Pyeongtaek International Central Market

 

Pyeongtaeksi, Gyeonggido

October 2nd, 2022

  We decided to trip to the southern part of Gyeonggido in Gaecheonjeol holidays. So we headed to Pyeongtaek International Central Market early morning on Sunday, October 2nd. There is the Korean best Budae-jjigae restaurant where we wanted to go. It is said people always line up in front of the restaurant even before it opens, so we hurried. Pyeongtaek is about one-and-half-hour driving distance from my city Paju, the northern part of Gyeonggido. We were like let’s travel to the south!

  In South Korea are several US army bases, and Camp Humphreys in Pyeongtaek is the biggest one. Basically there are small downtowns around US army bases for American soldiers and their families. Shops, restaurants, pubs, banks stuff like that. Pyeongtaek International Central Market is nearby Camp Humphreys and very next to Osan Air Base. This market was established with Osan Air Base after the Korean War. Since then it has evolved in modern ways, and now it became a famous tourist spot.

  Pyeongtaek International Central Market is not just about American army or America, but it is all about international things. You can see American hamburger & pizza, Türkiye kebab, Vietnamese pho, Thai supermarket & food, Japanese food, Brazilian food, Philippine groceries, of course Korean traditional food and fusion food. Global brands such as Cinnabon, Baskin Robbins, Nike, McDonald’s and small unique local shops. And street vendors with craft works and snacks, beauty salons and military themed fashion shops.

  The most impressive thing was the disused railroad between walls with graffiti art works. It is a very Instagrammable spot. We cannot help taking photos there! Along the railroad small pink vending carts are set like a flea market. Unfortunately we missed that, because we were there so early time. But instead we could take pictures freely.

  And a big pub restaurant, called Blue Opera, with a unique devil-like statue is in the middle of the street as though it is a signature of Pyeongtaek International Central Market.

  We arrived about 10:00 a.m. The street was so quiet, shops started opening. But we could imagine how hot and crowded it was last night. In the peaceful morning, the contrary of our imagination about night, many American soldiers and other expatriates were on the street jogging or just walking, or walking a dog, or sitting at a cafe with morning coffee. Foreign tourists were hang around taking pictures. There were more foreigners than Koreans, which was interesting.

   

  After looking around the street, we entered one of famous hamburger restaurants in the market. There are top-three famous hamburger restaurants for Korean home-made style burgers. Miss Jin, Miss Lee, and Song’s Burger. We picked Miss Lee, because it opens earlier than others, 10:00 a.m. It was a small and neat place. And first of all the owner and chef was so so nice. 

  We were stuffed there and looked around the street more, and went to our final destination, Kimnejip(김네집, Kim’s House), the Korean top budae-jjigae restaurant. It was slightly past 11 o’clock, the restaurant opens 11:10 a.m. But tables were already full, some people were waiting outside. We decided to buy a take-out pack, so we didn’t need to wait in the line. But it turned out we got the last one at the moment. That was so close! The woman right after me couldn’t buy a take-out pack. It was sold out. So sorry for that.

  We cooked and ate Kimnejip’s budae-jjigae for dinner at home. The best budae-jjigae ever to us! And they said a pack is for 2 people but it was so big enough for 4 people and more. Actually we could ate the left-over the next day. It is 10,000 won(less than 10 USD) for a portion. How cheap it is!

  In case you wonder what budae-jjigae is, I posted about it. Its origin is relating the war and US army. It is a very interesting story. https://tnb4earlybirds.blogspot.com/2022/10/budae-jjigae-most-successful-fusion.html

- How to get Pyeongtaek International Central Market

  Songtan Station on Line 1 of Seoul Metro -> 10 minutes walking to the market.

  If you get there by car, your own car or a rental car whatever, there are public parking lots. It is free for one and half hour, 500 won for two hours, and 1,000 won for two and half hours, after that in every 10 minutes additional 300 won charged. If your car is electric or for the disabled, it is free for two hours.

- Where to eat breakfast

  Like I said we had breakfast one of three top burger restaurants, called Miss Lee. It opens 10:00 a.m. Every Monday is off day.

  Their hamburgers are more like Korean home-made burgers. When I was a high schooler, the cafeteria of my school sold hamburgers. Miss Lee’s burger was pretty much like those back in high school.

  They have burger sets like a burger plus French fries and soda drink. The portion is so big. And again the owner is so kind.

- About Kimnejip(Kim’s House), the budae-jjigae restaurant

  It opens 11:10 a.m. But you can buy a take-out pack from 9:30 a.m.

  

  Every 1st and 3rd of Monday of the month is off day.