The Most Popular Korean Street Food: Exploring the Must-Try Delicacies
Voting rules: Choose the food you think is the most popular!
Jun 16, 2023 10:18 (Updated on Nov 29, 2023 08:22)
Welcome to StrawPoll, your one-stop destination for fascinating polls and rankings! Today, we invite you to embark on a mouthwatering journey as we explore the vibrant world of Korean street food. Sizzle your taste buds and join the gastronomic adventure by casting your vote for the "Most Popular Korean Street Food"! From the spicy allure of Tteokbokki to the crispy satisfaction of Hotteok, we've got it all. But wait, is your favorite delicacy missing from our list? Fret not, as you can suggest your preferred option too! So, fellow food enthusiasts, let's dive right in and discover which Korean street food reigns supreme. Your opinion matters, and every vote counts. Happy voting and 맛있게 드세요 (Bon Appétit)!
What Is the Most Popular Korean Street Food?
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174votesSpicy rice cake dish that is a staple street food in Korea. It's made with chewy rice cakes, gochujang (red pepper paste), and various vegetables.DescriptionTteokbokki is a popular Korean street food dish known for its delicious and fiery flavor. It features chewy rice cakes (tteok) cooked in a spicy sauce made with gochujang (Korean red chili paste) along with various ingredients like fish cakes, scallions, and cabbage. The dish's vibrant red color and bold flavors make it a favorite among locals and visitors alike.
- Origin: South Korea
- Spiciness Level: Hot and spicy
- Main Ingredient: Rice cakes (tteok)
- Sauce Base: Gochujang (Korean red chili paste)
- Additional Ingredients: Fish cakes, scallions, cabbage
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224votesSweet Korean pancake that is filled with brown sugar, cinnamon, and nuts. It's a popular winter street food that is sold in food trucks and markets.DescriptionHotteok is a popular Korean snack that is essentially a sweet pancake filled with a delicious mixture of sugar, cinnamon, and crushed peanuts. It is often enjoyed during the winter months as a warm and comforting treat. The pancake is made with a yeasted dough that is fried until golden and crispy on the outside, while remaining soft and chewy on the inside. The filling is added to the center of the pancake before it is folded over and cooked, creating a gooey and flavorful center. Hotteok is best enjoyed fresh off the griddle when the filling is still warm and oozing.
- Origin: South Korea
- Main ingredients: Flour, sugar, yeast, water, cinnamon, crushed peanuts
- Texture: Crispy outside, soft and chewy inside
- Serving temperature: Hot
- Serving method: Usually eaten by hand
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314votesKorean glass noodles stir-fried with vegetables like carrots, spinach, and mushrooms. It's a popular street food that is also served as a side dish.DescriptionJapchae is a traditional Korean dish known for its delicious blend of flavors and textures. It is a stir-fried dish made with glass noodles made from sweet potato starch, mixed with various vegetables and thinly sliced meat. The dish is typically seasoned with soy sauce, sugar, and sesame oil, giving it a savory and slightly sweet taste. Japchae is often enjoyed as a side dish or served as a main course, particularly during special occasions and celebrations.
- Main Ingredients: Sweet potato glass noodles, vegetables, meat
- Cooking Method: Stir-fried
- Flavor: Savory and slightly sweet
- Seasonings: Soy sauce, sugar, sesame oil
- Texture: Soft noodles, crispy vegetables
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422votesDeep-fried street food that can be made with various ingredients like vegetables, seafood, and meat. It's a popular snack that is often enjoyed with beer.DescriptionTwigim is a popular Korean street food, also known as Korean fritters or tempura. It refers to a variety of deep-fried snacks and ingredients that are coated in a batter and then fried until crispy. Twigim can be found in food stalls and markets across South Korea, where it is enjoyed as a tasty and convenient snack.
- Ingredients: Assorted vegetables (such as bell peppers, carrots, onions, and zucchini) and seafood (such as shrimp and squid)
- Batter: A mixture of flour, cornstarch, water, and sometimes egg
- Cooking method: Deep-frying in hot oil until golden and crispy
- Serving style: Usually served on skewers or in paper cones
- Dipping sauce: Often served with a tangy and slightly spicy soy-based dipping sauce
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515votesKorean fish cake on a skewer that is served with a spicy dipping sauce. It's a popular street food that is often enjoyed during the winter months.DescriptionOdeng, also known as Eomuk, is a popular Korean street food. It consists of fish cakes made from ground white fish mixed with various vegetables and seasoning, such as onions, carrots, and green onions. The mixture is then shaped into a cylinder or oval shape and boiled in a savory broth. Odeng is typically served on skewers and enjoyed as a warm and satisfying snack during the cold winter months.
- Primary Ingredient: Ground white fish
- Additional Ingredients: Vegetables (onions, carrots, green onions)
- Cooking Method: Boiled
- Broth Flavoring: Savory
- Serving Style: Skewers
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610votesKorean sushi roll that is made with rice, vegetables, and sometimes meat. It's a popular street food that is also sold in convenience stores.DescriptionGimbap is a popular Korean street food that consists of cooked rice, vegetables, and sometimes meat or seafood rolled in seaweed.
- Ingredients: Cooked rice, vegetables (such as carrots, spinach, and pickled radish), and optional meat or seafood (such as tuna, beef, or crab)
- Seaweed: Dried and roasted seaweed sheets, called gim or nori, are used to wrap the fillings
- Rolling Technique: The ingredients are placed on the seaweed sheet and rolled tightly into a cylindrical shape using a bamboo mat called a makisu
- Slicing: The rolled gimbap is often sliced into bite-sized pieces before serving
- Variations: There are a variety of gimbap variations, including tuna gimbap, kimchi gimbap, cheese gimbap, and bulgogi gimbap
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77votesKorean blood sausage that is made with pig intestines stuffed with various ingredients like noodles, vegetables, and pork blood. It's a popular street food that is often served with spicy dipping sauce.DescriptionThe Sundae is a classic dessert offered at Dairy Queen. It consists of a combination of soft-serve vanilla ice cream topped with a variety of delicious sauces, such as hot fudge, caramel, or strawberry, and finished with whipped cream and a cherry on top. It is served in a tall glass or bowl, making it visually appealing and indulgent to eat.
- Ice Cream Flavor: Vanilla
- Toppings: Hot fudge, caramel, strawberry sauce
- Whipped Cream: Yes
- Cherry on top: Yes
- Size Options: Small, Medium, Large
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813votesKorean pork feet that are boiled and seasoned with soy sauce, garlic, and ginger. It's a popular street food that is often enjoyed with alcohol.DescriptionJokbal is a popular Korean street food dish made from pig's trotters that are simmered in soy sauce and spices until tender. The dish is typically served with a variety of side dishes and condiments.
- Ingredients: Pig's trotters, soy sauce, garlic, ginger, sesame oil, spices
- Cooking Time: 3-4 hours
- Texture: Tender and gelatinous
- Flavor: Savory, salty and slightly sweet
- Serving Style: Served in individual portions or as a shared dish
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93votesKorean fish-shaped pastry that is filled with sweet red bean paste. It's a popular winter street food that is often sold in food trucks and markets.DescriptionBungeoppang is a popular Korean snack that is widely enjoyed in South Korea. It is a fish-shaped pastry filled with sweet red bean paste. The name 'Bungeoppang' translates to 'carp bread' in English, inspired by the shape of the pastry resembling a carp fish. It is commonly found in street food stalls and markets throughout the country.
- Shape: Fish-shaped
- Filling: Sweet red bean paste
- Texture: Crispy on the outside, chewy on the inside
- Ingredients: Flour, sugar, baking powder, eggs, milk, red bean paste
- Popular Variant: Taiyaki (Japanese variant with different fillings)
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105votesKorean dumplings that are filled with various ingredients like pork, beef, or vegetables. It's a popular street food that is often enjoyed steamed or fried.DescriptionMandu is a popular Korean dumpling that is loved for its delicious flavor and versatile fillings. It is typically made by wrapping a mixture of minced meat (usually pork or beef), vegetables, and seasonings in a thin dough and then either steaming, boiling, or frying it. The result is a tender and flavorful dumpling that can be enjoyed as a main dish, side dish, or even a snack. Mandu is a favorite comfort food in Korea and is commonly served with a dipping sauce.
- Shape: Mandu usually has a round shape, but it can also be shaped into half-moons, rectangles, or other creative forms.
- Fillings: Mandu can be filled with a wide variety of ingredients, including pork, beef, chicken, seafood, tofu, kimchi, vegetables, and more. The fillings can be seasoned with spices, garlic, soy sauce, sesame oil, and other flavorings.
- Cooking Methods: Mandu can be cooked by steaming, boiling, pan-frying, deep-frying, or even baking, offering a range of textures and flavors.
- Dipping Sauce: Mandu is often served with a dipping sauce made with soy sauce, vinegar, sesame oil, and sometimes added chili paste or garlic for extra kick.
- Variations: There are various regional and seasonal variations of Mandu in Korea, such as Kimchi Mandu (filled with kimchi), Yachae Mandu (vegetable-filled), and Manduguk (Mandu soup). Each variation has its own unique characteristics and flavors.
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Ranking factors for popular food
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TasteThe flavor profile of the dish should be appealing and delicious, catering to a wide range of taste preferences in order to be popular among locals and tourists alike.
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Cultural significanceThe dish should have a strong connection to Korean culture and tradition, representing the local cuisine and history.
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AccessibilityThe street food should be easily available and accessible to both locals and tourists, found in various street food stands, markets, and food stalls across the country.
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AffordabilityA popular street food option should be reasonably priced, allowing people to enjoy it frequently without breaking the bank.
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Unique ingredients or preparation techniquesThe dish should offer something distinctive that sets it apart from other street foods and makes it memorable for those who try it.
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Presentation and visual appealAttractive and appetizing presentation plays a role in drawing people to try the street food.
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PortabilityAs street food, the dish should be easy to consume on-the-go without requiring additional utensils or dishes.
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Popularity and demandThe dish should have a proven track record of popularity among locals and visitors alike, leading to high demand and a consistent presence in street food scenes.
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VersatilityThe availability of the dish in various forms, flavors, or with different ingredients can make it more popular among different individuals.
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Social media and word-of-mouth buzzA popular Korean street food may be likely to receive attention on social media platforms, as well as recommendations from locals and visitors who spread the word about their favorite dishes.
About this ranking
This is a community-based ranking of the most popular Korean street food. We do our best to provide fair voting, but it is not intended to be exhaustive. So if you notice something or food is missing, feel free to help improve the ranking!
Statistics
- 1381 views
- 187 votes
- 10 ranked items
Voting Rules
A participant may cast an up or down vote for each food once every 24 hours. The rank of each food is then calculated from the weighted sum of all up and down votes.
More information on most popular korean street food
When it comes to Korean cuisine, street food is an integral part of the culinary experience. Korean street food is known for its unique flavors and affordable prices, making it a popular choice among locals and tourists alike. From savory snacks to sweet treats, the variety of Korean street food is truly impressive. Some of the most popular Korean street foods include Tteokbokki, a spicy rice cake dish; Hotteok, a sweet pancake filled with brown sugar and nuts; and Japchae, a stir-fried noodle dish with vegetables and meat. Whether you're looking for a quick bite on the go or a satisfying meal, Korean street food has something for everyone.
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