Exploring the vibrant streets of Seoul is an adventure in itself, especially when it comes to sampling the diverse and delicious Korean street food. Whether you're a first-time visitor or a seasoned traveller, the bustling streets of Myeongdong offer an array of tempting treats that are sure to delight your taste buds.

From spicy rice cakes to crispy Korean fried chicken, from savoury Kimchi fried rice to skewered fish cakes, there is something to satisfy every palate. Myeongdong is a haven for street food enthusiasts, offering a plethora of options that showcase the rich and diverse flavours of Korean cuisine.

While you may be familiar with popular dishes like tteokbokki and eumok, the streets of Seoul have so much more to offer. Let’s explore the best Korean street foods that you need to try, and discover the culinary delights that await you in this vibrant city.

Korean street food is a culinary adventure that tantalises the taste buds and offers a glimpse into Korea's vibrant food culture. From savoury snacks to sweet treats, the streets of Korea are lined with vendors selling an array of delicious and affordable bites.

This popular Korean street food is a must-try! Tteokbokki features cylinder-shaped white rice cakes mixed with red chilli pepper paste and Korean red chilli pepper flakes. Originating in 1953, this comfort dish has evolved to be served with ramen, boiled eggs, dumplings, cheese, and seafood.

Indulge in this iconic Korean street food delight: deep-fried spiral-cut potatoes on skewers brushed with your choice of seasoning, from cheese to honey to barbecue. Some stalls offer fancier versions with melted cheese, beef bits, and parsley, while others keep it classic with a sausage in the middle.

If you're a calamari fan, prepare to be delighted! This Korean street food classic features deep-fried squid, served either cut up in a box or whole on a stick for a satisfying snack.

Gimbap," a Korean dish, translates to "edible seaweed" (Gim) and "cooked rice" (Bap). It consists of rice and various ingredients rolled in seaweed and sliced into bite-sized pieces. Often enjoyed at outdoor events and picnics, Gimbap is typically paired with spicy squid, cheese, egg strips, kimchi, luncheon meat, or spicy tuna. It can also be topped with sesame seeds or lightly fried with an egg coating.

Yangnyeom Tongdak, or seasoned whole chicken, is a popular Korean street food dish. It involves cutting a small or medium-sized chicken into pieces, double frying it for extra crispiness, and then coating it in a sweet, sour, and spicy sauce. This method of frying results in a less greasy texture. Typically served with pickled radishes, soju, and beer, it's a favourite among locals and tourists alike, perfect as an appetiser or a satisfying after-meal snack.

Hailing from Japan, Croissant Bungeoppang is a delightful Korean street food featuring a fish-shaped pastry filled with sweetened red bean paste. The batter, made from baking powder, wheat flour, milk, and eggs, is poured into a fish-shaped mould on a waffle iron. Once cooked, the pastry is filled with sweetened red bean paste or other options like pizza toppings, chocolate, or pastry cream, offering a variety of flavours to enjoy.

Originally popularised in Osaka, Takoyaki is a beloved Korean street food made from wheat flour batter and diced octopus, mixed with tempura scraps, pickled ginger, and green onion. These savoury balls are cooked in a special moulded pan, then topped with takoyaki sauce, mayonnaise, and dried bonito flakes. While traditionally Japanese, Takoyaki has become a favourite Korean street food, found in stalls, specialty restaurants, and even supermarkets or 24-hour convenience stores.

Tteokgalbi consists of ground beef short ribs kneaded and shaped into rice cakes or meatballs. While beef short ribs are traditional, more affordable options like beef chuck or brisket can be used, sometimes mixed with ground pork. These meatballs are versatile and can be grilled, broiled, or pan-fried, making them a popular and easy-to-cook dish in households across Korea.

Definitely a step up from typical Korean street food, fresh scallops are taken straight from the water tank, torched on the spot, and then topped with a choice of melted cheese and butter, or melted cheese and garlic.

Another dish originating from Japan, Korean Fish Cake Soup is a popular Korean street food often enjoyed as a snack or light meal, often paired with an alcoholic beverage. The fishcake used in the soup is typically flat and rectangular, though variations with fish cake in different shapes and colours can also be found

Dakgangjeong, a Korean dish consisting of stir-fried chicken marinated in sauce, is a popular street food item. The most common version features a sweet chilli sauce. Some dakgangjeong vendors are so renowned that people queue for hours to taste it, with some even travelling from other regions just to sample the dish from a specific famous street stall.

Roasted sweet potatoes are a common snack in many countries, but Korean street vendors use a unique cooking method: the Drum Can. These stands, often seen on the streets, roast sweet potatoes in metal drum cans. Some vendors offer "gun goguma" served with honey and butter, enhancing their flavour and making them a delightful treat!

Mandu are Korean dumplings typically filled with minced meat (often pork), tofu, green onions, garlic, and glass noodles. They are a popular Korean street food, often enjoyed as a full meal. While there are many varieties of Mandu in Korea, the most common types found on the street are meat dumplings and kimchi dumplings. You can opt for one type or ask the vendor to include half of each in your takeaway box.

This dish features ground mung beans mixed with vegetables or meat, fried in oil, and is often enjoyed with alcohol due to its greasy and savoury nature. Historically, meat was expensive, so people used meat scraps and fat for flavour. The fat from the meat enhances the pancake's taste, while the nutty texture of mung beans adds to its appeal. Bindaetteok is commonly found in open-air markets due to its simple outdoor preparation.

Dalgona, reminiscent of honeycomb toffee candy, is created by melting sugar with a dash of baking soda. Vendors often craft intricate patterns like stars, hearts, or fish on the candy before it fully solidifies. Some sellers even offer a playful challenge: eat the candy around the pattern without breaking it to get a free treat. In certain regions, this treat is known as ppopgi.

Ready to embark on your Korean street food adventure? Don't wait any longer! Book your flight and hotel to South Korea with Traveloka today and dive into a world of culinary delights.