Snacks' Special.

Commonly in the K-Dramas (Korean tv novels) there are this types of snacks, so I decided to do a list with some of them.

A Tour of Korean Snack Foods.

1-    Nongshim Tako Chips.

This is a snack release on 05/August/1983 and costs $2.85. Tako chips are a cute octopus-shaped snack. Their savory and salty flavor arouses the appetite. The ingredients of this are: Wheat flour, yellow corvine, palm oil, rice powder, sugar, salt, octopus flavor, paprika and red radish powder.

2-    Pepero.

Pepero is a biscuit stick covered or filled with chocolate as well as other sweets and nuts such as vanilla, strawberry, cheese and/or crushed almonds. This snack is so popular in Korea that it even has its own holiday named "Pepero Day" and its observance is similar to Valentine's Day which is celebrated in America. Pepero Day is held on November 11, since the date "11/11" resembles four sticks of Pepero and it is observed mostly by young people and couples, who exchange Pepero sticks, other candies, and romantic gifts. Pepero is available in different flavors such as regular chocolate, strawberry-flavored, almond chocolate, nude (chocolat in the center), nude lemon cheese, cocoa, and much more.

3-    Shrimp Flavored Crackers (Saewookkang).

Saewookkang is considered one of the oldest and most popular snacks in Korea. It is about two-inches long in length, packed with savory andreal high quality shrimp flavors as opposed to artificial additives. It is slightly salty in taste and each piece is baked, forming tiny pores inside each cracker which makes it crunchy with every bite. Different variations from sprinkled herbs to hot & spicy shrimp flavors exist as well.

4-    Choco pie.

Choco pie is Korea's second most popular snack next to saewookkang. It is manufactured by Orion Confectionery which consists of two small round layers of cake with marshmallow filling, with chocolate covering, similar to a Moon Pie. Orion supplies the South Korean military with choco pies, which are given out to soldiers after their first week of basic training.

5-    Onion ring chips.

Yangparing is a popular onion ring snack enjoyed by all ages and it's the Korean version of Frito Lay's Funyuns. It is made with premium ingredients and these playful rings have a crisp texture which are packed full of zesty onion flavors. It contains no MSG and it actually has 100mg less sodium than Funyuns per serving. This onion snack is so delicious that it must be experienced.

6-    Goraebap (고래밥).

Goraebap means ‘a whale’s food.’ Goraebap is a package of small fried chips with chili seasoning. As the name of the snack shows, the small pieces are shaped in marine animals such as goldfish, squid, shark, and star fish. Even though they all taste the same, you may find a certain shape tastier.

7-    Nongshim Banana Kick.

This snack is a corn-based product, with the flavor and shape of the banana. Children are especially attracted to its crunchy sound and delicious taste.

8-     Pumpkin Monaca, Baked Biscuit.

The outside is rice based, but the inside is a sweet, thick paste-like center made from pumpkin powder and flavoring. The filling is very sweet, so you really only need one at a time, which is probably why these come individually wrapped!

9-    Sweet Potato.

Sweet Potato Snack is the perfect combination of sweet potatoes and maple syrup. The naturally vitamin enriched and mineral rich sweet potatoes are lightly sweetened with maple syrup. This is ideal for those who are looking for a snack that is not too sweet but full of nutrients.

10-  Veggie crackers.

These vegetarian-friendly chips are made with a variety of veggie extracts — onion, broccoli, tomato, kale, red cabbage, paprika, and onion.

Bonus

 Chilsung Cider.

The most refreshing soft drink from Korea — a title Chilsung Cider has held for a long time since it launched in 1950s. One can of this refreshing lemon-lime drink is perfect for a pick-me-up on a warm day.

Enjoy this funny video.

Korean street food.

Today, we have a top 5 of Korean street food that I would like to try.

1.     Spicy Rice Cakes/ Ddeokbokki (떡볶이).

This is a popular street-food dish, is a garlicky, richly spiced dish of rice cakes bathed in red chili paste. The sauce is a sweet and spicy combination with dried chili powder and sugar stewed in dried anchovy and sea kelp broth. For advanced ddeokbokki eating, try adding ramen noodles, mozzarella cheese and a hard-boiled egg. In Korea, this snack is commonly purchased from street vendors much like hotdog vendors in New York City. However, it can be found in Korean fast food venues as well as some restaurants outside of Korea.

2.     Fish Cakes/ Odeng/Uhmook (오뎅/어묵).

Okay so don’t be freaked out by the title. A Korean fish cake is not a sweet dessert cake; it’s a savory fish noodle. Typically Korean fish cakes are made with surimi, wheat flour, carrots, onion, salt, sugar and other additives. These ingredients are mixed, kneaded, shaped then boiled, steamed or fried. I don’t know about you, but in general, the perception is that packaged Korean fish cakes typically available from Korean grocery stores are “not healthy”. But nonetheless, it’s cheaper and more convenient that making them yourself.

3.     Ice Cream-filled Waffles (와플).

Waffles are a popular dessert in Korea and more when are full of ice cream. The first step to make this dish is toasting the waffle, immediately spread with butter and cut the waffle in half. Place a scoop of ice cream on one half. Drizzle the ice cream with any topping and gently press the other half to seal the sandwich.

4.     Tornado Potato/ Hweori Gamja (회오리 감자).   

Like potato chips, but way more fun to eat. This crispy spiraling potato chip is served flavored with an assortment of seasonings like powdered cheese or chili. Also, the potato hot dog is a simple hot dog spun into a twisted potato, skewered, dipped in a light flour batter, and deep-fried to a golden color.

5.     Croissant Boong-uh-ppang.

This variation is made from flaky croissant pastry dough pressed in hot goldfish mold pans. Filling range from savory flavors like pizza, to sweet flavors like apple and mango. This one comes from a bakery called, “The boonguhppang that returned from Paris.”

Bonus

One of the slightly strange but famous Korean products is Banana Mat Milk, this is a simply banana flavored milk drink. It’s basically available at every market, supermarket or convenience store across Korea partly due to it’s popularly and also due to its long shelf life. It’s cheap at around $1 and is a healthier option over a soda. 

It comes in a few other flavors including Strawberry and Melon. This is something everyone who visits Korea should try at least once.  

Here is a video of some dishes of 2016.