Popular Snacks in Korea

Korea is considered paradise when it comes to food. You can find everything from Korean, Western, Chinese, and of course such fast food restaurants like McDonald's and Burger King to foreign restaurant chains like Bennigan's and Outback Steak House. Among these choices the most reasonably priced food can be found at street vendors. Korea is unique in that not only does it have street carts to buy food from, but at night the streets are transformed with small tents that pop-up selling reasonably priced food and alcohol. At street carts, you can choose to eat standing beside the cart or have your food wrapped-up to bring home. Most Korean people consider the food sold here as a snack and do not usually eat it as a main meal. Many street vendors can be found near Sinchon, E-dae, Hongdae, and near many other university areas, as well as in the popular shopping districts of Apgujeong, Jongno, Myeong-dong, and Gangnam Station. Seasons also have unique specialties; bingsu is a refreshing iced treat in the summer whereas warm soup, gimbap, hotteok andbungeo-ppang are enjoyed in the fall and winter.

김밥 (Gimbap) Cooked rice is slightly seasoned with sesame oil, salt, and sesame seeds. Then it is placed on a sheet of dried laver. Strips of ham, pickled radish, seasoned spinach, and egg are then placed close together on the rice; it is then carefully rolled together until the roll is evenly shaped. The street vendors usually sell a mini-roll. Spiciness:  Price: 1,500 - 4,000 won per roll

부침개 / 전 (Buchimgae/Jeon) Kimchi or seafood is stirred in a flour mixture, and then pan-fried in oil. Depending on the ingredients of choice, some types of buchimgae include kimchi-jeon and seafood-jeon.  Spiciness: Kimchi-jeon -  Price: 3,000 - 5,000 won per dish

떡볶이 (Tteokbokki) Rice powder is steamed and made into a long cylinder-shaped rice cake called garaetteok. It is cut into finger size pieces and cooked in a spicy and sweet sauce. Meat, vegetables or ramyeon can be added depending on different tastes. Tteokbokki, along with gimbap andodaeng (skewered fish cake), is one of the most common foods sold by street vendors.  Spiciness:  (depending on place) Price: 2,000 - 4,000 won per person

순대 (Sundae) This is a traditional sausage made of pig intestines stuffed with a mixture of bean curd, vegetables and potato noodles. Spiciness:  (depending on place) Price: 2,000 - 4,000 won per person

어묵 (Eomuk) This is usually referred to as odaeng. Odaeng is a kind of fish cake. It is made of ground fish. This fish cake is skewered and soaked in boiling water along with radish and green onions. This popular dish is especially loved during the cold winter months.  Spiciness:  Price: 500 - 1,000 won for one skewer

튀김 (Twigim) This crispy fried treat is made in the same style as Japanese Tempura. Squid, dumplings, sweet potatoes, imitation crab, and assorted vegetables are among some of the most popular varieties of twigim that are served up on the street. Spiciness: oily   Price: 2,000 - 3,500 won for 4-6 pieces

붕어빵/국화빵/계란빵  (Bungeo-ppang/ Gukhwa-ppang/ Gyeran-ppang) Bungeo-ppang gets its name from its fish-like shape. This sweet snack is molded in the shape of a carp, which is called bungeo in Korean. A pancake batter-like shell is filled with red-bean paste and then baked; it is especially enjoyed in the winter. Gukhwa-ppang is shaped like a flower and is slightly smaller than that of the similar tastingbungeo-ppang. Gyeran-ppang is also made of a pancake batter-like shell, but this is filled with an egg instead of the red bean filling. Spiciness: sweet  Price: 500 - 1,000 won per piece

호떡 (Hotteok) Flour and sugar are kneaded together and shaped into a small ball. Vegetables are sometimes added to the batter. Sugar and cinnamon are usually the staple fillings.  Spiciness: sweet  Price: 500 - 1,000 won per piece

쥐포, 마른 오징어 (Jwipo/ Dried Squid) Jwipo is a type of dried fish. At street carts, jwipo and dried squid are roasted over a bed of pebbles.  Spiciness:  Price: depending on size and taste, average prices range from 1,500 - 3,500 won and upwards one piece.

와플 (Waffle) Like Europe and America, Korea has also begun to enjoy the taste of the waffle. Waffles are usually topped with honey or apple jam and butter.  Spiciness:  Price: 1,000 - 3,500 won per piece

닭꼬치 (Dak-kkochi) Small pieces of chicken are skewered, coated in spicy sauce, and then grilled. Spiciness:  Price: 1,500 - 2,000 won per skewer