Tongyeong chungmu gimbap is the city’s signature snack: plain rice rolls served with spicy radish and fish cake on the side, born from fishermen who needed food that would not spoil at sea. Trying Tongyeong chungmu gimbap at two well-known shops, then closing the day with night views from Nammangsan, made for a full Tongyeong evening.
Ddungbo Halmae Gimbap
The most famous chungmu gimbap shop in Tongyeong draws long lines. Eat inside and you wait in line; order takeout and it comes out fast. We took ours to go.
Dalin Gimbap
The next day we tried Dalin Gimbap, a much bigger building with a spacious hall where you can eat while enjoying the view outside.
A local taxi driver told us residents do not eat chungmu gimbap often, and named Hanil Gimbap as a local pick. If you want to try it, choose the shop that suits your taste.
Ganggu-an and Nammangsan at night
In the evening we visited the cultural plaza at Ganggu-an, where turtle ships rest on the water, a reminder of how much Tongyeong loves Admiral Yi.
Then up to Nammangsan Sculpture Park for the night views. It was pitch dark with few streetlights, and the climb felt like hiking, but the night view from the top was beautiful. Too dark to see the sculptures, so daytime is the better call for the park itself.
Prices, hours and details in this post are from our visit in August 2016 and may have changed, so check the latest information before you go.