KMK: Street Food

One of the perks of living in Korea is the food. Sure you might be wary of strange sounding names like odeng, sundae, kimmali or buchimgae but have no fear your taste buds are good hands. You don’t even have to worry about finding a spot to sit in a crowded restaruant because all of those dishes can be found on the streets of Korea. That’s right street food is big business here in kimchi land. The people have places to go, things to do and people to see so actually taking time to sit down just for a quick bite seems like an awfully inefficient waste of time. So, no matter the time of day or night you can find ajummas and ajoshis on the corners cooking up a storm for the people passing by.

Whether you’re running late for work or just stumbling from the club at dawn the street vendor is your friend. I thought it would be a good idea to cover some of the basic foods on the street so you know what you’re getting into.

Kimbap
Think of sushi Korean style but rolled with anything and everything including vegetables, sticky rice, ham, spam, tuna or imitation crab. Delish.

Odeng
These boiled pieces of fish are mixed with flour and then cooked up for your dining pleasure.

Twigim
Battered and deepfried vegetables and seafood may make your arteries contract but your stomach happy.

tteokbokki
Hot rice cake rolls spiced liberally with hot pepper sauce.

Mandu
Dough stuffed with meat, vegetables, egg or anything else an inventive street vendor can think of. These babies are boiled or fried and delicious either way.

Sundae
Not for the faint of heart these pig intestines are stuffed with spices, noodles and vegetables steamed up and served right on the spot.