Winter in South Korea means discovering amazing sceneries, going to amazingly bright winter festivals, and enjoying yourself at ski resorts and snow parks. And, of course, stuff yourself with delicious Korean winter food.
Like clothes, a change in season is also a change in the taste buds. Since it is colder, our bodies are yearning for warmer and hot food. And if you are in South Korea, the country’s winter food is a must-try!
Delicious homecooked or convenient street food, here are the best Korean winter food you need to try.
The Best Korean Winter Food you must try
One of the few best Korean winter food can be found in the streets. Yes, the comfort food you’re craving during colder seasons might be that cheap street food that every Korean loves.
But aside from that, hot homecooked meals are also a must-try during the winter and Koreans have a good list of dishes on the menu.
Bungeoppang (Red Bean Filled Pastry)
Bungeoppang means “carp bread” and is a fish-shaped snack that is popular winter food in South Korea. It is a flour pastry filled with red bean paste and grilled to a nice brown color. It has a crispy outer layer and a not-so-sweet filling that is perfect for a cold day.
Hotteok (Cinnamon Sugar Filled Pancake)
If you are looking for a sweeter snack, then we recommend Hotteok. Hotteok is dough packed with different fillings to your liking, such as honey, brown sugar, chopped peanuts, and cinnamon. It is fried into a good brown color.
It is another popular Korean street food in winter, but we highly advise you to be careful while eating. It is extremely hot since it is cooked as you order, and the fillings tend to be extra sticky and might drip out of the Hotteok and into your clothes or bag.
Hotteok has been around since the mid-19th century, when Chinese soldiers introduced the delicacy.
Gungoguma (Baked Sweet Potatoes)
Sweet potatoes are in almost every Korean dish. Stir-fried with chicken, made into bread, fried with cheese, as a pizza topping, or simply eaten with rice. But one of the most popular, incredibly healthy, and filling ways to eat sweet potatoes is by roasting them.
Baked sweet potatoes are famous Korean winter street food. The sweet potatoes are wrapped in tin foil and then roasted in warm heat. These are perfect for battling the colder months and cheap and filling, not to mention healthy to the core.
Kimchi-Jjigae (Kimchi Stew)
Another staple in any Korean meal is kimchi, the most common side dish goes well with almost every food. Aside from eating it as it is, it is also commonly made into a stew.
The Kimchi-jjigae is a great meal for lunch or dinner and is also extremely filling as well. It is a mix of kimchi, tofu, cellophane noodles, pork, and vegetables. It is served with rice and other side dishes.
Dak-Galbi (Spicy Stir-Fried Chicken)
Dak-Galbi is the perfect meal for family and friends. This food is a combination of marinated chicken with vegetables, rice cake, chili paste sauce, and other delicious spices. Other add-ons are noodles and cheese which makes the dish more appetizing.
All of these are cooked in a large pan and stir-fried. It is best shared with others so if you are looking into eating in a group, dak-galbi is a must!
Budae-Jjigae (Army Stew)
Budae-Jjigae is a less healthy food on the list but we can’t help but include it since it makes such a great winter comfort food. And Korean love it! This dish is filled to the brim with meat, noodles, rick cakes, and other unhealthy food but we assure you, the whole dish is satisfying and filling. It is perfect for cold days when you are craving something quick and bit out of your usual healthy meals.
Budae-jjigae is a mixture of American and Korean cuisine since you can also add Western products like SPAM and combined it with traditional Korean ingredients.
