Must-try Korean street foods in Seoul

Apart from BTS and Korean drama, Korea is also popular among foodies for its piquant street food. My friends and I had the opportunity to explore Seoul Bamdokkaebi Night Market during our vacation and our evening was filled with animated conversations, brightly-lit pojangmachas (commercial food tents) lined by friendly vendors and the unmissable smells of mouth-watering spices. The sheer variety and versatility will convince you that you cannot eat your way to the end of the street in a single day. You might have to give it a few days to entirely explore the street food of Korea, but be warned, Koreans like their food spicy!

Here is a list of some beloved street foods from Korea:-

• Spicy Tteokbokki

Any list of Korean street food is incomplete without the inclusion of Tteokbokki or Korean spicy rice cakes. Familiarised by Korean movies and dramas, these spicy rice cakes combined with various ingredients have always ranked among the top five most loved street foods of Korea. If you have already tried the traditional kind, you can explore fusion Tteokbokki versions such as carbonara tteokbokki, curry tteokbokki, and bacon tteokbokki which are all a little too delicious to miss.

• Classic Odeng

If you are looking to experience the authentic street food of Korea, then you must try Odeng (fish cake). Found on every street corner in Korea, Odeng is made from fish paste seasoned and combined with starch, flour, rice wine, and other spices. It is served with a warm and flavourful broth. There are several ways to serve Odeng and if you wish to make a meal out of it, mix it with chilies, gochujang, and green onion.

• Hotteok - sweet Korean-style pancakes

You may be aware of pancakes, but the Korean version will surprise you with its delectable flavours. Hotteok is a stuffed pancake that is available in both sweet and savoury fillings. Hotteok also comes with distinctive fillings that range from red bean paste, sweet potato, ground peanut, onions, or japchae (noodles).

• Jajangmyeon noodles with blackbean sauce

These noodles with a sweet bean sauce are nothing compared to what you have tasted before. It is saucy, chewy, and flavour-packed and comes in a variety of toppings with pork and vegetables being the most popular options. Some also enjoy their Jajangmyeon with seafood toppings. The combination of unique flavours of Jajangmyeon is a treat for your palate.

• Bungeo-ppang

In our heart of hearts, we all enjoy a happy ending, and so we bring to you a mouth-watering dessert from Korea that you must try – Bungeo-ppang. Particularly favoured during the months of fall and winter, Bungeo-ppang is a fish-shaped delicacy fill with sweet red bean paste. Its more indulgent variants are filled with custard. During chilly weather, you can buy a pack of two or three from any street corner in Korea to relish in its distinctive flavours and appeal to your sweet tooth.

Korean street food is heaven for food lovers and what gets more exciting is that it is extremely affordable. Don’t wait to dig into the tasty treats on street corners for an unparalleled experience.