KOREAN STREET FOOD

Korea is an absolute snack metropolis, and I have to say, I didn’t get to take the best pictures (or in some cases didn’t take one at all) because I was so focused on the food in that moment. What better way to ground yourself in the present than waiting for your egg bread to cook? It’s the new meditation. Below, I’ve compiled a list of delicious treats to keep your eye on the lookout for when you visit Korea! And when I go back, I’ll try to add the photos of the snacks I didn’t capture.

1. Ddukbokki (떡볶이)

2. Twigim (튀김)

3. Gimbap

4. Corn dogs

5. Dakkgochi (닭꼬치)

6. Odeng/Uhmook (오뎅/어묵)

7. Soondae

8. Bindaetteok (빈대떡)

9. Hweori Gamja or tornado potato (회오리 감자)

10. Skewered sausages (소세지 꼬치)

11. Egg bread (Gyeran Bbang) (계란빵)

12. Mandu (만두)

13. Ddeukggochi (떡꼬치)

14. Walnut puffs

15. Waffles

16. Red bean fish pastry (붕어빵)

17. Baked Cheese from Myeongdong

18. Cotton Candy

Not pictured, but still tasty!

1. Bbopkki (뽑기) Lollipop

2. Chestnuts

3. Ppeongtwigi (뻥튀기)

4. Yugwa (유과)

5. Skewered fishcake-wrapped foods

6. Dragon’s beard

7. J-shaped ice cream cone

8. Tall ice cream cones

9.  Hotteuk

10. Honorable mention: bundaegi, goguma, steamed buns

THE POJANGMACHA

To begin your Korean street food adventure, you must start with the humble pojangmacha/포장마차. These little stalls are everywhere and you’ll find an almost identical spread at each one. And, you might think that such an experience could be tourist bait, but you’ll very much find locals there. A common spread includes ddukbokki/떡볶이 (rice cakes covered in a spicy sauce), twigim/튀김 (any fried item), gimbap (rice and vegetables rolled in seaweed), fish cake soup, and liver and blood sausage. Everything is extremely cheap so you can try an assortment of things. You’ll oftentimes see natives dipping the fried foods into the ddukbokki sauce and shoveling the spicy soy sauce onto their fishcake soup.

Another important food experience to have is at one of the food stalls in the markets throughout Korea. One of my friends took me to Gwangjang Market (a really old Korean textile market where they also sell food), and I tried bindaetteok (빈대떡), a mung bean pancake that pairs well with soju. The texture is quite nice! You’ll see a lot of different jeon, or pancake-type foods, but you’ll also see more hearty meals here, too. You can try kalguksu, knife-cut noodles in a clear broth and, for those who are more adventurous, yukhoe. I know the idea of raw beef is revolting to some, but I loved tartare in Paris, and I think Korea does it even better in fact. Yukhoe is typically paired with a raw egg yolk, sesame oil, soy sauce, and pear slices. There are strict regulations on quality, but if you’re nervous about it (which I can understand), Bukchon Yukhoe is a reputable place to try it!

Throughout Korea, in residential areas and social hubs like Myeongdong, Hongdae, and Gangnam, you’ll see small food stands serving a variety of creative snacks. They’re always quite cheap and perfect for grabbing to munch on while exploring.