29 Popular Korean Street Food You can't Miss in Seoul (+ Recipes)

The top 29 MUST TRY Korean Street Food You can't Miss in Seoul. I've included links to the Korean Street Food Recipes too!

If you're looking for unmissable Korean street food in Seoul, you're in the right place! Even with this list, it can be hard to know where to go, so why not join a Seoul street food tour? It's also the perfect workaround for solo travelers (it can be hard to find places that take solo diners in Korea, although not so much in the touristy bits like Myeongdong these days.)

Savory

• Tteokbokki (떡볶이): Spicy, chewy stir-fried rice cakes in gochujang sauce, Koreans LOVE this dish but it's a I-can-take-it-or-leave-it for me.
• Eomuk / Odeng (어묵/오뎅): Fish cake skewers served with a warm, savory broth.

• Gimbap (김밥): These traditionally come as seaweed rice rolls (look for Mayak Gimbap) but there's also an easy to make version- gimbap/ kimbap sandwich.
• Soondae (순대): Korean blood sausage made with glass noodles- you can find this as is, in stews, or stir-fried.

• Mandu (만두): Dumplings—available steamed (Jjinmandu) or pan-fried (Gunmandu). The steamed dumplings are a little bland so don't forget to serve it with the Korean dipping sauce! Love the ones served at Myeondong Kyoja- inexpensive but good quality!
• Twigim (튀김): Assorted deep-fried snacks (fried squid, sweet potato, peppers, etc.)

• Gungoguma (군고구마): Roasted sweet potatoes- in classic Korean rom com dramas, every time it's winter, the lead couple would be eating this!
• Chimaek (치맥): Korean fried chicken and beer!

• Hotteok (호떡): Sweet pancakes filled with brown sugar, cinnamon, and seeds.
• Gyeran-ppang (계란빵): Fluffy "egg bread" with a whole egg inside.

• Bindaetteok (빈대떡): Savory mung bean pancakes (a Gwangjang Market specialty).
• Bungeoppang (붕어빵): Fish-shaped pastry filled with sweet red bean or custard.

• Pajeon (파전): Scallion pancakes- these are much easier to make than Chinese scallion pancakes but just as tasty! You can have it plain (just the green onions) or with seafood (Haemul Pajeon.)
• Kkwabaegi (꽈배기): Twisted donuts coated in sugar and cinnamon.
• Gilgeori Toast (길거리 토스트): Savory-sweet street toast with egg, cabbage, and sugar. (Koreans tend to like their bread on the sweet side.)
• Gamja-jeon (감자전): Savory potato pancakes.

Unique & Adventurous Bites

• Dakbal (닭발): Spicy chicken feet- this Korean street food isn't for everyone!
• Sannakji (산낙지): "Live" octopus (freshly cut tentacles that still move- be careful, people have been known to DIE from eating these!)
• Yukhoe (육회): Korean-style beef tartare i.e. raw!
• Jokbal (족발): Pig's trotters braised in soy sauce and spices. I wasn't convinced about this till I tried it! There's actually a lot of meat on the trotter!

• Dalgona / Ppopgi (달고나): The Squid Game honeycomb sugar candy is a traditional Korean snack. You'll usually see older Korean Aunties (Ahjumma or Halmeoni) sitting on a low stool making these.
• Bingsu (빙수): Shaved ice with sweet toppings (red bean, fruit, condensed milk).
• Croffle: A croissant-waffle hybrid topped with various sweets.
• Sikhye (식혜): Traditional sweet rice punch (perfect for washing down spicy food).
• 32cm Ice Cream: Extra-tall soft-serve cones found in Myeongdong.
• Korean Barley Tea: You'll be served this (Bori-cha) at many Korean eateries. (There's often no charge.)
• Korean Plum Tea: Enjoy this deliciously sweet tea in a traditional Korean tea house in Insa-dong!

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• Myeongdong Night Market: Best for modern, and expensive snacks (Lobster, Coin Bread). I don't recommend the hotteok there though- they tried to make it healthier, and it tastes that way.....
• Gwangjang Market: Made famous by Netflix, visit for Bindaetteok, Mayak Gimbap, and Kalguksu but be careful- there have been reports of vendors overcharging.
• Namdaemun Market: Great for traditional classics like Hotbar (fish cake bars) and Hotteok. You'll also find some authentic Korean street foods you probably won't want to try, such as silkworm pupae or Beondegi (번데기). I swear I can smell them from metres away and I am NOT a fan of the smell!

Any questions about popular Korean street foods? Let me know in the comments!