1. Korean Egg Toast
The most popular shop at Myeongdong is Issac Toast which can attract queues that last an hour. But you should be able to find these elsewhere. The Korean Egg Toast comes with thinly shredded vegetables, spam and sprinkled with sugar at the end.
2. Tteokbokki (Spicy Rice Cakes)
Also known as tokkbokki, ddeokbokki, topokki, these are cylinder-shaped rice cakes cooked in gochujang – a sweet, spicy red pepper sauce. It can be served in a bowl with ingredients such as egg, noodles or cheese, or in a stick. You almost find Tteokbokki everywhere.
3. Hotteok (Sweet Korean Pancake)
Pronounced ‘ho-tok’, Hotteok is a popular Korean street food made from a simple yeast dough with a sweet syrupy filling made with brown sugar, cinnamon and walnuts. It makes a tasty snack or dessert, and could even be enjoyed at breakfast! Eaten hot off the griddle, it is extremely popular during winter months.
4. Odeng / Eomuk Tang
These are fishcake on skewers served with hot broth. Best to have these skewers during the cold weather when you can keep warm by holding a cup or bowl in your hands. “Odeng” is derived from the Japanese word of “Oden”, while “Eomuk” is the native Korean word. “Tang” refers to soup.
5. Gimbap
Gimbap or kimbap is like a sushi roll, made from steamed white rice (bap) and various other ingredients such as vegetables and pickles, rolled in gim and served in bite-size slice. The Korean street version is usually pre-made and wrapped in plastic.
6. Tteokgalbi Meatballs
Tteokgalbi is a classic Korean dish made from beef ribs. The meat is minced and pounded on the bone, marinated in a sweet savoury sauce, then rolled into balls then deep-fried.
7. Jajangmyeon
Jajangmyeon is a Korean-Chinese noodle dish topped with a thick sauce made of chunjang (a salty black soybean paste when unheated), diced pork and vegetables. The sauce of this dish is deliciously spicy and sweet.
8. Spicy Chicken Skewers (Dakkkochi)
A type of Korean chicken kebab served on a stick. The meat is cut into narrow slices, grilled, then brushed on with spicy-sweet sauce.
9. Bulgogi Beef and Japchae
Korean stir fried beef noodles with vegetables. Japchae is a type of Korean glass sweet potato noodles, stir fried in sesame oil with vegetables, flavoured with soy sauce, and sweetened with sugar.
10. Omelette Pancake
This dish is a combination of fried pork belly (taste almost like bacon) or chicken with cabbage, wrapped in a pancake, then topped with sunny side. Warning: Consumption may be messy.