Joanna James
When in Seoul, you should not miss trying out its stunning array of South Korean. All the alleys, laneways and street food stalls in the town are packed with eateries and restaurants. Here are some Seoul specialties to try out during your holiday.
When talking about Korean street food, Tteokbokki is a dish that comes to mind of any local. If you are a fan of Korean drama, you might already know this dish! It includes small cylindrical rice cakes coated in spicy sauce. It is available in non-spicy and spicy versions but the most common one is the spicy version. You can find them skewered with other ingredients like scallions, cheese, fish cakes and sausages. This dish can be found in street food outlets and many a hotel near Myeongdong shopping street.
Savour the true taste of Seoul as you try out Eumok. Once tasted you will keep coming back to Seoul for this dish. This dish refers to Korean fish cake. Even though fish cakes could be prepared with different types of fish, Koreans use less fatty fish or seafood like cuttlefish or corvina. If you plan to visit Korea during the winter season, nothing will make you happier than a bowl of eumok. If you are staying at one of the many hotels like Travelodge Myeongdong Euljiro, you will get the chance to savour a warm bowl of Eumok for dinner.
This is a skewered Korean street food similar to eumok-kochi and tteok-kochi. Its main ingredient is chicken (dak). This supremely delicious Dakkochi is made with small chunks of scallions and chicken that are threaded onto bamboo skewers. When you stroll around famous street food areas such as Insadong or Myeongdong, you will find diverse types of kochi for sale.
As you head over to Gwangjang Market, you can savour the most common local street food like Bindaetteok. It is a type of Korean pancake or buchimgae made with meat, vegetables and ground mung beans. Similar to Myeongdong, Gwangjang Market is visited by locals as it is one of the best places to enjoy Korean street food. You will not regret sparing some time to visit the market early in the morning to see how street vendors make mung bean pancakes from scratch.
This is another popular South Korean Street food made with yeasted wheat dough stuffed with a mixture of chopped peanuts, cinnamon, honey and brown sugar. It is cooked on a griddle. You can easily find these delicious Korean sweet pancakes in markets and popular street food areas like Insadong and Myeongdong.
Here is a top pick for dumpling lovers! It is referred to as a family of Korean dumplings made with different types of vegetables and meat. They vary in shape and could be deep-fried, pan-fried, or steamed. Mandu is available in part of South Korea and even in different parts of Asia like Armenia, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Japan and China.
A delicious stir-fried beef dish is a must-try when in Seoul. The taste of Lok Lak might vary from one cook to another but it is usually cooked with cucumber slices, red onion, fresh lettuce and tomato. The meat is marinated overnight by mixing with soy sauce, oyster sauce, fish sauce, lemon and pepper to get a distinctive flavour.
Also known as Gimbap, Kimbap looks like a big Japanese sushi roll. However, it is not made with vinegared rice. This dish is made with cooked white rice rolled in vegetables and seaweed vinegar. Prior to slicing it into bite-sized pieces, they are drizzled with sesame seeds and brushed with sesame oil.
If you are in a hurry to explore the city and in need of a quick and inexpensive breakfast, here is an ideal choice. You will also find local women carrying it in handwoven baskets with a shoulder pole. Nom Banh Chok noodle dish contains mint leaves, banana flower, cucumbers in a fish-based green curry, rice noodles, green beans and bean sprouts.
This pork dipping sauce is a traditional condiment in Seoul prepared with its main ingredient – fermented fish paste. The dipping sauce is palatable, unlike many prahok-based dishes which have a pungent and strong flavour. It is usually served with freshly sliced vegetables such as long beans, cabbage, carrot, and cucumber.
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A travel writer who has a passion for fashion and a deep interest in admiring new and exotic attractions around the world.
