Korean street food is part of the adventure when traveling in Korea. But some people are like two year old children — they’ll just put anything in their mouths. If you’re a little more concerned about what’s going on in your mouth, check out this complete guide to Korean street food!
Note: We plan to upgrade this post as we fill in a few missing street foods as they come to us. If you feel we’ve missed any street foods, please leave a comment and we’ll be sure to add it to our list for a future update!
These Korean street foods are found in every neighborhood and at all times of day. Find a street food stall in Korea, and chances are, they’ll be serving these. They’re so popular that some people take the “street” out of street food and serve these at restaurants.
Tteokbokki (떡볶이 – spicy rice cakes) – Rice cakes in a spicy red pepper paste sauce. And the bright red color should be warning enough of how spicy it can be (depending on where you go). Don’t be intimidated if you only see junior high school girls giggling over rice cakes. Head over there and get some yourself. It’s equally loved by both kids and adults.
If you’re looking for popular places to eat tteokbokki, check out our list of 7 famous tteokbokki places in Seoul!
Variation: Old-style Tteokbokki (옛날떡볶이) – Instead of a spicy sauce, the rice cakes are stir fried in a wok with some oil and then topped with red pepper flakes. The most famous is made by a Korean grandmother that’s over 100 years old. Find her in our list of 15 Markets to Visit in Seoul.
Sundae (순대 – blood sausage) – Blood sausages are common foods around the world. Korea’s version of it uses coagulated pigs blood, glass noodles and barley, with pig or cow intestines for the sausage skin. Also, if you’re ordering on the street, each order usually comes with a few slices of liver or lung on the side. Some of you are grossed out by this. Don’t worry, some Koreans are too.
Variation: Stir fried blood sausages (순대볶음) – Take all that stuff and stir fry it with veggies and a red pepper paste, and you have yourself another popular street food that’s meant for drinking. Have a bottle of soju while snacking on this. Eat and drink alone for super dramatic effect! 😉
Note: Seoul has a whole town dedicated to the art of cooking sundae!
Odeng (오뎅 – fish cakes) – At about 500 won a stick, fish cakes are the cheapest street foods you’ll find. They’re skewered on a stick and left in a delicious broth, which happens to be free with any order (not just odeng) and can cures bad hang overs. Put on some soy sauce to enjoy.
Fried Snacks (튀김 – twigim) – The same carts that sell you tteokbokki, blood sausages and odeng also have delicious fried goods. These fried foods are dipped in a batter to allow for a flakey shell. Ingredients range from dumplings, eggs, peppers, sweet potatoes, and more.
All the above common Korean street foods are usually sold in the same tents. So it’s a one-tent eat all type of deal. If you’re not sure how to order these, find out in our Beginner’s Guide to Korean Street Food!
See next page for traditional Korean street foods!
21 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.
So delicious! If I have the opportunity, I will travel here to enjoy these delicious dishes.
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.
Mehran Food MART https://www.mehranfoods.com is a leading Halal Meat and Grocery Store, it has been launched to serve individuals and families from Pakistan, Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Srilanka, Malaysia, Indonesia and other counties here in Korea to stay in Halal foods and hygienic goods. we offer complete range of Halal Meat, Grocery Items, frozen foods, Ready-to-Cook foods, Spices and Masala in the most efficient way in South Korea.
We will ensure a hassle-free online shopping experience for our customers, so that they can spend valuable time and energy with their families. We intend to focus on complete customer journey of our customers, starting with ordering online quality products at competitive pricing and on time quick delivery. We aim to provide you with healthy life and helping the humans by providing the foods to hungry people.
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.
Great. I adore this article a great deal. I appreciate your efforts.
Ingredients range from dumplings, eggs, peppers, sweet potatoes, and more.
Another great article filled with GREAT information Thank you! LOVE the “extra fun” you shared.