When winter descends upon South Korea, the streets come alive with sizzling snacks, warm aromas, and vibrant energy. Vendors create iconic dishes that warm the soul and showcase Korea’s rich culinary traditions. These delightful treats aren’t just about satisfying hunger—they’re about creating cherished winter memories.
Whether it’s your first time experiencing Korean winter street food or a nostalgic revisit to your favorites, here are five must-try delights that blend history, flavor, and affordability.
1. Hotteok (Sweet Pancakes)
Nothing screams winter in Korea like hotteok. These golden brown sweet pancakes are filled with a luscious mixture of brown sugar, cinnamon, and chopped nuts, melted into a gooey syrup as they cook. In high-traffic markets, including Myeong-dong and Insadong, vendors fill the air with the undeniable alluring smell of hot hotteok.
🥣History
Hotteok in fact originates from Chinese cuisine, introduced to Korea in the early 1900s by Chinese merchants. In due time, Koreans adapted the recipe to become the sweet version known today.
🥣Flavor Profile
Hotteok has the ultimate balance of crispy and chewy. Flour, water, sugar, and yeast go into a pancake dough, which gets fried to a golden color. Inside, the fillings melt with every single bite into a syrupy delight. Variations include green tea-flavored dough and savory fillings like cheese or spicy kimchi.
🥣Recent Price
Price varies with variation, but a single hotteok goes for approximately 1,000–2,000 KRW, which is around $0.80 to $1.60.
2. Bungeoppang (Fish-Shaped Pastry)
Bungeoppang is a fish-shaped pastry that is so typically Korean during winter; the mere mention evokes warmth and nostalgia on cold days. Despite the aquatic appearance, there is no seafood inside. Traditionally filled with sweet red bean paste, bungeoppang provides a perfect balance of crispy exteriors and soft, warm interiors.
The batter, like pancake mix, is poured into fish-shaped molds, layered with the filling, and baked until golden. Where red bean paste was originally a classic, today custard, chocolate, and sweet potato are modern variations to fit many tastes.
🥣History
Inspired by Japan’s taiyaki in the 1930s, bungeoppang promptly became a Korean winter staple. The name reflects its shape: “bungeo” means “carp” in Korean.
🥣Flavor Profile
Crispy outside and soft inside, bungeoppang has a pancake-like batter embracing the warm, flavorful filling.
🥣Recent Price
It is normal for 3–5 bungeoppang to sell at a price of 3,000–5,000 KRW ($2.40–$3.50), though it can be a bit higher for fancier versions.
3. Gungoguma (Baked Sweet Potatoes)
Gungoguma, or baked sweet potatoes, is one of the representative winter snacks in Korea. Simple as it is, it appeals to every soul in the universe. These sweet potatoes, cooked over open flames or inside a traditional drum oven, have a smoky, caramelized exterior, retaining their natural sweetness and creamy texture inside. The comfort of the warm, tender flesh of a sweet potato is just perfect for a cold winter day.
🥣History
During the latter part of the Joseon Dynasty, sweet potatoes have been introduced to Korea by the Japanese and become standard food during famines. Yet today, they mean remembrance of nostalgia and feelings of warmth during winter seasons.
🥣Flavor Profile
Sweet potatoes are caramelized on the outside, tender inside, and are practically dessert. For an undeniably Korean taste sensation, try them together with sour kimchi.
🥣Recent Price
According to their size and weight, the prices of baked sweet potatoes range from 1,500 to 3,000 KRW. ($1.20 – $2.40).
4. Eomuk (Fish Cake Skewers)
Eomuk, or fish cake skewers, is a beloved Korean winter street food, known for its savory, comforting flavors. Made from a blend of ground fish, flour, and seasonings, the cakes are shaped and simmered in a hot broth infused with kelp and anchovies. The result is a tender, flavorful skewer that absorbs the rich umami of the broth.
🥣History
The change came where eomuk had replaced the Japanese oden by preparing something unique in Korea with its fish and tailored broth recipe.
🥣Flavor Profile
Eomuk has a neutral flavor, a bit sweet, with a tender quality, which absorbs the flavour of the broth. As the accompanying hot broth should be, it is light, yet full of flavours.
🥣Recent Price
A skewer of eomuk will cost between 100–1,500 KRW ($0.70–$1.20), broth included.
5. Hoppang (Steamed Buns)
Hoppang is a soft and fluffy steamed bun filled in either sweet or savory fillings, which is versatile by filling anything from red bean paste to vegetable curry, and even pizza, making people love it regardless of its target group.
🥣History
Hoppang has its roots in Chinese steamed buns, but the ones popularized in Korea came from Samlip Foods in the 1970s.
🥣Flavor Profile
Warm Hoppang with fluffy dough wrapped around sweet, sweet red bean filling-or any other savory option one desires-is a go-to during cold winter days.
🥣Recent Price
Hoppang can be found rather easily for 1,000–1,500 KRW (~ $0.80–$1.20) in every convenience store or street stand.
Conclusion: The Magic of Korean Winter Street Foods
These dishes give more than just warmth and nourishment; they’re a doorway to the great culinary riches of Korea. From hotteok sweetness to hearty eomuk comfort, each street food has something to tell about tradition and adjustment.
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FAQs
What is special about Korean Winter Street Food?
They are treats that combine comforting flavor, affordability, and cultural tradition to warm both body and soul during the cold months.
Where is the best winter street food found in Korea?
Popular markets like Myeong-dong, Insadong, and Namdaemun Market are hotspots for winter delicacies.
Are there vegetarian options?
Yes! Hotteok, baked sweet potatoes, and red bean hoppang are vegetarian-friendly.
Can I prepare Korean street foods at home?
Of course, you can find recipes for hotteok, bungeoppang, and eomuk online.
Which food do tourists like most?
Hotteok is very well-liked and includes sweet flavors, which become so accessible. The similar situation is with bungoppang.