My solo 2-day walking tour of Jeonju: The ultimate guide to real local eats (and how to skip the endless waiting lines!)

After spending every single day staring at my laptop screen in a tiny room while prepping for jobs, I suddenly felt like throwing it all away and just hopped on an express bus. 🎧 I popped in my earphones and arrived, and let me tell you, the night vibe in Jeonju Hanok Village was absolutely insane. During the day, you can easily get drained by the massive crowds, but once the sun goes down, these quiet, peaceful walking paths open up like time has completely stopped.

To be honest, I was so exhausted during the day just trying to navigate the main streets through the crowds, but once darkness fell, the alleys became so quiet that I could fully soak in the beautiful curves of the Hanok houses. Looking at the scenery where the tiled roofs met the warm lights under the deep blue night sky, I felt all the heaviness in my heart from the day just wash away. Night strolls really are the best part of traveling 🚶‍♂️

The subtle lights blooming in every alley and the silhouettes of the stone walls felt like a scene from a traditional ink wash painting—it was pure healing the whole time I was walking. Some people say there's nothing much to see in Jeonju because they only stick to the main streets, but if you want to experience it properly, you have to dive into the little alleys at night. That's where the real vibes are, so make sure to keep that in mind!

During the day, the long wait times and huge crowds can be pretty exhausting, but once night falls, the crowds thin out. I feel like being able to fully soak in the peaceful vibes of these quiet alleys is the ultimate perk of being a traveler on foot. My steps felt so light all the way back to my accommodation, and my heart was racing with excitement thinking about which local gems I’d get to devour tomorrow.

The next morning, I told myself, "I'm in Jeonju, so I absolutely have to have bibimbap!" and started searching like crazy. I headed straight to Gajok Hoegwan, which is supposedly super famous on Instagram... and wow, the chaos started right then and there. There was no waiting list or organized system from the staff; we just had to stand in line and wait based on whoever showed up first. I couldn't believe they just left us hanging even though there were clearly empty seats visible in the restaurant 🤬

After finally managing to snag a seat, it took a whopping 26 minutes from the time we ordered until the bibimbap actually arrived. To make matters worse, the side dishes had been sitting out for so long that they were all dried up... But what made me the angriest was that the bowl for the beef tartare bibimbap was so incredibly hot that the raw beef actually cooked while I was mixing it! I was really looking forward to that signature chewy texture of fresh raw beef, but it just turned into a cooked meat bibimbap instead. I was so bummed about wasting my money.

After having such a bad experience at Gajok Hoegwan, I quickly changed my plans and headed to Baeksong Hoegwan, a place locals actually go to. As soon as I saw the sign with its large lettering against the red brick exterior, I could feel that heavy, old-school vibe. There’s no remote queuing system like Catch Table here; you just have to write your name and the number of people on a list and wait on-site. When they call your name, they’ll skip you immediately if you're not at your seat, so please, please don't wander off to the restroom!

Seeing all the Blue Ribbon stickers from every year since 2017 lined up at the entrance, I knew right away, "Okay, this place is the real deal." Looking at the menu, the Beef Tartare Bibimbap (Yukhoe Bibimbap) is only 10,000 won, which is insane value. I couldn't believe a 10,000 won bibimbap even existed with today's prices—it was like a ray of light for my broke job-seeker wallet haha. I ordered it right away.

Seriously, is this visual for real? The bright red beef tartare was piled high in a heavy brass bowl, and my mouth started watering instantly. Here's a little TMI for you! If you order the bibimbap, the lady will bring over hot rice freshly made in a cauldron right to your table and serve it for you. You can ask for more or less rice depending on your preference! Being a total carb addict, I obviously asked for a massive mountain of rice haha.

The moment I took a bite, the savory flavor exploded in my mouth and I couldn't help but gasp. There wasn't a hint of any meat smell, and the beef was so tender it just melted in my mouth... Even the seasoned vegetable side dishes were perfectly flavored, so I scraped the bowl clean. Just a heads-up, there is a private parking lot behind the building, but there's no parking attendant and it gets super crowded, so I'm so glad I came on foot. Also, a little pro-tip: you can enter directly through the back entrance instead of walking all the way around to the main entrance.

After filling up on a good meal, I headed over to the Jeonju Nambu Market Night Market to walk it off. Even the entrance sign caught my eye with its bold blue and orange colors, and as the night went on, everyone started flocking to the market—it was absolutely packed! People-watching was so much fun, and I just loved that lively market vibe.

Delicious smells wafted through the air under the colorful neon lights stretching across the ceiling. The lines for the famous food stalls seemed endless, but since I'm a slow traveler with plenty of time, I happily joined the queue. I can definitely handle some sore legs if it means eating something amazing 🚋

The famous gangjeong (sweet and crunchy snack) stall, which was featured on a TV show, looked absolutely incredible. They had piles of chicken, shrimp, and crab gangjeong stacked up like mountains, and since a small portion was only 10,000 won, it was the perfect amount for one person. I made a quick bank transfer and headed straight to the flame-grilled sushi stall right next to it. I found myself joining the line almost hypnotized after watching them torch the sushi right in front of me, and one bite of that smoky, flame-grilled sushi was pure bliss!

After eating my fill at the night market and sleeping like a baby, I headed to Gyeonggijeon early the next morning. Gyeonggijeon in autumn is absolutely breathtaking, with massive ginkgo trees turning golden, surrounding the peaceful stone paths. Walking around under the clear, high sky while admiring the traditional Hanok architecture made me feel so calm and peaceful 🍂

The area around Gyeonggijeon is so vast and there's so much to see that my legs felt like they were going to fall off from all the walking. Because of that, I saw a lot of people renting electric scooters from the shops along the street. For travelers on foot, managing your energy is everything, so if walking feels like too much, renting an electric scooter is a total pro tip!

While walking along the stone wall path of Gyeonggijeon, I stumbled upon a place called 'Gyeonggijeon-yeop Photo Studio.' Even though I'm traveling solo, I really wanted to capture this beautiful autumn scenery and this "broke in my late 20s" phase of my life, so I just popped in. Looking at the banner at the entrance, they even give a discount on drinks at a nearby cafe if you bring your receipt, so you definitely shouldn't miss out on a deal like that haha.

The studio itself was so hip and full of aesthetic vibes that I was excited right away. I felt a little awkward taking selfies in front of the mirror by myself, but walking out with my printed photos tucked in a neat envelope felt like a little gift to myself, which made me so proud. I bet it'll feel totally different when I come back after landing a job and making plenty of money, right?

You can't exactly head home empty-handed after visiting Jeonju! I headed straight to the PNB Pungnyeon Jegwa Main Store to grab some treats for my family waiting at home. It's a white three-story building with a sense of tradition that's been passed down through three generations since 1951, and the orange sign stands out so much that even someone with zero sense of direction like me found it instantly.

As soon as I stepped inside, the sweet smell of chocolate was everywhere. But I made one really painful mistake... I visited around 1 PM to buy a mini Choco Pie set, but I can't believe they were already sold out! haha. If you want to pick out your favorite combination, I highly recommend coming early in the morning. My poor walking legs are crying...

And here's a real pro-tip you need to know! Unlike the original size, the mini Choco Pies do not have strawberry jam inside. The sign says they "aren't too sweet since there's no strawberry jam," but honestly, for my taste, it felt a bit dry and the flavors didn't quite balance out without the jam. If you're a sweet tooth, definitely go for the original! Also, just a heads-up: the milk tea at the 2nd-floor cafe is super sweet, and the cream cheese Choco Pie can get a bit heavy after a few bites, so definitely pair those with an Americano!

After finishing up my souvenir shopping, I headed to Hawaiian Recipe for one last meal before catching my train. The place has this strangely exotic vibe because of the traditional Hanok exterior paired with a Japanese sign. But seriously, you have to be careful when walking in! The floor level drops so suddenly at the entrance that I almost tripped and my heart nearly skipped a beat. Everyone, please watch your step!

The interior is absolutely stunning, with high ceilings showing off the exposed rafters and beautiful rattan lighting that just screams "aesthetic." Since I was by myself, I sat at the bar (dajji) seating. It's a great spot if you don't want to feel self-conscious about dining alone, though the chairs were a bit high and hard, making it slightly uncomfortable. Still, watching the chefs work in the open kitchen was quite entertaining.

I ordered their signature Garlic Shrimp, and the presentation was a total win! The golden-brown shrimp topped with plenty of garlic flakes was served in a lovely vintage ceramic bowl. But honestly, the portion of rice is way too small. Any grown man is definitely going to need a refill, but there was no information about the pre-payment system or whether a single rice refill was allowed, so I had to awkwardly ask myself. It would be so much better if they just let you know beforehand! 😤

I also ordered a Coke because I was thirsty, but for 2,000 won, it came in a slim can rather than a standard tall one, so the amount felt a bit disappointing for the price. That being said, the shrimp itself was so plump and the garlic sauce flavor was insane, so I ended up scraping every last bit of rice with that sauce lol. If you consider it part of the "vibe tax," it's definitely a place worth visiting once.

After walking over 20,000 steps in a single day, my legs felt like they were about to snap, but heading toward Jeonju Station with my hands full of Choco Pies felt strangely rewarding. It was such a dynamic two-day trip—one moment I was annoyed after getting tricked by an Instagram "hot spot," and the next, I was totally blown away by a local gem I stumbled upon. It wasn't perfect, but that's exactly why this walking tour was so memorable. Next time, I'm definitely coming back with a light heart once I've crushed my job hunt! 🙏