Busan history and market food tour with local chef
Recommended by 97% of travelers
Busan, South Korea
- 2 hours (approx.)
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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Overview
Eat your way through Busan’s most famous markets and street food stalls on a small-group walking tour. This epicurean adventure is perfect for travelers seeking an authentic culinary experience. As your professional chef guide leads you through the Jagalchi Seafood Market, BIFF Square, and Bupyeong Kkangtong Market, sample the city’s freshest foods and ingredients while learning about the area's history and culture.
- Enjoy a small tour group size of maximum 10 people
- Try some of Busan's most popular street foods
- Discover Busan's top markets without getting lost
- Get insider food suggestions for the rest of your vacation
What's Included
- Guide commentary by local chef/ food expert
- Tasting food
- Restaurant recs
- Travel Insurance
- Other personal expenses
Meeting and Pickup
Meeting point
- Hanaro Mart Jagalchi73 Gudeok-ro, Jung-gu, Busan, South Korea
Meeting point : In front of exit no.10 of Jagalchi station
End point
- Bupyeong Kkangtong Market39 Bupyeong 1-gil, Jung-gu, Busan, South Korea
We are finishing the tour at Bupyeong Food Market. You can explore more around the area after the tour if you would like.
Operating hours.4:00 pm
Itinerary
1
Jagalchi Market
40 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
2
BIFF Square
20 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
3
Bupyeong Kkangtong Market
1 hour • Admission Ticket Free
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received within 48 hours of booking, subject to availability
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Near public transportation
- Not recommended for travelers with back problems
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
- Most travelers can participate
- This is a gourmet walking tour
- This is a private tour/activity. Only your group will participate
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Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Featured review
Laura_R
This was such a lovely experience!! As non-Koreans who love cooking and eating, it was perfect set up for us to have a Korean chef walk us trough these huge, amazing markets and not just educate us but give us samples of things to try — we wouldn’t have any idea where to start otherwise. Heeyoung was super warm, friendly, and knowledgeable, we had such a great time — I highly recommend! :)
Reviews
4.9
based on 61 reviews
Sort by: Most insightful
Laura_R, Jul 2025
This was such a lovely experience!! As non-Koreans who love cooking and eating, it was perfect set up for us to have a Korean chef walk us trough these huge, amazing markets and not just educate us but give us samples of things to try — we wouldn’t have any idea where to start otherwise. Heeyoung was super warm, friendly, and knowledgeable, we had such a great time — I highly recommend! :)
Richard_A, May 2025
We had a great time on our food tour. Our guide, Heeyoung, was very friendly and knowledgeable and provided a lot of background to Korean food and the wider culture. We tried some great dishes - the hotteok was a particular highlight.
Response from Host, Jun 2025
So glad you enjoyed the tour. Hotteok for life! :)
Angel_A, Apr 2025
Stroll around markets, learn insights about Korean food from a classically trained chef. Heeyoung was really wonderful and highly informative. Very highly recommend the experience of food insights from a local.
ravindigunaratne, Mar 2025
Highly recommend this small group tour.
HeeYoung was nice, and punctual.
We tried few different foods and walked through few markets. It wasn’t rushed, and she helped us buy things at the markets as well.
She gave us other recommendations as well.
Response from Host, Mar 2025
Pleasure hosting you. Thank you so much for joining! :)
Kelly_B, Mar 2025
The tour was just okay. Be careful of some of the reviews from 2-3 years ago - the tour is not as they described. While it was fine, it is really not a food tour, but more of a walking tour with a couple snacks. I had been hoping to have a tour guide help me navigate ordering the fresh seafood from Jagalchi vendors and having it prepared for us on the tour - this did not happen. If that is what you are looking for, find a different tour. It was fine to walk around and have her point out the different stalls and vendors, but I would’ve preferred to stop and taste some of it, mostly we didn’t. We did three small tastings, and it was good, but you will definitely still be hungry and need dinner after. Not to mention the hotteok and fish cakes are not exactly ‘off the beaten path,’ and while they’re a relevant part of a Busan food tour, it seemed a bit cheeky for those to be the main highlights. This tour is probably best suited for people who are uncomfortable walking around a bustling market on their own. If you’re comfortable walking around the market on your own, I think you could have almost the same experience independently. She did educate about the foods on display and some of Busan’s history, however if you weren’t standing right next to her you simply couldn’t hear, and in a group of eight I rarely was close enough. All in all, if you’re a young and curious person, comfortable roaming on your own, and looking for someone to take you to unlikely places and help you order more challenging foods, look elsewhere.
Response from Host, Mar 2025
Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. I’m sorry to hear that the tour did not fully align with your expectations. My goal is always to provide an insightful and enjoyable experience, introducing guests to Busan’s vibrant food culture and markets.
The tour follows the description provided at the time of booking, which includes guided exploration of Busan’s traditional markets, local food history, and tastings of representative street foods. While I do help guests navigate the market and introduce them to vendors, the experience does not include purchasing and preparing fresh seafood at Jagalchi Market, as that is not part of the tour’s standard itinerary. I understand that some past reviews may have mentioned unique requests from previous guests, but these were not part of the core experience.
I appreciate your comments regarding the food tastings and group dynamics, and I will certainly take them into account for future improvements. I hope you were still able to take away some interesting insights about Busan’s food scene, and I appreciate you joining the tour.
Lily_W, Nov 2024
Chef Heeyoung is an excellent tour guide, super friendly and very knowledgable about Korean cuisine and many others. Between interesting segments she chatted with all member of our group, answering any ad hoc questions we had. I would highly recommend taking this tour if you happen to be visiting Busan on a Wednesday!
Ulf_O, Nov 2024
Very interesting tour , about food that you can ett in Busan mostly seafood but also som other dishes
Ralph_G, Oct 2024
We had this tour on our first full day in Busan. It certainly impresses and does not disappoint. Chef Heeyoung knows her craft very well, and she is a true expert. We had a good sampling of Busan/Korean food at the Jagalchi market and its vicinity. It was 2 hours that were well paced and enjoyable. I have just recommended this tour to my friend who is also planning a trip to Busan soon.
Wilson_L, Aug 2024
Heeyoung gave us an amazing food tour! She has such in-depth knowledge of the Busan food industry. We experienced some uniquely Busan items and experiences.
elin_a, Aug 2024
It was the perfect experience! Being immersed in beautiful culture and lead by the most incredible guide! It was a dream come true to have such an iconic local chef show us the best food Busan has to offer while giving us an insight into Busans rich history. If you are travelling to Busab this experience is a must!
hannahha0217, Jul 2024
Heeyoung was an experienced and worldly local chef that we were so lucky to have found through this tour. She was friendly and got along so well with everyone in our group, from my elderly parents to my 8-year-old daughter. She was so patient in answering our questions, and we really felt like she led us to sample some of the best food vendors in the area that we wouldn’t have been able to find ourselves.
Carly_D, Jun 2024
Heeyoung was a fantastic guide and took us to many places we wouldn’t have found on our own! It felt like going around the market with a friend! She even helped me find some Korean ingredients I was looking to buy to take back home!
Victoria_K, May 2024
As a first-time traveler to Seoul, this tour was a perfect way to try various authentic Korean foods in a relaxed, educational way. Our guide was incredible. I highly recommend it.
Thank you for your recommandations, the restaurants was really good 🫰
Corey_H, Apr 2024
This was the highlight of our trip! Heeyoung was so knowledgeable and friendly. We loved learning about the history of the markets and origins of the food she was introducing us to. It was delicious, fun and educational. I would highly recommend this tour to anyone visiting Busan! Really anything Heeyoung is offering a tour or class of!
ShaoTing_L, Apr 2024
I traveled by myself, and by joining the tour, I not only encountered other friendly people, but also learned some histories from the Chef. The history of Korea, especially Korean War, has shaped the culture of food in Busan, and as we tasted a little of many things, we also had fun and good memories:) Thank you so much!
Stephanie_L, Apr 2024
Heeyoung was a very friendly and knowledgeable guide! Always fantastic to have a local who is so passionate about the cuisine.
Rich_E, Oct 2023
This was an amazing tour. Our guide, Heeyoung, was knowledgeable and friendly and gave us so much information it made the rest of our trip so much easier. The tour hit all the places and foods we wanted to try and we very much enjoyed our time with her. She is a fantastic guide and we highly recommend this tour to anyone visiting Busan
Sarah_C, Oct 2023
This tour was one of our favorite activities in Busan. The tastings were all delicious and we tried some things we never would have found on our own. The real highlight was the host, chef Heeyoung, who was so warm and lovely and incredibly knowledgeable about the food, markets, and history. We also thought it was an excellent value. If you enjoy a food tour, don’t miss this one!
Melissa_H, Sep 2023
I had a great time on the food tour with Chef Heeyoung! It was so nice to be guided around the sprawling markets by a local expert, and we learned so much about Korean food in general and also about local Busan specialties. All of the food we tried was great, and the dessert, Hotteok, we had on the tour was especially delicious (and I don't normally have much of a sweet tooth!). Would definitely recommend!
Elspeth_B, Sep 2023
Genuinely one of the best things I did during my trip to Korea. Heeyoung is really passionate and knowledgeable about Korean food, and the food scene in Busan. We tried lots of great food, and got excellent directions on what to eat for the rest of our stay in Busan, and even what foodie souvenirs to buy. I would definitely recommend this tour.
Allison_W, Aug 2023
Good tour. The tour had a very casual vibe. It felt a lot like walking around a market with a group of friends.
Lucy_L, Jan 2023
An informative tour packing 4 markets in 1 tour. Learnt a lot about food and Korean culture. Heeyoung is great guide.
Myra_V, Dec 2022
Our chef/guide Heeyoung was a wonderful ambassador for Busan’s lively and delicious food scene. She enthusiastically led us through the streets and markets of Busan, and provided informative commentary to accompany each tasting. Busan’s ssiat hotteok (seed hotteok) and eomuk (fish cake) are justifiably famous. The portions are generous and you will not leave this your hungry. The tour ends at the fish market, where Heeyoung helped each guest select and order the freshest seafood. We enjoyed an amazing steamed king crab, steamed oysters, raw sliced yellow tail, crab fried rice, and seaweed soup. After helping us order, Heeyoung showed us how to make soju bombs, and all the ways to use the various sauces, wraps, and kimchi. We highly recommend this tour! Without the tour, we would’ve missed out on some of our best memories of South Korea!
Michael_W, Dec 2022
Heeyoung was very helpful with tips for the rest of my stay in Busan. Very knowledgeable and fun to be with. You CANNOT go to Busan and not go to the fish market and Heeyoung is the perfect guide.
Laura_F, Dec 2022
The tour with Heeyoung was fabulous! We loved that it was a walking tour through the neighborhood, and how much information we learned along the way. The pajeon and tteokkboki we tried were absolutely delicious. We also tried good fish cakes and hotteok.
Chris_R, Nov 2022
My wife and I were in Korea for our honeymoon. We wanted to book a unique tour for Busan. We are so happy we chose this one! Our guide Heeyoung was fun, friendly, and knowledgeable. She walked us around while giving insight to the things that made Busan special. We saw the Jagalchi Seafood Market, Gukje Market, and BIFF Square. We ended at the Jagalchi Market and she helped us choose the seafood to prepare to eat on the second floor. It would have been overwhelming without her help. She also showed us how the dishes are normally eaten in Korea. We had so much fun and we learned a lot about Busan in only a few hours. 100% recommend.
Eli_G, Nov 2022
It was a tour full of knowledge and grace. Excellent instructor and full of goodwill. Created a great atmosphere
Gregory_M, Nov 2022
Guide was awesome bri knowledgeable! Got to try some stuff I never would of on my own. Definitely recommend for anyone wanting to check out Busan!
L_C, Oct 2022
We had a great time with Heeyoung, who gave us an interesting tour about the culture and history of Busan. She really enjoys making sure everyone is able to experience the local cuisines. We were able to enjoy many tasty delicacies by local vendors that we otherwise wouldn’t have been able to find ourselves. Thank you again for your passion and for giving us such a wonderful tour.
wesley_m, Oct 2022
Very nice tour of the fish market and the neighborhood. Heeyoung was an excellent guide and very friendly. She took us to a couple of spots in different markets and the food was great to try.
From $49.92
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