South Korea · month by month
Seoul food calendar
What is in season in Seoul, what to eat right now, the food festivals worth planning around and the months to be careful with. Tap a month.
January in Seoul
The best of January: Tteokguk, Sikhye and sujeonggwa.
In season
- Sikhye and sujeonggwaJan–Feb
- Gimjang kimchiJan–Feb, Nov
- Oysters and winter fish
Gul (oysters) and bossam; daegu (cod) stew.
Nov–Feb - HotteokOct–Mar
Eat it now
- TteokgukSeollal (Lunar New Year)
Rice cake soup for the new year.
Jan–Feb
Plan around
- Lunar New Year closuresSeollal
Many restaurants close for the three-day holiday.
Jan–Feb
Nothing of this kind in January. Try Everything.
February in Seoul
The best of February: Tteokguk, Sikhye and sujeonggwa.
In season
- Sikhye and sujeonggwaJan–Feb
- Gimjang kimchiJan–Feb, Nov
- Oysters and winter fish
Gul (oysters) and bossam; daegu (cod) stew.
Nov–Feb - HotteokOct–Mar
Eat it now
- TteokgukSeollal (Lunar New Year)
Rice cake soup for the new year.
Jan–Feb
Plan around
- Lunar New Year closuresSeollal
Many restaurants close for the three-day holiday.
Jan–Feb
Nothing of this kind in February. Try Everything.
March in Seoul
Shoulder seasonThe best of March: Doenjang jjigae with spring vegetables; yeongyang-namul and Hotteok.
In season
- Doenjang jjigae with spring vegetables; yeongyang-namul (five spring greens)Mar–May
- HotteokOct–Mar
Nothing of this kind in March. Try Everything.
April in Seoul
Peak seasonThe best of April: Azalea hwachae, Doenjang jjigae with spring vegetables; yeongyang-namul and Seoul Coffee Festival.
In season
- Azalea hwachaeApr–May
- Doenjang jjigae with spring vegetables; yeongyang-namul (five spring greens)Mar–May
On the calendar
- Seoul Coffee Festival
EXPECTED 15-18 Apr 2027, tickets needed, price not stated
- Bamdokkaebi night marketsFriday and Saturday nights, spring to autumn
Food trucks and stalls at Yeouido Hangang Park and DDP.
Apr–Oct
Nothing of this kind in April. Try Everything.
May in Seoul
Peak seasonThe best of May: Strawberry bingsu, Azalea hwachae and Bamdokkaebi night markets.
In season
- Strawberry bingsu
- Azalea hwachaeApr–May
- Doenjang jjigae with spring vegetables; yeongyang-namul (five spring greens)Mar–May
On the calendar
- Bamdokkaebi night marketsFriday and Saturday nights, spring to autumn
Food trucks and stalls at Yeouido Hangang Park and DDP.
Apr–Oct
Nothing of this kind in May. Try Everything.
June in Seoul
Shoulder seasonThe best of June: Patbingsu and Bamdokkaebi night markets.
In season
- PatbingsuJun–Aug
On the calendar
- Bamdokkaebi night marketsFriday and Saturday nights, spring to autumn
Food trucks and stalls at Yeouido Hangang Park and DDP.
Apr–Oct
Nothing of this kind in June. Try Everything.
July in Seoul
A hard monthThe best of July: Naengmyeon and samgyetang, Patbingsu, Bamdokkaebi night markets.
In season
- Naengmyeon and samgyetang
Cold buckwheat noodles, and ginseng chicken soup on the hottest days (boknal).
Jul–Aug - PatbingsuJun–Aug
On the calendar
- Bamdokkaebi night marketsFriday and Saturday nights, spring to autumn
Food trucks and stalls at Yeouido Hangang Park and DDP.
Apr–Oct
Nothing of this kind in July. Try Everything.
August in Seoul
A hard monthThe best of August: Naengmyeon and samgyetang, Patbingsu, Bamdokkaebi night markets.
In season
- Naengmyeon and samgyetang
Cold buckwheat noodles, and ginseng chicken soup on the hottest days (boknal).
Jul–Aug - PatbingsuJun–Aug
On the calendar
- Bamdokkaebi night marketsFriday and Saturday nights, spring to autumn
Food trucks and stalls at Yeouido Hangang Park and DDP.
Apr–Oct
Nothing of this kind in August. Try Everything.
September in Seoul
Peak seasonThe best of September: Songpyeon, Chestnuts, persimmons and new rice, Bamdokkaebi night markets.
In season
- Chestnuts, persimmons and new rice
Autumn produce.
Sep–Oct - Jeon, galbijjim (Chuseok foods)Sep–Oct
- Mushroom rice (oyster, king oyster, songi)Sep–Nov
- Korean pear (bae)Sep–Nov
Eat it now
- SongpyeonChuseok
Half-moon rice cakes steamed on pine needles.
Sep–Oct
On the calendar
- Bamdokkaebi night marketsFriday and Saturday nights, spring to autumn
Food trucks and stalls at Yeouido Hangang Park and DDP.
Apr–Oct
Plan around
- Chuseok closuresChuseok
Same for the autumn harvest holiday.
Sep–Oct
Nothing of this kind in September. Try Everything.
October in Seoul
Peak seasonThe best of October: Songpyeon, Chestnuts, persimmons and new rice, Taste of Seoul.
In season
- Chestnuts, persimmons and new rice
Autumn produce.
Sep–Oct - Jeon, galbijjim (Chuseok foods)Sep–Oct
- Mushroom rice (oyster, king oyster, songi)Sep–Nov
- Korean pear (bae)Sep–Nov
- HotteokOct–Mar
Eat it now
- SongpyeonChuseok
Half-moon rice cakes steamed on pine needles.
Sep–Oct
On the calendar
- Taste of Seoul
- Bamdokkaebi night marketsFriday and Saturday nights, spring to autumn
Food trucks and stalls at Yeouido Hangang Park and DDP.
Apr–Oct
Plan around
- Chuseok closuresChuseok
Same for the autumn harvest holiday.
Sep–Oct
Nothing of this kind in October. Try Everything.
November in Seoul
Peak seasonThe best of November: Kimjang, Mushroom rice and Seoul Kimchi Festival.
In season
- Kimjang
Kimchi-making season; markets pile up cabbages and radishes.
Nov–Dec - Mushroom rice (oyster, king oyster, songi)Sep–Nov
- Korean pear (bae)Sep–Nov
- Gimjang kimchiJan–Feb, Nov
- Oysters and winter fish
Gul (oysters) and bossam; daegu (cod) stew.
Nov–Feb - HotteokOct–Mar
On the calendar
- Seoul Kimchi FestivalNovember
Kimjang demonstrations in front of City Hall.
- One of the world’s 100 best food eventsKimjang seasonUsually November · a season, not a single date
Kimchi-making season, when families make the winter's kimchi together and the city holds its Seoul Kimchi Festival.
How to go: Join a kimjang class in Seoul, and eat bossam (boiled pork) with the fresh kimchi.
Nothing of this kind in November. Try Everything.
December in Seoul
The best of December: Patjuk and Kimjang.
In season
- Kimjang
Kimchi-making season; markets pile up cabbages and radishes.
Nov–Dec - Oysters and winter fish
Gul (oysters) and bossam; daegu (cod) stew.
Nov–Feb - HotteokOct–Mar
Eat it now
- Patjuk22 December
Red bean porridge for the winter solstice.
Nothing of this kind in December. Try Everything.
Festival dates move from year to year, so check this year's dates before you book. Seasons are how growers, markets and local guides describe them; edges vary with the weather. Know something we missed? Tell us.