When the air turns crisp in Korea, the street food changes too. From around October, steaming stalls pop up on corners and outside subway stations, and the smell of sugar, red bean and roasted chestnuts fills the air.
Here are 8 warm snacks to look for from autumn to early spring, and a few tips for ordering like a local.
8 warm snacks to try
- Bungeoppang (붕어빵). Fish-shaped pastry cooked in a mold, crisp outside and soft inside. The classic filling is sweet red bean. Some stalls also offer custard cream.
- Hotteok (호떡). A chewy fried pancake filled with brown sugar syrup, cinnamon and nuts or seeds. Be careful: the syrup inside is very hot.
- Gyeran-ppang (계란빵). A small, fluffy, slightly sweet bread baked with a whole egg inside.
- Gunbam and goguma (군밤, 군고구마). Roasted chestnuts and roasted sweet potatoes. Simple, sweet and warming.
- Odeng (오뎅 / 어묵). Fish cake skewers simmered in a hot savory broth. Most stalls let you drink the broth from a paper cup.
- Tteokbokki (떡볶이). Chewy rice cakes in a spicy-sweet red sauce. It’s available all year, but it is at its best on a cold day.
- Hoppang (호빵). Fluffy steamed buns, usually sold in steamers at convenience stores in autumn and winter, with fillings such as red bean.
- Mandu (만두). Steamed or fried dumplings, easy to find in traditional markets.
Where to find them
- Outside subway stations and busy corners. Seasonal stalls often appear near exits.
- Traditional markets. Markets such as Gwangjang Market in Seoul are packed with food stalls.
- Tourist streets. Areas like Myeongdong have many street food stalls in the evening.
How to order
- Point at what you want and hold up fingers for the number.
- Say “Hana juseyo” (하나 주세요) for “One, please.”
- For a take-away bag, say “Bongtu juseyo” (봉투 주세요).
Good to know
- Cash and cards. Many stalls prefer cash, and some accept only cash or bank transfer. Carry a little cash and small bills.
- Trash. Public bins can be hard to find. Hold on to your paper cup or wrapper until you find one.
- Stalls come and go. Some are seasonal and move around, so if you see one you like, try it right away.
- Allergies. Many snacks contain wheat, egg, soy or fish. If you have an allergy, ask before you buy.
What’s your favorite Korean winter snack? Tell us in the community.