My 15 Favorite And Must-try Street Foods In South Korea

I’m not what I’d call a highly skilled cook, but if there’s one thing I love to try when I travel to a country and discover its local culture, it’s its food. So it’s no surprise that I’ve often wandered into street food stalls in South Korea, in search for new dishes to taste until my grumbling stomach was perfectly satisfied.

With so many different dishes, I have to say it was quite hard to choose just a few, but nevertheless, here are my 15 favorite street foods that all first-time visitors or foodies like me should try at least once on their trip to Korea.

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1. Tteokbokki (떡볶이)

I couldn’t just start listing my favorite street food without including the master of street food, at least for me, tteokbokki. These stir-fried rice cakes served with gochujang (fermented chili pepper paste) and other ingredients but also accompaniments, which I’ll come back to later, are one of the most popular foods in South Korea and for good reason, not only is it a cheap (less than $5) comfort food but also a dish that brings back childhood memories, with Koreans kids often seen grabbing tteokbokki as an after-school snack.

And whether you like the sliced ones or the cylinders Garaetteok, their chewy texture, spiciness but also sweetness is a wonderful treat that will delight everyone.

Plus, the many variations, such as cheese tteokbokki, rose tteokbokki (the creamy version), rabokki (with ramen), mean that even those who can’t tolerate spicy foods can enjoy them to their heart’s content.

Want to try tteokbokki at one the best addresses (in my opinion) in South Korea? Go to Leegane Tteokbokki 이가네떡볶이 at Gukje Market in Busan!

2. Eomuk (어묵) or Odeng (오뎅)

Eomuk, also known as odeng, are the typical fish cakes found in all food markets, often on skewers in Korea and often accompanying the famous tteokbokki we’ve just been talking about.

For this one, there’s no real interval: you either love it or hate it. It’s also sometimes an acquired taste, but whether you end up liking it or not, one thing’s for sure: if you’re hit by a sudden spike of spiciness (after eating delicious tteokbokki), drink some eomukguk broth, perfect for fighting the tingling or burning sensation on the tongue.

Koreans will often offer you some if they see you with tear-filled eyes, anyway, because it’s a much better remedy than bread or milk, trust me.

3. Gimbap (김밥)

You can’t really pick a more loved street food than gimbap (or kimbap), and the reason is simple. Made with a base of toasted laver seaweed, rice and all the fillings of your choice, there’s probaly no more special, yet simpler dish in the country.

Ideal for school field trips, at the summit of a mountain after a hike, but also for the busiest of people, gimbap has become a staple dish in South Korea. Maybe it’s because you can personalize yours to your taste, or because it can be quite hearty, or because of its sobriety, but in any case, you won’t know what gimbap means to you until you try it.

Paired with tteokbokki sauce, gimbap is also fabulous. One thing’s for sure though, you won’t be able to leave Korea without tasting one, two or a hundred.

4. Mandu (만두)

It’s the Korean version of dumplings, where thin doughs are filled with your favorite ingredients, be it meat, vegetables, kimchi, or any other of your choice. It’s more of a snack than a full meal, of course, but you can also combine it with gimbap, tteokbokki and other street foods for a tasty, unpretentious lunch.

Mandu’s specialty also lies in the fact that it’s often enjoyed during the holiday season, when families get together to make these delicious dumplings.

5. Bindaetteok (빈대떡)

Or mung bean pancake is one of those street foods that I discovered by chance with a friend while tasting the famous mandu. And like many of dishes I ate without knowing nothing about them beforehand, it quickly became one of my favorites.

Its nutty flavor and crispy exterior, filled with kimchi, pork, green onions, won my heart for sure.

So if you love all types of pancakes, bindaetteok and the next one will be a culinary delight for you!

6. Jeon (전)

Want to know the traditional dish to enjoy on a rainy day? Here’s another savory pancake, jeon, which you’ll often see Koreans eating in association with its dipping sauce and makgeolli (Korean rice alcohol). And if you’re wondering why, it’s apparently because the sizzling sound of jeon remind them of raindrops falling outside.

What also makes it so popular are its simple and few ingredients, as well as its fillings versatility. Kimchijeon, pajeon (scallion), gamjajeon (potato), haemuljeon (seafood) are just a few of the many varieties that await you.

Oh, and when I said that this is a common street food to eat when it’s raining, I didn’t mean that you should wait for bad weather, as it would be a real shame to deprive yourself of such a succulent dish, wouldn’t it?

7. Gilgeori Toast (길거리토스트)

One of those street foods I couldn’t help but return to, especially when I was too tired to look for a restaurant for breakfast or lunch, or when I wanted a hearty sandwich after a tough hike.

This Korean street toast, typically made with eggs, vegetables and ketchup, has, however, a special feature: its sweetness. Because yes, don’t expect your usual salty sandwich, as this one is sprinkled with sugar and although surprising at first, it’s actually delicious (don’t judge until you’ve tried it) and that’s how I like my toast now too!

And if your favorite street vendor isn’t at their usual spot, don’t worry, you can always go to one of the toast chains: Isaac Toast, Egg Drop and try their variations on the popular street toast.

A filling meal at an affordable price, let yourself be convinced by the salty and sweet flavor of a gilgeori toast!

8. Twigim (튀김)

Consisting of any deep-fried vegetable, meat, seafood, you’ve probably already tried its crispy batter if you’ve ever eaten tempura.

Want the best combo? Grab some kimmari 김말이 (deep-fried seaweed rolls with glass noodles inside), dip them in the tteokbokki sauce and let me know what you think!

9. Hoeorigamja (회오리감자) or Tornado Potato

Looking for the taste of French fries with a slight twist thanks to its various seasonings: cheese, honey…, then the tornado potato is for you. Presented on a skewer, I’m pretty sure I don’t need to explain why “tornado”, as the spiral shape speaks for itself.

A simple but ideal snack for wandering between the different street food stalls in search of the next delicacy!

10. Gungoguma (군고구마)

Staying with the potato theme, here’s a winter treat you can’t miss: gungoguma, or roasted sweet potato. The only sad thing is that you only can find them in winter, otherwise I’m pretty sure I’d have eaten them every day!

As these days it can be difficult to find them directly on the street, my advice is that as soon as you see the street vendor with his huge cylinder full of roast potatoes, stop what you’re doing and buy one, because you don’t know when you’ll see them next.

Then carefully peel the skin off the sweet potato, blow on it and take a bite of the deliciously soft and sweet yellow flesh, and feel its warmth warm your heart and body.

The perfect street food snack for the cold, harsh winter!

11. Waffles (와플)

Because you can’t go wrong with waffles, why not round off your meal by grabbing one straight from the waffle iron?

Whether you like them with ice cream, whipped cream or other toppings, you’re sure to find what you’re looking for at one or other of the market stalls you’ll visit during your stay in South Korea.

Who’s ever said no to a nice, crispy waffle? Not me, that’s for sure!

12. Ssiat hotteok (씨앗호떡)

Let’s go to my favorite city in South Korea, Busan, and eat one of its specialties: ssiat hotteok. What’s the difference between classic hotteok and ssiat hotteok, you might ask? Well, usually, in the classic hotteok, the sweet pancake is filled with syrup, but in the case of the ssiat (seeds) hotteok, it’s filled with, you guessed it, different kinds of seeds and nuts, which adds a little something to the delight of most foodies.

I don’t know how many I ate when I lived in Busan, probably a lot as hotteok is quite the staple street food in South Korea.

And while some people particularly like to eat this snack during winter as it’s better enjoyed piping hot, I don’t mind burning my tongue even in summer if it gives me a taste of its heavenly sweetness. Another simple street snack that will soon conquer your taste buds!

Want to know where to find the best ssiat hotteok? Head to BIFF Square in Busan and look for the stall where there’s always a long queue (it moves quickly, don’t worry) and sweet vendors as sweet as their hotteoks.

13. Tanghulu (탕후루)

Running low on sugar and need a quick fix? Try tanghulu or fresh fruits skewered and coated in crunchy sugar.

If you love fruit and candies, I’d say there’s no better choice than tanghulu!

14. Hodugwaja (호두과자)

A walnut-shaped street snack filled with walnuts and red bean paste, hodugwaja is the snack you can’t resist for the simple reason that its smell will draw you in from meters around, making you spot the stall immediately while trying to fight the urge to buy some.

My tip: don’t fight, succumb to the sweet temptation and eat as much as you like.

And if you’re not a fan of red beans (shame on you, just kidding), hodugwaja also comes with custard cream filling.

15. Bungeoppang (붕어빵)

And of course, last but not least, the street food which street stalls I scoured until March to find, bungeoppang!

This fish-shaped pastry, originally filled with sweetened red bean paste, is the heartwarming snack everyone looks forward to in winter! And rightly so, I mean, is there a more comforting snack than this? It’s hard to say, but it definitely deserves its place in this article!

And when you know that for 1,000 KRW (less than a dollar) you’ll get 2,3 bungeoppang, why deprive yourself?

Plus, as with hodugwaja, if you don’t like red beans, these little fish are also often available with custard cream or chocolate filling.

One question remains then: will you eat the head or the tail first? Depending on your choice, it’s said to define a person’s character! As for me, I’m ruthless and always start with the head, of course!

Have I made you hungry by reading this article? Because I definitely am and I might just run out and make myself some tteokbokki and gimbap! What about you? Are there any other street food you loved on your trip to South Korea or want to try after reading this post? Let me know in the comments!

Still curious about South Korea? Check out my 30 facts you need to know about the country!

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