Korea is a foodie paradise, especially for those who like to indulge in local street food to take advantage of flavorful local fare at wallet-friendly prices. Here are essential dishes to try in Korea on your next visit.
Jeon
“Jeon” is a term that basically means a savoury Korean pancake, often eaten as a snack or appetizer. You might be thinking of the syrup-soaked version you might order at brunch in North America, but this is a little different. In this case, meats, seafoods, vegetables and eggs are mixed with flour batter and then pan-fried with oil. Depending on the ingredients of choice, the pancakes are named differently. For example, a pajeon is made with spring onion, and a kimchi jeon is made with kimchi. This is a great between-meal snack to try as you explore Seoul.
Twigim
Who doesn’t like deep fried foods? OK, there are people out there who might opt out, but for the most part, fried things are always a popular choice. Twigim is a popular street food found in Seoul and considered an ideal accompaniment to a cold beer. Often referred to as Korean tempura, this dish is basically items, including sweet potatoes, eggs, shrimp, fish and assorted vegetables, covered with a flour batter and deep fried. In markets and at street stalls you’ll see carts piled high with glistening twigim – a tempting snack at budget-friendly prices.
Hotteok
Looking for something to satisfy your sweet tooth in Korea? Look no further than hotteok, easily found at many street-food markets and stalls. These sweet, satisfying treats consist of a dough-based pancake filled with sugar and cinnamon and sometimes nuts, or other sweet ingredients that gets fried, resulting in a pleasingly crisp exterior and soft, gooey interior. They can also be found with savory filling.
Dakkochi
Another popular street food in Korea, dakkochi make for an easy on-the-go snack or small meal when you want something that packs a lot of flavour but that isn’t too heavy. This dish, basically grilled chicken skewers with spring onions in a spicy and tangy marinade, can be found all over the city and makes for a simple yet satisfying snack or small meal.
Japchae
Healthy and packed with vegetables, japchae consists of sweet potato noodles (or glass noodles) stir-fried with nutty sesame oil and thinly sliced vegetables and beef. The noodles themselves are a bit sweet and slightly chewy and the dish is often garnished with sesame seeds. Since the noodles aren’t your typical wheat-based pasta, the dish is refreshingly light yet satisfying.
Gyeran Bbang
Gyeran Bbang, Korean egg bread, is a comforting street food found all over Seoul and a popular snack in the colder winter months. When you see Gyeran Bbang in food stalls it basically looks like an oblong muffin topped with an egg – and that’s essentially what it is. You get a soft, simply-flavored muffin (as in, not too sweet, not too savory) with a whole egg either inside or sitting just on top. It’s an easy snack to eat on the go for a quick energy boost while you sightsee.
Source: tripsavvy
