If there’s one trend that really boomed during this pandemic, it’s watching K-Drama. A considerable amount of people have binged at least one (or a dozen) shows ever since quarantine was announced in March.
Aside from the interesting plots and gorgeous actors, another thing people love about K-Drama is watching them eat food. Watching Kim Bok Joo bite into some fish cakes or Captain Ri’s men dig into a basket of fried chicken always seems to activate the appetite in viewers.
Kimbap, tteokbokki and ramyeon are easier to find these days thanks to the popularity of these shows, but here are some other locally available Korean street snacks you should definitely try:
Korean Style Corn Dogs
These corn dogs are not the typical stall fare you see by the grocery stores. Korean corn dogs aren’t just limited to hotdogs, either. These deep fried snacks can also be made with cheese, chunks of potato and even sweets.
Dogs and Dairies have made this snack available for delivery in an assortment of different flavors. They have the usual savory suspects, like hot dogs and mozzarella cheese dogs, as well as more unique flavors like ube cheese and squid ink mozzarella. They may look too good to eat, but you’ll quickly change your mind after the first bite.
You can place your orders through their Instagram
Hotteok
If you have a sweet tooth, hotteok is definitely for you. Hotteok is Korea’s take on sweet pancakes. They’re cooked on a hot griddle and usually filled with ingredients like red bean, brown sugar, nuts and cinnamon.
Hotteok E’ Manila has done an amazing job of replicating this roadside favorite, while adding their own twist. Aside from the traditional red bean and cinnamon filling, they also have flavors like s’mores, Reese’s, mozzarella, Nutella and a whole lot more for delivery. If you can’t manage to finish them all in one sitting, you can store them in the freezer and reheat them for up to four days.
You can place your orders through their Instagram
Odeng Soup
If you’ve seen “Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo,” you’re definitely familiar with this dish. Sidewalks and parks in Seoul are dotted with odeng vendors standing over a steaming pot of broth with skewers of fishcakes boiling away inside. It’s a chewy, flavorful dish that’s great for snacking, especially when the months turn colder.
We may not have winter in the Philippines, but it’s still the perfect companion during the rainy months. School Tteokbokki serves up this iconic street food dish in mild and hot spice levels. They come with the skewers too to give you the most authentic experience you can get outside Korea.
Jjajangmyeon
K-Drama fans know that if the show’s leads are going to be working overtime, they’re bound to order jjajangmyeon. Jjajangmyeon is a noodle dish made with black bean sauce, vegetables and pork. Although you can always make the instant version at home, nothing beats not having to do it yourself.
School Tteokbokki also has jjajangmyeon available on their menu, as well as other dishes like their namesake tteokbbokki (that comes in four different varieties), savory pancakes (or pajeon), kimbap and a lot more to choose from when the k-ravings hit.
Header photo courtesy of Hotteok E’ Manila and Dogs and Dairies Instagram
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