Squid Balls! Fun with Korean Snack Food

I needed a break from the election madness and decided that a blog about Korean snack foods would be fun. I believe anyone who ends up living and teaching in Korea will find something to enjoy in Korean snack food. It’s definitely a big part of the whole experience living abroad. Of course, there are many famous traditional cuisines in Korea that are should be first on the list—and I have talked about these phenomenal dishes before. However, this blog is about frivolity and fun—these are the foods that I saw many of my students eating (and adults as well, if they will admit to it—wink, wink.)

Some of the snacks border on what we call in the states junk food, and some are pretty healthy. That’s one of the great things about Korea—there are quite a few quick and healthy alternatives when it comes to fast food. A major quick food that comes to mind is “kimbap,” which is like a Korean sandwich; it’s like a sushi roll, but usually filled with something like tuna or egg. Kimbap is cheap, fast and delicious and comes with many different types of fillings.

On the Sweet Side

Green tea is prevalent in Korea when it comes to sweets. One of the most popular places to eat baked goods is “Paris Baguette.” Even more Koreans love Dunkin’ Donuts. Although I’d usually choose chocolate over a donut, I had to try their green tea donuts and they were pretty good! Mochi is a lovely treat that I would indulge in from time to time at Baskin Robbins in Korea. They are small and inexpensive—just the right amount for a tiny treat without overdoing it. There are also a number of delicious rice cakes and other treats such as:

• chocolate covered bananas

• “maanchi” (fish shaped bread with sweet red bean)—great on a winter day

• popsicles in the summer (watermelon was my favorite)

• sweet waffles filled with flavored frosting

• egg tarts

“Kids’ Food”

Ramyeon (instant ramen) was something my Korean mom often referred to as “kids’ food,” although adults certainly enjoy the nostalgia of eating these foods. Other foods I saw my students eating were:

• Many different types of chips including shrimp, or peanut and shrimp

• Choco pies (a type of moon pie with a marshmallow filling)

• Jolly Pong (a type of super sweet cereal that resembles Honey Smacks)

• Fried chicken and water kimchi

• So many different types of popsicles (including one that had corn in it!)

• Silkworm larvae (often popular at sport events)

On the Savory Side

Pizza is really popular as junk food. I took my debate students out for a celebratory meal a few times. I was excited to eat Korean food, but guess what they wanted to eat? Pizza! Domino’s or Mr. Pizza in Korea can feature toppings that we find strange such as mayo, potato wedges, broccoli, French fries or mozzarella sticks, whole shrimp, fish eggs, and the list goes on. Another really popular food is a Korean “pancake or pizza,” which is much healthier and more delicious than the westernized pizza in Korea. Korean pancakes or “pajeon’s” major ingredients are flour, vegetables and eggs along with various other fillings. I’ve had these at school events and other celebrations. They sometimes come with dipping sauces that are amazing.

Night Life Food

In Korea, there are certain foods that I associate with late night drinking, singing rooms, dance clubs and the night life. While many foods are available at all hours in Korea (especially Seoul), the types of foods I ate with friends while drinking were:

• Fried chicken

• Soju (of course)

• Popcorn

• Various types of kimchi

• Kimchi pancakes

• Tofu and salty side dishes

• Silkworm larvae (not my cup of tea, though!)

• Shrimp flavored chips

Of course, in Korean culture, eating on the floor and sharing is the most natural. I have had many a get together with Korean friends or co-workers where we spread out a number of different adult treats such as Hite beer, soju, oranges, chips and kimchi and feasted together, sampling everyone’s different choice of snack. This is by no means an exhaustive list, as there are no shortage of snack foods in Korea! Please feel free to leave comments about your favorite Korean foods at the bottom of this article.

Photo Credit: Heather Douglas