Everywhere and anywhere you go in Korea, the only thing you’ll hear people talking about is the viral chewy Dubai chocolate cookie. Needless to say, when a trend gets going in Korea, it gains traction so fast; if you miss it, you’re going to have to wait literally months to get your hands on said product. Which by then, most likely something new will have gone viral. And well, Korea has had its fair share of viral food items, and here are ten of them!
1. Malatang
A nation that loves things spicy, it comes as no surprise that malatang became one of the most searched out foods within Korea. Originally a popular Chinese street food that combines the wonders of delicious broth and various ingredients such as meats, vegetables, tofu, and noodles. The spicy, numbing broth snatched the hearts of all of Korea.
2. Dalgona
It’s sweet, but not too sweet. Add a dollop of the caramel-colored foam in some milk, and you have some of the best coffee around. Although it does take a lot of effort to whip up, this viral beverage became a super trend during the early 2020s when COVID hit. Blend equal parts of instant coffee, sugar, and hot water, and you’ve made yourself one of the most viral trends in Korea.
3. Chestnut Tiramisu
After being created by Chef Napoli Matfia on the hit Netflix variety program ‘Culinary Class Wars,’ the chestnut tiramisu became an elevated dessert that everyone couldn’t get enough of. A perfect sweet treat for the fall season when chestnuts are in season, mixed with crunchy granola and silk whipped cream, along with coffee-soaked cookies. You get a wonder of textures and flavors.
4. Bburingkle
From putting it on fried cheese balls to chicken, the famous seasoning known as bburingkle became a sensation all over Korea. The sweet, savory, cheesy powder became a beloved topper. It’s a flavor unlike any other.
5. Ggu Dduk Yogurt
‘Ggu dduk’, which means extremely thick in Korean, became viral after the frozen yogurt shop abbreviated to YoAhJung became popular. Even idols such as RIIZE's Sungchan couldn’t help but order endless amounts of this famous thick yogurt. The various toppings you can add to elevate the bitter tanginess of this dense, thick yogurt make it all the more appealing.
6. Salt Bread
Korea’s a lover of all things pastries especially if it combines the world of sweet and savory. But the extreme flakiness and chewiness that comes from salt bread is a whole other experience in and of itself.
7. Croffles
Similar to salt bread, croffles became a major craze. The crispy edges that come with squishing flaky croissant dough into a waffle maker are something that makes you wonder, “Where was this in my entire life?” Sometimes, simple is the best way, and this is proof of it!
8. Honey Butter Chips
Thin, crispy, sweet, and somehow slightly creamy. Pair that up with a plain potato chip, and you have the most unique taste ever to hit a bag of chips. Luckily enough, now that the craze has passed, you can grab a bag of honey butter chips with no problem at your local Korean supermarket.
9. Spicy Rose Tteokbokki
Who knew that the combination of cream and tomato sauce would turn into such a fad? Known for its signature pinky-orange colored sauce, rose flavored tteokbokki, more specifically, took the mukbang world by storm.
10. Buldak
Just one pack of noodles became such a viral sensation that it even had its own challenge known as the ‘Fire Noodle Challenge.’ People would film themselves eating the extremely spicy Samyang Buldak ramen to see if they could actually finish the whole pack! With some people going even further to double the spice!
11. Tanghulu
This is a classic northern Chinese fruit snack that went viral in South Korea in 2023. Localized to fit wider taste buds, the Korean Tanghulu includes a wider range of fruit variations. It has become famous for its sweet crunch and ASMR appeal, going viral on social media such as TikTok. This snack became so popular in South Korea that it is now more widely recognized as a Korean street food.
How many of these viral trends have you tried?
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