Read the published menus literally
The Gwangjang Market walk names its tastings: bindaetteok (mung-bean pancake), twisted donut, mandu, tteokbokki, fish cakes, yukhoe (raw beef), a honey snack, hotteok and ssanghwa tea. The private Jongno tour describes "more than five" artisan street foods, a traditional-restaurant meal and a tea-master tasting. The evening market tour does not itemise its menu at all. None of the three publishes vegetarian, vegan, halal or allergen information as a standing option.
That silence is the finding, not an oversight to guess around. Market staples routinely include meat broth, fish sauce, raw egg or sesame, and stall recipes change. A dish that was vegetarian on one visit can be cooked in shared oil the next.
Ask the operator, get it in writing
Before booking, send the operator your exact restrictions — allergens, cross-contact concerns, religious requirements — and ask which tastings they can substitute. Ask for the answer in writing through the booking platform so it travels with your reservation. If an operator cannot answer clearly, skip the tour rather than negotiate on the day: group tours move stall to stall and the guide cannot redesign the route for one traveler.
For a market visit you control completely, going self-guided is a legitimate alternative — the Gwangjang guide covers what the market is like without a tour. Otherwise compare the three tours and confirm the details at booking.
Common questions
Is yukhoe on every tour?
No. The Gwangjang Market walk lists yukhoe among its tastings; the other two checked listings do not name it. Treat every published menu as current-at-check only and confirm with the operator.
Can the tours accommodate vegetarians?
The checked listings do not publish vegetarian substitutions. Ask each operator directly before booking, in writing, and treat a vague answer as a no.