Usually when thinking of street food, you normally think of a stand selling foods that are not always cheap, but very convenient. In South Korea, most the street foods are relatively cheap and also are very very convenient. The are many ways street food is sold in South Korea. Here are some of the ways you might come across street food if you ever travel to South Korea.
Pojangmacha
Pojanmacha in English translates to covered wagon. In South Korea, the main way you can find street food, is at a pojangmacha. Pojangmachas are a relatively new invention, being introduced to South Korea a little more than over 50 years ago. In the beginning, the pojangmacha didn't look like the modern one seen in Korea today. They were small wagons with a little table attached and a few stools where you could buy and eat small snacks and appetizers. The pojangmacha evolved to being covered by a small tent to keep people warm when they eat since South Korea's climate is normally very cold. Larger tables and more stools were added under this covered area to accommodate more customers. Pojangmachas became increasing popular with working citizens who needed a quick way to eat before or after work and with South Koreans that liked to have drinking nights with their friends.
Pojangmachas come in a variety of sizes and are open very late into the night. They only accept cash and do not have bathrooms since they are portable but usually there will be nearby bathrooms. One thing that I found amusing and interesting is that they have toilet paper hanging from the ceiling for people to use as napkins. If you don't have a lot of money, a pojangmacha is the right place for you because everything is so inexpensive. Here's a list of food that a pojangmacha normally sells and you can find out what many of them are if you look at the Common Street Food page of this website (next page).
10 Media. "Pojangmacha." 10 Magazine Korea. 10 Magazine, 28 Feb. 2011. Web. 19 Feb. 2015.
<http://www.10mag.com/pojangmacha/>.
"Hanguk Story." : Korean Street Food. Blogger, 20 June 2011. Web. 19 Feb. 2015.
<http://hangukstory.blogspot.com/2011/06/korean-street-food-pojangmacha.html>.
"Amongst Other Things – A Korean Compendium." Amongst Other Things A Korean Compendium. Wordpress.com, 12 Jan. 2013.
Web. 19 Feb. 2015. <http://elwood5566.net/tag/pojangmacha/>.
"Mother May I?" : Jeju to Busan. Blogger, 23 June 2010. Web. 19 Feb. 2015. <http://herbjankles.blogspot.com/2010/06/jeju-to-
busan.html>.
Pojangmachas come in a variety of sizes and are open very late into the night. They only accept cash and do not have bathrooms since they are portable but usually there will be nearby bathrooms. One thing that I found amusing and interesting is that they have toilet paper hanging from the ceiling for people to use as napkins. If you don't have a lot of money, a pojangmacha is the right place for you because everything is so inexpensive. Here's a list of food that a pojangmacha normally sells and you can find out what many of them are if you look at the Common Street Food page of this website (next page).
- Tteokbokki
- Odeng
- Tempura
- Sundae
- Ramen/ other noodles
- Kimchi Dubu
- Dakbal
- Soju (rice wine)
10 Media. "Pojangmacha." 10 Magazine Korea. 10 Magazine, 28 Feb. 2011. Web. 19 Feb. 2015.
<http://www.10mag.com/pojangmacha/>.
"Hanguk Story." : Korean Street Food. Blogger, 20 June 2011. Web. 19 Feb. 2015.
<http://hangukstory.blogspot.com/2011/06/korean-street-food-pojangmacha.html>.
"Amongst Other Things – A Korean Compendium." Amongst Other Things A Korean Compendium. Wordpress.com, 12 Jan. 2013.
Web. 19 Feb. 2015. <http://elwood5566.net/tag/pojangmacha/>.
"Mother May I?" : Jeju to Busan. Blogger, 23 June 2010. Web. 19 Feb. 2015. <http://herbjankles.blogspot.com/2010/06/jeju-to-
busan.html>.
Markets
In addition to pojangmachas, street food is also sold in many open air markets and indoor markets on the street. The markets usually have a lot of elderly vendors, especially grandmas. The open air markets are located on narrow streets and have tables on the side of the streets with bowls of all different kinds of food. Instead of popular mainstream foods sold off pojangmachas, the open air markets typically sell a lot of traditional Korean side dishes. There are also many butchers who butcher and cook their meat right in front of you. You may find these foods below in the markets.
"Traditional Markets in Korea." Official Site of Korea Tourism Org.: A Tour of. Korea Tourism Organization, n.d. Web. 19 Feb.
2015. <http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/SH/SH_EN_7_1_6_2.jsp>.
"Chuncheon Korea Food Market in Winter." Panoramio. Google Maps, n.d. Web. 19 Feb. 2015.
<http://www.panoramio.com/photo/3573233>.
"Commerce and Food at Gupo Market, Busan, South Korea." Ben Weller Photography. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Feb. 2015.
<http://benweller.photoshelter.com/image/I0000fZuLXUbCnU0>
Hickson, Craig. "Korea: Seoul Food Market Is World Class." Flashpacking Around The World. Flashpacking Travel Blog, 10 Oct.
2012. Web. 19 Feb. 2015. <http%3A%2F%2Fflashpackatforty.com%2F2012%2F10%2F10%2Fkorea-seoul-food-market-is-world-
class%2F>.
"Korea’s Street Food (Seoul, KR)." Simply Dolicious. PixelGrade Team & Simply Dolicious, 28 Apr. 2013. Web. 19 Feb. 2015.
<http://simplydolicious.com/korea-street-food/>.
- Traditional Korean Fried Chicken
- Doenjang Jjigae
- Japchae
- Kimbap
- Sujebi
- Dak Galbi
- Kimchi
- Bibimbap
"Traditional Markets in Korea." Official Site of Korea Tourism Org.: A Tour of. Korea Tourism Organization, n.d. Web. 19 Feb.
2015. <http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/SH/SH_EN_7_1_6_2.jsp>.
"Chuncheon Korea Food Market in Winter." Panoramio. Google Maps, n.d. Web. 19 Feb. 2015.
<http://www.panoramio.com/photo/3573233>.
"Commerce and Food at Gupo Market, Busan, South Korea." Ben Weller Photography. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Feb. 2015.
<http://benweller.photoshelter.com/image/I0000fZuLXUbCnU0>
Hickson, Craig. "Korea: Seoul Food Market Is World Class." Flashpacking Around The World. Flashpacking Travel Blog, 10 Oct.
2012. Web. 19 Feb. 2015. <http%3A%2F%2Fflashpackatforty.com%2F2012%2F10%2F10%2Fkorea-seoul-food-market-is-world-
class%2F>.
"Korea’s Street Food (Seoul, KR)." Simply Dolicious. PixelGrade Team & Simply Dolicious, 28 Apr. 2013. Web. 19 Feb. 2015.
<http://simplydolicious.com/korea-street-food/>.