Korean food is far more than sizzling BBQ and spicy noodles. This is a growing collection of beloved classics and little discoveries from our food adventures—one delicious bite at a time.
떡 (Tteok) — Korean rice cakes
Soft, chewy and incredibly colourful, 떡 (tteok) is a traditional Korean snack made from rice. You will find it in endless shapes and flavours at markets, bakeries and celebrations.
- The rice cake itself can taste slightly savoury, but it still works beautifully as a sweet treat.
- Look out for fillings such as honey, sweet red bean or nutty sesame.
- I genuinely loved tteok and was always on the lookout for it while wandering Korean markets.
- My favourite? The ones with a sweet honey filling inside. Highly recommend!
Tiny tip: buy a few different colours and shapes when you spot a stall—half the fun is finding your favourite.
호두과자 (Hodu-gwaja) — Walnut pastries
These little walnut-shaped pastries are small, warm and absolutely delicious. Hodu-gwaja usually have a soft cake-like shell with sweet red bean paste and little walnut pieces tucked inside.
- You can find them almost anywhere—especially inside stations and underground malls.
- They are inexpensive, and you usually get a generous little bagful.
- Best eaten warm on a super-cold day. Instant comfort snack.
Tiny tip: follow the smell of freshly baked pastry. It is almost impossible to walk past without buying some.
떡볶이 (Tteokbokki) — Spicy rice cakes
The face of Korean street food: 떡볶이 (tteokbokki). Chewy rice cakes swimming in a sweet, spicy red sauce—easily one of my top three Korean food cravings.
- The sauce is sweet first, spicy second—and wonderfully addictive.
- It is brilliant with fish cakes, boiled eggs, fried snacks or a quick dip of 김밥 (gimbap).
- My go-to order is tteokbokki with 순대 (sundae, Korean blood sausage) or mini gimbap.
Tiny tip: do not leave that glossy sauce behind—use it as a dip for everything on your tray.
번데기 (Beondegi) — Silkworm pupae
번데기 (beondegi) literally means “pupa”—specifically silkworm pupae, boiled or steamed and sold as a traditional street snack. Scary? A little. Worth trying? Honestly, yes.
- I was influenced by my husband, who would not stop talking about the protein.
- Once you get past what it is, the flavour is an interesting mix of sweet, salty and nutty.
- To be honest… it was not that bad!
Tiny tip: start with one. If you like it, congratulations—you have unlocked a proper Korean street-food adventure.
치킨 (Chikin) — Korean fried chicken
How could I not mention 치킨 (chikin)—the epitome of fried chicken? I may be a little biased, but Korean fried chicken is hands down some of the best.
- Korea has somehow perfected that super-crispy outer layer while keeping the chicken juicy inside.
- The best part is choosing a flavour: sweet and spicy, soy garlic, honey butter, classic crispy—and plenty more.
- My personal favourite is snow cheese: crunchy chicken covered in a fluffy, savoury cheese powder. So good.
Tiny tip: order a half-and-half platter if you cannot pick one flavour. You probably will not be able to.
간장게장 (Ganjang-gejang) — Soy sauce marinated crab
Oh boy, this is good stuff—especially if you are a seafood fan. 간장게장 (ganjang-gejang) is raw crab marinated in soy sauce, and its rich, savoury marinade is every bit as good as the crab itself.
- We tried both the original soy sauce version and 양념게장 (yangnyeom-gejang), the spicy-sweet seasoned version.
- They are completely different, but neither loses on flavour.
- The crab meat is soft, rich and practically melt-in-your-mouth.
- It pairs ridiculously well with a bowl of hot, steamy rice.
Tiny tip: if raw crab is your thing, do not skip this. Spoon some marinade over your rice, too—it is the whole experience.
쫀드기 (Jjondeugi) — Chewy corn snack
쫀드기 (jjondeugi) was completely new to me until my husband introduced it—and oh boy, am I glad he did. This nostalgic street snack is made from corn starch and is all about its satisfyingly chewy texture.
- Jjondeugi has been a popular Korean snack for decades—and once you try it, you get it.
- We had hot chilli and Prinkle flavours.
- Prinkle, a sweet-and-savoury cheesy seasoning, was definitely my favourite.
Tiny tip: do not judge it by its simple look. One bite turns into another handful very quickly.
빙수 (Bingsu) — Korean shaved ice
빙수 (bingsu) is Korean shaved ice—and it is the perfect cool-down dessert. Compared with the lighter, water-ice style you may know from Japanese kakigori, bingsu is often made with frozen milk, so it feels extra soft, creamy and fluffy.
- It is a staple during Korea’s hotter seasons, when an icy bowl of bingsu is exactly what you need.
- Sulbing is the go-to bingsu café chain, with plenty of tempting flavours and toppings to choose from.
- Toppings can go in every direction: fruit, condensed milk, red beans, mochi, cheesecake and more.
- The strawberry version is bright, fresh and very hard to share.
- I always end up getting injeolmi bingsu. Topped with roasted soybean powder and chewy rice cake, it is nutty, cosy and perfect for anyone else who is a massive sucker for soybean flavour.
Tiny tip: do not wait for summer. Bingsu is good whenever you need an excuse for dessert.
칼국수 (Kalguksu) — Knife-cut noodles
I LOVE 칼국수 (kalguksu). Hand-cut noodles in a warm broth—what could go wrong? This is classic Korean comfort food at its best.
- The broad, handmade noodles are soft, satisfying and perfect for soaking up the broth.
- I usually choose the white, milky-looking broth because it feels so hearty and warming.
- The flavour is clean, comforting and an absolute must for colder seasons.
Tiny tip: add kimchi on the side for a spicy little contrast to the soothing broth.
감자탕 (Gamjatang) — Spicy pork-bone soup
감자탕 (gamjatang) is a rich, spicy soup made with pork spine or neck bones, potatoes and plenty of greens. It is hearty in every possible way.
- We had an incredible bowl at a restaurant in Seongsu—chef’s kiss, even if I cannot remember the name for the life of me.
- The portions were seriously generous. We definitely got our money’s worth without breaking the bank.
- The meat fell straight off the bone: super soft, tender and worth every bite.
- The hearty soup was packed with vegetables and, of course, plenty of potatoes.
Tiny tip: arrive hungry. Gamjatang does not believe in small portions.
카페 (Kape) — Korean coffee-chain drinks
Korean 카페 (kape) chains are one of my favourite little travel treats: the drinks are big, affordable and genuinely delicious.
- I make it a mission to try something new whenever I spot a menu.
- This banana-milk coffee was the crème de la crème for me—creamy, sweet and coffee-forward in the best way.
- From fruit ades to playful lattes and seasonal drinks, have a look at the menu and see what interesting flavour you find.
Tiny tip: do not automatically order your usual. Korean coffee chains are made for trying something unexpected.
Until the next bite
That was only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to Korean food. Korea has so much fantastic cuisine to explore and discover—I just wish I had the stomach space for it all!
I hope this post has shared even a small insight into the wonderful world of Korean food, and inspires you to venture out and try something new.