Myeong-dong, Seoul is famous for various street food. People can try different types of street food while walking along the street. Street food is similar to junk food or fast food, but the difference is that it is made on the street. A couple who lives in Myeong-dong started running a business with a small food stall. They sell hotteok, a flat rice cake made with corn starch and glutinous rice. Soon, many people came to try it, and the hotteok was an instant hit. Nowadays, a lot of people try to sell their own unique street food.

▲ Myeong-dong street food

Traditional snacks sold on the streets for decades are being diversified. For instant, hotteok and tteokbokki are the most popular street food. They are so popular that a great number of Koreans have eaten hotteok or tteokbokki several times. Also, bungeoppang, fish-shaped waffles stuffed with sweet red bean paste is one of the basic food that we should eat in winter. Bungeoppang is known to have originated from the Japanese fish-shaped pancake, taiyaki. It is described as mixed of waffles from the West and dumplings from the East. After decades, some traders put different types of fillings in bungeoppang, such as cream cheese and chocolate. The new bungeoppang is also loved by many people.

▲ Bungeoppang

In other countries, street food is part of their culture. Japan is the representative country of various street food. Above all, Osaka is the most famous for street food just like Myeong-dong in South Korea. the best three street food that Japanese selected was takoyaki, ikayaki, and green tea ice cream. People who have traveled to Japan compliment the quality of their tastes and shapes.

According to the information above, street food takes a big part in every country's culture. If you try the street food of a certain country, you may feel the whole culture of the country just by the street food. The rise of street food also means the rise in our culture.

October 31st, 2020

by Nayoung Kim