How to Enjoy Winter Deliciously: Korean Winter Foods
- zone tp
- 5 days ago
- 3 min read
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Do you have a food that comes to mind when you think of winter?
As the weather gets colder, there are certain dishes that Koreans crave even more.
Korean winter dishes that melt not only the cold, but your heart as well.
We’ll also introduce places where you can enjoy them in even more variety and flavor!
Let's begin😎
Patjuk is a red bean porridge made by boiling red beans, often served with small glutinous rice balls called saealsim. Because it is commonly eaten on Dongji, one of the 24 solar terms, many people associate Patjuk with winter. Traditionally, the color red was believed to scare away evil spirits, so Patjuk made with red beans was thought to ward off misfortune. How about wishing for good luck this winter with a warm bowl of Patjuk?
Sindangdong Cheon Patjuk is a specialty restaurant known for its rich, traditional flavor made with fresh red beans and rice flour. Unlike the lighter versions of Patjuk you may find easily elsewhere, this place is loved for its deep, full-bodied taste. Here, you can enjoy not only Patjuk with saealsim but also Pat Kalguksu, which features knife-cut noodles in red bean broth. Salt and sugar are provided so you can season your dish to your liking—salt for a savory touch, sugar for a sweeter finish.
Address: 33 Dasan-ro 44-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul
Work: 10:30AM – 8PM (7:30PM, Last Order / Sun, Closed)
Bungeo-ppang is a fish-shaped pastry made by pouring flour batter filled with sweet red bean paste into a metal mold. This snack, shaped like a carp, has become one of Korea’s most iconic street foods. Enjoying a warm, freshly baked Bungeo-ppang on a cold winter day has become a nostalgic routine for many, making it a beloved seasonal treat.
Bboongeodang is a premium Bungeo-ppang shop where you can try a wide variety of flavors. Beyond the classic red bean and custard cream, you can enjoy chocolate, cheese, green tea, ice cream, and many other creative variations. The pizza flavor, filled with pizza sauce and beef, and the spicy Buldak flavor with chicken are hearty enough to serve as a meal. All ingredients, from the batter to the fillings, are made with high-quality components you can trust. If you want to try multiple flavors at once, give their adorable thumb-sized Mini Bboong a try.
Address: 94 Bomun-ro 34-gil, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul
Work: Mon – Fri 1 – 10PM
Sat 2 – 9PM (Sun, Closed)
Gwamegi is a semi-dried fish made by tying fresh herring or Pacific saury together and repeatedly freezing and thawing them in the cold winter sea breeze. Its chewy texture and savory flavor make it a favorite for many, though its distinct fishy aroma can divide opinions. To balance the richness of Gwamegi, it is typically enjoyed with dried seaweed or fresh seaweed, along with green onions and other leafy vegetables.
At Eltor Guryongpo Gwamegi, you can taste authentic Gwamegi dried directly by the sea breeze at the Guryongpo drying racks in Pohang, a region synonymous with this delicacy. This spot also offers herring Gwamegi, which is hard to find and milder in aroma, making it ideal for beginners. Traditionally, Gwamegi was made from herring, but due to a sharp decline in herring catches, Pacific saury has become the standard. Here, you can try both varieties and enjoy a uniquely seasonal winter delicacy.
Address: 7-1 Jukdo-ro 40beon-gil, Buk-gu, Pohang-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do
Work: 12 – 11PM (10PM, Last Order)
Hotteok is a pancake-like street snack made by filling wheat dough with sugar and pressing it flat on a griddle. Early versions were baked in a brick oven, but with the mass production of cooking oil, today’s style—pan-fried in oil—became the norm. Depending on the region, fillings vary beyond sugar to include vegetables, glass noodles, or seeds, and the dough itself has evolved with variations using glutinous rice flour, rice flour, or even green tea powder.
Namdaemun Myeongmul Hotteok is famous for its long queues and for preparing a wide variety of hotteok fresh on the spot. While the classic seed hotteok is always a good choice, the shop’s signature item is the “Bbeuring Honey Hotteok,” coated with the savory, addictive seasoning inspired by the well-known Korean fried chicken flavor “Bburinkle,” giving it a sweet, salty, and irresistible taste. They also offer japchae-filled hotteok with seafood or kimchi variations, as well as hotteok topped with ice cream—an especially popular combination. Be sure to try them when you visit.
Address: 14 Namdaemunsijang-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul
Work: 8:30AM – 7PM (Sun, Closed)
