Name: bungeoppang
Description: These are cakes shaped like fish (for luck) and filled with red bean or custard. They are usually bought in bags of five or ten.
Memory: A friend introduced it as “fishy bread.”
Where You Can Find It: South Korea
Best Eaten: During the winter
Vegetarian Friendly: Yes
Name: tall ice cream
Description: soft serve ice cream that’s about 32 cm tall
Memory: Seeing two people share one cone
Where You Can Find It: Seoul, South Korea
Best Eaten When: Strolling around
Vegetarian Friendly: Yes
Name: kimchi fried rice (kimchi bokkeumbap)
Description: Kimchi and fried rice had a baby and it was wonderful.
Memory: In a cafe in Insadong
Where You Can Find It: South Korea
Best Eaten When: Really hungry
Vegetarian Friendly: Usually no (because of the egg)
Number of Calories: 200 calories per serving
Name: soju
Description: Soju is a rice-based alcoholic beverage.
Memory: I received a box of this a week before seollal, the Korean New Year.
Where You Can Find It: South Korea
History: This dates back to the 13th century when Mongols invaded Korea. [Via Wikipedia]
Best Drunk: After eating spicy or fried foods
Vegetarian Friendly: Yes
Number of Calories: 540 calories per bottle
Name: beondegi
Description
Memory: Walking into markets. I like imagining that they’re alive and waiting to walk away from their paper prisons.
Where You Can Find It: South Korea
History: It was widely eaten years ago when there wasn’t enough food in Korea.
Best Eaten: As a snack, or if one is feeling adventurous
Vegetarian Friendly:
Name: tornado potato
Description: This is a deep fried potato cut in a spiral shape with a machine, dusted with cheese powder, and eaten on a stick.
Memory: One winter afternoon in Myeongdong, Seoul
Where You Can Find It: South Korea
Best Eaten: After shopping
Vegetarian Friendly: Yes
Number of Calories: 212 calories per stick
Name: kimbap
Description: Kimbap (or gimbap) is steamed rice (bap) mixed with other things such as cucumbers, spinach, carrots, and radish rolled in seaweed (kim).
Memory: I made this with a group of students.
Where You Can Find It: Seoul, South Korea
History: It is derived from Japanese futomaki sushi. [Via Wikipedia]
Best Eaten When: Having lunch
Vegetarian Friendly: Yes
Number of Calories: 331 calories per roll
Name: egg bread (gyeran bbang)
Description: Gyeran bbang is a small muffin with a whole egg cooked inside or on top.
Memory: My friend bought me some while walking around Seoul.
Where You Can Find It: South Korea
Best Eaten When: You are hungry. There’s an entire egg (yolk included) in there, so don’t go crazy and eat too many!
Vegetarian Friendly: No
Number of Calories: 130 calories each
Name: bbopki
Description: Bbopki is a traditional Korean candy made from caramelized sugar and baking soda. It is usually formed into disks with a shape stamped into the middle. It is a game; the goal is to eat around the shape without breaking it. If you manage to do so, you win another one.
Memory: Walking into Chinatown in Incheon, I spotted a vendor making one.
Where You Can Find It: South Korea
Best Eaten When: You need a quick snack
Vegetarian Friendly: Yes
Number of Calories: around 85 calories
Name: yakgwa
Description: Yakgwa is a soft flower-shaped cookie made primarily from honey, sesame oil, and wheat flour.
Memory: I received a box of this a week before seollal, the Korean New Year.
Where You Can Find It: Seoul, South Korea
History: It was eaten as early as the Unified Silla period of Korea. Because of the healing properties of honey, yakgwa is known as “medicinal confectionery.” [Via Wikipedia]
Best Eaten When: Having a cup of tea
Vegetarian Friendly: Yes
Number of Calories: 150 to 172 calories per cookie
