In every K-drama, no matter what genre it is, there's at least one scene where the lead or the supporting cast enjoys a good meal. It can be a scene where they talk to friends while grilling Korean bbq at a restaurant and indulging in several bottles of soju; or they're at home, treating themselves to a steaming bowl of ramyeon with a side of kimchi. Whatever it is, it leaves you wanting to do the same—even if you just had dinner a couple of hours prior.
And what's interesting is that you almost never crave the usual snacks you have at the cinemas. It *has* to be Korean food or it doesn't hit the spot. Popcorn? No, thanks. Pass the roasted seaweed, please!
We asked our Cosmo Community about their favorite Korean snacks while watching K-dramas and to no one's surprise, the majority of the responses fell under the ramyeon category. Below, we came up with a food list that won't disappoint the next time your cravings hit:
Korean dishes and snacks to try while watching K-dramas
1. Ramyeon
Remember back in 2018 when every other YouTuber took part in the #FireNoodleChallenge and the world instantly fell in love with buldak bokkeummyun? Specifically the ones by the Korean brand Samyang. Years later, these noodles are still as delicious but with more flavors to explore. Though not exactly new, the carbonara flavor, in particular, has become a crowd favorite—especially since the brand came out with a *creamier* version. This is because, unlike the original fire noodle, the carbo pack isn't as spicy (Read: You can actually savor it). If you're feeling lazy, feel free to eat it on its own but Cosmo girls prefer topping it with a fried egg, balancing it with kimchi, or even turning it into a grilled cheese sandwich. A mukbanger took it a step further by adding sausages and mozzarella cheese to her dish, and we’re DROOLING:
Jjamppong is a must-try if you're a ramyeon girl. ICYDK, it is a popular Korean spicy noodle soup with a lot of seafood. Unsurprisingly, the Ottogi and Nongshim ones are highly recommended. But if you have skills in the kitchen, you can make your own following Maangchi's recipe:
But the truth is, any kind of ramyeon would do. There's no wrong way to do this. Just make sure your snack cabinet is fully stocked before you hit the play button.
2. Tteokbokki
Because we love carbs and anything with a kick, tteokbokki is also well-loved among our readers. Made primarily of rice cakes, tteokbokki is another Korean comfort food, and it's often eaten with fish cakes—all swimming in a delicious, spicy sauce. There are already so many shops that deliver tteokbokki, but we’re guessing your favorite Korean restaurant has it on their menu as well. If you don't mind a few extra steps, though, you can easily buy the ingredients from the Korean mart nearby and make it yourself. Here's an easy-to-follow tutorial:
3. Korean Corn Dogs
These babies are arguably not as popular as the first snacks on this list, but when they make an appearance in a K-drama—yes, we’re absolutely talking about Start-Up—you won't be able to resist 'em. In fact, when the K-drama stole everyone's hearts, more and more shops started selling corn dogs. (We published a list of some of our go-to spots.)
Like many Korean snacks, it isn't difficult to try making corn dogs at home. If you follow this tutorial, for example, you probably already have all the ingredients in your pantry:
Most people go for cheese or sausage corn dogs but there are also ones covered with crispy potatoes, ramen, or Cheetos powder. Amazing, right?
4. Fish Cake
You can't really have a list of yummy Korean food without talking about fish cake. It's a staple in Korean cuisine and takes on many forms. In general, it's made with surimi, wheat flour, carrots, onion, salt, sugar, and other additives. And then you can steam, boil, or fry it. But lucky for us, fish cake is readily available in several groceries. The two common ways to eat fish cake is either as a comforting soup or a side dish. Here's a beginner-friendly odeng guk recipe if you’re in the mood for soup:
For those who want a stir fry recipe, check out this eomuk bokkeum tutorial:
5. Kimchi
We can all agree that kimchi deserves its own category, right? On days when you’re too tired to think about what to eat, nothing beats a warm cup of white rice and a few generous bites of kimchi. But everyone’s favorite side dish is super versatile! For one thing, you can make kimchi pancakes! Imagine biting into a crunchy exterior and then getting to the sweet and sour layer. BLISS.
You can also make kimchi mandu and it's not as hard as it sounds! The key is to seal the mandu properly. Make sure they aren't touching each other to avoid having them stick together.
6. Korean Snacks
Of course, there are days when you just feel like munching on something simple—snacks that don't require any effort. If you’ve ever been to a Korean mart, then you know that they have so many options that cater to every craving. For those who love nuts, for instance, you can't go wrong with honey butter almonds. You can have it on its own or with a glass of cold beer.
Cosmo girls also love the "turtle chips" by the brand Orion—specifically the choco churros flavor. It's light but the flavor is a 10/10. There’s no risk of feeling umay if you happen to finish a bag.
Next, we have goraebap, which are animal-shaped crackers also produced by Orion. If you’re watching a K-drama with your younger siblings or cousins, they'll absolutely love this snack…provided that you'll be willing to share, lol!
7. Soju
Because sometimes, all you really need is a nice, cold drink. Sure, you can treat yourself with a bottle of soju, but with a few ice cubes and some Yakult, you'll have a drink that'll complete your K-drama experience. Below are a few other soju mix recipes for you to try:
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