Korean Street Food Guide You Must Try

If you've already taken a look at our Korean food guide, you'll know that there is a huge culture here regarding authentic street food. That is, cuisine you can pick up and enjoy on the go from independent vendors, whether in food halls or actually from street corners! And, the SIMOVO team members who have visited Korea several times say the region produces some of the tastiest vendor snacks on the planet.

So, it's perfectly understandable that you might want to base an entire trip to Korea solely around the cities' various street food scenes. While we've talked about K-Food across several posts in recent times, in this guide, we will solely be focusing on what's available from street food vendors, what's worth trying, and what you should keep in mind before you buy.

Consider this an introductory Korean street food guide - or, if you've sampled vendor delights before, it might be a nice top-up to give you some tasty new inspiration.

Korean street food culture overview

Street snacks are absolutely huge in Korea, and that's in terms of size and in terms of popularity in some cases! Everywhere you look across the cities, you'll find fried delicacies, the local take on sushi, chestnuts, seafood, and more.

The best part is, you can easily dip in and out of different stalls and get a great taste for the country's favorite flavors without having to book a table or sit in at a fancy restaurant. If you'd still like to do that, then of course, go ahead!

However, if your Korea itinerary is looking pretty full and you want to make the most of your time as you explore the sights and sounds of the biggest and brightest cities here, it makes sense to try to grab some food on the go. And, thankfully, you won't have to rely on the same old mass-produced fast food that you might be bored with elsewhere.

Korean street food is typically equal parts spicy and vibrant - from fish skewers to filled pancakes, there's always a new twist on an old favorite to watch out for. While you can certainly prepare your taste buds for a street food adventure in Korea before you visit, you certainly won't taste street snacks quite this good unless it's authentic. Trust us on that!

Best Korean street foods to try

Narrowing down the absolute best snacks and lunch staples for our Korea street food guide really was an adventure in and of itself! However, we put our heads together and decided that, if you are a complete newbie to street food in Korea, you should absolutely prioritize trying tteokbokki, hotteok, Korean fried chicken, gimbap, and odeng fish cakes.

Tteokbokki

If you don't eat tteokbokki while exploring street food stalls in Korea, you're really not making the most of them! This classic vendor staple is sweet, spicy rice cakes that are boiled and cooked in garlic, onion, and sugar. It's an absolute must-eat if you adore spicy food (and certainly if you want to sample the best street food cuisine going).

Hotteok

Hotteok are pancakes that can be filled with a variety of different ingredients, but the classic taste tends to be a sweet, crispy crunch in the shape of a cinnamon and nut stuffing. Crispy on the inside and chewy and syrupy on the inside, these hot, sweet treats are once eaten and loved forever.

Korean fried chicken

No, not that KFC - a different flavor and approach altogether! Korean fried chicken is as crispy and as sticky as you'd like it to be, with a huge range of flavors and sauces to choose from. You'll usually find fried chicken snacks available from twigim stalls, which refers to food (typically seafood) that is deep-fried and reheated.

Gimbap

Gimbap, or kimbap, is just as adored here as tteokbokki, and this time, you're tucking into the Korean variation of sushi! It's traditionally rice, veggie, and egg-filled seaweed wraps, usually available in small, bite-sized parcels. You may even find some on offer at twigim stalls, too, if you're really going all in on fried treats!

Odeng fish cakes

Odeng fish cakes are served on sticks, making them perfect for nibbling on the go. What you might not expect, however, is that they are served with a flavorful broth, which you can enjoy separately. You'll usually find odeng cakes on sale alongside a variety of other classic staples, such as dumplings and hotteok.

Best street food markets in Korea

If you're building up an appetite for street food, then be sure to build your itinerary around hunting down the best street food markets across some of the biggest cities!

In Seoul alone, for example, Gwangjang Market and Namdaemun Market remain some of the most popular, even if they do tend to get very busy! Busy, however, is always a good sign when it comes to street food. It means that the food is of good quality and that people are willing to queue for a long time to get it!

And, you can even get a taste of the best treats and vendors after the sun goes down! The Myeongdong Night Market comes alive in the evenings and boasts hundreds of different stalls - which are, according to experts, fantastic for seafood.

During the day, you should also make sure you check out Tongin Market - pick up a box on your way in and fill up as you wander around!

As you may have noticed, the best street food areas we've mentioned here are all based in Seoul - that's not to say you won't find fantastic eats elsewhere in the country! It is just that Seoul is by far the street food capital of Korea, and if you're on a bit of a foodie voyage, it's here where you will want to tuck in most of the time.

Korean street food tips for travelers

As you may have seen from our Korea shopping guide, exploring stalls, brands, and vendors across the country might seem like something out of a different world! However, there are plenty of things you can do to make your street food adventuring here more enjoyable (and all the easier to manage). Here are some quick tips to keep in mind.

• Make sure you've downloaded an eSIM for South Korea, so you have access to affordable mobile data as you explore vendors and stalls. It's good to stay connected so you can hunt down other areas and popular sites.
• Try to use cash wherever possible. Not all traditional vendors will accept international cards or Apple Pay, etc. - so, exchange into KRW before you visit.
• Make sure you have toiletries such as wet wipes or napkins to hand before you explore the stalls - not all will provide you with the facilities to clean up after you eat!
• Seating won't always be available! In many cases, you are expected to either stand close to carts or to eat while moving. This is, after all, how many people in Korea enjoy street food (that is, when on route to work or other ports of call).
• Always be wary of street vendors that have fewer queuing people than others - you might not expect the best quality food!