Korean Winter Street Food (2026): Bungeoppang, Hotteok and Where to Find Them

Korean winter street food is one of the best reasons to visit Korea between November and February. As soon as the air turns cold, carts and tiny stalls appear on street corners selling bungeoppang (fish-shaped pastries filled with sweet red bean), hotteok (syrupy filled pancakes), roasted sweet potatoes, chestnuts, egg bread and fish-cake skewers in hot broth. Most cost less than a coffee and are made to be eaten while walking. This guide explains what each snack is, where to find it in Seoul and Busan, roughly what it costs and how to order.

Last checked: 31 October 2026. Street-food prices vary by stall and have risen in recent years; treat the figures below as typical, not fixed. Dollar figures use about 1,330 KRW = 1 USD (October 2026).

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What are the classic Korean winter snacks?

What is bungeoppang?

Bungeoppang means “carp bread”. The batter is poured into fish-shaped iron moulds, filled with sweet red bean paste and baked until the edges are crisp. It’s closely related to Japanese taiyaki, which arrived in Korea in the first half of the 20th century, and it has been a winter street snack for decades. Today you’ll also see custard, chocolate, sweet potato and even cheese fillings, plus mini versions sold by the bag. Koreans joke about whether to eat the head or the tail first — there’s no wrong answer.

Stalls sell bungeoppang by the piece or in small bundles. Many have become harder to find in central Seoul as costs have gone up, and locals sometimes use stall-finder apps or community maps to track them down. If you see one near a subway exit, buy a few while they’re hot.

What is hotteok and how do you eat it?

Hotteok is a round, chewy pancake filled with brown sugar syrup, cinnamon and chopped nuts or seeds, then pressed flat and fried on a griddle. It’s thought to have come to Korea with Chinese merchants in the late 19th century and is now one of the most loved winter snacks in the country. The filling becomes molten, so vendors usually fold it into a paper cup. Hold it upright, bite a small hole, and let the steam escape before taking a big bite.

In Busan, look for ssiat hotteok (seed hotteok): after frying, the pancake is split open and stuffed with sunflower and pumpkin seeds. It’s a classic at BIFF Square in Nampo-dong; see our Busan food guide.

Where can I find winter street food in Seoul?

For more on the two big night-food streets, see Myeongdong street food and Gwangjang Market food guide.

How much does Korean street food cost?

Winter snacks are among the cheapest things to eat in Korea. Bungeoppang is usually sold for well under 1,000 KRW (about $0.75) a piece or a little more in bundles, while hotteok, egg bread and eomuk skewers typically cost one to a few thousand won each. A paper bag of roasted sweet potatoes or chestnuts costs a few thousand won depending on size. Prices are higher in tourist hotspots such as Myeongdong. Stalls show prices on handwritten signs; if there’s no sign, point and ask “eolmayeyo?” (how much is it?).

How do I order and pay?

• Point to what you want and show the number with your fingers; most vendors understand.
• Carry small notes (1,000 and 5,000 KRW) and coins; some stalls take cards or bank transfers, but cash is safest.
• Eat next to the stall or while walking; there are rarely seats.
• Keep your paper cup and skewers — vendors usually have a bin. Public bins are scarce in Seoul.
• Convenience stores sell hoppang, hot drinks and roasted sweet potatoes all day; see our convenience store guide.

When is street-food season?

Most winter-only stalls appear in November, once evenings get cold, and stay until about February or early March. Myeongdong and the markets serve street food all year, but bungeoppang carts and drum-oven sweet potatoes are true winter signs. Evenings are the liveliest time; on very cold or snowy days, some carts close early. Wrap up warmly — see Seoul in winter for what to wear.

Can vegetarians and people with allergies eat it?

Many sweet snacks are vegetarian: red bean bungeoppang, hotteok, sweet potatoes and chestnuts. Hotteok and some bungeoppang may contain nuts or seeds, and batters usually contain wheat, milk and egg. Eomuk is made from fish, and its broth often uses anchovy or kelp. If you have a serious allergy, show a translated note to the vendor. See vegetarian food in Seoul for more help.

Notes for families

Children usually love custard bungeoppang and mini versions. Hotteok filling is very hot, so cut it open and let it cool first. Markets are crowded and some streets are narrow, so a compact pushchair is easier than a large one.

FAQ

What is the most popular Korean winter street food?
Bungeoppang and hotteok are the classic pair, followed by roasted sweet potatoes and fish-cake skewers.

Is bungeoppang the same as taiyaki?
They’re closely related. Bungeoppang came from Japanese taiyaki but is usually thinner and crisper, sold from street carts.

When can I find bungeoppang in Korea?
Mostly from November to February, when the weather is cold.

Do street food stalls in Korea take cards?
Many do now, but cash in small notes is still the safest option.

Sources: Wikipedia – Bungeo-ppang · Wikipedia – Hotteok · Wikipedia – Gyeranppang · Visit Korea – official tourism site
Photos: photos from Wikimedia Commons, credited in each caption