7 Iconic Korean Street Foods You Can Enjoy at Home

South Korea has a pretty legendary street food scene, and with viral social media trends and the popularity of K-dramas outside of Korea, these treats are becoming increasingly sought after in the UK.

We’ve compiled some of the most popular Korean street food snacks you can try at home.

Tteokbokki

Tteokbokki, or topokki, features in many street food stands and is often enjoyed as a late-night snack. This iconic dish is made from chewy rice cakes (garae-tteok), which are typically smothered in a signature sweet and spicy sauce, although you can get other flavours such as black bean or soy. Tteokbokki is often paired with fried foods and cheese for a comforting, satisfying bite.

You can buy various instant versions of this to cook up your own street food sensations at home. Check out tasty options from top brands like Samyang and Yopokki!

Korean Corn Dog

Another super popular snack that has been growing in the UK, especially, is the Korean corn dog. These are hot dog sausages on sticks, often paired with mozzarella, and deep-fried in a doughy batter. The best ones are also typically rolled in some kind of crunchy topping, such as crispy ramen pieces or potatoes/French fries. They’re also typically topped with a customised selection of condiments (often ketchup, mayo, mustard, sriracha, gochujang sauce or sugar) for the ultimate balance of flavours.

Convenient, ready-to-cook corn dogs offer the perfect chance to try these for yourself.

Kimbap

Made from rice seasoned with sesame oil, rolled in a seaweed sheet and paired with various meat and veggie fillings, kimbap rolls are the ideal on-the-go snack. Popular fillings include bulgogi beef, kimchi, tuna and mayo and various vegetables like carrot and pickled radish. Mayak kimbap is a particularly popular street food variation, which involves smaller rolls served with a hot mustard dipping sauce.

We stock a few kimbap flavours, or you could even try making your own with some seaweed sheets!

Mandu

Mandu are traditional Korean dumplings made from thin wrappers that encase a vast array of tasty fillings, such as pork, kimchi, BBQ beef, tofu, vegetables, shrimp and much more. Street food vendors will cook these fresh in front of you, serving up delicious steaming dumplings that are hard to beat. They can be steamed, fried or boiled, each offering a different experience.

Frozen Korean dumplings are available in a great range of flavours and pair excellently with a dipping sauce, just like their fresh street food counterparts.

Jjajangmyeon

This Chinese-Korean fusion dish is considered a classic staple, enjoyed at home, in restaurants and as a quick meal from street food vendors. Consisting of thick, sumptuous noodles in a rich black bean sauce, this dish is an iconic comfort food. Street food stalls offer a quick, no-fuss way to enjoy Jjajangmyeon for people on the go. Jjajangmyeon is also a particular favourite for various members of world-famous K-pop group BTS!

You can replicate this beloved dish with instant noodle versions that take just a few minutes to prepare.

Hotteok

For those craving something sweet, hotteok is the street food snack for you. These are thick, doughy pancakes, usually paired with a moreish filling of peanuts, cinnamon and brown sugar or other fillings such as red bean paste. Steaming hot and deliciously sweet, they are very popular in winter.

While easy to make at home - especially with the help of ready-to-use mixes - you can also get convenient packs of ready-to-eat hotteok pancakes if you can’t wait to give them a try.

Bungeoppang

These are classic Korean pastries in the shape of fish (like Japanese taiyaki) that are also popular in the winter months. The waffle-like batter provides a crispy outside and a slightly fluffy inside. Traditionally, they are filled with sweet red bean paste, although nowadays you will also find street food vendors offering custard and chocolate flavours or even savoury options with cheese or sweet potato.

Classic bungeoppang are best enjoyed warm, so if you get a snack pack to try at home, be sure to pop a few of the pastry fish in the air fryer or oven before tucking in!

Our online Korean supermarket is stocked with plenty more tasty treats, so be sure to check out what’s on offer.