When it comes to satisfying your inner foodie in Seoul, there’s no better place to dine like the locals do than by hitting the streets. Food carts can be found in just about any area of the city, offering everything from breads and sweets to traditional snacks and deep-fried finds. Best of all, street food is incredibly affordable in Korea, so there’s no reason not to tuck in!
Hungry yet? Here are 10 must-try street foods for your next trip to Seoul.
Ddeokbokki
Topping the list of must-try street foods in Seoul is ddeokbokki, a bright red dish featuring spicy sauce and rice cakes. Mild and satisfying, ddeokbokki is one of the most popular street foods of the city. Typically, it is not too spicy, but if you’re looking for variation, head to Ddeokbokki alley in the Sindang-dong neighbourhood. Here, several restaurants specialise in this traditional street food, some even prepare the truly traditional version with brown sauce instead of red.
Twigeum
Another must-try while in Seoul is twigeum, which basically stands for a variety of deep-fried things you’ll find at street food carts and casual restaurants throughout the city. Twigeum carts typically carry a few deep-fried staples: shrimp, dumplings, japchae (seaweed rolls stuffed with noodles), and veggies. Some may even have deep-fried eggs, octopus tentacles, pancakes and more. Usually, there is a set price for five pieces, which you then eat while standing at the cart.
Odeng
Also known as fish cake, odeng is one of the most common — and cheapest — street food finds the city has to offer. At a street food cart selling ddeokbokki or twigeum, you’ll often find a container of broth with skewers sticking out of it. This is what you’re after, as these are odeng skewers marinating in fish broth. Keep in mind odeng comes in many forms, so you may also find skewers of fish cake laying out with vegetables or batter mixed in. After eating your odeng, do as the locals do and help yourself to a cup of the broth to finish your snack.
Hot Dogs
Hot dogs are taken to another level on the streets of Seoul, whether they’ve been skewered and wrapped with a spiraled potato or battered and fried with seasonings. One of the must-try versions of the corndog is not only battered, but then wrapped in french fries and deep-fried.
Egg Bread (Gyeran Bbang)
Especially delicious on a chilly Seoul day, egg bread is a small, dense pastry (similar to a muffin) topped or stuffed with a whole egg. Only slightly sweet, egg bread is delicious for breakfast or a mid-afternoon snack.
Hotteok
Another warm pastry that’s perfect for a cold day is hotteok, a pancake-esque street food filled with warm, gooey brown sugar and cinnamon.
Beondegi
Feeling adventurous? Then don’t miss your chance to try one of Seoul’s more daring foodie finds: beondegi. A fixture at every outdoor market and festival you’ll find in the city, beondegi is boiled or steamed silkworm pupae, sold by the cup and eaten like popcorn.
Soondae
Speaking of street food for the more daring traveller, soondae is a must for those who aren’t picky eaters. Soondae is a blood sausage typically made from pork blood, and often mixed with rice or noodles before being stuffed into a casing made of intestinal lining. While the description may not sound particularly appetising, soondae remains one of Seoul’s most popular street foods, so why not give it a try during your visit?
Kimbap
Whatever you do, don’t call it sushi. Kimbap is made of seaweed wrapped over rice, and it may come with several different fillings (typically an assortment of vegetables with one protein choice like tuna or crab) or one single filling, especially if it’s at a street food cart with a large variety of other options. The smaller kimbap are perfect for enjoying along with other street food goodies, while regular-sized kimbap rolls can often be a meal replacement when on the go.
Dried Squid
You’ll have plenty of chances to try the freshly prepared stuff at restaurants in the city, but when on the streets, squid is best enjoyed dried. Dried, shredded and sold by the bag, dried squid – and octopus – is another must-try when enjoying street food in Seoul.
(Main image: seafaringwoman)
