A Taste of Home: Central Asian Street and Ansan
Where to find plov, samsa and lagman on Central Asian Street in Gwanghui-dong, Seoul, and phở, bánh mì and bún chả on the multicultural food street in Wongok-dong, Ansan. With directions and grocery tips.
After living in Korea for a while, there are days when you really miss food from home. In Seoul and Gyeonggi-do, there are neighborhoods where you can find that taste again. You can reach both places on subway Line 4.
Central Asian Street in Gwanghui-dong, Seoul
In the lanes of Gwanghui-dong near Dongdaemun History & Culture Park Station, you will see many signs in Cyrillic letters. There are Uzbek, Kazakh, Russian and Mongolian restaurants, bakeries and grocery shops. The smell of freshly baked non bread fills the street, and some shops speak Russian or Uzbek.
Multicultural Food Street in Wongok-dong, Ansan
In Wongok-dong, Ansan, Gyeonggi-do, right across from Ansan Station (Line 4), there is a food street with restaurants from many countries. There are especially many Vietnamese restaurants, and you can also find Chinese, Central Asian, Southeast Asian and South Asian food. There are many Asian grocery stores too, so it is a good place to buy ingredients for cooking at home.
What to eat
| Dish | Where (area) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Plov (osh) | Gwanghui-dong | Rice cooked with meat and carrots, Uzbekistan’s best-known dish. Great for sharing with friends. |
| Samsa | Gwanghui-dong | Baked pastry filled with meat and onion. Easy to take away. |
| Lagman | Gwanghui-dong | Hand-pulled noodles topped with a meat and vegetable sauce. |
| Shashlik | Gwanghui-dong | Seasoned meat grilled on skewers. |
| Non bread | Gwanghui-dong | Round, flat bread. You can buy it at grocery shops and take it home. |
| Phở | Ansan, Wongok-dong | Rice noodle soup, usually with beef or chicken broth. |
| Bánh mì | Ansan, Wongok-dong | Baguette sandwich. Good for a light meal. |
| Bún chả | Ansan, Wongok-dong | Grilled pork with rice noodles, dipped in sauce. Contains pork. |
| Bún bò Huế | Ansan, Wongok-dong | Spicy rice noodle soup from Huế. It often has both beef and pork. |
How to get there
- 1
To Gwanghui-dong
Get off at Dongdaemun History & Culture Park Station (Lines 2, 4 and 5). It is a few minutes’ walk. Check the station map for the Gwanghui-dong direction.
- 2
To Ansan
Take Line 4 to Ansan Station. From central Seoul it can take more than an hour. Some trains end before Ansan, so check the train’s destination.
- 3
Walk to Wongok-dong
Leave Ansan Station and cross the road toward Wongok-dong.
- 4
Both in one day
Both places are on Line 4, so you can have lunch in Gwanghui-dong and dinner in Ansan on the same day.
Good to know
- Most places take cards. Bring a little cash for small shops.
- Weekend lunch and dinner times are busy. Go a little early to wait less.
- If halal matters to you, ask the shop directly.
- Buy spices, rice noodles, sauces and rice at the grocery stores, and you can cook food from home in your own kitchen.
Official sources
Written by KOVIA 편집팀
