Cross the street from Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP) and the alphabet on the signs changes. Cyrillic letters start mixing in with Hangul, and from the alleys wafts the smell of bread baking in clay ovens. This is Gwanghui-dong Central Asia Street — a few hundred meters of alleyway that Seoul locals call “Dongdaemun Russian Street” or “Dongdaemun Silk Road.” Here is the thing: this is not some manufactured tourist zone. The people who actually live and work here eat here, and that is what makes it real.
The short answer
- Location — Exit 12 of Dongdaemun History & Culture Park Station, a 1- to 3-minute walk. Five minutes from DDP's main entrance. The Silk Road signpost at Gwanghui-dong intersection marks the entrance.
- How it started — Russian wholesale traders poured into Dongdaemun after Korea-Russia diplomatic ties in 1990. Today, about 150 restaurants, grocery stores, and currency exchanges fill the street.
- What to eat — Uzbek shashlik, plov, samsa — Mongolian khorkhog, khuushuur — Russian medovik and Napoleon cake. ₩12,000–20,000 per person gets you full and happy.
Why does this street exist?
It started in September 1990, when South Korea and Russia normalized diplomatic relations. Once the doors swung open, traders from Russia and former Soviet states swarmed Dongdaemun’s clothing wholesale markets. They needed three things within walking distance of the wholesale complex: offices, places to stay, and somewhere to eat. The neighborhood that checked all three boxes was Gwanghui-dong, just south of the markets. Soon, trading intermediaries set up shop — shipping goods bought in Dongdaemun to Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, and Mongolia. Before it became a community, the alleyways were built by logistics.
Wait — if it's called Russian Street, why are there more Uzbek and Mongolian restaurants?
When the ruble collapsed during Russia's late-1990s financial crisis, a lot of Russian traders left Korea. Mongolians and Central Asians filled the void. The turning point was New Kumho Tower, completed in 2001. This 10-story officetel struggled to find buyers — until Mongolian traders started moving in, one by one. Restaurants, grocery stores, hair salons, and phone shops clustered inside a single building, and today it's far better known as Mongol Tower than by its official name. So yes — the street's identity started Russian, but these days most of the signage is in Uzbek and Mongolian.
What should I eat? A quick menu decoder
The biggest hurdle here is not knowing what anything on the menu means. I have pulled together the names you will actually see.
🍢 Central Asia Street menu decoder (spellings vary from place to place)
| Menu Item | Alternate Spellings | What It Is | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shashlik | Shashlyk | Chunky skewers of lamb, beef, or chicken grilled over charcoal | The street’s signature dish. Priced per skewer. |
| Plov | Palov, Polov, Osh | Rice cooked with lamb, carrots, and oil | Uzbekistan’s national dish |
| Samsa | Somosa, Samsy | Triangle-shaped pastry baked in a tandoor oven, stuffed with meat and onion | Grab-and-go — eat it walking |
| Lagman | Laghman | Hand-pulled noodles in a meat-and-vegetable broth | Often cited as the most Korean-palate-friendly dish here |
| Manti | Manty | Large steamed dumplings | About twice the size of Korean mandu |
| Shurpa | Shorpo | Clear lamb soup | The local hangover cure |
| Khorkhog | Khorkhok | Mongolian lamb ribs steam-cooked with hot stones | A dish Mongolians serve to honored guests |
| Khuushuur | Huushuur | Mongolian deep-fried meat dumplings | Order alongside tsuivan (stir-fried noodles) |
| Medovik | — | Russian honey cake | Layers upon layers of thin honey-soaked sheets |
A no-fail order for first-timers
- For two people: shashlik 2–3 skewers + plov for one + a round naan. That is plenty.
- If lamb feels intimidating, start with beef or chicken shashlik. The spice level is milder than you would expect.
- Shashlik is grilled to order over charcoal. Budget 15–25 minutes of waiting, and order samsa or a salad to tide you over — that is the pro move.
Uzbek restaurants — where to go
One quirk of this neighborhood: multiple places are named “Samarkand.” Samarkand, Samarkand City, Star Samarkand… it is the name of Uzbekistan’s ancient Silk Road city, so everyone uses it. These are different restaurants. Check the address on your map before walking in.
🥘 Uzbek & Russian restaurants at a glance (as of July 2026 — check prices before visiting)
| Name | Address | Signature Dishes | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Samarkand (Original) | 159-21 Mareunnae-ro, Jung-gu | Lamb & beef shashlik, plov | Tucked into the alley; small sign |
| Cafe Uzbekistan | 159-23 Mareunnae-ro, Jung-gu | Tandoor samsa, manti, plov | 02-2277-4163 |
| Somsa-Shashlik | 15 Euljiro 42-gil, Jung-gu | Chicken samsa, Uzbek pilaf, shurpa | |
| Samarkand City | Near Exit 12, Dongdaemun History & Culture Park Station | Lamb-rib shashlik | |
| Star Samarkand | Central Asia Street, Gwanghui-dong | Mixed Russian-Uzbek menu | |
| Imperia | 161 Mareunnae-ro, Jung-gu | Russian & Central Asian groceries, bread | 02-2263-4115 · A few seats inside for a quick bite |
Where to find Mongolian food
The Mongolian side of things clusters along Euljiro 44-gil. The landmark is New Kumho Tower, known to everyone as Mongol Tower. A single 10-story building packed with Mongolian restaurants, grocery stores, hair salons, phone shops, and children’s clothing stores — riding the elevator up and down is an experience in itself. On weekends, Mongolians living across Seoul and the capital area gather here, and the place buzzes.
🐎 Mongolian & Buryat restaurants
| Name | Address | Signature Dishes | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nomad Mongol | 19 Euljiro 44-gil (2F), Jung-gu | Khorkhog, tsuivan, khuushuur | 02-2269-6669 · Khorkhog takes time to prepare |
| New Kumho Tower | Euljiro 44-gil area, Jung-gu | Cluster of Mongolian eateries & marts | |
| Cafe Baikal | 24 Donghoro 34-gil (2F), Jung-gu | Borscht, buuzy | 02-3390-4310 |
Cafes and bakeries worth your time
Plenty of people come here not for a full meal but specifically for this. The Russian cakes, in particular, are something you will struggle to find anywhere else in Seoul.
| Name | Address | Signature Items | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Russian Cake | 7 Euljiro 42-gil, Jung-gu | Napoleon, medovik, Kyiv cake | 02-6053-4079 · Sold by the slice |
| Imperia | 161 Mareunnae-ro, Jung-gu | Russian bread, Uzbek non, Russian-style sandwiches | 02-2263-4115 · A handful of seats for eating in |
When to go and how to get around
Visitor tips
- Walking route — Exit 12 → Gwanghui-dong intersection Silk Road signpost → Mareunnae-ro alley (Uzbek restaurants, Imperia) → Euljiro 42-gil (Russian Cake, Somsa-Shashlik) → Euljiro 44-gil (Mongol Tower, Nomad Mongol). All within 10 minutes on foot.
- Timing — Quiet during the day, buzzing with local regulars in the evenings and on weekends. Come on a weekend evening for atmosphere, or a weekday early evening for a relaxed meal.
- Payment — Cards work at most places, though small shops may prefer cash. There are several currency exchange booths along the street.
- Bundle it up — DDP and the Dongdaemun night market are a 5-minute walk away. Sindang-dong tteokbokki alley and Hipdangdong are one subway stop. Grab dinner here, then walk over to DDP for the nighttime city views — it is a natural pairing.
Good to know
This is not a tourist zone — it is a living, working neighborhood. Most of the businesses in these alleys cater to the people who live here, not to travelers. When you take photos, keep other diners out of the frame. Individual shops change their hours and days off frequently, so if you are traveling from far away, a quick phone call before heading out is the safe bet.
Sources
- Seoul Jung-gu Culture & Tourism — Gwanghui-dong Central Asia Street (neighborhood origins, business count)
- Seoul Love, February 2020 issue — Encountering the Silk Road in Gwanghui-dong (individual shop addresses, phone numbers, menus)
- Dining Code — Dongdaemun Uzbek & shashlik restaurant data (business names, menu price references)
- Prices and opening hours as surveyed in July 2026, pending on-site verification.