Korean food has gained international recognition for its bold, delicious flavors. Korean meals tend to be big communal affairs like grilling Korean barbecue, sharing big pots of stew, and having dozens of side dishes with your main course. However there’s a smaller scale of this great culinary landscape that is not to be missed if you make the journey to this dynamic country. Whether from little stalls in the alleys of Seoul or lively traditional markets, you simply must try Korean Street Food.

Fried, crispy, sweet, savory; There is quite a variety of these hand-held treats to choose from. Some have foreign influence like corn dogs from the West as well as some traditional Japanese snacks like takoyaki. For my street food list, I’d like to focus on my favorites from the more classic Korean staples. Here is (based on maybe too much personal research) some of the best Korean street food in Seoul!

Rice Cakes or Tteokbokki 떡볶이

These chewy treats are a Korean classic. Made from rice flour, tteokbokki is served in a spicy red sauce. Without the tasty sauce, the rice cake on it’s own or tteok is a bit like a firm textured mochi: the popular Japanese rice-based treat. Tteok is incorporated into some other fantastic Korean street food favorites. Including…

Rice Cakes and Sausages or Sotteok Sotteok 소떡 소떡

Seotteok Seotteok are skewers of rice cakes and mini sausages. Like tteokbokki, it usually comes with a delicious sweet and spicy sauce. The pairing of savory meat with the delightful chewiness of the rice cakes is very satisfying.

Popcorn Chicken or Dakgangjeong 닭강정

Another delicious snack which often includes rice cakes is Dakgangjeong : chunks of Korean fried chicken usually doused in (yet more) sweet, tangy sauce. South Korea’s take on fried chicken is particularly crunchy and delectable. The extra crispy chicken bites are wonderfully complimented by the softer texture of the rice cakes.

Mung Bean Pancakes or Bindaetteok 빈대떡

Bindaetteok is made from pureed mung beans combined with other vegetables which is then fried in a thick patty. This makes for a particularly hearty and filling snack! The flavor is wonderfully rich, savory and nutty. One of the best places to find this particular street food is Gwangjang Market, one of the most famous traditional markets in Seoul.

Dumplings or Mandu 만두

Dozens of cultures have their take on dumplings and Korea’s is mandu. You can often see stalls on the street with huge trays of freshly steamed mandu. This is another treat that’s on the heartier side, making for a nice cheap small meal. I particular love Kimchi Mandu : stuffed with that wonderfully sour, spicy, crunchy Korean staple.

Egg Bread or Gyeranppang 계란빵

These little treats are a satisfying roll of soft bread baked with a sunny side up egg on top. They are delightfully soft with just a touch of sweetness.

Stuffed Pancake or Hotteok호떡

My all time favorite Korean street food is Hotteok. The most classic version of these fried delights are filled with brown sugar and nuts. You can also find savory versions filled with veggies and glass noodles. The crispy exterior with the flavorful, warm gooey interior is irresistible. This is also one of the cheapest street foods I come across in Seoul at around 1,500 to 2,000 Won (Just under $1.50 USD). When I was living in Korea on a tight budget , this was a favorite snack to stroll around with!

Where can you find street food in Seoul?

Street food is easiest to find at night with tents and grills often set up as people get off from work. I often see food stands near major subway stations as vendors want to attract the foot traffic. Student neighborhoods like Hongdae, Sinchon and Konkuk University have many vendors as well. One of the most popular places to get street food in Seoul is Myeongdong: a touristy sprawl of shops with bright avenues lined with dozens upon dozens of street food vendors. Traditional Markets or Shijangs are another great place to find street food such as the aforementioned Gwangjang Market.

There are so many amazing Korean dishes to try but be sure that your culinary adventures are not confined to restaurants and cafes. Delve into the charming alleys, authentic markets and other characterful corners of this amazing country where you must try Korean street food! If you are traveling to Seoul, check out my South Korea packing list for some essentials to bring along and check out more stories below to get some inspiration for your Korea journey!