South Korean Street Food - 5 Dishes That You Need to Try in Seoul

Tteokbokki, the undisputed king of Korean street food, is a delightful dish made of chewy cylindrical rice cakes smothered in a fiery and flavourful spicy sauce. While the spicy version is the most popular, you can also find non-spicy variants to suit your taste. This beloved treat can be enjoyed at street food stalls, markets, tented street stalls, and even restaurants. You can even purchase pre-packaged tteokbokki at supermarkets to enjoy at home or while holidaying at hotels in Dongdaemun. Don't forget to try the skewered version known as tteok-kochi, where these rice cakes are paired with an array of delectable ingredients like fish cakes, cheese, sausages, and scallions.

For chicken lovers, dakkochi is a must-try. These succulent Korean chicken skewers feature tender chunks of chicken and scallions threaded onto bamboo skewers. Grilled to perfection and brushed with a savoury sauce, they offer a mouthwatering combination of flavours. Stroll through popular street food districts like Myeongdong, and you'll find an abundance of kochi varieties, with dakkochi and eumok-kochi among the tastiest options.

A visit to Gwangjang Market, located only a 10-minute walk from Travelodge Dongdaemun Seoul, is incomplete without savouring bindaetteok. These mung bean pancakes, a type of Korean pancake, are made from ground mung beans, vegetables, and meat. At the market, you'll witness skilled street vendors crafting these pancakes from scratch, making for a delightful sight and taste. Bindaetteok is often served with a dipping sauce composed of soy sauce, vinegar, and ground pine nuts, making it a popular choice for breakfast or snacking.

Hotteok, a beloved South Korean street food, consists of yeasted wheat dough filled with a sweet mixture of brown sugar, honey, cinnamon, and chopped peanuts. These sweet pancakes are cooked on a griddle, resulting in a warm, gooey, and utterly satisfying treat. You can easily find hotteok at various markets and bustling street food areas like Myeongdong and Insadong, where the aroma of these delectable pancakes will beckon you.

Kimbap, resembling oversized sushi rolls, is a portable Korean street food made by wrapping cooked white rice in seaweed. These rolls are filled with an assortment of ingredients such as vegetables, meat, fish, egg, and cheese. Before serving, kimbap is often brushed with sesame oil and sprinkled with sesame seeds, enhancing its flavour. Kimbap is a convenient and popular snack enjoyed not only by locals but also by visitors, making it a must-try street food in Seoul.

When it comes to fried chicken, forget the American-style KFC; in Seoul, you must savour the delight of dakgangjeong, the Korean fried chicken. This delectable dish is renowned for its irresistible combination of crispiness, tenderness, and a tantalising sweet and spicy sauce. The secret to dakgangjeong's crunchiness lies in the double-frying technique used to prepare the chicken. Each piece is expertly battered and double-fried, ensuring that it maintains its crispy texture even after being generously coated in the flavourful sauce.