Getting to Wonju

To get to Wonju, take the KTX from Seoul Station or Cheongnyangni Station to Wonju Station or Manjong Station. It takes about 1 hour. After arriving at the station, you can take a taxi to the market for about 10,000 won.

There are buses, but the intervals between them are long, and local buses rarely provide guidance in English. If you don’t speak Korean well, taking a taxi is more convenient.

1. Dumpling Restaurant

Today I stopped by Wonju’s Dumpling Alley.

On the way to Wonju, I was thinking about what to eat, and decided on delicious dumplings!

Dumpling Alley is in Dorami Market, next to Wonju Jungang Market.

The filling is made with salted napa cabbage and ingredients such as chili powder. It isn’t fully fermented kimchi, so the flavor is clean. There’s no meat at all; the filling is made only with napa cabbage.

The dumplings are also sold raw, not steamed, keeping to the traditional way.

That’s probably why, unlike the dumplings I’ve had in other regions, the spicy flavor was outstanding!

Imone Mandu

• Address: 35-2 Jungangsijang-gil, Wonju-si, Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province
• Hours: 11:00~19:00
• Closed: 1st and 3rd Sundays of every month

2. Snack Bar Restaurant: Sinhon Buebu (Newlyweds)

Wonju Jungang Market snack bar, Sinhon Buebu.

The portions are really generous, the food is good, and the prices are fair. It’s one of my favorite places in Wonju.

A friend from Wonju said that back in their hungry student days, they often came here for meals. They said the portions have shrunk since then, which made me understand why it’s so popular with students.

Today I ordered the pork cutlet (7,000 won) and kimchi fried rice (6,500 won).

The pork cutlet is old-style, freshly fried and tasting like it was made at home. It comes with cabbage salad in the old-fashioned style, ketchup sauce, and even canned pineapple. Everything is on one plate!

The kimchi fried rice is topped with a fried egg and cheese, and it’s delicious whenever you eat it. It’s moderately spicy and really tasty.

It was crowded, so I couldn’t take photos, but the floor seating area has an unusual structure with a 1st and 2nd floor, even though it isn’t an attic. It was probably a strategy to fit many people into a small space, and now it feels like an old-fashioned place that’s perfect for reliving memories.

This place has just one downside: you have to wait at mealtimes. But apart from the price, it’s a delicious place, so if you’re ever in Wonju, I hope you’ll stop by^^

Sinhon Buebu

• Address: Jayu Sangga, Basement Level, 2-2, 11 Jungangsijang-gil, Wonju-si, Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province
• Hours: 10:00~20:00 (last order 19:30)
• Closed: Sundays

Conclusion

Wonju is a travel destination close to Seoul, and the dumpling festival held at Wonju Market in late October to early November is famous. The market has many interesting sights, and it’s also good to look around Gangwon Gamyeong, the former site of the Gangwon Province government office, near the market.

If you have some time to spare, stopping by places such as the Park Kyung-ni Literature Museum, Hanji Theme Park, and Museum SAN will make for a richer trip.

For reference, Museum SAN is located away from downtown Wonju. If you use the city tour bus, you can ride it with a day pass for 5,000 won.