Recommended Korean Winter Snacks: Strawberries, Hallabong, Hotteok, Bungeoppang, and Roasted Sweet Potatoes!
Winter in Korea is very cold. So cold that it's hard to take your hands out of your pockets. Despite this, there are snacks that make people brave the cold and reach out for them. If you visit Korea during winter, we highly recommend trying these snacks at least once. Korea's winter is a season full of warm and sweet treats that complement the cold weather. Let me introduce them to you one by one.
| Table of Contents 1. Korean Winter Fruits (Strawberries, Hallabong, Red Hyang) 2. Street Food (Hotteok, Bungeoppang) 3. Convenience Store Snacks (Roasted Sweet Potatoes, Steamed Buns) |
1. Recommended Winter Fruits: Strawberries, Hallabong, Red Hyang
Sweet Korean Strawberries
Winter is the season for strawberries in Korea. Originally, spring was the harvest season, but greenhouse cultivation has made strawberries a popular winter fruit. Korean winter strawberries are incredibly sweet and juicy. Visitors from Southeast Asia often find the taste exceptionally unique. The "Seolhyang" variety is especially famous for its sweetness and quality.
When visiting Korean cafes in winter, you will find many strawberry-based desserts. Strawberry lattes, strawberry cakes, and more are highly recommended. Don’t miss the seasonal strawberry bingsu at the popular Korean dessert chain 'Sulbing.' Bingsu is a Korean shaved ice dessert topped with condensed milk and various toppings. Eating a cold dessert in winter may seem strange, but traditionally, ice was only available during winter in Korea, making it a seasonal treat. Today, it’s more popular in summer, but it’s worth trying in winter for the unique experience.
If you’d like to purchase fruits directly, you can visit large supermarkets. Avoid small local shops labeled 'Mart' and instead go to larger stores like 'Emart' or 'Lotte Mart' for reliable quality and freshness.
- Where to Buy: Large supermarkets (Emart, Lotte Mart)
- Average Price: 10,000-15,000 KRW
- Tip: Choose strawberries that are large and square-shaped with green stems that stand upright. These are typically fresher and sweeter.
Jeju Hallabong and Red Hyang
Jeju Island produces unique winter fruits called Hallabong and Red Hyang. These fruits look similar to oranges but are much softer and juicier. Hallabong is characterized by a distinctive bump on the top, while Red Hyang looks similar to a tangerine but is larger, similar in size to Hallabong. Like strawberries, you can find these fruits in large supermarkets. They are usually sold in bundles of 5 to 8 pieces. Here’s a summary:
- Where to Buy: Large supermarkets (Emart, Lotte Mart)
- Tip: Sold in bundles of 5–8 pieces.
2. Street Snacks (Hotteok, Bungeoppang)
Hotteok: A warm snack with chewy dough filled with sweet honey, sugar, and nuts
Hotteok is a representative winter street snack in Korea. It is a snack made by stuffing honey, sugar, and nuts between a chewy dough, similar to pizza dough, and frying it on a griddle with oil. As it cooks, the sugar melts and turns into a sticky syrup. Be careful, as this syrup is very hot. Different stores may vary in the inclusion of nuts, but many do not list ingredients, so people with nut allergies should be cautious.
Currently, there's a trend of experimenting with different flavors, and some shops sell hotteok with flavors like Nutella, but the traditional version with sugar and nuts is still the most common. To summarize:
- Where to buy: Street food carts, traditional markets, snack cafes, etc.
- Average price: 2,000 KRW per piece (2025 standard)
- Features: Nowadays, there are various flavors of hotteok such as chocolate and cheese, but hotteok with honey and sugar is still the most common. Some also include nuts, so those with allergies should be careful.
Bungeoppang: Cute fish-shaped snack
The name "Bungeoppang" may lead you to think it’s a snack made from real fish, but it’s actually just shaped like a fish, so don’t worry. Bungeoppang is a snack made with a fish-shaped dough filled with red bean paste. Koreans often use red beans in desserts, which might seem unusual to foreigners who are used to beans being used in savory dishes. However, the sugar added during the paste-making process enhances its sweetness, and the subtle red bean flavor pairs perfectly with the snack, so even if it’s unfamiliar, I recommend trying a red bean-based snack at least once. There are also various flavors of bungeoppang. Red bean and custard cream are the most popular, but there are also unique versions like pizza or sweet potato bungeoppang. To summarize:
- Where to buy: Street food carts, traditional markets
- Average price: 3 for 2,000 KRW (2025 standard)
- Features: Red bean and custard cream are the most common flavors, but there are also unique flavors like pizza or sweet potato. (Red beans are a common ingredient in Korean desserts. They're a type of bean, and while using beans in desserts may seem odd, they are sweet and provide a quintessential Korean dessert experience, so I recommend trying the red bean flavor.)
3. Convenience Store Snacks (Roasted Sweet Potato, Steamed Bun)
Roasted sweet potatoes and steamed buns are also iconic winter snacks in Korea. These days, you can easily buy roasted sweet potatoes at convenience stores.
Roasted Sweet Potato: Korean roasted sweet potatoes are known for their rich sweetness. They are sweet enough without needing any sauce or syrup and are high in fiber, making them a good substitute for a meal.
- Where to buy: Major convenience stores such as CU, GS25, 7-Eleven
- Average price: 2,000-3,000 KRW per piece (2025 standard)
Here’s how to buy roasted sweet potatoes:
Roasted sweet potato machines are typically located near the entrance or outside the store. Check if there are roasted sweet potatoes available in the machine.
At some stores, you might find paper bags placed near the machine. You can place the amount you want to buy into the bag and show it to the staff at the counter to pay. If there’s no bag, simply tell the staff that you want to buy some, and they’ll give you one to fill.
Steamed Bun: Soft bun filled with sweet red bean paste
Steamed buns are also a representative Korean snack. These days, instead of buying them on the street, it’s more common to purchase them at supermarkets and steam them at home.
- Where to buy: Major convenience stores such as CU, GS25, 7-Eleven or supermarkets (uncooked products)
- Features: There are various flavors (red bean, vegetable, pizza, sweet potato, etc.)
If you want to buy them at a supermarket, you can easily prepare them by microwaving them at home.
Simply remove the plastic wrapping, leave the paper underneath the bun, place it in the microwave, and heat for 1-2 minutes. After removing the paper, enjoy! Be careful, as it will be very hot. If possible, steaming them in a steamer is recommended over using a microwave.
If you’re visiting Korea during the cold winter, don’t be surprised by the low temperatures. Warm your heart with some comforting winter snacks. Be sure to try the snacks mentioned in this post.
