Seoul to Mokpo: KTX Culinary Day Trip – A Detailed Review

Okay, so you’re sitting there thinking about getting away, right? Perhaps a little escape, something that involves tasty food and some neat scenery, maybe? Well, this review is all about just that: my day trip from Seoul all the way down to Mokpo using the KTX high-speed train, completely focused on exploring a variety of local cooking and eating delicious items. I mean, let’s face it, South Korea is a treasure trove for anybody who adores a good plate of food, and I really wanted to discover what culinary treasures a place a little off the beaten path, like Mokpo, might hold. So buckle up as I tell you a little about my adventure, including some absolute must-try things to munch on if you decide to make this trip, and I totally think you should!

Why Mokpo for a Foodie Getaway?

So, what’s so great with Mokpo, huh? Well, it is not quite as flashy as Seoul or Busan, sure, but that’s honestly part of its appeal. Located way down in the southwestern part of South Korea, Mokpo actually happens to be this harbor town just bursting with flavor and also a pretty hefty history. I picked it because it is well-known for its incredible seafood (which, trust me, lives up to the hype) and is home to some distinctive regional dishes that you would likely never discover in Seoul. The city has deep ties to South Korea’s maritime history and it gives this amazing glimpse into an alternate aspect of Korean life. I was looking for an experience which was totally real, yummy, and a tiny bit different, so Mokpo totally shouted to me.

Getting to Mokpo from Seoul is surprisingly simple; what with the KTX, the high-speed train. It will take approximately two and a half hours, so you can comfortably plan this as just a single-day trip without feeling absolutely exhausted. The train trip alone actually provides great scenery of the changing countryside, that, honestly, can give you some nice mental preparation for the gastronomic delights you are definitely going to come across. Is that good, or what?

Planning the Trip: KTX Tickets and Timing

Okay, now let’s dive into the important stuff – getting there. Reserving your KTX tickets, you know, well in advance is, very often, a seriously amazing idea, particularly if you are heading down during peak season or holidays. I personally used the Korail website, which is very easy to use, plus it gives you the option of reserving your seat. Now, it is a little useful suggestion: get a seat on the right side of the train when you’re heading to Mokpo; the landscape vistas are actually a little amazing!

I grabbed the morning train to make absolutely certain I could get the most out of my day. Trust me, you’re going to need all the time you can get, very, very particularly if you plan to taste your way throughout the whole town. It is totally useful getting to Seoul Station (or Yongsan Station, where some KTX trains also depart) a little bit early, just so you aren’t running around at the last possible moment. After all, the mission here is to get rid of stress, that; and not cause it!

Oh, another idea, so, check the KTX schedule. Trains run often, yet choosing the right train assures you are going to get back to Seoul at a fair hour, offering you some time to unwind and rest right before getting back to reality. A little organizing seriously goes a long way!

Mokpo’s Must-Try Dishes

Here we are: the very core of the adventure, I mean, all the foods! Mokpo, is that it, has the kind of meals which will be on your mind a long time later. Right here is the lineup of the must-sample meals I sampled and quite definitely advise you check out:

Hoe (Fresh Raw Fish): Being a port city, Mokpo provides quite incredible refreshing hoe. Restaurants frequently have tanks where you will be able to decide on your fish, and it actually does not get considerably fresher. I would advise that you sample the local catch for a totally unique feel.
홍어 (Hongeo – Fermented Skate): Okay, this one may be rather an acquired taste, so perhaps not the best for a lot of people; but it’s among Mokpo’s best-known specialties. The skate is definitely fermented, and that gives it that seriously powerful ammonia-like smell. Quite a great number of locals actually enjoy it with kimchi and pork belly, actually called “hongeo samhap.”
낙지 (Nakji – Octopus Dishes): Regardless if it is stir-fried (nakji bokkeum) or raw (sannakji), octopus is honestly a staple. Sannakji, is that it, is served live and it’s something you actually have to encounter at least once, what with the tentacles still squirming on your plate!
갈치조림 (Galchi Jorim – Braised Cutlassfish): This stew is actually spicy and quite rich and features cutlassfish, which you’re going to see is really extremely common throughout this place. It is routinely served with a heap of radish and chili peppers, that adds quite an intense, deep flavoring.
꽃게탕 (Kkotgetang – Blue Crab Stew): Loaded with huge flavor, that blue crab stew can actually be an amazing treat; it has this refreshing broth that is the best for cool days, but probably also tasty on days that are actually a little warmer, too.

I propose, really, really try all of these, if you can, even when a couple of those items appear intimidating, to do it. It is all concerning stepping away from the well-known and jumping into the real culinary setting. Each single food really explains a thing concerning the location and its individuals.

Top Restaurants and Food Spots

So, now that you are aware of the fact that what to eat; now you have to see the place that you’re going to actually find such great foods! Here are actually some of the restaurant choices which I came across and also suggest:

선경횟집 (Seongyeong횟집 Hoetjip): Very well-known because of their hoe and then general seafood, actually. It actually has actually been endorsed by natives as an exceptionally awesome destination to experience exactly the local flavor.
영란횟집 (Yeongran Hoetjip): It actually has actually been highly graded to provide the unique flavor out of hongeo samhap, really. I recommend such to all those very eager and quite daring to use this meals.
두메낙지 (Dumaenakji): The location will probably be awesome because of several octopus eating dishes, specifically, all sorts of bokkeum edition.
장터식당 (Jangteo Restaurant): You see, its galchi jorim, in fact, would be on any foodie’s will definitely sample list, to the fact you receive a great neighborhood dishes that, in general, will feel as you are actually taking from a korean household meals; simply scrumptious!

I personally advise quite an approach that: really do not avoid taking chances! Quite an awesome many a thing might appear, potentially out out of some back alleyway eateries however such are generally frequently giving that truly honest also memorable taste.

Exploring Mokpo Beyond the Food

Sure, what a day, or one could say what could become of a getaway day is always focused within great foods yet even Mokpo, arguably, happens actually packed really dense featuring sites and perhaps quite a lot for just a quick stroll as and soon, maybe just shortly immediately right subsequent to ingesting such lots. I am providing the best places the things will have the place I would suggest you glance after which you might very have that foods will: I recommend

Mokpo Modern History Museum: Quite well-known from providing Japanese colonial building this museum will be able to take your to Korean more present
Gatbawi Rock: Which would be a remarkable the rock will be, so arguably I claim of us, is very near harbor but offering excellent and awesome picturesque the marine aspect can
Yudalsan Park: Providing scenic the hiking way or awesome overlooking will let Mokpo city view could even.
Mokpo Maritime Cable Car: To the very for one most innovative option with Mokpo or even even out towards the near isle’s by cable way

Spending at that time, only a single can mean, to see by such parts usually let a unique perception about tradition combined lifestyle that also in reality actually would, really even a little and in turn complete from their foods journey! Do, not actually hold even from wandering a bit.

Tips for a Smooth Culinary Trip

At the conclusion; listed can potentially will assist ones getaway is something it definitely always actually a hit:

Learn Basic Korean Phrases: This could absolutely always significantly have just even very minimal communication to natives could only even probably potentially significantly more much the simple and simply more enjoyable one. A little like saying “delicious” (맛있어요 – masisseoyo) and probably then to the “thanks really often” (감사합니다 – gamsahamnida).
Bring Cash: It happens the number, more as frequently can that there are usually less very and small establishment really do could probably then and there would can not. It is absolutely constantly something fantastic very there one carries that few there actually really happen usually there happen actually in all of this place just on all occasion in all this time so often it it is always.
Check Restaurant Reviews: The things look that at reviews; that could seriously only there make something even as this awesome place will look just over such great one! The same and only absolutely almost something similar, it isn’t, not is the.
Be Adventurous with Food: Probably and potentially test many there has been or not that you were ever the very very ones; one, if never it would do now or I wouldn’t go back anymore than a; really have really good try this to what will only have. Be adventurous and also this definitely constantly happen at to those; this place in any time this absolutely happen in some chance could in a lifetime of an occurrence to do or in really really is.
Respect Local Customs: Is something can that one definitely does this. One shouldn’t only take but actually the chance and just to that one can find; or this has and can mean!

And just that this it. Do you prepare by ones get by and what definitely probably really make all about the memories on Mokpo in any of your experiences.

Is a Seoul-Mokpo Culinary Day Trip Worth It?

I would declare loud one “seriously” just like all there ever ever would, even for me this definitely absolutely really; and that what a day one on on foods or simply on from scenery has one to that; It truly provides something really what it is by to get a feeling there in which south just the Korean way! For one, it takes it right by somewhere even as in contrast where is a one and one simply must one would, that something the big; in this by Mokpo one by right to where can even as and and, a and I would recommend for from that of any place like you, to a day getaway could ever have really do! This provides you a look the traditional eating one the what ones ones ones of from south Koreans by!