When visiting South Korea, make sure to try some of their snacks. The best Korean snacks can be found in any supermarket or convenience store around Korea. Walking down the supermarket aisle in Korea, you will see rows and rows of colorful Korean snacks, from chips to cookies to chocolate. In addition, everything on this list should be available at CU, GS Mart, and 7-ELEVEN. If you don’t want to leave your home or hotel, have it delivered! What you will notice about these snacks is how different they are, which is great as there will be something for everyone. Do not agree with our top 10 list of the best Korean snacks?
Please give us a suggestion on what we should try below! We also have an article for those interested in the best Korean food.
Pepero
If you’re looking for a delicious treat perfect for snacking, you’ll want to try Pepero. These Korean cookies have a light, crispy biscuit exterior and a creamy filling in various flavors. The most popular variety is the milk chocolate Pepero, but you can also find versions with almond or green tea filling. Pepero is the perfect size for popping in your mouth, and they’re also relatively low in calories.
It is so popular in South Korea that they have a national day just for this snack. On Pepero Day (11/11), you give your friends and family…Pepero! Lotte is estimated to make 50% of their yearly sales on Pepero Day.
In any convenience store, you will find Pepero being sold. Talk about a brilliant marketing campaign. What makes Pepero so unique is that it comes in various styles. You can get peanut-covered Pepero, strawberry Pepero, white chocolate, green tea, and more. You name it; they will have a Pepero for it. Our favorite is the almond Peperos which are easy to spot as the packaging is green.
KoKalCorn
These are the bugles of Korea. They are all cone-shaped; children like to put each of them on their fingers and eat them individually. They are very crunchy but not so crunchy that they irritate your gums. It comes in many flavors, but we recommend sticking with the original. It also goes great with salsa!
Shrimp Cracker
If you’re a fan of shrimp, then you’ll want to try these Korean shrimp crackers! They have a crispy texture and are flavored with a savory blend of spices. The crackers are perfect for snacking on, or you can use them to top off a dish like rice or noodles. They’re also affordable, so you can stock up without breaking the bank.
While it might sound strange to snack on shrimp-flavored crackers, it is very popular in Korea. Shrimp crackers were the first commercialized snacks in Korea. They are shaped like French fries but a lot crunchier and with a shrimp flavor. The crackers are baked and not fried. We recommend you try it in its spicy flavor.
Crunky
The best chocolate bar in South Korea is the Crunky. It is a combination of milk chocolate and puffed rice. It has a similar texture to a CRUNCH bar. They also have a lower calorie count than a Hershey’s Bar because a lot of the chocolate is replaced by rice crisps. It has a surprisingly low-calorie count compared to other chocolate bars.
Honey Butter Chip
These Korean snacks were so popular in Korea that people would wait in line to buy them. The craze has died down, but the taste is still awesome. Think of potato chips that have been covered in Butter. It has the right combination of sweet and salty. Yum! However, this might not be a snack for those who like salty potato chips.
Choco Mushroom Boy
These are similar to Kancho Choco, but instead of the chocolate being inside a cookie ball, these are mushroom-shaped chocolate snacks where the mushroom head is made of chocolate. The stem is made of a crunchy biscuit. It has a lighter chocolate taste and can be eaten as a whole or by biting off the side you like more. We would recommend you put them in the refrigerator and eat them cold.
Choco Pie
Choco Pies are a popular Korean snack made of two small round cakes sandwiching a thick layer of marshmallow filling, all coated in a thin layer of chocolate. They’re like Moon Pies but with a richer chocolate flavor.
Those that do not like marshmallows might not like Choco Pie. However, this is a combination of smores and a cake for those who do. Inside is a sponge cake with marshmallows, and the whole pie is covered in chocolate. An argument can be made that Choco Pies are the most famous Korean snacks. They are individually packaged, so it is very easy to eat. While the chocolate is on the outside, you can use the wrapper to hold it while you eat.
Kancho Choco
These are round biscuits that have chocolate on the inside. They are chocolate cookie balls. They are bite-sized, which makes them very easy to eat. However, the best way to eat them is to put them in the refrigerator or freeze them and eat them cold. Each ball has a cute picture on it which children love!
Squid Peanut Snack
The shell slightly tastes squid, but the inside has peanuts. The flavor of squid is not too strong. Moreover, as others might say, it does not have a fish flavor. The strong flavor is mostly in the peanut. It is very crunchy and is a great snack while watching your favorite movie or Korean drama!
Homerun Ball
You really can’t have enough of Homerun Balls. They are sweet mini puff pastry balls that are filled with chocolate. Those that love Nutella will love this Korean snack. The bag comes with a plastic container that holds all the balls. While Homerun Ball comes in other flavors, such as Strawberry, we recommend going with the chocolate flavor because it is the classic way to eat Homerun balls.
HONORABLE MENTION
Onion Ring
People of all ages in Korea enjoy these Onion Ring chips. While you might think it is similar to Funyuns, it is not. It is much milder than Funyuns and has a light, crisp texture. These onion rings contain no MSG has 100mg less sodium than Funyuns per serving. Therefore, it is a much healthier alternative. However, we don’t think it tastes anything like Funyuns, as it has a hint of sweetness.
Sunflower Seed Choco Ball
One of the best-kept secrets in Korea is these Sunflower Choco balls. These are sunflower seeds covered in chocolate! They use dried sunflower seeds and dip them in chocolate milk. A bag has tons and tons of these small balls, which are fun to eat. We recommend keeping them in the refrigerator to keep them from melting.
Didn’t find your favorite Korean Snack here? Let us know what we missed.
Also, check out our other article on the Best Korean Fried Chicken Brands.
