The Hottest Foods in Korea Right Now
- yujinchoiris
- Aug 11, 2022
- 4 min read
Without a doubt, Korean food has been rising in popularity these past few years. It has been receiving the love and attention of thousands of people around the world, and has become widely known. Korean food has become especially popular through social media and through Korean pop culture. It seems as if everyone is familiar with Korean street food, such as tteokbokki, thanks to its popularity on social media. However, although Korean street food is very popular in Korea as well, there are a variety of other foods that are equally trendy there. I will be highlighting some of the foods that are all the rage right now in Korea.
1. Mugwort
Mugwort is a plant that is native to parts of Europe, Asia, and Africa. It is related to ragweed, and is widely used for medicinal purposes due to its ability to boost energy; calm nerves; and promote blood circulation; among many other health benefits. Mugwort has been used for generations in Korea in traditional foods and in herbal medicine. More recently, however, it seems to be popular in desserts such as cake. A great number of Korean dessert cafes seem to feature at least one menu item that is flavoured with mugwort. Due to its slightly bitter taste, using mugwort in normally sweet dessert items such as cake helps to reduce the sweetness and bring a more clean, refreshing taste. This is perhaps why mugwort has become a popular ingredient at dessert cafes. Not only is it delicious, but it is healthy as well!
2. Yeopgi Tteokbokki
By now, most people are probably familiar with tteokbokki, a classic Korean street food. However, some may not be so familiar with yeopgi tteokbokki. Yeopgi tteokbokki is a tteokpokki branch that is known for its extremely spicy sauce. To offset the intensity of the sauce, the tteokpokki is served with melted cheese and mini sausages. The gooey cheese and the chewy rice cakes make a dangerously addictive combination. In addition, yeopgi tteokbokki is often served with rice and seaweed sprinkles as a side to further balance out the spicy sauce. You can also add a variety of toppings of your choice to the tteokpokki, and topping options include fried dumplings, quail eggs, fish cakes, and many more. Upon your first bite, the spicy heat of the tteokpokki will paralyze your tongue. However, its addictive taste will make you unable to stop. It is no wonder this dish is so popular in Korea. Once you start eating, there is no way to stop!
3. Ang Butter
For those who may be wondering what ang butter is, it is a block of butter with red bean paste. It is usually found stuffed in scones or biscuits, but can be found in a variety of other bakery items such as macarons or even pretzels. Ang butter started trending in Korea back in 2017, but has kept its popularity since. Once you have a taste of this heavenly combination, you will understand why. The soft, slightly salty butter pairs surprisingly well with the sweet red bean to make an unexpected combination like no other. The sweetness of the red bean paste is balanced out by the butter, while the slight greasiness of the butter is offset by the red bean. It is no wonder why Koreans are crazy about this pairing; it has it all!
4. Corn Dogs
Everyone is perhaps familiar with corn dogs; sausages on a stick coated in batter then deep fried and served with ketchup or mustard. Korean style corn dogs, however, are slightly different. The batter is made with rice flour instead of cornmeal, resulting in a crispier texture; and features various different flavours and toppings. They are also called hot dogs in Korea instead of corn dogs, so do not be confused. A popular flavour of corn dog in Korea is one that is stuffed with mozzarella cheese and coated with potato chunks, called gamja hot dog. The gooey cheese stretches perfectly with each bite and the fried potato chunks add a savoury crunch that is delicious paired with the sour, yet sweet ketchup. Other interesting flavours include cinnamon sugar, sweet potato, spam, and even squid! Once you have a taste of a Korean style corn dog, you will never want a regular corn dog again!
5. Jolly Pong Latte
Jolly Pong latte is one of Korea's newest drink trends. Jolly Pong is a Korean puffed wheat snack that is popular because of its nutty, yet slightly sweet flavour. It can be enjoyed on its own, or, in this case, it can be enjoyed sprinkled on top of a delicious milkshake. This latest drink trend features a sweet, creamy milkshake topped with a mountain of crunchy Jolly Pong. The frothy shake contains bits of Jolly Pong which adds an unexpected crunch. The fun texture and buttery sweet flavour makes for a perfect summer drink that can be enjoyed by both adults and kids alike. It is no wonder why this drink is so popular! What is even better is that you can easily make your own Jolly Pong latte at home. Just blend some ice; milk; vanilla ice cream; and a shot of coffee or espresso (optional) until you get the consistency of a milkshake, top off with a mound of Jolly Pong, and ta-da! You have your very own Jolly Pong latte!
Of course, there are many more foods that are extremely popular in Korea right now, and this list does not even begin to cover all of them! However, I wanted to mention a few of the biggest trends here so that you can become familiar with some of the hottest foods in Korea. With that being said, I hope you enjoyed this little introduction on some food trends in Korea, and that you will continue to explore this topic on your own. I promise you will not be disappointed!
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