Hang : Korean Food

If you see the word sundae (순대) on a Korean food menu, do not expect ice cream. Korean sundae—roughly pronounced “soon-deh” —is a type of savory sausage traditionally made by stuffing pig intestines with ingredients such as pork blood, glass noodles, vegetables, and sometimes glutinous rice. The sausage is then steamed or boiled and sliced into bite-sized pieces. It is one of Korea's best-known bunsik (분식) foods, a broad category of inexpensive, casual dishes that also includes tteokbokki, gimbap, fried snacks, and eomuk. You can easily find sundae at traditional markets, street-food stalls, and casual snack restaurants. The dark color and unfamiliar ingredients may make some first-time visitors hesitate. But the flavor is usually much milder than the appearance suggests. Here is what to know before ordering sundae in Korea. 1. What Is Korean Sundae? The most familiar modern version of sundae is made with pig intestine used as a casing . Inside, the filling can include: pork bloo...

If you walk through a Korean traditional market or street-food area on a cold day, you may see long fish cakes folded onto wooden skewers and sitting in a steaming pot of broth. That food is eomuk (어묵) , commonly translated as Korean fish cake . Eomuk is made mainly from ground fish that is seasoned, shaped, and cooked. It comes in many forms, from thin rectangular sheets to thick sticks and round or stuffed varieties. Korea Tourism Organization describes fish cake as seasoned, pounded fish fillet that can be fried and then used in dishes such as soup or braised fish cake. For travelers, the most memorable version is often eomuk on a skewer , served hot from a street-food stall with a cup of warm broth. It is inexpensive, savory, easy to eat, and especially popular during Korea's cold winter months. Here is what you should know before trying it. 1. What Is Eomuk? Eomuk is a processed fish cake made primarily from finely ground fish. Depending on the product or shop, the fish mixtur...

Gimbap (김밥), also commonly written as kimbap , is one of the easiest Korean foods to enjoy when you want something quick, filling, and easy to carry. At first glance, it may remind you of a sushi roll. But in Korea, gimbap is very much its own everyday food. A typical roll combines rice, dried seaweed, vegetables, egg, pickled radish, and sometimes meat, fish cake, tuna, or cheese. It is rolled tightly and sliced into small, bite-sized pieces. You can find gimbap at dedicated gimbap shops, casual bunsik (분식) restaurants, markets, and convenience stores. Koreans also commonly associate it with picnics, school outings, road trips, and simple takeaway meals. If you are traveling or living in Korea, learning a little about gimbap will make ordering much easier. 1. What Is Gimbap? The name is simple: Gim (김) = dried seaweed Bap (밥) = cooked rice Rice is spread over a sheet of dried seaweed, several fillings are placed across the middle, and everything is rolled into a cylinder before bei...

Tteokbokki is one of the most recognizable Korean street foods. It is usually made by simmering chewy rice cakes in a thick red sauce that tastes spicy, sweet, salty, and savory at the same time. In Korean, the dish is written as 떡볶이 and is commonly pronounced “tteok-bok-ki.” The first sound, “tteok,” can be difficult for English speakers, so saying “tok-boh-kee” will usually be understood. You can find tteokbokki at traditional markets, street-food stalls, casual snack restaurants, food courts, convenience stores, and delivery restaurants throughout Korea. It is especially connected with bunsik , a category of affordable and casual Korean foods that often includes fried snacks, fish cake, noodles, and rice rolls. The best-known version is bright red and made with gochujang, or Korean fermented chili paste. However, not every type of tteokbokki is equally spicy. Soy sauce, cream, cheese, black bean sauce, curry, and oil-based versions are also available. For first-time visitors, the ...