Most Koreans buy their kitchenwares and equipment at Homeplus, Costco, Emart or Lottemart. And while there are other stores where you can buy dishes, appliances, utensils and equipment for your kitchen, the best prices and the easiest access are always found at these stores.
You can find plenty of kitchen equipment/cooking necessities at the many outdoor markets in Seoul, and you can also find a lot of these items, if you’re looking for something more specific, online with the help of a Korean friend or coworker.
If you plan on buying at one of the main department store chains in Korea, fear not. Prices are very reasonable – almost laughable – for most kitchen necessities. A set of plates will cost approximately 10,000 won. A pack of four wine glasses will be about 5000 won. Pots and pans can be purchased cheaply as well: depending on the quality you can spend between 10,000 to 50,000 won on these items. If you’re looking for better quality, it would be suggested to shop at Shinsigae, Lottemart or Aekyung as they tend to be a bit more high end and have more of a selection than Homeplus or Emart.
You should remember that Korean cooking revolves around the stove top, and ovens are a rarity in many homes. Since baking isn’t popular in Korea, sometimes it’s hard to find certain baking necessities (more specifically: pastry cutters, bundt cake pans, potato mashers and lots of other baking or Western-specific dishes and utensils). If you love baking, you should buy online or bring your favourite baking tools with you from your home country.
Here are some shops/areas in Seoul where you can find kitchen and dining equipment:
Casa Mia: For more direct information on Casa Mia (contact info, etc.) see the “Home Furnishing” section. Casa Mia has some very stylish dishes, glasses and utensils for fair prices. While the selection isn’t the same as what one would have in kitchen specialty shops back home, you can find really beautiful and stylish dining tools.
Website: http://www.casamia.co.kr/
Namdaemun: While you can find cheap and sturdy kitchen supplies at nearly any open air market in Seoul, Namdaemun has a special area dedicated to all sorts of kitchen supplies, from wine glasses to casserole dishes and almost anything in between! Also, because of the presence of a large Russian community there’s a chance for you to find things you wouldn’t normally find in a Korean shop. To get there, take subway line number four to Hoehyeon Station. This market is huge, so to get to the “dishes mall” as this area is called, take gate two or three (the market has several entrance gates from the bordering area) to the C-dong Central Shopping Mall. Once there, the dishes are located on the 3rd floor.
Bangsan Market (close to Dongdaemun): There is an entire area in this market where you can find amazing baking supplies (think Kitchenaid et. al!) for a bargain. To get there, take subway line number one to Jongno 5-ga Station and leave through exit seven. This isn’t just a mall or one shop – there are several shops in the same area that sell these supplies and competition can be fierce so be prepared to bargain. Once outside exit seven, walk straight across the brick bridge and enter the market gate. If you keep walking straight, you’ll find the first bakery shop, and if you keep going you’ll find an alley with an array of baking shops selling everything you could ever hope for (including ovens, if you lack one of those). Some of these shops deliver, so you can order over the phone with the help of a Korean friend or coworker.
Some contact info and websites for this area:
- Seoul Total Bakery System: 2267-0871
- Weishin Sanghee: 2265-1398
- Happy Baking: http://www.happybaking.com
- D&B: http://www.bakingmall.com
- Kyoung Hoon: 2275-5902
Daiso: Daiso is the Japanese equivalent of a “Dollar Store”. You can find just about everything that you need for your kitchen (and then some) here and for under 10,000 won. There is usually at least two or three in every neighborhood in Seoul with the size ranging from a small space to a three story affair.
Specialty Foreign Shops that carry Kitchen Supplies:
Hannam Market: For more direct contact information, please go to the food section and check out “Specialized Groceries”. While Hannam Market has made a name for itself selling food products one simply can’t find in Korean shops, they also sell a small amount of baking dishes and other supplies that are otherwise hard to come by. Also, if you have purchased a very small oven, you can find miniature sized cookie cutters, cake pans and cookie sheets. Like the groceries, these items are a bit expensive.
Telephone: 702-3313
Yongsan Used Furniture Market: If you are on a budget, or aren’t sure how long you will stay in Seoul and you don’t want to splurge just yet on kitchen appliances you can find some great used stuff here. Everything from refrigerators, to gas ranges, to ovens, to microwaves. You should visit the shop to see what you like, and then you can have it delivered to your home for a VERY small fee. There is always at least one person on hand who speaks some English, but be sure to bring your address written in Korean for the delivery service.
Telephone: (02) 794-8665
To get there go to Noksapyeong ( line 6) station and exit through number 2. Walk straight and take the underpass to cross the highway. Once on the other side go out to the left of the underpass. Walk to the end of the street and cross to the other side ( there will be a restaurant called Noxxa on the corner). Once you get to the same side of the street as Noxxa make a right and walk up the hill. Make the next left into the alley and you will be infront of the furniture store.
Haddon House: As with Hannam Market, you can find a small selection of baking supplies at Haddon House. For more contact information/directions on how to get there, please see the “Specialized Groceries” section.
Telephone: 794-0511
