreans as I expected, haha!

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As it's a restaurant located within Gwangjang Market,

there isn't a dedicated parking lot.

If you're driving,

you'll need to use one of the public parking lots near Gwangjang Market.

Nearby, you'll find the Jongmyo Public Parking Lot and

Cheonggyecheon Riverside On-Street Public Parking Lot.

The initial 30 minutes cost ~$2.

However, Gwangjang Market is always busy with cars,

so I highly recommend taking public transportation if possible!

Both the subway and bus offer excellent accessibility.

03. Menu

The signature dishes are Mung Bean Pancake (Nokdu Bindaetteok) and Beef Tartare (Yukhoe).

Beyond that, they also have Seafood Pancake (Haemul Bindaetteok), Meatballs (Gogi Wanja), Beef Tartare Bibimbap (Yukhoe Bibimbap),

Live Octopus Sliced and Diced (Nakji Tangtangi), Mini Gimbap (Kkomak Gimbap), and other dishes.

For those who want to try a variety of dishes at once,

there are also value-for-money set menus!

I wanted to try a bit of everything, so I ordered the Nuine Set,

and you can order via the QR code on your table.

✅ Nuine Set (Pancake + Meatballs + Beef Tartare) ~$24

✅ Live Octopus Sliced and Diced (Nakji Tangtangi) ~$13

04. My Honest Food Review

After ordering, they serve a refreshing Beef and Radish Soup (Sogogi Muguk).

It had the cool, rich flavor I was hoping for,

and after just one spoonful, I thought, "Oh, this is really good!"

The beef pieces were generous,

and this basic soup alone was enough

to thoroughly enjoy a glass of makgeolli (Korean rice wine)!

On top of the yukhoe, there were pear, egg yolk, and radish sprouts

as garnish.

Taking a bite of the yukhoe, I could tell it was incredibly fresh,

and the texture was wonderfully chewy and tender!

Honestly, I've had yukhoe many times at Gwangjang Market,

but this was the first time I'd experienced such an incredibly chewy texture.

It immediately made me understand, "Ah, so this is why they received the Blue Ribbon and Red Ribbon!"

Haha.

The seasoning seemed to have a hint of chili oil,

and the subtly spicy aftertaste

kept it from feeling oily or heavy until the very last bite.

The Nakji Tangtangi (live octopus) had rather slender tentacles,

and its charm lay in the fragrant sesame oil aroma, green onions, and chili garnish!

Even though sesame oil was already drizzled on it when it came out,

they also provided a separate sesame oil dipping sauce,

resulting in an absolute explosion of savory goodness!

The octopus was so fresh that it was still wriggling

on the plate, which was quite appetizing, haha!

If you pick up both yukhoe and nakji tangtangi together,

the combination of chewiness and savory richness is truly delicious.

To be honest... I didn't have high expectations for the bindaetteok (pancake).

However, I had seen them diligently making the batter right in front of the store,

so I trusted them and gave it a try.

And sure enough, it wasn't dry at all; it was moist and delicious!

But the soy sauce dipping sauce that came with it was truly a delicacy.

When you eat it with the freshly made pickled onions,

the makgeolli just goes down so smoothly.

The meatballs (gogi wanja) had a slightly spicy and zesty flavor,

so they weren't greasy at all, and I kept reaching for more.

Similarly, the mung bean pancake (nokdu bindaetteok) was cooked without any oily smell,

fried almost like deep-frying on a griddle, making it incredibly crispy!

The main reason I highly recommend ordering a set is that you get to enjoy yukhoe, nakji (octopus), and bindaetteok (mung bean pancake) alternately.

It keeps things exciting and ensures you never get bored with the delicious variety!

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Honestly, I used to think that a long wait was inevitable at any famous yukhoe spot in Gwangjang Market.

But to my surprise, this place had such a fast turnover that we got in right away without any queue!

Next time I'm craving yukhoe or bindaetteok at Gwangjang Market,

Tongkeun Nuine will definitely be my first stop!

So, if you're ever dreaming of a refreshing glass of makgeolli and wondering where to find the best yukhoe and bindaetteok in Gwangjang Market,

let Tongkeun Nuine be the first place that comes to mind!

📌 Key Takeaways?

✅ A fantastic yukhoe spot in Gwangjang Market, just a 1-minute walk from Jongno 5-ga Station.

✅ Ample seating and a quick turnover rate means you can usually get right in!

✅ The Nuine Set is highly recommended for its incredible value!

✅ Don't miss the refreshing and deeply flavorful beef radish soup served as a complimentary side.