Are you curious about what kind of snacks are popular in Korea? You'll find many Korean snacks come with a combination of salty, sweet, and spicy flavors. Some have flavors that are familiar but with a Korean twist, and others are totally different from typical American snacks.
That's why we went on the hunt for the top 10 best Korean snacks on the market. Orion's Choco Pie won our top prize because it's delicious, is made without preservatives, and comes in convenient packaging. Don't forget to check out the other suggested products in our top 10 list, and if you don't know how to choose, read our buying guide to find out what you need to know before deciding.
These are the best Korean snacks that we could find. They range from sweet to salty to spicy, and some are all three at once!
$6.95
Amount | 12 pies |
---|---|
Flavor profile | Sweet |
$4.99
Amount | 4.5 oz. |
---|---|
Flavor profile | Sweet |
4 pack
$9.30
Amount | 1.58 oz. each |
---|---|
Flavor profile | Sweet, salty |
2 pack
$8.59
Amount | 2.82 oz. each |
---|---|
Flavor profile | Sweet, salty |
3 pack
$5.98
Amount | 3.17 oz. each |
---|---|
Flavor profile | Sweet, salty, smoky |
20 pack
$10.99
Amount | 0.14 oz. each |
---|---|
Flavor profile | Salty, slightly fishy |
2 pack
$11.70
Amount | 5.64 oz. per pack |
---|---|
Flavor profile | Sweet, salty, spicy |
Image | 1 ![]() Orion | 2 ![]() Haitai | 3 ![]() Lotte | 4 ![]() Nongshim | 5 ![]() Gilim | 6 ![]() Orion | 7 ![]() Crown | 8 ![]() Ottogi | 9 ![]() Daechun | 10 ![]() Cosmos |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Name | Choco Pie | Honey Butter Chip | Pepero Biscuit Sticks | Banana Kick | Honey Butter Almond | Turtle Chips Corn Soup Flavor | Couque D'Asse White Torte Cookies | Ppushu Ppushu Bulgogi Flavor Noodle Snack | Olive Oil and Green Tea Seaweed Snacks | Tteokbokki Snack |
Features | Mini Sponge Cakes in Individual Packaging | A Good Combination of Sweet and Salty Flavors | Crispy Sticks in Sweet Flavors | Light and Fluffy Banana-Flavored Corn Puffs | Sweet and Creamy Almonds in Resealable Packaging | 4-Layered Crunchy Corn Puff Snacks | Buttery Mascarpone-Filled Cookies | Korean-Style Beef BBQ Noodle Snack | Nutrient-Rich and Delicious Snacks | Spicy Korean Stir-Fried Rice Cakes |
Price | $6.95 | $9.80 | $4.99 | $9.30 | $8.79 | $8.59 | $9.99 | $5.98 | $10.99 | $11.70 |
Amount | 12 pies | 2.11 oz. each | 4.5 oz. | 1.58 oz. each | 7.4 oz. | 2.82 oz. each | 5.08 oz. | 3.17 oz. each | 0.14 oz. each | 5.64 oz. per pack |
Flavor profile | Sweet | Sweet, salty | Sweet | Sweet, salty | Sweet, salty | Sweet, salty | Sweet | Sweet, salty, smoky | Salty, slightly fishy | Sweet, salty, spicy |
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In this section, you'll find a lot of useful information on how to choose a Korean snack that matches your preferences.
You'll find familiar items like potato chips, chocolate, cookies, and nuts in Korean snacks, though they may be available in different flavors (more on that later). However, there are other popular Korean snacks that you should try, too!
If you're looking for sweet snacks, we highly recommend you try chocolate pies and rice cake pies. Both types are coated with chocolate and filled with marshmallow. Although most brands offer a chocolate flavor, you can find banana, green tea, strawberry, orange, and many other flavors as well.
As far as salty snacks, seaweed and crispy rice are two Korean snacks that you shouldn't miss! They come in many flavors and spice levels. If you like potato chips, try two-in-one seaweed and crispy rice snacks since they offer a similar texture to potato chips.
Sweet potato and chocolate-covered sunflower seeds are delicious yet nutritious snacks. They're packed with antioxidants and fiber. Dried squid is a very popular snack for Koreans of all ages. It's also widely enjoyed as an accompaniment to alcohol.
While flavors like salt, barbecue, and sour cream may be familiar chip flavors for Americans, Korean snacks veer more towards flavors like shrimp, cheese, and corn soup.
If you crave something sweet then chocolate, banana, sweet potato, and honey-butter are must-try flavors. You can find these combinations in many types of snacks, including biscuit sticks, mini cakes, chips, and nuts.
Seasonal flavors make a great option for someone who wants to try unique tastes for each season. You can find many snacks with persimmon flavor in fall and cherry blossom flavor in spring. Additionally, seasonal products usually come in beautiful packaging, making them perfect souvenirs and gifts.
When we think of Korean foods, we can never forget kimchi. Kimchi is a staple in Korean cuisine that many people do eat every day. It's made from salt, fermented vegetables, and red peppers. This combination leads to great balance flavors of salty, sour, and spicy.
If you like barbeque flavor, bulgogi is a flavor that you shouldn't miss. It's a Korean barbecue flavor that is mainly made from soy sauce, brown sugar, ginger, sesame oil, and black pepper. Thus, it offers you a smoky flavor with a hint of sweetness.
Tteokbokki or stir-fried rice cake is a traditional Korean street food dish. It's popular in winter because it has sweet, salty, and spicy flavors. If you're looking for a rich umami flavor with a medium to hot spice level, tteokbokki will not disappoint you.
Don't miss out on bulduk if you want to go one step further in spicy snacks. It's a spicy chicken flavor that is made from cheongyang chili pepper, which has an intensity of 10,000 Scoville heat units! Samyang spicy chicken instant ramen noodles are an example of the taste.
Speaking of spice, Koreans love it. When choosing spicy snacks, it's a good idea to be honest about the spice level you can handle. Checking customer reviews is one way to know the taste and the spice level of snacks.
If you think you can only handle mild spice, we suggest you avoid tteokbokki and bulduk because these flavors have medium to hot heat levels. Instead, choose kimchi or other flavors that have a sweetness to them. The sweetness can help to neutralize the spice levels.
Don't feel guilty about snacking, but do choose the right ones! We can help you find something to satisfy your sweet, salty or spicy cravings.
If you're cooking or want to add a dash of smoky Korean gochugaru spice on your own, check out these chili pepper flakes recommended by vegan influencer, blogger, and chef @betterfoodguru!
3.25 oz.
$10.18
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