Majang Meat Market: The Ultimate Guide to Seoul’s Hidden Meat Paradise

If you’re a food lover visiting Seoul, you’ve probably heard of Noryangjin Fish Market for fresh seafood. But what if you’re a meat lover?

Enter Majang Meat Market —Korea’s largest and most famous butcher market, supplying over 60% of the country’s beef. If you love Hanwoo beef (한우, pronounced Han-oo) and want to experience authentic Korean BBQ in a unique, local setting, this is the place to go!

Why Visit Majang Meat Market?

Majang Meat Market isn’t just a place to buy meat—it’s a foodie destination where you can experience Korea’s butchery traditions, meat culture, and dining customs firsthand.

✅ Top Reasons to Visit:

• 🥩 Premium Hanwoo Beef: The highest-quality Korean domestic beef at 20-30% cheaper than restaurant prices.
• 🔥 Unique Korean BBQ Experience: Buy meat directly from the butcher and grill it at a restaurant on-site.
• 📸 Authentic Market Atmosphere: Explore a bustling local market where butchers skillfully prepare fresh cuts of beef.
• 💰 Best Bang for Your Buck: Enjoy top-tier Hanwoo at a fraction of the price of luxury restaurants like Born & Bred.

What Makes Hanwoo (한우) Beef Special?

Hanwoo is Korea’s prized native breed of cattle, often compared to Wagyu and USDA Prime beef. But what makes Hanwoo so special?

🐂 Why Hanwoo is Unique:

1. Incredible Marbling: Hanwoo beef is richly marbled, creating a tender, melt-in-your-mouth texture.
2. Sweet, Nutty Flavor: Unlike Wagyu, which is ultra-fatty, Hanwoo has a balance of meat and fat, giving it a more robust, beefy flavor.
3. Farm-to-Table Transparency: Every cut of Hanwoo beef must be labeled with its origin, farm, and grade, ensuring top-tier quality.
4. Rare & Expensive: Hanwoo cattle are raised in small numbers compared to American or Australian beef, making them a premium delicacy.
5. Preferred for Korean BBQ: The balance of marbling and tenderness makes Hanwoo perfect for grilling over charcoal.

🥩 Must-Try Hanwoo Cuts

• 🐄 Ggotdeungshim (꽃등심) – Ribeye → Super tender with excellent marbling.
• 🐄 Anchangsal (안창살) – Thin Skirt → Deep, beefy umami flavor, slightly chewy.
• 🐄 Salchisal (살치살) – Flap Tail → Juicy and flavorful, great for grilling.
• 🐄 Chaekkeut (채끝살) – Strip Loin → Steak-like cut with rich layers of fat.

When eating Hanwoo at Majang Meat Market, you get the best quality at a fraction of the price of high-end restaurants.

What to Expect at Majang Meat Market

Majang Meat Market is divided into three main areas:

1️⃣ Wholesale Meat Section (도매시장)

• Open early in the morning, this is where restaurant owners and butchers buy in bulk.
• Expect to see giant slabs of beef, pork, and lamb being cut and prepared.

2️⃣ Retail Butcher Shops (소매 정육점)

• Where individuals can buy fresh meat for personal use.
• Many butchers offer free tastings and custom cuts for grilling.

3️⃣ BBQ Restaurants

• Bring your freshly bought meat to a BBQ restaurant, where they’ll grill it over charcoal. Many of them are on the second floor.
• Most restaurants charge a small grilling fee (~₩5,000 per person), including unlimited side dishes.

Note that you may hear a lot about Majang BBQ Beef Alley. It has recently been razed with the resident restaurants scattering around the area. So sad. Even though they had been illegally squatting on that land for over forty years and were a fire hazard (around 30-percent of the restaurants burned down in 2023), it was a cultural landmark.

How to Experience Korean BBQ at Majang Meat Market

Unlike typical BBQ restaurants, here’s how to do it the local way:

✅ Step 1: Choose Your Butcher

• Walk through the market and look for butchers specializing in Hanwoo.
• Tip: If unsure, ask for a “meat platter” (Gogi Modeum 고기 모둠) to try different cuts.

✅ Step 2: Buy Your Meat

• Expect to pay ₩30,000–₩60,000 per person for premium Hanwoo cuts.
• Some butchers offer complimentary “service” cuts—often lean beef for eating raw (Yukhwe 육회) with sesame oil & salt.

✅ Step 3: Take It to a BBQ Restaurant

• Find a restaurant in the market and hand them your meat. Many times the butchers are connected to restaurants and will direct you there.
• They will grill it for you over charcoal and provide banchan (반찬, side dishes).

✅ Step 4: Enjoy Your Meal!

• Try dipping the beef in ssamjang (쌈장, spicy soybean paste), salt, or wasabi.
• Wrap it in perilla leaves (Kkaenip 깻잎) or lettuce for the ultimate Korean BBQ experience.

Majang Meat Market: Visitor Tips

• 📅 Best Time to Visit: Mornings (for fresh cuts) or early evenings (for BBQ).
• 🚇 How to Get There:
  • Take Subway Line 2 to Yongdu Station (용두역), Exit 4.
  • Walk 5 minutes to the market entrance.
• 🚗 Parking: ₩3,000 per hour, but free parking vouchers are available with purchases.

Join Our Majang Meat Lovers Experience!

Want a guided tour to Majang Meat Market with exclusive tastings and insider access?

Join our Majang Meat Lovers Experience, where we take you to:
✅ The best butcher shops for premium Hanwoo
✅ Hidden BBQ spots with charcoal grilling
✅ Secret tastings of rare beef cuts

🍖 Book Your Spot Now!

Final Thoughts: Why Majang Meat Market is a Must-Visit

Majang Meat Market isn’t just a place to buy meat—it’s an authentic cultural experience for food lovers. If you want to:

✅ Eat the best Hanwoo beef at the best prices
✅ Experience Korean BBQ in the most authentic way
✅ Explore Seoul beyond the tourist hotspots

Then skip the overpriced BBQ joints and head to Majang Meat Market for a legendary meat feast! 🔥🍖

Bonus Video

I joined Bart in his video on Majang-dong. You can see more of the market and the old Beef BBQ Alley here.