In recent years,
hansik
– Korean gastronomy – has made a place for itself in global gastronomic culture.
From Paris to Los Angeles via Tokyo, we can no longer count the addresses serving the country's emblematic dishes such as bibimbap
,
bulgogi
or
even the famous Korean barbecue, to be accompanied by spicy
kimchi
and
soju.
“K-Food” has even become one of the triggers for a trip to Korea.
To discover
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Once there, you absolutely must discover the joys of
bunsik,
a rich local
street food
.
Served in most large urban markets (such as Gwangjang Market in Seoul), it can also be enjoyed in pojangmacha
–
literally, “covered carts” – these small street stands set up in the evening in lively neighborhoods. big cities.
Read alsoVisit South Korea in 10 days: our itinerary advice
Tteokbokki
Rice pasta in a sweet and savory sauce is the recipe for Tteokbokki.
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The essential Korean
street food
!
This extremely popular dish can be found in all markets and in most street canteens, especially at
pojanmacha counters.
It is rice pasta bathed in a sweet and salty red sauce flavored with Korean chili pepper.
There are different variations of this dish, which can sometimes be accompanied by vegetables or even eggs or seafood. Please note that in the past, we did not put chili pepper in ttekbokki
and
that the use of this ingredient remains relatively recent .
Eomuk
Eomuk is a skewered fish cake.
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Of course, it's perhaps not the one that makes you want the most.
This funny “fish cake”, which takes the form of coils folded on themselves, is always presented on the markets in a burning umami broth.
To make this dish of Japanese origin – under the name of
oden
– street cooks mix flour with mashed fish (or even squid), to which they add some fresh vegetables, before frying everything in boiling oil.
Generally, eomuk is eaten
with
tteokbokki
.
Bindaetteok
The Gilwoo Shin / 김대수 김대수 - stock.adobe.com
It is a kind of thick golden pancake, essentially made of mung bean puree – what we wrongly call soybean sprouts – and which can be accompanied by kimchi, or even pork.
Before being served hot, the whole thing is fried in large pans full of oil.
A popular dish whose origins date back to the 17th century,
bindaetteok
is very popular during the harsh Korean winters and often accompanies weddings.
It goes wonderfully with a good glass of
soju
…
Mandu
Here is one of the stars of local
street food
, which can now be found all over the world.
In Korea,
mandu
can be eaten both on the street and in dedicated restaurants.
It is a kind of ravioli, meat or vegetarian, which has points in common with several other Asian specialties: Japanese gyozas, Beijing raviolis or even Nepalese momos.
Our
favorite
mandu ?
Those topped with kimchi cabbage
,
very spicy and very tasty.
Shaped like a crescent moon or more rounded, steamed or grilled in a pan, this specialty can satisfy a little hunger at any time...
Twigim
Twigim are all fried vegetables offered in Korean markets.
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If we dared, we would compare them to Japanese tempuras while for some, this specialty would rather be an avatar of the Indian
pakora
.
Omnipresent in markets or in
street food stands,
yachae
twigim
include all fried vegetables, from peppers to eggplant, onions or carrots.
Very finely breaded, they turn out to be as delicious as they are digestible.
There is also a more marine version,
ojingeo twigim,
fried squid which goes wonderfully with
tteokbokki.
Gimbap (or Kimbap)
Present both on the street and in convenience stores, the Mavritsina Irina / Mauritius71 - stock.adobe.com
One of the great classics of Korean
street food
, a sort of long
maki
made of rice and vegetables wrapped in seaweed.
However, there are many different versions, with a host of ingredients inside: raw vegetables (carrot, cucumber) or cooked vegetables like spinach, fish (tuna, surimi) or meat (breaded pork, knack sausage), but also omelette... Present both in the street and in convenience stores,
gimbap
plays the role of a snack in Korea.
Sundae
The Korean sundae is a bit reminiscent of our black pudding.
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Be careful, false friend!
Nothing to do with American ice cream since this specialty present in most markets happens to be a sort of steamed black pudding, composed of pork meat and blood accompanied by rice (or noodles), as well as just a few vegetables.
For those who are not fans of blood sausage, know that its taste is less marked than that of its French cousin.
It has been consumed and appreciated for several centuries in Korea.
Dakgangjeong
Enjoyed with a cold beer, Korean fried chicken has conquered street food
restaurants
all over the planet.
In its native country, it is served in a thick sauce, both sweet and very spicy.
To prepare it properly, you have to fry it in two batches, which accentuates its crispy side.
This recipe would have its origins in the United States and would have been imported by the GI's during the Korean War.
The sauce, prepared with
gojuchang,
a fermented condiment containing red pepper, is on the other hand said to be 100% Korean!
Hotteok
Yanggiris - stock.adobe.com
Craving a sweet treat?
Try
hotteok,
a type of pancake made with a dough made from a mixture of flour and sticky rice.
Inside, brown sugar and cinnamon are added, sometimes topped with chopped nuts, peanuts or seeds.
This street dessert is very popular during the cold season: served hot, it is highly comforting.
However, be careful not to burn yourself while eating it because the sugar flows easily.
The
hotteok
could come from China but nothing is less certain…
Bungeoppang
If you've ever been to Japan, this little fish-shaped cake is probably familiar to you.
Jinchoiphotography - stock.adobe.com
A must for those with a sweet tooth, this little fish-shaped cake – a carp, to be precise – is filled with delicious red bean paste.
Taste equivalent of our waffles, this specialty would nevertheless originate from Japan (under the name
taiyaki
).
The paths of taste turn out to be very tortuous!
In reality, the
bungeoppang
is a legacy of the Japanese colonial period.
They can be found almost everywhere in the country, particularly during winter, when they invade street stands.