Take it from someone who has travelled to Korea multiple times over the years: there’s no way you can go home empty-handed, not with all the snacks and food items available in the country!
One of the best places to buy and satisfy all your Korean food cravings is definitely Lotte Mart. Nothing beats LOTTE Mart – once you’re in, your instinct kicks in to grab a trolley and fill it with all those seaweed, almonds, kimchi, yuzu tea, and ramen.
However, you may be terribly overwhelmed by the amount of choices available! After all, even if you can send stuff back via Korea Post, there’s a limit to how much you can spend before it makes no economic sense.
Having tried and bought a lot of different items from LOTTE Mart, I thought it would be good to compile a list of items that are truly worth your won – and luggage space!
Why buy from LOTTE Mart?
Understandably, some flavours and brands are only available in Korea, so you have to grab them locally.
Based on my observations and comparisons, prices for some sweets and snacks in Lotte Mart are also cheaper than, say, if you buy from convenience stores.
Personally, I also appreciate that you also get to sample some of the food and beverages before you decide to buy, so you don’t end up buying something you don’t like at all. It’s not an option that you get in convenience stores or the random snack stores you find in Myeongdong!
Plus: tax refund and delivery (back to your home country or hotel) are also available – what’s there not to love about shopping in Lotte Mart?
Where is LOTTE Mart and what are its opening hours?
From what I understand, there are a few different branches. However, the biggest one that most tourists visit is the LOTTE Mart Zettaplex at Seoul Station.
Address: 405 Hangang-daero, Jung District, Seoul, South Korea
They open from 10am – 12am (that’s right, so you can do your shopping at midnight!), but do note that they are closed every second and fourth Sunday!
So, what’s worth buying at LOTTE Mart?
Let me first show you how our shopping cart typically looks like:
As you can see, we typically have a good mix of snacks and other dried food items for easy cooking! I’ll elaborate more on what’s worth buying:
Freshly-bottled Kimchi
One of the best things we’ve attempted to do in Lotte Mart is buy kimchi – yes, you can bring that back home! It’s way cheaper than buying it overseas.
Unfortunately I don’t have a photo of the kimchi station and the kimchi we brought home, but it’s not difficult to spot it right at the back of Lotte Mart.
Be sure to ask the ahjumma to fill up the container, and she’ll wrap it tightly for you in cling wrap to prevent spillage in your hand-carry.
Tip: I highly advise against keeping any kimchi in your luggage, reason being that there’s a high chance it might explode. I’m not even kidding, because apparently it has happened before. It’s safer to keep in your hand-carry – and also much easier to clean up!
Bibigo Seaweed (돌김)
LOTTE Mart boasts tons of cheaper seaweed brands on their shelves. However, trust me when I say none are as delicious as this Bibigo one.
In fact, buy as many as you can because it’s unlikely you can find it overseas – at least I haven’t!
I also like that Bibigo’s seaweed packaging also doesn’t include that bulky, plastic tray that other seaweed brands tend to have. It makes it much easier for you to pack them nicely in your luggage, which might be the intention behind this packaging design?
Market O Real Brownie (Original & Matcha Green Tea)
These Market O Real Brownies are arguably one of the OG snacks that everyone buys back from Korea. And for good reason!
The more popular and common flavour is the chocolate brownie, but in recent years they’ve launched the matcha flavour and it truly blew me away.
In all honesty, I love matcha and I prefer the green tea ones. If you only had space for one box in your luggage, I would definitely recommend buying the matcha green tea flavour instead of the original.
P.S. they’ve also launched a version of the chocolate brownie that supposedly boasts 25% more chocolate for that extra cocoa burst. I haven’t tried it, but it is worth a shot!
Market O Real Cheese Chips
This is the ultimate snack that will keep you crunching in satisfaction while you binge on K-dramas (am I speaking from experience? Plausibly).
The cheese flavour is just right – not too overwhelming, yet not too little that I can’t taste it at all.
Like other Market O products, Lotte Mart tends to run really good promotions in store so that it works out if you’re buying more than one box.
Yogurt Gummies
Most of us in Asia would probably know, and have drunk Yakult before.
This gummy sweet tastes exactly like a sweet, condensed version of our favourite (childhood) drink.
I’ve checked around and this exact brand is slightly more expensive overseas, so I definitely recommend you stock up on this in Korea. Plus, Lotte Mart tends to run offers which can make this really cheap!
Orion Turtle Chips
These chips were the absolute craze for a period of time, and I knew I had to get this from LOTTE Mart.
Apparently the snack gets its name from the shape which resembles the shell of a tortoise. It comprises of four thin chips overlapping each other, which are really very crunchy and addictive to snack on.
Most of the other snack and convenience stores I’ve seen typically only carry the original sweet corn / corn soup flavour. If you’re keen on trying the really cool ones like mala (!), truffle, and steak wasabi, Lotte Mart will be the place to find them.
Yogurt Probiotic Drink
This is similar to the yogurt gummies (see above) and not exactly a new phenomenon since most countries’ supermarkets have some version of it.
However, what really made me gasp was the fact that you could buy a 1 litre bottle of this in LOTTE Mart! And for just between USD 1 – 1.50!!
Unfortunately I didn’t think of taking a photo – but I sure enjoyed gulping it down! Be sure to get the 1 litre offer from LOTTE Mart to get the most bang out of your buck.
Instant Jjajangmyeon
I know instant jjapaguri has been the go-to noodle choice for many tourists, along with your usual cup noodles (Jin Ramyeon, Shin Ramyeon etc.).
However, the one instant noodle that I solidly swear by is this instant jjajangmyeon from a brand called Pulmuone.
I once tried it from the ahjumma cooking samples in LOTTE Mart and fell in love with it instantly (see what I mean!).
In terms of texture, these noodles were the most similar to that of the jjajangmyeon you get from Chinese restaurants. The black bean sauce was also thick and flavourful – not like the watery ones that I get from other brands.
P.S. this list is not exhaustive, I’ll occasionally come back and update on more recommendations!
Related Posts:
- BUY & TRY: Korea Street Food Guide
- Avoid these tourist traps in Myeongdong!
- Best budget-friendly Seoul restaurants & cafes worth revisiting
- A complete guide on how to buy & use T-money in South Korea
PIN THIS!
FAQ: Lotte Mart Shopping Guide
Helpful answers for travellers planning a shopping stop at Lotte Mart in Korea — especially big branches like Zettaplex at Seoul Station.
Lotte Mart is a large Korean hypermarket chain with groceries, snacks, drinks, toiletries, and more — all in one place. Many travellers visit to stock up on Korean snacks, instant noodles, beauty products, and souvenirs at competitive prices compared with convenience stores or tourist shops. :contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0}
The flagship Lotte Mart Zettaplex at Seoul Station is one of the most popular stops — it’s huge, easy to access from the train station, and packed with food, snacks, k-beauty, souvenirs, and more, all under one roof. :contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}
Most large Lotte Mart branches, including Zettaplex Seoul Station, are open from morning until late at night (often ~10am–midnight), giving you flexibility even if you’re sightseeing earlier in the day. :contentReference[oaicite:2]{index=2}
Yes — many branches (especially large ones like Zettaplex) offer tax-free shopping for international travellers with your passport, which can make souvenirs and bulk buys even better value. :contentReference[oaicite:3]{index=3}
Most major credit cards are accepted at Lotte Mart, and you can also pay with cash in Korean won. If you’re using cards from abroad, watch out for any foreign transaction fees your bank may charge. :contentReference[oaicite:4]{index=4}
Popular picks include Korean seaweed, Market O Real Brownies (original and matcha), yogurt gummies, snack chips, instant noodles, banana milk in small cartons, and Bibigo products — many of which are cheaper and more varied than at convenience stores. :contentReference[oaicite:5]{index=5}
Yes — larger branches often stock Korean beauty products (sheet masks, skincare), gifts, household goods, and even luggage. These make good lightweight souvenirs to take home. :contentReference[oaicite:6]{index=6}
Some stores have baggage storage lockers or services nearby, which travellers find helpful if they want to shop before catching a train or heading to the airport. It can make big shopping hauls easier. :contentReference[oaicite:7]{index=7}
Return policies vary by product type (especially food items). It’s a good idea to keep receipts and check with customer service if you need to return or exchange something after purchase. :contentReference[oaicite:8]{index=8}
Weekday mornings or early afternoons are usually less busy. Evenings and weekends can get busy, especially at Seoul Station, due to both locals and travellers shopping after work or sightseeing. :contentReference[oaicite:9]{index=9}
Leave a Reply