Winter in Korea is a season of cold, dry weather where the temperature is scarily low and the winds are blowing briskly. It is the perfect season to relax in a bathhouse or jjimjilbang (์ฐ์ง๋ฐฉ), enjoy a cup of warm tea at the traditional tea house and even have fun at a ski resort. Also, winter is the ideal time to eat a variety of warming street foods when the days grow chilly. I really love stopping by the vendor stalls on the roadside to grab some piping hot snacks especially during winter. Here are some of the most popular and common Korean winter snacks that will warm you up from the inside out. ย ย
Bungeoppang (A fish-shaped bun)
Bunggeoppang is a red bean filled pastry that has a carp-shaped. This is undoubtedly the most common sold winter street food in Korea. It is made with pouring flour dough into the cast iron mold and filling it with red bean paste or custard paste. A bite of the crispy Bunggeoppang in icy cold weather will bring distinctly warm and sweet taste.
These days, you can find a diverse variety of Bungeoppang such as mini Bunggeoppang filled with chocolate, sweet potatoes and matcha pastes. Try this snack if you want to eat something sweet without indulging in a full-blown dessert!
During winter, you can see vendor stalls like this selling bunggeoppang by the roadside.
Fun fact! If someone says that you and another person are Bunggeoppangs, it means that both of you look alike.
Hotteok (A korean pancake)
Hotteok is a filled cinnamon sugar pancake which is only sold during winter in Korea. It is made with rolling the dough into a ball, fill it with dainties like cinnamon, brown sugar and honey then fried it on a skillet. It tastes more or less like a doughnut โ doughy and sweet. As time goes by, the shape of Hotteok has varied. I have seen love-shaped Hotteoks too! Personally, Hotteok is my favorite winter snack because I have a sweet tooth. Pick up a Hotteok to make your outdoor adventures ten times warmer especially during snowfall.
Hoppang (A steamed bun)
These steamed buns can be eaten all year round but are consumed more frequently during winter season. The main reason is that they are warm, delicious and fit comfortably in your hands. You can buy these distinctive round warmers at any special stands (only can be found at large traditional markets) or at a convenience store. Not all convenience stores sell Hoppang but personally I have seen them at GS25 retail stores. Besides the traditional red bean fillings, there are also a variety of possible fillings like sweet corn, sweet potatoes, pizza, vegetable and curry. Furthermore, you can buy frozen Hoppang from a mart and steam them at home too.
Not all convenience stores in Korea sell Hoppang, but if you see one with the picture like this on the front door, it means that Hoppangs are available for sale.
The Hoppangs will be steamed inside a small cuboid-shaped steamer. The white one has red bean fillings whereas the yellow one has pizza fillings.
These are the different types of hoppangs and their respective prices.
Gyeranppang (Egg bread)
In Korean, โgyeranโ means eggs and โppangโ means bread, so Gyeranppang is literally an egg bread. It is made of flour, milk, egg and sugar. If you are an egg lover, do not miss the opportunity to try this warm and tasty snack when you are travelling in Korea during winter. The whole egg is stuffed in the small bread. Aside from Bunggeoppang, I think this is the most commonly seen Korean snack. It is usually sold by street vendors outside the subway station or in traditional market. If you need something warm and filling to eat, make sure you add this egg bread into your must-try list!
Price: 1000~1500 won
Gungoguma (Baked sweet potatoes)
Sweet potatoes are one of the most common root vegetables that you can find in Korea. The locals use sweet potatoes in their cuisine, for instance, cakes, pizzas and sweet potato lattes. If you are in Korea during winter season, you might have seen street vendors (especially those by the mountainside) roast sweet potatoes on coals. Big metal barrels are used to make street-cart ovens with customized trays to roast the sweet potatoes. It is wrapped in tinfoil and roasted with its skin until it is soft. This warm and sweet snack is extraordinarily delicious on a cold winter day, and the roasted skin makes the outside nice and crispy. Note that you can get these roasted sweet potatoes at a convenience store too!
Endnotes
There are actually more varieties of Korean winter snacks, but these are just my top picks. Trying Korean winter street food should be on every travelerโs travel bucket list. If youโre visiting Korea in its coldest months, grab the chance to try these hearty winter snacks that will keep your winter appetite satisfied! Note that you should carry some cash in hand to buy the street food because most of the vendors do not accept credit cards. They accept bank transfer, though.
