Best Korean Snacks To Try: 32 Popular Treats To Buy

Korean snacks are some of the best in the world, and it's easy to see why. In Korea, they take their snacks very seriously.

Snack makers are always introducing enticing, new flavours each season. Therefore, there is always a myriad of choices.

So when you're sitting on the couch watching your favourite Korean drama or listening to your favourite K-pop band, you may want to indulge in some Korean treats. But where do you start? Especially if you don't live in Korea?

Well, if you're lucky enough to have a Korean supermarket close by, you'll be able to pick up some traditional Korean snacks. But thanks to the wonders of the internet, you can easily order popular Korean snacks online and have them sent right to your door!

Below, you'll find 32 of the best Korean snacks, candies, and beverages to try and where you can get them. From Korean pop culture favourites and childhood classics to famous beverages.

We've also included the recipe for traditional sweet treats so you can try them yourself. These include favourites like Dalgona Candy, the infamous honeycomb cookies they make in the hit Netflix series Squid Game.

Let's dive right in like opening a bag of honey butter chips!

Jump to:

Our Favorite Korean Snacks

The unique flavours of Korean snacks make Korea stand out as a country with excellent snack options. While we have a long list of the best Korean snacks, we've also picked some of our favourites for a quick rundown.

Best Korean snacks for savoury lovers

If you like savoury snacks, there are seafood chips, dried squid, and seaweed crackers to nibble on between lunch and dinner.

Shin Ramyeon is our go-to for a savoury guilty pleasure. You may also recognize it from your favourite Korean dramas.

Best Korean snacks for your sweet tooth

If you have more of a sweet tooth, there are traditional Korean snacks like Dalgona candy or Yakgwa to enjoy with coffee.

You can get cosy on the couch with a bowl of Soft Malang Cow Candy, Orion choco pie or white grape Cheongdo candy for bingeing on your favourite Korean dramas.

Best Korean drinks to go with your snacks

Korea is also known for its popular beverages like Korean Rice Punch and Chilsung Cider which BTS endorses. Reach for the latter after a workout, and you're sure to feel refreshed!

Korea also has intriguing milk-based beverages like Banana Milk, and Milkis, a carbonated milk drink in various fruity flavours. If you're looking for a meal replacement drink, give Misugaru a try. K-pop stars and Korean celebrities swear by it as a way to lose weight.

There is something for everyone!

Orion Choco Pie

Orion Choco Pie
Buy Now

The perfect Korean treat to enjoy with a coffee, Orion Choco Pie is a popular Korean snack. It has a marshmallow filling sandwiched between two light and fluffy chocolate biscuits.

Besides the classic marshmallow filling, you can now enjoy Orion Choco Pie with banana, berry, pistachio, strawberry jam, and more.

Orion Choco Pie also made it to our list of the 17 best Asian snacks!

Banana Milk

A healthy Korean snack, Binggrae Banana Milk, is Korea's beloved beverage. It has a gentle and subtly sweet flavour, and you can find it in many Korean grocery or convenience stores.

Banana Milk
Halal friendly
Buy Now

Taiwanese banana milk — This is a close alternative to Binggrae banana milk.

Banana Milk often features in the background of many Korean dramas, too, with the characters enjoying this drink made of banana juice, milk, and sugar. You can also enjoy Binggrae milk in other flavours, such as black sesame, melon, and Korean strawberry milk.

Haitai Calbee Honey Butter Chips

bts favorite snacks honey butter chip — This is also one of BTS (Kpop group)'s favourite snack.

Haitai Calbee Honey Butter Chips
Buy Now

It's safe to say they love Haitai Calbee Honey Butter Chips in Korea. It is an extremely popular Korean snack, quickly selling out as soon as it hits the shelves!

You'll be lucky to get your hands on honey butter chips. But if you do get a chance to try this Korean treat, you'll appreciate its delicious flavour. It's so popular that many celebrities get sent these chips to post selfies with them on social media!

Chilsung Cider

Arguably the most popular carbonated beverage in Korea, Chilsung Cider has been enjoyed in the country for years. This refreshing beverage usually is drunk after exercising, and many appreciate its classic lemon-lime flavour.

Chilsung Cider
Halal, vegan friendly
Buy Now

In 2020 the brand celebrated its 70th anniversary with style - naming K-pop superstars BTS as its brand ambassadors. Along with the new endorsement from BTS, Chilsung released two new flavours, peach and tangerine.

Nongshim Shrimp Crackers

Nongshim Shrimp Crackers
Buy Now

Nongshim shrimp crackers resemble French fries, just with a saltier flavour. Made from shrimps from the North Jeolla Province, this healthy Korean snack is baked and not fried.

You can also enjoy different flavours of these crunchy crackers, from the original shrimp crackers to the rice shrimp crackers or the spicy shrimp crackers.

Yakgwa

Yakgwa
Halal, vegan friendly
Buy Now

A traditional Korean snack, Yakgwa is a cookie that is fried and dipped in honey-ginger syrup. You can enjoy this beloved snack in traditional tea houses or purchase it from grocery stores. They're also cut into various shapes, such as diamonds, flowers, or simple squares.

While you can, of course, enjoy Yakgwa as a snack, locals will often eat this delightfully chewy cookie as a dessert.

Yakgwa is typically served for ceremonial purposes and enjoyed on special occasions such as birthdays, weddings, and anniversaries. The literal translation of Yakgwa is 'medicinal confection,' as 'yak' means medicine, and 'awa' means confection or sweet. The name makes sense, as honey is a key part of traditional Korean medicine and is the main ingredient of Yakgwa.

You can find Yakgwa in all shapes and sizes - it's up to the cook how they prepare them!

Lotte Kkokkal Corn Snack

Lotte Kkokkal Corn Snack
Buy Now

Kkokkal corn snacks are the Korean equivalent of bugles, which you put on each finger. Kids love to pretend they're claws! These Korean treats are just as fun as bugles, and just as satisfying to eat!

However, we wouldn't recommend enjoying these corn snacks if you're prone to procrastination. Place a couple of these on your fingers, and you're not getting any work done! But if you're hanging out with friends and watching your favourite Korean drama, you'll have lots of fun playing with them.

Dried Squid

Dried Squid
Buy Now

If you're a fan of savoury, chewy snacks, you'll love dried squid. This tasty snack consists of cooked, dried squid that is then seasoned.

However, this snack doesn't hail from Korea. Instead, it originated in Singapore, and while the country prohibits chewing gum, dried squid has earned the nickname 'Asian chewing gum.'

But while enjoying dried squid as a snack may seem a bit out there, its texture is reminiscent of beef jerky. Plus, if you're a fan of squid or seafood in general, you're sure to enjoy this dried squid snack.

While it is definitely an acquired taste, it is the perfect snack if you're craving something salty, but also something that will fill you up more than chips. This healthy Korean snack is full of protein, so it's a snack you can feel good about!

For more delicious Chinese snacks, check out our article on the best Chinese snacks you need to try.

Shin Ramyeon

Shin Ramyeon
Halal, vegan friendly
Buy Now

The perfect Korean snack to enjoy whole-bingeing Korean dramas, Shin Ramyeon is a popular snack. You will often find the characters of Korean dramas enjoying it.

But what is Shin Ramyeon? It is instant noodles, and you can eat them at any time of the day. However, it is a salty, spicy snack, so make sure you have a glass of water with you when you eat it.

Other flavours are available, but we recommend starting with Shin Ramyeon before moving to the hotter flavours. The Hek Buldak Extra Spicy Roasted Chicken Ramen is particularly hot and will set your taste buds on fire!

Tteokbokki

Tteokbokki
Halal friendly
Buy Now

One of the highlights of visiting Korea is sampling their delicious and intriguing street food.

Tteokbokki is a Korean snack popular with the street food crowd, and the traditional recipe features stir-fried rice cakes with chilli paste. Other flavours found in Tteokbokki include egg and fish cakes.

The texture of Tteokbokki and the sauce's flavour used in the stir-fry make it irresistible. However, these instant Tteokbokki are a perfect snack substitute for the real thing! The original flavours are all there, and if you love Korean street food, you need this instant Tteokbokki in your cupboard.

Orion Kkobuk Turtle Corn Chips

Orion Kkobuk Turtle Corn Chips
Halal friendly
Buy Now

Orion Kkobuk Turtle Corn Chips get their name from their tortoise-shell shape. The chips' sweet and creamy corn soup flavour is more distinctive than their beaming turtle mascot wearing a top hat.

The four layers of this popular Korean snack give it extra crunch, and you can find Turtle Corn chips in a couple of different flavours. These include Chocolate Churros flavour and Injeolmi flavour.

Bibigo Roasted Seaweed

Bibigo Roasted Seaweed
Halal, vegan friendly
Buy Now

Each pouch of these Korean seaweed snacks contains seaweed sheets roasted and seasoned to perfection. Every bite is deliciously crispy, light, and salty! Plus, this is a healthy Korean snack rich in vitamins and nutrients.

While the classic roasted seaweed offering is Bibigo's best-selling flavour, this delicious snack is also available in Korean BBQ, Sesame, and Wasabi flavours.

Nongshim Chocolate Banana Kick

Nongshim Chocolate Banana Kick
Buy Now

A corn snack that is puffy and crunchy, Nongshim Chocolate Banana Kick is coated in chocolate and has a sweet banana flavour. The name 'Banana Kick' comes from the snack's resemblance to the front ball kick in soccer. This nickname is also the inspiration behind the snack's adorable banana mascot!

This popular Korean snack is also apparently a favourite of BTS member Jungkook. He's been spotted by the media snacking on Banana kicks on numerous occasions, including at fan signing events.

Seaweed Crisps

Seaweed is growing in popularity, thanks to its superfood credentials. It is not only packed with nutrients but is also highly versatile. Therefore you can enjoy it in numerous snack forms. In fact, crispy seaweed is among the top-rated Japanese snacks.

Seaweed Crisps
Halal friendly
Buy Now

This healthy Korean snack showcases the best of seaweed. It's savoury, light, crisp, and good for you! You can enjoy these seaweed crisps in a few flavours, too, like Korean BBQ. We highly recommend the Korean BBQ flavour. The distinct texture and taste of seaweed combined with Korean BBQ spice make these crisps irresistible!

Lotte Ghana Milk Chocolate

Savoury snacks are great, but we all want a sweet treat once in a while. Milk chocolate is an excellent snack option when you're craving something sweet. Lotte Ghana is one of the most popular chocolate brands in Korea. However, chocolate didn't become a mainstream snack in Korea until the mid-twentieth century, following the Korean War. Lotte eventually released Ghana milk chocolate in the 1970s.

Lotte Ghana Milk Chocolate
Buy Now

Ghana is a popular Korean snack because it is so delicious, but its delightful flavour didn't happen accidentally. Lotte's micro-grinding technique involves breaking the chocolate particles down into tiny pieces, making for one smooth and tasty Korean sweet.

Lotte almond milk chocolate — Also try this almond coated in milk chocolate snack from Lotte!

Orion Gosomi Sweet & Salty Cracker

The perfect balance of sweet and salty, Orion Gosomi Sweet & Salty Crackers are popular Korean snacks known as tea cookies. They're thin, sesame biscuits with a crunchy texture and a nutty flavour.

Manufacturers also sprinkle these with sesame seeds and just a smidge of coconut before being finished off with a sprinkle of crunchy sugar and salt. Hence, the sweet and salty name!

Orion Gosomi satisfies all types of snack cravings, from sweet to savoury. Some people even enjoy these crackers by placing the cracker on their tongue and letting it slowly dissolve, like a soda cracker.

Orion Gosomi Sweet & Salty Cracker
Buy Now

Although Orion Gosomi is a popular Korean snack, there is some debate about it. Some describe it as a 'sweet, cookie cracker,' or sometimes just a 'biscuit,' 'cookie,' or 'cracker.' Fans of this cracker will know it's not that easy to categorize.

But maybe the Korean translation can help us out a bit. The 'Goso' part of 'Gosomi' refers to a word that doesn't actually have an equivalent in English. However, you can roughly translate this to 'sweet and savoury in a nutty way.' We think that's the best way to describe it!

Orion Market O Real Brownie

A popular Korean snack that both locals and tourists can enjoy, Orion Market O Real Brownies are luxurious chocolate brownies. You can enjoy these with an afternoon cup of coffee or tea. But, for a truly decadent snack, why not enjoy them with a scoop of vanilla ice cream?

Other flavours of Orion Market O Real Brownie include Green tea and Vanilla.

Orion Market O Real Brownie
Buy Now

haitai chocolate coated cake — We also love this chocolate coated cake from Haitai.

Soft Malang Cow Candy

Soft Malang Cow Candy
Buy Now

There is so much that is appealing about Soft Malang Cow Candy. From the cute cow mascot squeezing a carton of milk on the packaging to the 25 pieces of soft chewing milk candy inside.

The wrapper the candy comes in looks like a fluffy cloud and has personalized messages written in Korean or English printed on it.

The flavour of Soft Malang Cow Candy is similar to white rabbit candy but not as sweet. Soft Malang Cow Candy also has its own distinctive texture. It's like biting into a marshmallow and drinking a glass of whole milk.

Jolly Pong

Jolly Pong
Halal friendly
Buy Now

The jury is out on whether Jolly Pong is a snack or a cereal, but that's what makes Jolly Pong such a versatile food! A popular Korean breakfast, Jolly Pong is famous for its unique texture. The puffed-up grain is full of fibre, vitamins, and a subtly sweet flavour.

Jolly Pong started to gain popularity in 1972 when puffed-up snacks became a thing in Korea. The original Jolly Pong flavour is the most famous, but the cereal is also available in apple and chocolate.

To start your day right with plenty of energy, why not give this healthy Korean snack (or cereal) a try?

Korean Rice Punch

Korean Rice Punch
Buy Now

Also known as Sikhye, Korean rice punch is a traditional Korean beverage made of fermented malt and rice. As the rice ferments, the grains become spongy and white, releasing their scratch into liquid. As a result, Korean Rice Punch undergoes another colour transformation, turning amber!

The punch doesn't ferment for long enough to become alcoholic. So while it is a beverage, you will often see it as a dessert in Korean restaurants.

You can also find Korean rice punch sold in cans in Korean grocery stores, but homemade versions have a more intense flavour. It is also served cold, but you can enjoy it warm just after it's finished boiling if you make it at home. You can even freeze it and turn it into a slush.

Pepero Stick Biscuits

Pepero Stick Biscuits
Halal friendly
Buy Now

A popular Korean snack, Pepero Stick Biscuits, are so beloved that they have their own holiday in Korea! These chocolate-covered sticks are a delicious piece of candy and come in several flavours, including milk chocolate, peanut butter, and white chocolate. So if you're looking for a sweet treat on the go, grab a Pepero Stick Biscuit.

While the traditional Pepero Stick Biscuits are irresistibly delicious, we highly recommend the white cookie version. They're pretty similar to Hershey's cookies and cream snacks, beloved in the US. But they have the same texture as the traditional, chocolate-covered Pepero sticks.

If you have a sweet tooth, you might want to choose the white chocolate stick biscuits over the milk chocolate. They're seriously sweet, but you're sure to love them. This is especially so if you like Oreos or anything with cookies and cream flavour.

Misugaru

Misugaru
Buy Now

Following the footsteps of boba tea and Matcha latte, Misugaru is a delicious and healthy Korean snack. It has attracted many fans due to how nutritious it is and how simple it is to make. In fact, many K-pop stars are incorporating this multigrain shake as part of their diet plan as a meal replacement beverage.

Misugaru is also known as misutgaru and is a traditional Korean powder made with glutinous rice. Locals will also combine it with other natural grains like barley, brown rice, oats, quinoa, and soybean. As well as those common grains, Misugaru may also contain adzuki beans, lentils, millet, sesame seeds, sweet rice, and more. Misugaru is often enjoyed as a meal replacement beverage when added to water.

While it may seem that Misugaru has a bland flavour, it actually has quite a unique, nutty taste similar to peanut butter. In fact, beverages made with Misugaru are usually aromatic and sweet.

How to make and enjoy

There are three stages to making Misugaru. First, you pick the grains, roast or steam, and grind up to make the Misugaru powder.

While you can enjoy Misugaru in many forms, Koreans commonly enjoy it in coffees, lattes, and smoothies. It is also common to mix Misugaru with Dalgona (honeycomb toffee) in Korea.

Misugaru is nutritious, delicious and a popular beverage Koreans use when losing weight. Drinking Misugaru with milk also helps you stay full for a long time and prevents you from eating excess calories.

Many adults in Korea enjoy Misugaru with coffee, but it is more common among students to enjoy it in a caffeine-free milk latte. If you're in a rush in the morning, it can be a great breakfast that can keep you going until lunch. Meanwhile, it can be a refreshing drink to keep you cool in the heat in the summer.

However, if you want to enjoy Misugaru, you can follow our misugaru latte recipe to make this tasty Korean diet shake anytime.

Lotte Chocolate Binch Biscuits

Lotte Chocolate Binch Biscuits
Buy Now

Lotte Chocolate Binch Biscuits are a popular Korean snack for a good reason. The wafer-thin cookies and chocolate that melt in your mouth are seriously addictive. Trust us. Once you order one box, you'll soon be wanting more!

If you're looking to treat your family and friends to a new sweet treat, these Binch biscuits are perfect. They also make a great introduction to some of the best Korean snacks on this list. They're sure to love them, although you might find them hard to share!

Milkis

Milkis
Halal friendly
Buy Now

Milkis is a refreshing, delicious, carbonated milk beverage that originated in Europe. It is similar to Milkis Original, a soft drink containing 10.9% non-fat dry milk with no artificial food colours.

This fruit yoghurt-flavoured drink is rich in minerals and vitamins such as calcium, and vitamins A, C, and D. You can now enjoy Milkis in 11 different flavours. These are apple, banana, grape, lemon, mango, melon, orange, peach, pineapple, strawberry, and the original flavour.

Paldo Crab Crisps

Crab is a versatile ingredient that can be enjoyed in many forms, whether chilled, grilled, or moulded into a cake. You may have never had crab chips before. But once you try a pack of these, you'll wonder where they've been all your life!

Paldo crab chips are a popular Korean snack. They combine the fried, crunchy texture of a chip with the slightly sweet flavour of the crab. What's not to love?

Crab chips are sweeter than shrimp snacks and taste more like Old Bay seasoning than traditional, salty seafood. You might try some new, exciting flavours with this snack, but be warned that they can become addictive.

If you like your snacks to pack a punch, you'll love Paldo crab crisps. They're the perfect marriage of a chilled crab cocktail and a perfect bag of potato chips.

Paldo Crab Crisps
Buy Now

Samyang Korean Fire Noodles

Samyang Korean Fire Noodles
Halal friendly
Buy Now

Korean fire noodles are a popular Korean snack that recently went viral, thanks to the spicy noodle challenge. Created by Samyang Foods in 1963, Samyang Korean Fire Noodles was the first Korean ramen. The ramen was made in response to food shortages in Korea. It was created to be a healthy, filling snack. Years later, ramen remains the second most popular food in the country.

Samyang's hot chicken stir-fried noodles became famous in the spicy noodle challenge video. If you love spicy food, it's a good one to start trying out their flavours. If you've never tried Samyang ramen before, give those a try and see if you can handle one of their more intense flavours!

White Grape Cheongdo Candy

White Grape Cheongdo Candy
Buy Now

White grape cheongdo candy is big and round, just like a grape! It also has a distinct grape flavour that is tart and not too sweet.

If you're a fan of grapes, you may want a stronger grape flavour. But when you're craving a sweet Korean snack, look no further than white grape cheongdo candy!

Custard Cakes

Custard Cakes
Buy Now

Lotte's Happy Promise custard cakes are a genuinely delightful Korean snack. They have a light and fluffy sponge cake. In addition, manufacturers fill the middle with a rich, sweet custard. This traditional Korean snack will fill you up and satisfy your craving for something sweet.

These cakes are also versatile. You enjoy them at breakfast or in the afternoon with a cup of tea. After a hard day, custard cakes are the perfect sweet pick-me-up.

Lotte Crunky

Lotte Crunky
Buy Now

Crunky is another popular Korean snack created by the famous Lotte company. This tasty chocolate candy has a crispy, malt puff filling.

Lotte Crunky also comes in unique flavours, including Hojicha latte and vanilla ice cream.

Seasoned Almonds

Seasoned Almonds
Buy Now

Also known as 'K-Almonds,' seasoned almonds are one of the best Korean snacks and are loved all over the country. The numbers don't lie. Sales of seasoned almonds annually exceed $100 million!

The best-seasoned almonds are coated with unique, intriguing flavours. These include Buldak (spicy chicken), Jeju Matcha (Green tea), Injeolimi (Korean rice cake), and laver. However, the original flavour of this popular Korean snack is honey butter.

This is the perfect snack to share when you're watching your favourite Korean drama with friends and family. Alternatively, bring these to work and share.

Don't expect them to last very long, though! But we wouldn't judge if you enjoyed them all alone.

Lotte Anytime Milk Mint

Lotte Anytime Milk Mint
Buy Now

Lotte Anytime Milk Mints are not your average Korean candy. It's difficult to pin down their exact flavour. We would describe it as a mint covered in a thick milk coating.

These popular Korean snacks are great if you want to freshen your breath without having to suck on an overpowering mint. These mints are very cool by comparison. You can savour the sweet milk coating before you get to the minty centre. Or you can just start munching on these mints straight away for an instant hit of mint!

It's hard to find mints like this sweet Korean snack anywhere else.

Ppopgi

Ppopgi
Halal, vegan friendly
5-minute Dalgona Candy recipe

Dalgona Candy (Korean honeycomb toffee or Ppopgi) is a traditional Korean snack made famous by the K-drama Squid Game. But, unlike when the characters played it on the hit drama, Dalgona Candy is easy to make and fun to play at home. You only need two ingredients to make Dalgona Candy, sugar and baking soda.

In Squid Game, the characters attempt to carve out shapes from the honeycomb toffee candy. If the candy breaks, then they lose. Luckily, the traditional game is far less life-threatening! Ppopgi means 'to pick' and was an incredibly popular game with school children during the 1960s and 1970s.

The traditional Korean snack is similar to toffee. Street vendors usually prepare this with a soup spoon. First, the vendors form the mixture into a round cookie with a shape in the middle, such as a circle, triangle, star, or umbrella.

The vendors typically sell these cookies outside schools for children to play with. Players then have to carve out the shapes without breaking them. If successful, you might even get another honeycomb toffee from the vendor.

So why not try to play this game at home?

Top Korean Snacks That You Need To Try

Here’s a summary list of the best treats from South Korea that we recommend you try:

You may already know how good Korean barbecue and Korean street food can be. But we hope our picks for the best Korean snacks have enticed you to give them a try!