8 Must-Try Winter Foods in Korea to Warm You Up!

8 Must-Try Winter Foods in Korea to Warm You Up!

Winter in Korea isn’t just cold; it’s a delicious journey into soul-warming dishes. Have you ever wondered what locals eat when the temperature drops? Let’s dive into the most comforting meals and street snacks that will keep you cozy all season long.

겨울에 한국을 방문할 때 빠질 수 없는 건 바로 몸을 따뜻하게 해줄 맛있는 음식들이죠. 이 추운 날씨에 한국 사람들이 즐겨 먹는 음식들이 궁금하지 않으신가요? 겨울철 필수 음식들을 함께 알아보아요!

Soul-Warming Winter Meals

1. Tteokguk (떡국, Rice Cake Soup)

Tteokguk is a hearty soup enjoyed on New Year’s Day, with savory broth and chewy rice cakes that deliver a warm, comforting flavor. The sticky, elastic nature of tteok (rice cake) symbolizes longevity, with a tradition that eating it helps you start the new year fresh and turn one year older. Curious about making your own? Try this tteokguk recipe.

떡국은 설날에 빠질 수 없는 음식으로, 쫄깃한 떡과 깊은 육수의 조합이 일품입니다. 떡의 끈끈함과 탄력은 장수를 상징하는데, 새해를 맞이하며 한 살 더 먹는다는 의미도 담고 있답니다. 직접 만들어보고 싶다면 떡국 레시피를 참고하세요.

2. Manduguk (만두국, Dumpling Soup)

If you love dumplings, manduguk is a must-try. The soup adds mandu (dumplings) filled with meat and veggies to the classic tteokguk. In Korea, families often gather during holidays to make mandu together. The more beautiful your dumplings, the more beautiful your future children—according to a fun tradition!

만두국은 만두를 듬뿍 넣어 더욱 푸짐하게 먹을 수 있는 겨울철 인기 국물 요리입니다. 명절마다 가족들이 함께 모여 만두를 빚기도 하며, 더 예쁜 만두를 빚으면 자손도 예뻐진다는 속설도 있죠.

3. Seolleongtang (설렁탕, Ox Bone Soup)

This creamy, rich soup is made by boiling ox bones for hours to extract flavor. Pairing it with spicy kimchi is essential for most Koreans. Like gomtang, which is gaining popularity worldwide, seolleongtang is a comfort food staple. 

설렁탕은 소뼈를 오래 끓여 깊은 맛을 내는 국물 요리로, 김치와 함께 먹으면 최고의 궁합을 자랑합니다. 최근 뉴욕에서도 인기를 얻고 있는 곰탕과 비슷한 음식이죠. 

**for making broths for these soup dishes with ease, you can use our broth tablet products. They are made healthy with 20 natural ingredients and without 8 common additives. Just drop a tablet or two in water, and enjoy!**

All Purpose Broth Tablet, Hanwoo Beefbone Broth Tablet

4. Juk (죽, Korean Porridge)

A nourishing rice porridge, juk can be made with chicken, pumpkin, or seafood. Two popular varieties are abalone porridge, with its rich, ocean-like flavor, and sweet red bean porridge, which is eaten on the winter solstice to chase away bad spirits. Try them at home: abalone porridge or sweet red bean porridge.

죽은 다양한 재료로 만들 수 있는 영양가 높은 음식입니다. 그중에서도 전복죽은 바다의 맛을 느낄 수 있는 깊은 맛을 자랑하며, 단팥죽은 동짓날에 먹어 귀신을 쫓는 음식으로 유명하죠. 전복죽과 단팥죽을 한 번 맛보세요.

Street Food to Keep You Cozy

5. Hotteok (호떡, Sweet Pancakes)

Hotteok is a crispy, golden pancake filled with a sweet mix of brown sugar, nuts, and seeds. It’s a winter favorite, but it’s also versatile—try pairing it with ice cream or even using it as a bun for a breakfast sandwich. If you spot someone holding a steaming cup on a cold winter day, they might be munching on a hotteok inside! Try our sweet granola pancake hotteok.

호떡은 겨울철에 꼭 먹어봐야 할 달콤한 간식입니다. 바삭한 팬케이크 속에 달콤한 설탕, 견과류, 씨앗이 들어있죠. 아이스크림과 함께 먹거나 아침 샌드위치로 활용해도 좋습니다. 겨울철에 길거리에서 김이 나는 컵을 들고 있는 사람을 보면, 그 안에 호떡이 들어 있을지도 모릅니다. 

6. Tteokbokki (떡볶이, Spicy Rice Cakes)

Spicy and chewy, tteokbokki is a beloved Korean street food. You can even make your own version by adding fish cakes, eggs, or cheese! Recently, variations like buldak tteokbokki and rose tteokbokki have been growing in popularity worldwide. Check out this tteokbokki kit to try it yourself.

떡볶이는 한국을 대표하는 매콤한 간식입니다. 어묵, 계란, 치즈를 추가해 다양한 맛을 즐길 수 있죠. 최근에는 불닭 떡볶이와 로제 떡볶이 같은 새로운 버전들이 전 세계적으로 인기를 끌고 있습니다. 떡볶이 키트를 사용해 직접 만들어보세요.

7. Odeng (오뎅, Fish Cake Skewers)

Odeng skewers are a simple, yet flavorful street food staple. Often served in a savory broth alongside tteokbokki, odeng has a mild, comforting taste that pairs 
Odeng skewers are simple yet flavorful, often served in a warm broth alongside tteokbokki. The fish cakes offer a mild, comforting taste that balances the spiciness of other dishes. Try these fish cake skewers or this fishcake mealkit.

오뎅은 따뜻한 국물에 담겨 먹는 간단하면서도 맛있는 겨울 간식입니다. 떡볶이와 함께 먹으면 매콤함을 부드럽게 잡아줘 더욱 맛있죠.

8. Bungeo-ppang (붕어빵, Fish-shaped cake)

This nostalgic fish-shaped pastry is filled with sweet red bean paste, but modern versions include chocolate or even savory fillings like pizza. It’s a winter favorite that evokes childhood memories. Try chocolate taiyaki or sweet red bean cake.

붕어빵은 겨울철 어린 시절의 추억을 떠올리게 하는 달콤한 간식입니다.