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Seoul's 10 Must Try Street Foods

by Well Traveled
1 year ago

You could spend a lifetime in Seoul, eat out for every meal and you would still never reach all the street food vendors in the city- you probably wouldn't even scratch the surface. But you would be eating very well for every meal.

Affordable, nutritious, and delicious, Seoul's many street foods make it one of the best culinary destinations in the world. From traditional offerings to Western fusion snacks (Korean street food vendors are geniuses when it comes to cheese), Seoul has it all.

Here's our list of the ten must-try street foods in Seoul.

1. Kimbap/Gimbap

Similar to nori sushi rolls and equally delicious. Pickled vegetables are rolled up in steamed white rice and dried seaweed and served cut up in rolls. Pro tip: dip your kimbap roll in an order of cheese tteokbokki (see below.)

2. Tteokbokki

The king of Korean street food. Cylinder glutinous rice cakes, fish cakes, eggs, and scallions are simmered in a spicy gochujang half sauce half soup or stir-fried in oil with chili flakes. There are so many variations available but the cheese tteokbokki (melted cheese over the rice cakes) is a can’t miss food.

3. Haemul Pajeon

Crispy on the outside and tender and hearty on the inside: the seafood scallion pancake is a delicious and filling street food. Paired with a cup of Korean rice wine, this snack is the perfect antidote to a rainy day.

4. Soondae

A treat for adventurous eaters. Known as Korean blood sausage, this is made with minced meat, glass noodles, rice, garlic, and other alliums. It might not be for everyone (it’s on the chewy side) but this iconic Seoul street food is worth trying.

5. Mindaetteok/Bindaetteok

The Korean take on the Chinese savory fried cake “bing,” this delicate cake is made with mung bean sprouts, scallions, and garlic and is often topped with kimchi and onion. Head to Soonhee’s Bindaetteok in Gwangjang Market for the best in the city.

6. KFC

This ain’t your Colonel Sanders, this is Korean Fried Chicken. Double fried chicken that is glazed with gochujang, soy sauce, garlic, and sesame seeds- this will make you forget all about that other KFC.

7. Hot dogs

Banish your thoughts of the New York or Chicago dog because Seoul has taken the humble hot dog to the next level with a variety of toppings and deep-fried options. Our favorite is the Gamja hot dog with a crunchy french fry outer layer.

8. Grilled Cheese

The simple grilled cheese has become an elevated Korean street food but don’t expect bread. Seoul has put grilled cheese on every kind of food from rice cakes to scallops. The Grilled cheese lobster is our favorite cheese indulgence.

9. Hotteok

It’s time for dessert and the traditional hotteok will satisfy sweet cravings. Think of it as half donut, half pancake: A glutinous rice cake is filled with brown sugar, peanuts, and cinnamon, and fried to order.

10. Soft Serve Ice Cream

Have you ever tried a whiskey or a honeycomb soft serve? Seoul’s street vendors are serving up the silkiest, creamiest soft serve with intriguing flavor options. Stroll around the Myeongdong Night Market with a cone for a late-night treat.