Let’s face it, you see those honey butter-coated peanuts or those tteokbokki potato chips everywhere and you start to get tired of that once addictive taste; It’s not even real honey or butter. Are these snacks even representative of what Korea has to offer in terms of sweet treats? We don’t mean bingsu either.

Just ask any ahjumma or ahjussi what are the snacks they think are representative of their rich Korean culture and history. We have an inkling it might be on this list of 8 Traditional Korean Snacks That Are Better Than Your Honey Butter Chips. These snacks can be found at most Korean traditional markets and some at more popular tourist destinations like Myeong-Dong.

Photo Credit: Living Nomads

DALGEONA – KOREAN BURNT SUGAR LOLLY

We’ve all seen the ahjummas on the streets of Myeong-Dong and Dongdae-Mun stirring a small skillet over a flame while students, children and couples look eagerly. If you walk over and take a closer look, you’ll find Dalgeona of all shapes displayed on styrofoam boards, awaiting their next lucky recipient.

Dalgeona is made with sugar and baking soda, melted then poured and pressed with various shape cutters. It’s a fun street candy where children challenge their friends to cut out the shape that has been pressed. It has a caramel flavour with a toasted aftertaste, melting quickly on your tongue!

Photo Credit: Kimchimari

DASIK – TEA COOKIES

Dasik are one-bite pressed cookies made with fried grain powders such as rice or soybean flour. They sometimes contain oriental medicinal herbs, flower pollen and honey, but in modern days, more popular flavours would include matcha and black sesame. These bite-sized babies are usually accompanied by traditional Korean tea.

Did you know Dasik was introduced to Korea from India? This stemmed from India’s Buddhist beliefs and the tea culture that came along with it. 

Photo Credit: Flickr

GANGJEONG – KOREAN SWEET RICE PUFFS

Coming in a spectrum of vibrant colours, Gangjeong are often served during important festivals and events such as birthdays, weddings and New Year’s. These meringue-like morsels resemble giant Rice Krispies, bearing a chewy glutinous rice flour center while coated in various kinds of toppings. Such toppings include sesame seeds, rice puffs and coloured nuts and powders.

Ganjeong has a syrup-like taste that is offset by their nut or puffed rice coatings. Their chewy, puffed texture results from it being first steeped in room temperature oil and left to fry as the oil temperature is increased.

Photo Credit: Maangchi

JEONGGWA – HONEY-BOILED FRUITS

Jeonggwa is a Korean confection is fruit or root-based, having the various bits boiled in honey and then coated with all kinds of crunchy grains. They sometimes have similar texture to jellies and soft candy.

The most popular kinds are beetroot, lotus root and various kinds of citrus. They are then usually coated with sesame seeds. The honey adds sweetness to the earthiness of the roots and the sesame adds a nice crunch. These could be your new soft candy replacement in Korea!

Photo Credit: SaungKorea

YAKGWA – HONEY COOKIES

Also eaten mostly during important occasions like birthdays and celebrations, Yakgwa is as delicious as it is meaningful to traditional Korean culture. These chewy golden-brown cookies are made from honey, sesame oil and ginger then deep-fried. They aren’t the healthiest but they are only served once or twice a month so, it’s okay to make the most of it.

The cookies are super sweet, flavourful and addictive. One bite will have you hooked and craving a whole jar. They might possibly re-define the meaning of finger-licking good.

Photo Credit: Kimchi People

YAKSIK – STICKY RICE CAKES

Traditionally, Yaksik is a sticky rice cake filled with more oriental ingredients such as chestnuts and other dried fruits, as well as honey. Yak means “medicine” in Korean, while Sik means “food”. This is because honey is believed to be a food that is good for longevity, so a lot of these traditional snacks are honey-based.

In more modern days, there are more innovative shapes and flavours to Yaksik. They are used to mimic popular toys and Korean characters, featuring flavours such as cheese or cranberries to give a natural colouring to the cakes.

Photo Credit: WeHeartIt

TTEOK – KOREAN RICE CAKES

Tteok is probably the most well-known snack here on this list but don’t mistake this for tteokbokki, even if they are similar. Tteok is a broader category of rice cakes while Tteokbokki is a savoury dish made from plain tteok. Try saying that really fast.

Sweet tteok are traditional Korean rice cakes that are either stuffed with fillings or coated in roasted bean powders (injeolmi). They have a similar texture to Japanese mochi but are a little less soft. Tteok is enjoyed by Korean families during New Year’s and birthdays, served up with an array of vibrant colours.

Photo Credit: VisitKorea

YEOT-GANJEONG – NUT CANDY BARS

Similar to Ganjeong but cut into neat little squares is Yeot-Ganjeong. Yeot refers to the fermented starch-filled grains that are boiled, turning into malt. The malt is then topped with grains, nuts and dried fruits and cut into squares.

It has a similar texture to candy or granola bars, just without the artificial sweeteners and crazy ingredients. The most popular flavours for Yeot-Ganjeong are the ones coated in black sesame seeds or peanuts.

Strolling along the streets of Seoul means feasting on Korean Street Snacks non-stop. The sheer number of push cart stalls is mind-boggling, and we found ourselves eating along the way, every day. Well, that is only because there are so many kinds of awesome street snacks and we really coudn’t resist but try them one by one.

You know, that satisfaction you get when you have conquered all the street snacks there are so that you can earn bragging rights.

But we prefer to tempt. We had a ball of time trying all these irresistible Korean Street Snacks That You Must Try When in Korea, and we bet our last dollar you wish you could lick your screen now.

#1 TTEOKBOKKI

Arguably the number 1 Korean street food, Tteokbokki (also known as ddeokbokki or dukboki) is made of soft rice cake, fish cake and sweet chilli sauce. If it is your first time to Korea, you must try this. It is a very quintessential Korean dish.

#2 BULGOGI & JAPCHAE

Old-fashioned goodness. Just old-fashioned goodness that even the locals are obsessed with. A plate of piping hot beef bulgogi always works for us, and we are totally for the idea of doing it the messy way; just hold your plate and stand by the stall to eat. Sometimes, these bulgogi stalls sell japchae (stir-fried Korean sweet potato noodles) too.

#3 KOREAN KOGO – FRENCH-FRY CORN DOG

Probably one of the most sinful street snacks, but we have selective awareness and it activates every time we chance upon a stall that sells these gorgeous Corn Dogs. Quite essentially sausages wrapped in bread/ batter, then deep-fried to a golden brown, Corn Dogs are so bloody awesome. Best eaten with ketchup!

#4 DRIED CUTTLEFISH

God knows why the world loves them Dried Cuttlefish! Stalls that sell these are everywhere, and for some unbeknownst reason, these dehydrated cuttlefish are totally nothing special but everyone just needs to have one helping when in Seoul!

#5 EGG BREAD

Simple, unadulterated joy; that is what Korean’s Egg Bread is all about. Typically priced at just W2,000, the Egg Bread is widely enjoyed by both locals and tourists alike. These can be found almost all over Seoul for they are among the most popular street snacks, and we kid you not when we say we ate one every day during our time in Seoul.

#6 FRIED SHRIMP

This is another of those nothing-special-but-we-love-them snack. Well, it ain’t just us. There is a reason why so many stalls sell this street snack. Just because they are good ol’ prawns coated in a savoury batter, and munching on them while sightseeing is just more enjoyable.

#7 CRAZY KOREAN ICE CREAM CONE

This is your Instagram’s best friend. We promise this photogenic cone will get you more likes than usual. These ice cream cones come in a few flavours, and are averagely 32cm tall; well, because one scoop of ice cream is just not enough to please us anymore.

#8 KOREAN KIMBAP

Yes, this is really what we all know as sushi, or to be more specific, maki rolls. Kimbap is the Korean version, usually bigger in size and each roll makes one serving portion. Stuffed with pickles and selected meats, Kimbap is fuss-free but oh-so-comforting.

#9 MAIZE

On first look, you would probably dismiss it. How exciting can maize get, right? But that is when we are all wrong. God knows why the Koreans are blessed with better creativity, but these peeps actually grill their maize with the simplest of ingredients and produce the tastiest maize! Think honey, butter and cheese. Just like that, we were sold.

#10 POTATO CHIPS ON A STICK

Potato chips of a different league; that’s all. These amazingly cute snacks are a hot favourite, and there are many stalls in Korea that sell them. Every stick is effectively one potato sliced with a specialized slicer, then coated with seasoning before being deep-fried. Just don’t think about calories; eat it.

#11 ROASTED CHESTNUTS

Roasted Chestnuts might be an ubiquitous snack but that is not gonna stop Koreans from loving it. Their fragrance always stop us in our tracks and eating a pack in winter is exceptionally heartwarming.

#12 SAUSAGES

Yes, yes and yes. Because we all love those chunky, meaty treats. They come in all sorts of flavours – black pepper, cheese, whatever. Honestly, almost any flavour is possible. And the Koreans sure love theirs with chilli!

#13 YAM CHIPS

Another form of simple pleasure is the Korean-style Yam Chips that they sell by the road side. Typically served in a cup, fresh yams are shredded, then deep-fried to provide that distinct crunch.

#14 JAJANGMYEONG

Comfort food at its best, Jajangmyeong (or better known as zha jiang mian) is something that you can eat any time of the day. It is a noodle dish doused in thick minced pork sauce and vegetables.

#15 BANANA MILK

Alright, this is not exactly by the streets, but they are widely available at convenience stores and supermarkets. You have to try this Banana Milk; we know many of you Singaporeans are big fans of it like we are, yes? Together, we celebrate our love for this simplicity as such.

For more recommendations, read our guide on the best places in Seoul.