Okgyeongine Geonsaengseon is a place whose popularity has exploded after showing up on TV program after TV program. I wanted to see just how good it is, so I paid it a visit.

Market hotteok

It wasn’t all that good, but I’ve been hooked on hotteok lately, so I’ve been buying one wherever I see them. I’d love to find a place that recreates the hotteok I ate as a kid.

Baeksong

I just snapped this as I walked past. Quite a few new places have popped up in this neighborhood.

Chinese restaurant

This place was packed too, so I took a photo wondering what the draw was. Maybe it’s just that it’s cheap..

The original Ma Bok-rim Tteokbokki

Business was booming..

A cafe

A stylish cafe has opened up.

A bakery

mogumogu

This place looked popular too.

Okgyeongine Geonsaengseon

Even for takeout, the system means an hour or two of waiting.. you can’t just pick it up on the spot. Eating in still means queuing, so at least being able to book ahead makes it easier. Luckily there’s plenty to look at around Sindang-dong.

A cafe

The people in the line

The queuing here is clearly no joke..

A market alley

Dongdaemun

Pretty run-down.

Park Chung-hee’s House

I had no idea a place like this was here..

The information board

I didn’t go inside.

The entrance to Sindang Market

I picked up my takeout and headed back.

The packaging looks like this

Semi-dried cuttlefish

It’s a bit pricey, but the portion was generous and the flesh was thick and moist, so it was delicious.

Mayonnaise

This mayonnaise is seriously addictive.. it has a magic that makes you keep eating the squid. I ended up polishing off a whole one in a single sitting.. At this level it’s definitely worth the queue. I’d like to try the other items on the menu too.

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