Myeongdong Lobster Stall: ₩20,000 Cheese-Roasted Lobster, and Exactly How to Order It
The Kkori-chineun Lobster Gui stall in Myeongdong's street food zone sells exactly one thing. Cheese-roasted lobster, ₩20,000 per lobster, with the price sign standing right at the front of the cart.
Cash, bank transfer, and credit cards all work. There's nowhere to sit, but you can eat standing at the stall or walking down the street, and when you're done you hand the paper container and chopsticks back to the vendor.
What does the Myeongdong lobster stall look like from the outside?
The overhead sign reads 꼬리치는 랍스터구이 in large Korean letters, with smaller Chinese and English text underneath (Roast lobster with Cheese). You don't need to know the Korean name — the sign tells you what's being sold before you get close.
What caught me off guard was the lobster models. One hangs upside down on the left side of the cart, and it looked so much like the real thing that I poked it with my finger to check. It was a model. Five or so more, in different sizes and colors, hang above the stall.
The cooking surface faces the customers. The vendor stands at the grill in full view, so you can watch what's being cooked and how before you decide to order.
So let's start with what one lobster costs.
How much does the cheese-roasted lobster cost?
The price sign sits next to the cooking surface, and it lists a single figure: ₩20,000. The Korean menu name 랍스터 치즈구이 appears above the English line, Roast lobster with Cheese.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Menu | Cheese-roasted lobster (single item only) |
| Price | ₩20,000 (per lobster) |
| Payment | Cash · bank transfer · credit cards |
| Served in | Long rectangular paper container + disposable wooden chopsticks |
| Where to eat | No seating / standing or walking is fine |
| Trash | Hand it back to the vendor |
Because there's only one item, there's no size choice and no add-ons to work through. ₩20,000 buys one lobster, and the price sign in the photo shows no other figures.
Knowing the price before you walk up means you can skip the asking-how-much step entirely. Once that's settled, the rest of the process is short.
How do they cook the lobster after you order?
The vendor grills it in front of you. It's not a fast, high-heat sear — the lobster cooks slowly over a low flame. To keep the line moving, two or three are usually grilling ahead of time.
Here's the part that makes this stall easier than it looks. The vendor separates the shell from the meat before handing it over. No cracking anything open yourself. Anyone who has worked through a whole crab knows how much of the meal that step eats up — here it's already done. A handheld torch finishes the surface for a bit of char.
The lobster goes into a long rectangular paper container sized to fit it. Disposable wooden chopsticks stand in a cup beside the counter, and you take one yourself.
Next comes the moment a lot of visitors tense up about at Korean street stalls: paying.
Can you pay by card at the lobster stall?
This one is simple. Cash, bank transfer, and credit cards all work, and the stall's post has QR payment stickers on it (NAMANE card, Alipay+).
That said, cash moves fastest in practice. The exchange is simpler, so both the vendor and the customer tend to prefer it. If there's a line, having cash ready in your hand noticeably shortens the wait.
Payment done, the next question is where you actually eat a hot lobster.
Where are you supposed to eat it?
It's an outdoor stall, so there's no seating. You can stand at the cart and eat, or carry the paper container and eat as you walk.
Most people stand right there. Since the shell is already off, you hold the container in one hand and pick the meat out with chopsticks — it works fine standing up.
Where do you throw away the container and chopsticks?
You hand them back to the vendor. The stall has a sign in English reading "Give me the trash," with Korean and Chinese lines saying the same thing — the vendor disposes of it for you.
When I took these photos, empty containers and used chopsticks were stacked up at the stall. That's the pattern: most customers eat right there and return the container on the spot.
Not having to carry a greasy container around looking for a bin makes more difference in Myeongdong than you'd expect.
Can Muslim travelers or people with allergies eat here?
The stall displays a halal certification mark (HALAL FOOD CERTIFIED). If halal matters to you, check the mark hanging at the stall yourself and decide from there. Quite a few stalls in Myeongdong pay more attention to halal requirements than you might expect.
Allergies are clear-cut. The menu name says it: this contains both shellfish (lobster) and dairy (cheese). If you need to avoid either one, this stall isn't an option.
Is ₩20,000 worth it?
I'm working my way through the whole street food zone, and I buy one item at every stall. I don't think you can describe a taste you haven't had. So I bought one here too.
Crisp on the outside, moist inside. The lobster was packed full, and between that and the protein, one was enough to take the edge off my hunger. Not full, exactly. I'd praise the flavor over the portion — the lobster meat and cheese together worked well.
The price is on the high side. I'll admit that. But the flavor delivers, so I'd say it earns the extra cost.
For what it's worth, lobster is known to be rich in protein, essential amino acids, and antioxidants, which are said to help with skin aging. That may be part of why this stall draws a lot of women visiting from abroad.
Frequently asked questions
How much is cheese-roasted lobster in Myeongdong?
₩20,000 for one lobster. The price sign at the front of the stall shows ₩20,000 directly, and since cheese-roasted lobster is the only menu item, there are no size choices or add-ons. The ₩20,000 covers one whole lobster.
Can I pay by card?
Yes. Cash, bank transfer, and credit cards all work, and the stall's post carries QR payment stickers. In practice, though, cash is fastest on site. If there's a line, having cash ready in advance makes the whole thing smoother.
Do I have to shell it myself?
No. The vendor separates the shell from the meat for you. A handheld torch chars the surface at the end for extra flavor, then the lobster goes into a long rectangular paper container. You eat it with the disposable wooden chopsticks.
Is there anywhere to sit and eat?
No seating. It's an outdoor stall, so you eat standing or carry the paper container and eat while walking. The shell is already off, so eating one-handed isn't difficult, and plenty of customers eat right at the stall.
What do I do with the trash?
Hand it to the vendor and they'll dispose of it. There's a sign at the stall reading "Give me the trash." You don't need to hunt for a bin — just return the container and chopsticks when you're finished.
Which stall should you try next?
The Myeongdong street food zone has a long row of stalls at completely different price points from this one. I'm going through them one at a time, buying a menu item at each, and recording the same things every time: the price sign, payment methods, where you eat, and what happens to the trash.
If ₩20,000 feels steep, starting with a lighter-priced stall is a reasonable move. Want to read the other Myeongdong street food posts too?
