Hotteoks spark thoughts of cool weather, family
Hotteoks are popular in the fall and winter. By Cho Jae-eun
In front of it a sign read, “This hotteok is not greasy” in Korean. A few passersby who had been shopping in Dongdaemun halted a bit, seeming to hesitate on whether to buy this 500 won (50 cent) treat.
If you appreciate the diverse, intricate world of junk food and anything that comes from a cart like I do, you’ll adore this area.
The street food boasts a lively hodgepodge of classic Korean menus and imaginative fusion items that shift with the ever-changing food trends here.
Inside the Gwangjang Market, there are the best bindaetteok (Korean pancakes made with beans) places in Seoul, yeolmu naengmyeon (cold noodles with radish kimchi), sundae (Korean sausage), sashimi and cold bean noodles among many other goodies, all for under 10,000 won.
In front of Migliore shopping complex, there is the famous mini pizza stand, which sells individual-size pizzas cooked in a tiny oven and sold for 1,500 won. During winter, there is usually a long line.
On the opposite side of the street from Migliore is the hotteok stand. Although there are other hotteok stands in Dongdaemun, this one, right next to the stir-fried sundae stands in front of Pyeonghwa Market, is the best. Unlike other street hotteoks which are grilled with a lot of sunflower oil, this is made the old Chinese way, baked with no trace of cheap oil. The dough is clean and chewy, like a well-made ciambelle, and the sesame seeds, accentuating the honey filling, provide adequate crunch.
Along with bungeoppang (a Korean dessert with red bean paste filling, shaped like a crucian carp), hotteok is a favorite winter street food. Like many Koreans, I have fond memories of these items, such as my father bringing home a bag of bungeoppang and spooning out the red bean paste because I hated it growing up.
I bought a hotteok, even though it was still too hot for it, and found myself anticipating the fall.
By Cho Jae-eun Staff Writer [jainnie@joongang.co.kr]
with the Korea JoongAng Daily
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