Granny Ma Bok-lim Tteokbokki's classic tteokbokki set includes rice cakes, fish cakes, instant noodles, jjolmyeon (chewy noodles) and mandu (dumplings), served in a hot pot. Korea Times photo by Choi Won-suk

Seoul is a haven for tteokbokki lovers, offering a mix of iconic family-run spots and trendy new eateries. This list features eight must-visit tteokbokki places in Seoul, offering various ways to enjoy Korea's iconic street food. Whether you prefer classic spicy rice cakes or unique variations with creative sauces, these spots promise to deliver a taste of this popular snack.

Granny Ma Bok-lim Tteokbokki

■ Address: 5 Dasan-ro 35-gil, Jung District, Seoul

■ Phone: 02-2232-8930

■ Hours: 9 a.m.–10:50 p.m., Closed on the second and fourth Monday of every month

Granny Ma Bok-lim is celebrated as the pioneer of modern-style tteokbokki, a popular dish featuring stir-fried rice cakes with "gochujang" (red pepper paste). She began her innovative dish from a small stall in Sindang-dong in 1953, shortly after the 1950-53 Korean War. Her unique recipe included a secret sauce made from a blend of gochujang and "chunjang" (black bean paste), which quickly attracted children and adults alike to her stall.

Ma became a household name in the 1990s, thanks to her memorable appearance in a gochujang commercial with the catchphrase, "The daughter-in-law doesn't know (the recipe of the sauce)!" Reflecting her legacy, Sindang-dong now hosts a Tteokbokki Food Street near Sindang Station on Seoul Metro lines 2 and 6, headlined by the original Granny Ma Bok-lim Tteokbokki. Since her passing in 2011, the eatery has been run by her daughter-in-law and granddaughter, humorously updating the signboard to read "The daughter-in-law now knows!" Other family members operate additional tteokbokki eateries along the street.

The menu offers classic tteokbokki sets for two to four people, served in a hot pot for guests to cook by themselves, with basic toppings such as "eomuk" (fish cake), instant noodles, "jjolmyeon" (chewy noodles) and "mandu" (dumplings). They can customize their dish with extra toppings such as smoked eggs, cheese-infused rice cakes, additional cheese and more vegetables. This tteokbokki maintains a traditional flavor, distinguished by a balanced spiciness and a hint of chunjang, reminiscent of "jjajangmyeon" (black bean noodles).

Diners can conclude their meal with fried rice, prepared by mixing steamed rice with sesame oil and seaweed flakes, then frying it with the leftover tteokbokki sauce. (Kwon Mee-yoo)

Tteokbokki is seen at Cheolgil Tteokbokki located next to the train tracks in Seodamun District, Seoul. Captured from @tteokbujang on Instagram

Cheolgil Tteokbokki

■ Address: 35-6 Chungjeong-ro, Seodaemun District, Seoul

■ Phone: 02-364-3440

■ Hours: 11 a.m–8 p.m., Sunday to Friday

Located near Chungjeongno Station on Seoul Metro lines 2 and 5, Cheolgil Tteokbokki, which means Railroad Tteokbokki in Korean, is a place where tteokbokki aficionados can enjoy the Korean street food snack right next to the railroad tracks.

Founded in 1972, this family-run establishment has been serving tteokbokki for over five decades with its nostalgic wooden interior and distinctive seating that offers views of trains passing by. As trains rumble along, guests can experience the delightful tremor under their feet, adding an extra layer of excitement.

Featured in countless dramas and movies, including the 2023 film "Kill Boksoon," and frequented by celebrities such as Han Ji-min, this retro spot offers a taste of history with every bite. Regular customers, many of whom have been visiting since their childhoods, cherish the memories this place evokes as much as the food itself.

Its signature tteokbokki, priced at 3,500 won ($2.62), features chewy rice cakes in a perfectly balanced sweet and spicy sauce. The thick, satisfying texture truly sets it apart. For the ultimate tteokbokki experience, adding a mix of fried dumplings, "gimbap" (seaweed rice roll) and "gimmari" (fried seaweed rolls) is recommended.

This place is now at risk of being demolished, as the local district office plans to build a park on the site. Visit soon to enjoy this authentic Korean street food and its unique railroad view before it disappears. (Park Jin-hai)

Seen are freshly made tteokbokki, left, sundae (pig intestines stuffed with glass noodles), top right, and fried dumplings offered at Apple House tteokbokki restaurant in southern Seoul. Korea Times photo by Baek Byung-yeul

Apple House

■ Address: 29 Dongjak-daero, 27da-gil, second floor, Dongjak District, Seoul

■ Phone: 02-595-1629

■ Hours: 10:30 a.m.–9 p.m.

Apple House, which opened in 1987 in Seocho District and relocated to Dongjak District in 2022, is celebrated as one of Seoul's most iconic tteokbokki restaurants.

The restaurant's standout feature is that customers cook their own tteokbokki on tabletop burners. It is also renowned for its fried dumplings, which are tossed in gochujang and are a staple on nearly every table.

Visitors are often surprised by the venue's size and the long lines, despite the ample space. Although the wait can extend to at least 20 minutes during peak times, the seating area offers a more spacious and comfortable environment compared to typical tteokbokki street stalls.

The tteokbokki at Apple House features a sweet yet intensely spicy flavor, created with a unique sauce combining their special blend of chunjang (black bean paste) and gochujang. After simmering for about five minutes, the tteokbokki becomes deliciously browned and is served with two types of noodles and steamed eggs, which help to mellow the spiciness.

The crispy fried dumplings offer a delightful contrast with their crunchy texture and sweet but spicy flavor.

The consistent taste is the trademark of Apple House. "Our restaurant's specialty is maintaining the same flavor for nearly 40 years. I think customers frequently return because they miss this taste that they've loved for so long," an employee said.

For those who are still hungry after enjoying tteokbokki with dumplings or "sundae" (pig intestines stuffed with glass noodles), there's one more menu item — fried rice prepared with the leftover tteokbokki sauce. (Baek Byung-yeul)

Nanumi Tteokbokki serves chewy rice flour tteokbokki 24/7. Korea Times photo by Kwon Mee-yoo

Nanumi Tteokbokki

■ Address: 9-1 Seonggyungwan-ro, Jongno District, Seoul

■ Phone: 02-747-0881

■ Hours: around the clock

Nanumi Tteokbokki offers a straightforward menu featuring tteokbokki, sundae, gimbap and eomuk skewers.

This eatery distinguishes itself with its rice flour tteokbokki, featuring thick, chewy slices that stand out from the softer, lighter texture of wheat flour tteok commonly found at many tteokbokki franchises. The tteokbokki's vibrant red sauce, though initially intimidating for those unaccustomed to spicy foods, achieves a perfect balance between sweet and spicy, enhancing the chewy rice cakes.

Patrons can choose to dine in at the cozy, hole-in-the-wall venue, which features a single large round table and additional seating along a wall adorned with celebrity autographs, reflecting its popularity. Since opening in 1989, Nanumi Tteokbokki has been a hotspot for stars, initially gaining fame as the favorite of the first-generation K-pop group H.O.T. in the late 1990s. More recently, it received acclaim from the CEO of Dookki Tteokbokki, a tteokbokki buffet franchise, on the show "You Quiz on the Block."

Open 24/7, Nanumi Tteokbokki attracts a diverse crowd, ranging from long-time patrons who have enjoyed the flavors since their school days to younger crowds seeking a spicy, sweet treat after a night out. (Kwon Mee-yoo)

People stand and enjoy tteokbokki or stir-fried spicy rice cake and spicy eomuk or fish cake skewers at Ppalgan Oden Busan Eomuk in Gangnam District, Seoul. Korea Times photo by Baek Byung-yeul

Ppalgan Oden Busan Eomuk

■ Address: 13-11 Gaepo-ro 82-gil, Gangnam District, Seoul

■ Phone: 02-459-6928

■ Hours: 10 a.m.–11:50 p.m.

Ppalgan Oden Busan Eomuk, a well-known fixture in Gangnam Gaepo Market in southern Seoul, has been serving up fiery tteokbokki and eomuk skewers for over 20 years.

True to its name, "Ppalgan," which means "red" in Korean, this eatery delights diners with its vibrant array of crimson dishes, from generously thick rice cakes smothered in rich gochujang sauce to its signature spicy eomuk skewers.

Commonly known as Ppalgan Oden, this eatery may lack seating, but it has been drawing crowds for over 20 years.

Even in the sweltering September heat, customers seemed to forget the temperature as they savored red tteokbokki, spicy fish cake skewers and an array of crispy fried dishes.

The menu features two types of tteokbokki — one made with rice, which has a thick and chewy texture, and another made with flour, which offers a thinner, stickier bite. The eomuk skewers are also offered in both spicy and non-spicy variants, allowing customers to select according to their preference.

Gangnam Gaepo Market may be small, but it offers a wide range of goods and services that meet the needs of local residents. From food and drinks to private cram schools for children, the market has it all. For many locals, stopping by the standing eatery for a quick snack before browsing the market has become a beloved routine.

While the spiciness can be intense, the joy of savoring these iconic street snacks is what makes Ppalgan Oden a cherished destination in the heart of Gangnam. (Baek Byung-yeul)

Cheese rabokki (tteokbokki with ramyeon instant noodles) is seen at Geudongne Tteokbokki in Mapo District, Seoul. Captured from Instagram @foodillac

Geudongne Tteokbokki

■ Address: 14 Wausan-ro 27-gil, Mapo District, Seoul

■ Phone: 02-6083-5414

■ Hours: 11:30 a.m–9:40 p.m.

Located in Hongdae, Geudongne Tteokbokki, which translates to Neighborhood Tteokbokki in Korean, has quickly become a social media sensation. Despite its small, cramped space, the restaurant has gained immense popularity, drawing long queues of eager customers.

The reason for this is none other than its cheese pokpo (waterfall) tteokbokki and cheese pokpo rabokki (tteokbokki with ramyeon instant noodles). Served in a sizzling hot stone pot, these dishes feature a mouthwatering layer of melted yellow cheese. These two are the signature menu items at Geudongne Tteokbokki, which also runs a branch in nearby Yeonnam-dong.

Depending on your preference, you can choose from several options: simple tteokbokki for 4,500 won, cheese tteokbokki (6,000 won), cheese rabokki (8,000 won) or cheese pokpo tteokbokki (8,000 won), which features three times the cheese of the cheese tteokbokki. For the ultimate cheesy experience, try the cheese pokpo rabokki for 10,900 won, which includes four times more cheese.

For those who prefer milder flavors, garlic oil tteokbokki is the perfect choice. The rice cakes are sautéed in fragrant garlic oil and finished with a sprinkle of cheese, resulting in a delightful contrast of crispy and chewy textures.

This place also offers a wide variety of fried foods, and there's a good reason for that. You might hesitate at first, wondering if it's too rich, but once you dip the fried treats into the sweet and spicy broth, you'll find that your concerns were unwarranted. (Park Jin-hai)

Clockwise from top are fish cake soup, garaetteok churros, fried squid and gimmari and tteokbokki, served at Hanyang Tteok Bangatgan. Korea Times photo by Lee Gyu-lee

Hanyang Tteok Bangatgan

Address: 3 Wangsimni-ro 4ga-gil, Seongdong District, Seoul

Phone: 0507-1345-5787

Hours: 11:30 a.m.–9 p.m.

Website: @hanyang_dduck on Instagram

As the name suggests, "tteok" (rice cake) is the pillar of tteokbokki. And what better way to ensure a good quality tteok than to have it freshly made at the restaurant every day?

Hanyang Tteok Bangatgan serves tteokbokki made with fresh "garaetteok" (cylindrical rice cakes made from non-glutinous rice flour), prepared in the corner of the restaurant each morning. The simple dish, made with nothing but thick-cut garaetteok and a few slices of eomuk, or fish cake, allows customers to indulge in a mouthful of savory flavors courtesy of the delicious gochujang sauce-covered tteok pieces.

As a proud third-generation owner of a "bangatgan" (mill), Lee Min-wook carries on the legacy of his grandmother's rice cake shop, which she initially established in Pohang, North Gyeongsang Province, in 1986, which his uncle later took over. Lee then opened his eatery in Seoul in February 2024, where he employs the family's traditional techniques to produce fresh rice cakes daily.

To accompany tteokbokki, the menu also includes a variety of dishes, like large-sized fries, squid and gimmari, flat dumplings, gimbap and udon, as well as churros-style fried garaetteok for dessert. (Lee Gyu-lee)

Clockwise from top left are cheese-covered fried rice, seafood tteokbokki, fried pea crab and meat tteokbokki from Hongdae Seabooung. Courtesy of Hongdae Seabooung

Hongdae Seabooung

Address: 28-6 Wausan-ro 21-gil, Mapo District, Seoul

Phone: 0507-1378-5253

Hours: 11 a.m.–11 p.m.

Website: @seabooung on Instagram

For those seeking a twist on traditional tteokbokki and craving something new, Hongdae Seabooung is just the right choice. Nestled in an alley just off the lively main street of Hongdae, the wooden owl-themed restaurant named "booung" (meaning owl in Korean) serves freshly made tteokbokki topped with a variety of seafood.

The dish includes two types of rice cakes: long noodle-style ones and short ones, jjolmyeon and julienned scallions, covered with scallops, mussels and a half-portion of octopus, along with a few fried toppings like gimmari. In addition to its sweetness, the dish packs a strong kick of spiciness, offering three levels, with the mildest being slightly spicier than Shin Ramyun instant noodles.

"I personally like both tteokbokki and seafood, so I (came up with the dish) after exploring a restaurant-style tteokbokki rather than the typical street food version," said owner Kim Young-jin, who opened the restaurant in March 2019.

The menu also offers fried sides such as pea crabs, chicken and chicken gizzards. And for those who aren't fans of seafood, the restaurant also offers various styles of tteokbokki, including a meat patty option, one with jjajang (black bean) sauce and a rose mala sauce one too. (Lee Gyu-lee)