7 Korean street food we want to see in Singapore
It’s no secret that Korean cuisine is a big hit among most Singaporeans.
From bingsu (ice shavings), spicy stews to savoury-sweet Korean fried chicken, it almost seems like we do have it all in Singapore. But as greedy foodies would know, there are even more Korean street food finds that we’d love to try.
We list some of the street eats that have yet to become a common sight here. Hopefully, more enterprising eateries might take the hint to start serving these yummy bites in Singapore soon!
You might have had your fair share of Korean fried chicken, but have you tried hotteok, egg bread and other popular street food from South Korea?
Here’s our wishlist on the savoury and sweet takeaways we’ll love to see in Singapore.
(The Hongdae (Hongik University) district in Seoul, South Korea, is a popular go-to for street food. Image: lola927927 / Instagram )
Egg bread (Gyeran Bbang)
Image: @hfzaizat/ Instagram
It’s soft, fluffy and sweet. Think of it as a cross between an egg sandwich and an oversized muffin.
First, the batter is poured into pans, then an egg is cracked on top. Other ingredients such as bacon bits may be added to the mix.
If this street snack ever makes it here, we think it will be a hit as it’s got that sweet-savoury mix that Singaporeans love.
Hotteok
Image: @okt0kto/ Instagram
This wheat flour-based pancake is a must-try street food staple in Korea. You’ll find that the hotteok at one stall may be totally different from what’s served in the next.
Beyond the typical honey, cinnamon and peanut filling, food vendors have been flipping up ingenious flavours that can be sweet, savoury or even a canny mix of both.
Croissant Boong uh ppang
Image: @artjjong/ Instagram
It’s not strictly street food but we’ll count it in, as it’s inspired by the ubiquitous boong uh ppang (goldfish bread). One inventive dessert cafe is responsible for this inventive hybrid.
The cafe’s name, which loosely translates to “the boonguhppang that returned from Paris”, is inspired by its popular pastry.
The cafe has since expanded and opened multiple stores in Seoul, beyond its first branch near Hongik University.
Somsatang
Image: @art_cotton_candy/ Instagram
The Korean take on cotton candy upsizes the sugary treat, spinning it into dreamy clouds that come in all shapes and sizes.
Okay, we’ll admit that these are more for Instagram-bragging rights than a treat for the taste buds. But just look at it — the mammoth-size certainly makes it the perfect Instagram prop.
Bbopki
Image: @diahhzs/ Instagram
This old-school caramelised sugar candy can be easily found at most food streets and usually has a design pressed in the middle.
If you manage to eat around the shape, it’s an unwritten rule that you could get another stick of the candy for free. It’s not an easy feat though, as the candy is thin and fragile — but it doesn’t stop kids (and the young at heart) from trying!
Bindaetteok
Image: @phosoo/ Instagram
This traditional working-class dish is now an all-time favourite. You’ll even find it served in some restaurants and on special occasions.
Pan fried with sesame oil, this Korean-style crispy pancake is made with a mix of mung bean, rice, kimchi, garlic and vegetables.
Cup chicken
Image: yookyung_0404/ Instagram
If you can’t get enough of Korean-style fried chicken, you’re likely to love cups of these.
Street vendors serve bite-sized boneless fried chicken in cups, doused with marinade. One particular store, Hong Cup (near Hongdae station in Seoul), serves this together with rice cakes and grated potatoes, which makes every bite a yummy surprise.
