Noryangjin Fish Market

From 11.08.08 - Fish Market

The Noryangjin fish market is one of the most exciting, vibrant areas of Seoul. The atmosphere is what you would expect it to be. The smell of seafood is strong, but made me more excited to make a purchase. I found myself walking through unending aisles of vendors, watching ajumas (old Korean ladies) perform their best Price is Right presentation to make their identical stands stick out as something special. It was so much fun to walk from stand to stand, trying to figure out what each kind of seafood's name was and imagining what it would taste like. A single pause in your step was met with a stand's owner quickly pointing out their goods, trying to explain what you were looking at in broken English, then when the conversation failed, they would just yell "OBAMA!", and then give you a high five.

From 11.08.08 - Fish Market

One vendor was showing how fresh his octopus was by poking it's severed head/body and making it writhe around in it's styrofoam coffin. I don't think it showed up too well in this video.


Savannah had read that tiger prawns were at their peak this time of year, so we decided to by half of a kilo of them from one of the younger vendors who had some decent English skills. Colin haggled him down a couple thousand won for a package deal of tiger prawns and crab. Here comes the really fun part of the market experience. After buying the seafood, the owner walks you to a restaurant where they cook your "catch" for you right away. He took us around the back of the alley and gave our seafood to some guy in the restaurant, instructing him on the best way to cook up our food.


That same guy would keep coming up to the restaurant every 15 or 20 minutes with another customer, the same way he had with us. Each time he came to check on us, find out how our food was, and take a shot of soju. At one point he bought us a squid pancake (sounds gross, but it's really good) and a bottle of soju. Actually, I think he just took the bottle of soju from the restaurant's refrigerator and slid it under the table. Anyways, the tiger prawns were the first thing to come out. They were grilled and seasoned with salt.

From 11.08.08 - Fish Market

They were so delicious. You can eat them plain or wrap them up in a lettuce leaf with some garlic and samjang (a spicy chili paste). I prefer the former. Next they brought out our crabs in a soup. The soup is cooked at the table with a small gas range, however the crabs were slightly steamed. I assume they do that so that the crabs don't kick hot soup on you at the table.

From 11.08.08 - Fish Market

Dinner was delicious. I've never eaten so much of a crab before. I never realized how many delicious parts I was missing out on by just eating the legs. I can't wait to go back.

Here is a link to our whole slideshow from our whole day.