Finding a Piece of Home at Hyehwa's Philippine Market ๐ฐ๐ท๐ต๐ญ
(photos grabbed from: visitseoul.net)
If you're a Filipino in Korea, chances are you've heard about Hyehwa-dongโs Philippine Market. Every Sunday, the area becomes a gathering place for Filipinos in Seoul looking for familiar food, products, and most importantly, a sense of home. The market usually finishes around 4-5 pm.โค๏ธ
As soon as I arrived, I could already hear people speaking Tagalog everywhere. I suddenly felt like I wasn't in Korea for a moment. ๐
๐ข The Food
Of course, one of the best parts was the food.
From Filipino snacks and drinks to dishes that reminded me of home, it was hard not to get excited especially when I saw my favorite caldereta and sisig being served like a traditional Filipino karinderya. Seeing food that I grew up eating while living abroad is always a different kind of feeling. Yes, I definitely bought more snacks than I originally planned like Hany, Cheezy, Tortillos, and even flat tops. ๐
I noticed there were vegetables being sold too and also sometimes Jollibee (if you know, you know). I also tried halo-halo, and my friend tried balut for the first time which is a fertilized duck egg that many Filipinos consider a classic delicacy. ๐
๐๏ธ More Than Just a Market
What surprised me most wasn't the food, it was the atmosphere.
You could see families, students, workers, and friends all spending time together. Some were shopping, some were catching up with friends, and others were simply enjoying their Sunday.
It felt less like a market and more like a community gathering especially for Filipinos who misses home, but what also amazed me is that there were a lot of Koreans as well who likes Philippines so much and they all traveled to the Philippines before which made them come to Hyehwa and eat authentic Filipino food again.ย
๐ A Place for Cultural Exchange
What I also loved was seeing people from different countries visiting and trying Filipino food for the first time. Living in Korea has allowed me to experience many different cultures, but that day it felt special to be sharing my own culture with others. Sometimes cultural exchange isn't only about learning something new but it is also about introducing people to where you come from. ๐ต๐ญย
๐ก Tips Before Visiting
โข Come early! The market gets more crowded in the afternoon, especially around lunchtime. โฐ
โข Bring cash just in case. Some stalls accept cards, but having cash makes things easier. ๐ต
โข Don't be shy to ask questions. Most vendors are friendly, and some even speak Korean and English too. ๐
โข If you're not Filipino, this is the perfect chance to try something new. Ask for recommendations and you might discover your new favorite snack ๐ฌ
โข Come with an empty stomach. Seriously. You'll see so much food that you'll want to try a little bit of everything. ๐
How to Get to Hyehwaโs Philippine Market
Subway: Take Subway Line 4 to Hyehwa Station and exit from Exit 1.
Directions: From Exit 1, walk straight toward the Hyehwa Catholic Church/Dongsung High School area; the market stalls will be on your right.
The main landmark used to find the market is the Hyehwa-dong Catholic Church
๐ Location:ย Hyehwa Catholic Church (ํํ๋์ฑ๋น), 288 Changgyeonggung-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul
๐ Nearest Station:ย Hyehwa Station (Line 4), Exit 1
๐ When:ย Every Sunday, approximately 10:00 AMโ5:00/6:00 PMย
โจ Final Thoughts
Being away from home isn't always easy, but places like Hyehwa's Philippine Market make it a little easier.
Whether you're Filipino missing home, or someone who wants to experience a different culture in Korea, I definitely recommend visiting at least once.
Just make sure to come hungry, trust me. ๐๐ต๐ญ
Finding a Piece of Home at Hyehwa's Philippine Market ๐ฐ๐ท๐ต๐ญ
(photos grabbed from: visitseoul.net)
If you're a Filipino in Korea, chances are you've heard about Hyehwa-dongโs Philippine Market. Every Sunday, the area becomes a gathering place for Filipinos in Seoul looking for familiar food, products, and most importantly, a sense of home. The market usually finishes around 4-5 pm.โค๏ธ
As soon as I arrived, I could already hear people speaking Tagalog everywhere. I suddenly felt like I wasn't in Korea for a moment. ๐
๐ข The Food
Of course, one of the best parts was the food.
From Filipino snacks and drinks to dishes that reminded me of home, it was hard not to get excited especially when I saw my favorite caldereta and sisig being served like a traditional Filipino karinderya. Seeing food that I grew up eating while living abroad is always a different kind of feeling. Yes, I definitely bought more snacks than I originally planned like Hany, Cheezy, Tortillos, and even flat tops. ๐
I noticed there were vegetables being sold too and also sometimes Jollibee (if you know, you know). I also tried halo-halo, and my friend tried balut for the first time which is a fertilized duck egg that many Filipinos consider a classic delicacy. ๐
๐๏ธ More Than Just a Market
What surprised me most wasn't the food, it was the atmosphere.
You could see families, students, workers, and friends all spending time together. Some were shopping, some were catching up with friends, and others were simply enjoying their Sunday.
It felt less like a market and more like a community gathering especially for Filipinos who misses home, but what also amazed me is that there were a lot of Koreans as well who likes Philippines so much and they all traveled to the Philippines before which made them come to Hyehwa and eat authentic Filipino food again.ย
๐ A Place for Cultural Exchange
What I also loved was seeing people from different countries visiting and trying Filipino food for the first time. Living in Korea has allowed me to experience many different cultures, but that day it felt special to be sharing my own culture with others. Sometimes cultural exchange isn't only about learning something new but it is also about introducing people to where you come from. ๐ต๐ญย
๐ก Tips Before Visiting
โข Come early! The market gets more crowded in the afternoon, especially around lunchtime. โฐ
โข Bring cash just in case. Some stalls accept cards, but having cash makes things easier. ๐ต
โข Don't be shy to ask questions. Most vendors are friendly, and some even speak Korean and English too. ๐
โข If you're not Filipino, this is the perfect chance to try something new. Ask for recommendations and you might discover your new favorite snack ๐ฌ
โข Come with an empty stomach. Seriously. You'll see so much food that you'll want to try a little bit of everything. ๐
How to Get to Hyehwaโs Philippine Market
Subway: Take Subway Line 4 to Hyehwa Station and exit from Exit 1.
Directions: From Exit 1, walk straight toward the Hyehwa Catholic Church/Dongsung High School area; the market stalls will be on your right.
The main landmark used to find the market is the Hyehwa-dong Catholic Church
๐ Location:ย Hyehwa Catholic Church (ํํ๋์ฑ๋น), 288 Changgyeonggung-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul
๐ Nearest Station:ย Hyehwa Station (Line 4), Exit 1
๐ When:ย Every Sunday, approximately 10:00 AMโ5:00/6:00 PMย
โจ Final Thoughts
Being away from home isn't always easy, but places like Hyehwa's Philippine Market make it a little easier.
Whether you're Filipino missing home, or someone who wants to experience a different culture in Korea, I definitely recommend visiting at least once.
Just make sure to come hungry, trust me. ๐๐ต๐ญ