Master Korean traditional cooking with a Kimchi chef

Recommended by 100% of travelers

Seoul, South Korea

3 hours 30 minutes (approx.)
Mobile ticket
Offered in: English

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Overview

Learn how to cook a traditional Korean meal with help from a local during this 3-hour, small-group cooking class in Seoul. Take a short walking tour through the city as you make your way to a nearby market to pick up some ingredients to use in your recipes. Then, head over to a traditional Korean house, and learn to cook Korean dishes. Once you’ve finished in the kitchen, enjoy eating your meal with the company of your group.

Small-group limited to seven people provides an intimate experience
Walk along the city streets to a local market to pick up cooking ingredients
Go into a local Korean-style home, and learn to cook your traditional Korean food
Different menu items will be cooked depending on what day you choose

Sample Menu

Main

Menu is total 3 kinds of dishes including the main menu and side menu.

Mon-Tues bibimbap, Kimchi jeon, Seasonal soup Wed-Thurs Deonjang jjigae, Kimchi jeon, japchae Fri 2 kinds of Kimchi, Kimchi jeon, Bossam, Deonajng guk

Dessert

Korean Dessert

Local seasonal Korean dessert

Starter

Welcome tea and local dessert

local tea and dessert

What's Included

Lunch(Dinner) or Dessert (depending on selection and time)
Local guide
Group tour

Subway station pickup and drop-off

Meeting and Pickup

Meeting point

Jegi-dong Station. Seoul Oriental Medicine Market
Seoul, South Korea
Meeting Point: Jegidong station exit 2 (out side) (제기동역 2번출구 밖)

End point

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

Operating hours
.10:00 am

What To Expect

Meet your small group at Jegidong Station Exit 2 (Line Number 1, near Dongdaemun Station) a little before 10am to get your 3-hour experience underway.

Your guide (who later becomes your cooking instructor) takes you and a small-group limited to seven on a short walking tour through the city to a local market. At the market, following the lead from your guide, your group picks up all the ingredients needed to make the recipes that have been planned out for the day.

Please note your meal has been planned differently by the day you chose for this experience. On Monday, you'll make samgyetang. If you chose a Thursday class, you’ll make kimchi. If you chose a Tuesday or Saturday class,you’ll make bulgogi, japchae, and deonjang jjigae. Fridays are reserved for bibimbap, and Sunday classes involve making a variety of Korean desserts.

After the market, your guide shows you the way to a Korean-style house in a local neighborhood. He or she sets you up in the kitchen with the others, and class begins. Learn how to make the popular Korean dishes on the menu for the day.

Once everything has been fully prepared, sit down and taste what you’ve created. Chat with your group members and cooking instructor before they bring you back to the station exit you were picked up from. Morning tea is included on all of the tours.

Gyeongdong Market

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received within 48 hours of booking, subject to availability
Not wheelchair accessible
Stroller accessible
Near public transportation
Infants must sit on laps
Not recommended for travelers with back problems
Not recommended for pregnant travelers
No heart problems or other serious medical conditions

A maximum of 10 people per booking
A minimum of 1 people per booking is required
Vegan, Halal option also available.
Composed of 3 different menu items.
Guests over 14 years are charged adult price.
Up to one children per class can participate. (under 6 years old is not available for safety.)
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

Gallery picture 1 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 2 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 3 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 4 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 5 (from a traveler's review)

Featured review

Patricia_O

My brother and I had a wonderful experience learning how to cook authentic Korean food with Chef Minseon! She was so patient (especially consider we got lost trying to find her shop) and helped us find where to meet her. She walked us through a market to pick up fresh food items and discussed the food and it’s important to Korean cultur. The food we prepared was very good and fun to prepare. I definitely recommend try this class out if you can!

Reviews

5.0

based on 388 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

We perform checks on reviews

Lovely way to spend a...

Lopa_G, Nov 2025

Lovely way to spend a morning. Nice walk through the market, followed by a really tasty meal! The instructor was patient and taught the class week. Lovely setting too.

Response from Host, Dec 2025

Thank you for your review! I'm so glad to hear you enjoyed the cooking class and market experience. Meeting guests like you truly makes my work meaningful. I hope the recipes bring you joy even after returning home. Please visit again whenever you’re back in Seoul—I’d love to cook with you again!

My brother and I had a...

Patricia_O, Sep 2025

Response from Host, Oct 2025

Thank you for your kind review! I’m so happy to hear that you enjoyed the class. It always warms my heart to know that our time together left a positive impression. I love seeing students feel more confident and inspired in the kitchen. I hope the recipes bring you many happy meals. Please visit again anytime — I’d love to cook with you again!

Great Introduction to Korean Cooking

Deborah_H, Jul 2025

This was a really enjoyable way to spend part of the day in Seoul. We began with a visit to a local market, where the chef introduced key ingredients and offered helpful insight into Korean food culture. Then we headed to the nearby cooking school to get started. The class followed a fun, hands-on rhythm—we’d cook a dish or two, then sit down together to enjoy what we made before returning to the kitchen to cook more. The chef guided us clearly through each step, and the staff helped keep things running smoothly by finishing off dishes, clearing plates, and handling cleanup. We left full and satisfied, with recipes in hand and a better appreciation for the ingredients and techniques behind Korean cuisine. A relaxed and well-run experience that’s definitely worth doing if you're looking to try something different during your time in Seoul!

Response from Host, Oct 2025

Thank you for your sweet review! I’m thrilled to hear you had such a wonderful time. Teaching guests who bring such positive energy makes every class special. I’m so glad the recipes turned out well for you and that you left with happy memories. Cooking connects people, and I truly felt that connection during our time together. Hope to see you again soon!

Confessions of a Non-Cook: This Korean Cooking Class Was Awesome!

Tracie_S, Jun 2025

This Korean cooking class was a great experience. The market tour introduced many Korean ingredients and provided us with a bit of understanding about Korean flavors and cooking. Traditional Korean donuts were sampled along the way. YUM! In the kitchen, our chef was patient, making everything easy to follow which was a really good thing for me. She worked with the group in a way that allowed me as a solo traveler to feel like a part of the group. It was fun! In the end, a delicious meal was created and enjoyed which was a pleasant surprise for me given that I made it. This class is a must-do for a fun, flavorful, and achievable cultural experience. On top of a great meal, we wrote our names in Korean, had rice wine and a special dessert was provided - good day!

Response from Host, Oct 2025

1Thank you for your thoughtful review! Reading your words made my day brighter. I’m really happy that you enjoyed learning and had fun while cooking. It’s always such a joy to share not just food, but culture and laughter with my guests. I hope the experience stays with you for a long time. Please come back again — I’d love to welcome you again!

Fun food experience

Jacqueline_C, Mar 2025

I typically take a cooking class when I'm visiting a country and this was by far one of my favorite classes. I loved going through the market and making the food in their very well organized cooking school. The food that we made was delicious and we learned so much about jjang and kimchi.

Response from Host, Oct 2025

Thank you for your sweet message! I’m touched that you enjoyed the class. Your cheerful energy made the kitchen feel so warm. I hope to cook with you again one day!

Great experience

Yolanda_S, Oct 2024

This was an amazing experience and had a lot of fun participating. I would definitely do it again. The chef was very pleasant, friendly and a great instructor.

Response from Host, Oct 2025

Thank you for your kind review! I’m so glad you had a great experience. Every class feels special because of guests like you. I’d love to see you again soon!

Excellent Korean food cooking experience

Andrew_F, Sep 2024

Had a wonderful time with our marvellous and very welcoming host/instructor. The meet up was well organised and easy and our instructor spoke very good English. The group had a guided tour of Seoul’s biggest market, the Kyung Dong market and purchase ingredients. After that we attended the studio and cooked (and ate) lovely Korean food. Everything was well organised. Everyone in the group was very friendly and the food was delicious. Highly recommended.

Response from Host, Oct 2025

Thank you for your sweet review! I’m really happy to know that you had a good experience. Cooking with wonderful people like you always makes the kitchen brighter. I hope the recipes bring you joy again and again. I’d love to welcome you back soon!

Chef Minseon was amazing!

Symone_N, Aug 2024

Chef Minseon was amazing! She was incredibly communicative and helpful throughout the entire activity. I enjoyed learning about the different traditional Korean recipes, exploring the market and even got a recipe book to take home. I definitely recommend this booking!

Response from Host, Oct 2025

Thank you for your lovely review! I can still remember the laughter and great energy from our class. I’m overjoyed that you enjoyed the experience and learned something new. Cooking is so much more than just food — it’s about sharing and connecting, and you truly brought that spirit. I hope we meet again for another fun session soon!

An Extremely Cool Cooking Class

Cole_W, Jul 2024

Getting the chance to explore a market, that was probably the biggest market I had been through, was rather interesting, especially as our tour guide stated not many foreigners travel through the area. After such an experience, it was cool getting the chance to learn how to make traditional bibimbap, hangover soup, and kimchi pancakes! The instructor is amazing and I highly recommend you take this class to learn more about Korean cuisine. Me and my dad will definitely be back!

Response from Host, Oct 2025

Thank you for your lovely review! I’m delighted that you had a good experience with us. Every class is unique because of the wonderful guests who join, and you made this one extra special. I hope you’ll remember the laughter, the food, and the joy we shared. Come back anytime for another cooking adventure!

great experience

siggi_s, May 2024

The kimchi cook was very friendly and accommodating. They immediately introduced all the participants to each other so that it was easy to get to know each other. During the journey through two local markets she kept telling us about certain ingredients and dishes, which was very informative. We were also able to try street food there for free. The cooking class was the perfect mix of learning, cooking and stories. The hostess did it with a lot of joy and humor. At the end they gave us both photos and the recipes they cooked. A great experience, I had a lot of fun and the food was delicious!

Response from Host, Oct 2025

Thank you for your thoughtful review! I truly appreciate you taking the time to share your experience. Teaching is always special when guests are as kind and open as you. I hope you keep enjoying cooking and creating. You’ll always have a place in my kitchen anytime you return!

Well organized and fun

Sarah_L, May 2024

Note that this is a hands-on cooking class, not just a demo! We each cooked small portions of the entire menu then sat down to a complete menu. The recipes were easy and authentic. Lots of info about the ingredients and the HUGE market made for an informative and fun event.

Response from Host, Oct 2025

Thank you for your kind words! I’m overjoyed that you enjoyed the class and felt inspired. Cooking can be such a healing and joyful experience, and I’m glad we could share that together. I hope you’ll recreate the dishes and think of our time whenever you cook. Hope to see you again soon!

awesome class, would do it again!

Chee_M, Apr 2024

well conducted class, Chef ensured that everyone was taken care off and engaged. interesting walk through the market, and of course the hands on experience was awesome

Response from Host, Oct 2025

Thank you for your lovely feedback! I really enjoyed having you in class. Your energy made the session feel warm and lively. I hope we can cook together again soon!

Our first take on Korean cooking turned out an excellent experience

Rania_S, Apr 2024

Cooking our first Korean food with OME Cooking Lab was a great experience. After having walked through the food and medicine market buying ingredients, we ended up in a lovely fully equipped space and started preparing the food, then tasting it, then preparing more and enjoying a lovely lunch. The activity was thoroughly organized, giving time to all participants to enjoy every step. As an extra, we had the opportunity to prepare sea pineapples with a lovely chef from Busan. It was definitely worth the time and the money. Congratulations to the project team!

Response from Host, Oct 2025

Thank you for your beautiful review! It really touches my heart to hear that the class was enjoyable for you. I always try to make every session warm and memorable, so knowing that you felt that makes me very happy. I hope the dishes we made become part of your home meals. Please come back anytime — I’d love to cook together again!

Excellent!

Stacey_B, Apr 2024

We had so much fun at this class! The market tour was interesting and informative. The cooking class itself was enjoyable and the instructor was able to accommodate all dietary restrictions.

Response from Host, Oct 2025

Thank you for your lovely review! I’m so glad you had a positive experience. Your presence made the class even more special. Please come back anytime!

Great experience, worth the time!

Juliana_S, Apr 2024

Great experience to get to know the local food market, hear interesting information about Korean culture and learn to make some reasonably easy dishes.

Response from Host, Oct 2025

Thank you for your kind review! I’m so happy to know that you enjoyed your time here. It always brings me joy to hear that guests had a meaningful experience. I hope to see you again someday!

Amazing Experience with a Talented Chef

Jon_H, Mar 2024

Chef Minseon is fantastic! If you aren't a cook, be not afraid. Chef is great with instructions, technique and is patient. We made a few traditional Korean dishes and they all turned out great. Thanks Chef!

Response from Host, Oct 2025

Hi Jon~ Thank you for your kind message! I’m so glad you had fun and felt comfortable during the class. Sharing moments like this with guests means so much to me. Please visit again anytime!

Fun and Food

Peter_T, Mar 2024

It was a very informative class and cooking was well paced. Making a bibimbap with more traditional ingredients was a great learning environment. The fact that you walk the local market and get fresh ingredients is such a highlight as well.

Response from Host, Oct 2025

Peter, thank you for your lovely feedback! I’m thrilled you enjoyed your time here. Cooking with such kind and enthusiastic guests makes every class special. Please stop by again someday!

Nice experience. Definitely worth it!

VIVIANE_K, Mar 2024

Love the tour and extra details about the culture, different food and drinks. Love the market and the variety of food and medicine.

Response from Host, Oct 2025

Thank you for your kind review! I’m touched by your warm words. Knowing that you had fun and learned something new means a lot to me. Hope to see you again soon!

Our host was amazing! We...

Vincent_L, Nov 2023

Our host was amazing! We had a great time walking around in the traditional Korean market and seeing all the different ingredients - our cooking class was located in a shiny new studio and it was such a breeze to follow the recipes with prepped ingredients! Absolutely recommend to anyone who wants to learn Korean culture and cooking

Response from Host, Oct 2025

Thank you for your kind review! Reading your message made me smile. I’m so glad you felt at ease and had fun during the class. I always try to create a welcoming and joyful environment, and it’s great to know that you felt that. Hope we can cook together again someday soon!

Fantastic

Warda_H, Jul 2023

Enjoyable company Good food Very well organized and well explained Thank you for this moment . We had a really good time

Response from Host, Dec 2025

Thank you for your lovely review! I'm so glad you enjoyed the cooking class and felt comfortable during your time here. Meeting guests like you truly makes every session more enjoyable. I hope you continue cooking the dishes at home and remembering your time in Seoul. Please stop by again on your next visit—I’d love to welcome you back!

Borahae

Victoria_P, Jun 2023

Biggest herb and vegetable market i have ever seen. The cooking class was fantastic, very simple and easy to replicate at home! Bonus: chef is a BTS ARMY. 10/10 would do again!

Response from Host, Dec 2025

Thank you so much for your warm review! It was truly a pleasure cooking with you. I'm glad you enjoyed the flavors and the atmosphere. Visit again when you’re back in Seoul—I’d love to see you! Purple U💜💜

Best adventure of the week!

Maria_C, May 2023

This class was so fun! Shopping through the food market was magical! We felt like locals rather than tourists! Our guide was the best and made cooking fun! She had entertaining stories about this non-touristy neighborhood. Would definitely recommend this class to Seoul visitors!

Response from Host, Dec 2025

Thank you for the great review! I had such a nice time cooking with you. I'm glad the experience was enjoyable and easy to follow. Please try the dishes again—they get even better with practice! Hope to see you again on your next trip.

Great experience

Eli_G, Nov 2022

This was one of the most enjoyable activities we had in South Korea. The chef was professional and nice. The cooking class and the market tour were most enjoyable. Great experience of a Traditional Cooking Experience in Korean Style House in Seoul

Response from Host, Dec 2025

Thank you for your review! I’m so happy you felt comfortable and had fun during the class. Guests like you truly make this job meaningful. I hope you keep enjoying Korean food wherever you go. Please drop by again next time you’re in Seoul!

Amazing teacher, amazing food!

Rachel_C, May 2022

Minseon was such a wonderful teacher! She made the day so fun. She was so great at explaining everything and giving details on the market and ingredients as well as helping us to make some of the most delicious food. Could not recommend this enough!

Response from Host, Dec 2025

Thank you for your kind review! I'm really happy to hear you enjoyed the class. Cooking with guests like you always brings great energy to my kitchen. I hope the recipes inspire many delicious meals at home. Please come visit again whenever you're in Seoul—I’d love to cook with you again!

Really nice experience

Kilian_S, Oct 2021

Wonderful experience! The chef was really nice and we learned how to make 4 dishes in 2 hours! I recommend it.

Great experience

Joseph_N, Jun 2021

Impressed with the number of dishes made and amount of food. I have to take some to go 😁. My daughter really enjoyed the experience as well and we received a cookbook to use in the future.

Delicious

David C, Oct 2019

Great activity with a vivacious young culinary enthusiast who was supportive and informative. Highly recommended.

It was completely perfect!

Pascal_S, Jul 2019

I am a semester abroad student in Seoul, so I decided to learn how to cook Korean. And this was the best tour/cooking class I could imagine to learn it. We started with a walk across the biggest market for groceries, spices and traditional medicine in Korea. Afterward, we walked to a lovely cooking studio which is nearby the market. We'd been a group out of 6 people and everybody was able to make different experiences within the cooking class. The chef's/instructors had been really friendly and nice to us! I definitely recommend this tour, it was a great expierience and I now have all the receipts I need to cook the korean food back home. Thank you !:)

Korean cooking class review

Anna_S, Jul 2019

Very instructive and fun! We learned about Korean ingredients and cooking and had a delicious meal! We loved our cooking teacher. Great value for the experience!

Great experience

Astrid_Y, Jul 2019

I recommend trying this Chef Jihee was great and friendly as the rest of the staff The whole this was well organized and knowledgeable You’ll not only learn how to cook but also a little bit of how Korean enjoy their food.