The 6 best street food dishes in Seoul – and where to eat them

Supersized soft serve ice cream, flaming cheesy tteokbokki, spiralling potato towers: you’ve probably seen Seoul’s street food delights taking over social media, but now it’s your turn to get involved. You’ll find some of Korea’s best food in the capital, touted out of food trucks and market stalls. 

Here’s what to eat and where to find it.

Where to get street food in Seoul

Head to the numerous trendy districts and markets scattered across Seoul and you’re sure to find stalls sizzling with mouth-watering morsels. Myeongdong, a popular shopping area packed with K-beauty and K-fashion stores, is the home of all things Instagrammable and the street food is no exception, with vendors lining one long, lively street. 

Meanwhile, hungry young crowds gather around Seoul’s university districts such as ultra-hip Hongdae, where you’ll find skewers galore in Odeng Alley and all over the neighbourhood. Lastly, head to the markets in Namdaemun, Mangwon, Gwangjang and Tongin to truly sate your appetite; stalls are packed side by side in tight quarters, offering all manner of grilled, steamed and fried delicacies. 

Must-try Korean street food

1. Gimbap

At a first glance you might mistake these seaweed rice rolls for sushi, but take a bite and you’ll be pleasantly surprised. Rather than raw fish, this Korean snack is loaded with pickled vegetables, shredded egg and all manner of fillings from beef bulgogi to ham and seafood. It’s both a regular fixture at street food stalls and a typical side dish at Korean restaurants, meaning you’re likely to cross paths with this popular treat whether you’re looking for it or not.

2. Tteokbokki

These oblong rice cakes are one of Korea’s most recognisable street snacks, served piping hot as a side dish or snack to munch on as you explore Seoul’s neighbourhoods. They’re typically served with a spicy red gochujang-based sauce, and fish cakes are sometimes tossed in alongside the pillowy rice bites – along with generous handfuls of cheese. Over the years, variations on the form include a milder “rose” and umami-rich jjajang black bean sauce, as well as Tongin Market’s oil-fried tteokbokki which has more of a crunch.

3. Bungeoppang

If you’re hunkering for dessert, search for these fish-shaped waffles. Slightly crispy on the outside and doughy on the inside, they’re traditionally stuffed full of with hot sweet red bean paste and served in the winter months – though contemporary summer twists include cream, Nutella, and ice cream fillings. Baked swiftly to golden brown and served steaming hot, they’re similar to Japanese taiyaki if you’re a fan. 

4. Tornado potato

Wander along the streets of Myeongdong and you’re likely to come across people munching on towering skewers of golden, spiralling potato. Nicknamed the Tornado Potato, this heavenly snack is a cross between a gigantic potato chip and a serving of French fries. Dusted with cheese, onion or drizzled over with honey, these tornadoes are more than just an Instagram post waiting to happen.

5. Gyeranppang

The bread you’ll find in Seoul tends to be on the softer, sweeter side – as is the case with this popular street food snack known more colloquially in English as “egg bread”. Fluffy rectangular sponges are baked with an entire egg inside and served piping hot, resulting in a treat that’s easy to eat on-the-go. As these morsels bake, the eggs bubble up and brown slightly around the edges: pick a gyeranppang with a little char on the egg white for a more flavourful bite.

6. Hotteok

The pancake is a universally beloved breakfast staple, and these sweet rice flour treats are among the best of them. Their novelty lies in the wide choice of fillings available, ranging from the traditional sugar and cinnamon combination to modern flavours like matcha and chocolate. Disc-shaped and fried in oil, the hotteok is a delicious mixture of textures: a crisp fried outside, steaming pillow soft dough and a syrupy surprise inside.