[Tongyeong, Gyeongnam] A search for foodstuffs originated from Tongyeong

[Tongyeong, Gyeongnam] A search for foodstuffs originated from Tongyeong

Many snacks and menu items currently popular nationwide have roots in Tongyeong, and today, we will introduce some of the hottest picks that are most sought-after among tourists. 

▶ Oysters

A whopping 70 percent of oysters produced in Korea come from Tongyeong. What other explanation is needed to prove that the southern port city serves the best oyster-inspired dishes, too?

Oysters are in season between September and December, so now's the perfect time to relish the nutritious seafood full of collagen and minerals. Nicknamed the "milk of the sea," oysters are effective for preventing anemia and lowering cholesterol levels.

 

<The best way to serve the best oysters in Korea is simply putting them out raw.>

Oysters are cooked in diverse ways, like fried, boiled, steamed and seasoned. But as with most other ingredients, when you're given the most fresh pieces of oysters and told to eat them however you want, heat and additional condiments would probably be the last things you need because chewing them raw will be the best way to savor every taste. 

Find the freshest oysters in Tongyeong's Central Market or the Seoho Market. Look for those with shiny, milky-white shells. 

<A typical chungmu gimbap serving in Tongyeong.>

▶ Chungmu gimbap

The history of chungmu gimbap dates decades back when fishermen used to separate the inner ingredients of a gimbap with the rolls of rice wrapped in seaweed to prevent their food from going rotten. 

Now, Tongyeong eateries gave another twist to the dish by serving radish kimchi and seasoned squid on the side, rather than the various ingredients normally used in a gimbap, like meat, carrots and spinach. 

<Honey bread, a Tongyeong dessert that has risen to national fame.>

▶ Honey bread, a taste that will kill you softly

The best dessert you'll find in Tongyeong, which is so famous that tourists usually wait in long lines to buy a package before it gets all sold out, is no other than the honey bread. 

Coated with honey and filled with red beans or sweet potato, Tongyeong's signature snack resembles a round doughnut that actually tastes like one, too. 

Although you'll find hundreds of bakeries selling honey bread in Tongyeong, nothing can ever beat the original establishment that first began selling the dessert in 1963: Omisa Honeyed Bread. 

<Tongyeong Bus Terminal>

▶ How to get to Tongyeong 

The best way to get to Tongyeong is by an express bus, and the Seoul Express Bus Terminal provides 17 rides each day starting from 7 a.m. The ride takes four hours.

If you're starting from Busan, take a Tongyeong-bound bus from the Busan Seobu Bus Terminal, which provides rides every 20 minutes. 

※Relevant information

▶ Tongyeong cultural tour

Homepage: http://tour.tongyeong.go.kr

Contact: 055-650-4681, 4680