The Ultimate Guide to Korean Street Food
⭐ 1. Tteokbokki (떡볶이) — The Queen of Street Food
Not just food — a whole Korean mood.
At the cart, you’ll usually see the classic bright-red sauce bubbling in a giant pan. It’s chewy rice cakes in sweet-spicy gochujang sauce, and yes… it’s addictive.
But tteokbokki isn’t just one thing anymore:
- Classic Spicy (the OG)
- Rose Tteokbokki (creamy + spicy = dangerous)
- Cream / Carbonara style (mild, rich, and popular with beginners)
- Jjajang Tteokbokki (black bean twist)
- Cheese Tteokbokki (the “one more bite” trap)
Street tip: Koreans almost never eat it alone — it’s the “main character” of the combo.
⭐ 2. Sundae (순대) — Korean Blood Sausage
Looks intense. Tastes surprisingly gentle.
Most street sundae is glass noodles stuffed into casing and steamed. It’s mild, soft, and super comforting — not spicy at all unless you make it spicy.
How Koreans eat it:
- Dip in salt + pepper (classic)
- Dip in tteokbokki sauce (elite move)
- Ask for liver/lung on the side if you want the full “Korean market” experience
Best combo culture moment:
👉 Sundae + Tteokbokki + Twigim (the holy trio)
⭐ 3. Twigim (튀김) — Korean Fried Snacks
Like tempura… but crunchier and more chaotic (in a good way).
You point to what you want, they toss it in the fryer, and it comes out sizzling. Common picks:
- Sweet potato (soft inside, crisp outside)
- Squid (chewy + crunchy)
- Mandu (dumplings)
- Gimmari (seaweed roll filled with noodles — iconic)
- Stuffed peppers (savory, juicy)
The real secret? Dip it into tteokbokki sauce.
That spicy-sweet sauce + fried crunch combo is basically a Korean rite of passage.
⭐ 4. Hotteok (호떡) — Sweet Pancake
Winter’s hottest street dessert (literally).
Hotteok is a fried pancake stuffed with cinnamon syrup. It’s crispy outside, gooey inside, and impossible to eat politely.
Popular versions you’ll see now:
- Classic cinnamon + brown sugar
- Nuts & seeds (extra crunchy)
- Honey hotteok
- Cheese hotteok (sweet + salty, surprisingly good)
- Green tea / modern flavors in tourist areas
If you see people doing the “hotteok hand dance,” you’ll know why.
⭐ 5. Eomuk (어묵) — Fish Cake Skewers
The “warm hug” street food.
Fish cakes simmer in big pots of broth. You grab one on a stick, and yes — you can sip the broth for free. In winter, this is basically survival food.
What you can choose:
- Different shapes and textures (flat sheets, thick pieces, twisty ones)
- Some stalls have spicy broth vs mild broth
- Sometimes you’ll find tteok (rice cake) eomuk too
Pro move: eat something spicy (tteokbokki) and chase it with eomuk broth.
⭐ 6. Gimbap (김밥) — Korean Seaweed Rolls
Not sushi — it’s the Korean grab-and-go hero.
Gimbap is rice + fillings rolled in seaweed, and there are SO many kinds. Street gimbap is cheap, fast, and perfect before a subway ride.
Common gimbap types you’ll see:
- Classic veggie gimbap (the basic comfort one)
- Tuna mayo gimbap (fan favorite)
- Kimchi gimbap (more flavorful, sometimes spicy)
- Bulgogi gimbap (sweet-savory meat)
- Cheese gimbap (very “Korean”)
- Mayak gimbap (tiny addictive gimbap with dipping sauce)
Best pairing: Gimbap + Tteokbokki. Always.
⭐ 7. Dak-kkochi (닭꼬치) — Chicken Skewers
The one-hand festival food.
Grilled chicken skewers brushed with sauce — crispy edges, juicy inside, and you eat it while walking like a pro.
The best part: you can usually choose the flavor level:
- Mild (순한맛) sweet and savory, beginner-friendly
- Medium (중간맛) a little kick, most popular
- Spicy (매운맛) the “I’m confident” choice
Some places also have soy garlic, honey butter, or cheese powder styles.
It’s messy, it’s fun, it’s absolutely street-food energy.
⭐ 8. Bungeoppang (붕어빵) — Fish-Shaped Pastry
No fish — just warm, cozy dessert.
Soft pastry filled with:
- Red bean (팥) (classic)
- Custard (슈크림) (super popular now)
- Chocolate
- Sweet potato cream
Korean rule: everyone wants the first “fresh batch.”
And yes, people debate the best part — the tail vs the head.
⭐ 9. Jjinppang (찐빵) — Steamed Buns
Cloud-soft buns from giant steamers.
They’re warm, fluffy, and perfect in winter. Fillings vary by stall:
- Red bean (classic sweet)
- Vegetable (savory)
- Spicy meat (more modern)
Even if you don’t eat one, the steam alone feels like a cozy little memory.
⭐ 10. Goon-go-gooma(군고구마) -Roasted Sweet Potato
Street food that feels healthy-ish.
Roasted sweet potato is naturally sweet and basically comfort food in vegetable form.
In winter, vendors keep them warm inside metal drums.
It’s the kind of smell that makes you instantly nostalgic.
⭐ 11. Kkwabaegi (꽈배기) — Twisted Donuts
Sugar-coated, fluffy, and dangerous.
You’ll find them at traditional markets, usually piled high and dusted with sugar.
They’re lighter than they look — which is why “just one” becomes three.
Some places offer versions with:
- cinnamon sugar
- filled cream
- extra chewy dough
Perfect with warm coffee or milk.
⭐ 12. Hotdog (핫도그) — Korean Street Hotdogs
Not your average hotdog.
Korean street hotdogs are deep-fried, crispy, and a little over the top — in the best way.
Some are coated in sugar, some are stuffed with cheese, and some come with unexpected toppings like potatoes.
You’ll see vendors sprinkle sugar on top and then add ketchup and mustard.
Sweet + savory + crunchy all at once.
It’s messy.
It’s fun.
It’s very Korean street food.
⭐ Bonus: Street Food Combo Culture
Koreans don’t do street food solo. We do combos.
Try these:
✔ Tteokbokki + Twigim + Sundae (the classic trio)
✔ Hotteok + Bungeoppang (dessert run)
✔ Eomuk broth + spicy anything (balance the heat)
✔ Gimbap + Tteokbokki (unbeatable)
Street food is comfort, chaos, and community — all on the sidewalk.
