Complete Guide to Korean Street Food with Pictures
(Gemini761)
Koreanized Street Foods
Korea also has their own special twist on foods from different cultures. It’s food you know and love, but in Korea, it’s just a different kind of love :).
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Cup chicken (컵치킨) – Add fried chicken to the list of Korean street foods that come in a cup. Of course you can’t be dining on a drumstick in the middle of street (unless that’s your thing). So instead, eat this popcorn chicken, complete with tatertots, fried rice cakes and Korean-style sauce. For a famous one, check out Hongdae’s HongCup.
If you’re a chicken lover, check out our post on a Chicken Lover’s Guide to Korean Food!
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Hot Dog aka Corndogs (핫도그) – Hotdogs in Korea are just like hot dogs elsewhere. Corndogs on the other hand are a whole different story. Although there are normal corndogs, Korea has a really unique version that’s covered in french fries and deep fried. It might just be both the greatest and worst food invention of all time!
Source: Vintage Trinkets
Sausages on a stick (소세지 꼬치) – Sausages sticks in Korea have bratwurst, curry flavors, spicy flavors and of course a very Korean sausage made of tteok (rice cakes). They’re usually covered with mustard and/or ketchup. Warning though, they can get super oily.
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Chicken skewers (닭꼬치) – It’s pretty hard to Koreanize something like chicken on a stick. But the way Koreans do it is with the sauce. Many vendors Koreanize their chicken on a stick with spicy sauces or even soy based sauces.
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Toast (토스트) – This is Korea’s take on a Western-style breakfast sandwich. Korea’s version features egg, vegetables and ham covered in ketchup and sandwiched between buttered bread. Sounds familiar right? The Korean version, however, has sugar sprinkled on top and sometimes mustard added. Also, it is sometimes served in a small paper cup. And it is simply called “toast.” Very Korean.
Note: These are mostly sold in the mornings on the streets. However, there are small take out places that sell this as well.
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Steamed Buns (찐빵 – jjinppang) – Jjinppang is a big ol’ bun of goodness that originally came from China. The Korean version also has sweet red beans inside. But instead of a paste, Koreans typically leave the beans whole. And since it’s steaming, of course it’s best when it’s cold.
Waffles – That’s right, straight up waffles is a popular Korean street snack. The Korean version, however, is usually thin, very crunchy and served in a cup or with a thick piece of paper for you to hold it with. It’s also topped with your choice of whipped cream, chocolate and a variety of fruit spreads.
As you can see there’s a huge variety of Korean street snacks. Which ones were new to you? Write a comment and let us know!
(Also, if you feel we’ve missed any, feel free to write it in the comments below. We plan to update this post again in the future.)
17 Comments
Wow, I think I’ve only tried 4 or 5 of those street foods. One good reason to plan another trip to Seoul haha. Last time my friend bought me 떡꼬치… It is so delicious! Great post, as always. 🙂
Don’t be put off if the only people you see eating rice cakes together are middle school girls. Come on over and get some for yourself. There’s no age difference in terms of popularity; both youngsters and adults like it.
Keith~~~ you forgot about the fried-potato-swirling-strip-on-a-stick! ( no idea whats that called though) :DD
I was going to add that, but it’s not really a Korean street food. And I don’t think it’s really Koreanized at all. It’s sold all over the world 🙂 It’s called Tornado potato, haha
Yeah Lilian, it’s called Tornado Potato and seems very popular too in Korea. Looks like it’s one of some innovated street foods there. Btw, I also wrote an article on this topic Keith, and listed 15 Korean street foods there, including other popular snacks like hotteok, kkultarae, and… another trendy one, tokkebi hot dog. You may want to check the list: http://explorerguidebook.blogspot.com/2013/11/15-jajanan-pinggir-jalan-khas-korea.html
Hi everyone! I like reading every article in this website so much!
But I have a question for you Keith. Is it possible that it takes a few hours, even a few days for a new post to appear on the website? I’m asking this because in the latest update box it says that the last post was done today at 3:27 AM ( time in Korea I guess) but I can’t find it; is that done on purpose? It’s there a technical problem? Is it just my web browser? I have come across with this issue on recent posts. Thank you, and keep working hard because this site is just A-W-E-S-O-M-E!!!
those silkworm larvaes are just gross man….bleeuuurrgh
As information on other street meals becomes available, we want to update this site accordingly. Leave a comment if you think we forgot any popular street snacks; we’ll include them in a future version of this article.
all of these are amazing but my favorite street food is still hotteok :DDD
About that toast… 😀
Funny enough, I’ve met quite a few Dutch people, who eat toasts like that for breakfast: slightly frying egg, putting toast bread on it, ham, and once done – sprinkling with sugar powder and topping with either jam or ketchup.
That, and pancakes. Usually the thick pancakes, where you eat 2 and you’re stuffed. Of course, with all the stuff on top – it’s no wonder.
Oh, one difference: I’ve never seen Dutch people putting that toastie in a cup 🙂
In any case, I was quite surprised to see their combinations. Once in a while it’s as if they take pride in making a weirdest one, but it might just be me. Previously never really considered ham and sweets together, but now – pancake with chocolate spread, egg, ham, ketchup and sugar powder seems quite allright.
So, I wonder if some Dutch people “drove by” Korea? 🙂
You missed delimanjoo, I really enjoyed that on cold February afternoon while passing though the subway stations.
Not sure if they are Korean or not, by my Korean girlfriend says they are popular.
Hi! Thanks for this guide! I cant wait to be heading to Seoul for study abroad program coming up this winter and this is by far the most helpful site I’ve found yet on street food! Again thanks alot!
do you have any recommendation for street clothing venues? or any cheap places for souvenirs and shopping in general?
LOVE THIS SITE!
Keith mannn are you on instagram? Or is your site? We are visiting seoul now for the next two weeks and your website has been the best!!!! 🙂
Hi! I wonder if you can give me the name of the oval-shaped hot cake toped wih egg.? the lady poured the batter inti oval-shaped baking pans about 3-1/2″ x 1-1/2″ , then cracked a fresh egg ontop of the batter, then baked it in a round hot oven until the top of the egg turns brown around the sides and the pancake has risen almost to the brim if the baking pan.
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All of these are great, but hotteok is still my favorite street food.
Although all of these are excellent, my favorite street food is still hotteok.