Top 6 Street Foods in South Korea That Will Satisfy Your Taste Buds

Tuesday, December 17, 2024  Read time3 min

SAEDNEWS: South Korea is one of the countries with a rich treasure of diverse foods. In this article, aim to introduce you to the most delicious street foods of South Korea.

Top 6 Street Foods in South Korea That Will Satisfy Your Taste Buds

According to SAEDNEWS, South Korea, and especially Seoul, is filled with restaurants and food stalls offering a variety of Korean dishes. Different streets and neighborhoods are dedicated to selling street food, which are often crowded, especially at night. These areas, with their lively atmosphere and rich aromas, are the best places to get acquainted with Korean cuisine. In this article, we will introduce you to some of the most famous and delicious street foods in South Korea. If you're planning to visit South Korea and the city of Seoul, we highly recommend trying these foods during your trip. Stay with us for more!

The Top Street Foods in South Korea

Mandu (Dumpling)

Mandu is a general term used to refer to various types of Korean dumplings. All mandu are made with a filling of different ingredients wrapped in a thin dough, which is then cooked in various ways. Mandu can be steamed, fried, or served with a special soup. In South Korea, mothers and wives often make hundreds of these delicious dumplings at a time, freezing them for later meals in the coming months. These dumplings are also commonly found on the streets of Seoul. However, when you want to enjoy these tasty dumplings, make sure to have a napkin handy, as the filling and sauce spill out as soon as you take a bite. For this reason, many people put the whole dumpling in their mouth at once.

Dumpling

Odeng

Odeng (Fish Cake)

Odeng, or fish cake, is another one of the most delicious street foods in South Korea. To make odeng, cooked white fish is mashed into a paste and then mixed with various ingredients such as rice flour, salt, rice vinegar, and sugar. It is then skewered like a kebab. While fish cakes can also be seen in the shape of a pancake or molded into fish-shaped forms, the skewered version is the most common way to serve this tasty Korean dish.

Gyeranppang (Egg Muffin)

Gyeranppang, or Korean egg muffin, is one of the most popular street foods in South Korea and is sold abundantly in many cities, including Seoul. This food is a small muffin with a soft-boiled egg in the center, often garnished with parsley on top. These muffins make an excellent choice for breakfast, an afternoon snack, or a light bite, and their combination of salty and sweet flavors makes them incredibly delicious and tasty.

Egg Muffin

Tteokbokki

Tteokbokki (Spicy Rice Cake)

Tteokbokki can undoubtedly be considered the king of Korean street foods! This dish was originally served as an appetizer in the Korean royal court and is now incredibly popular among the people. Cooked rice is shaped into various forms and then cooked in a spicy, hot, and delicious sauce. It is served hot, making it the perfect choice for those who love spicy foods. The heat from the chili and the warmth of the dish combine to create a bold, flavorful, and savory treat. Sometimes, the rice cakes are served alongside other fried foods. However, the simplest and most street-food-like way of serving this dish is in small portions. The small rice cakes are occasionally skewered for easier eating.

Korean Fried Chicken

Korean fried chicken is not originally a traditional Korean dish and was introduced to Korean cuisine by American soldiers. However, the Koreans have put their own spin on it, transforming it into the delicious Korean fried chicken we know today. Small pieces of chicken are double-fried in the Korean style to make them crispy and crunchy, then coated in a spicy honey sauce and flavored with sesame seeds, garlic, peanuts, and chili powder. The result is an incredibly tasty and flavorful dish, and because of its small size, it is also very easy to eat.

Korean Fried Chicken

Japchae

Japchae (Stir-fried Mixed Noodles)

In Korean, Japchae means "noodles mixed with various vegetables." This dish is made with sweet potato starch noodles that are stir-fried with various vegetables such as carrots, spinach, mushrooms, and onions. It is then seasoned with soy sauce. This dish is sold on the streets of Seoul in various flavors.