It had a crisp, crunchy exterior that shatters upon first bite, and the filling inside had a warm, gooey mixture of nuts, sugar and cinnamon that warms up your entire body. The soft, bouncy texture of tteokbokki is irresistibly delicious! It may be a little too spicy for some people, but I love spicy food, so I really enjoyed the flavor and texture combo of tteokbokki.
A lot of the street food is prepared right in front of your eyes, so it’s cool to watch the vendors work their magic and receive piping hot, fresh food every time. Typically, hotteok is served in a small disposable cup, perfect for walking around the market as you eat. Interacting with the local food vendors at the traditional market is an immersive experience at the heart of Korean culinary tradition that you don’t want to miss!
Korean traditional markets are closely related to the local environment in many ways. The markets often specialize based on the local geography, and the goods are directly sourced from local producers. These markets also act as social gathering points, particularly for the elderly in residential neighborhoods. The vendors tend to live nearby, so the community-driven market also circulates money within the local economy. There’s so much to try and see in the traditional market, it’s not enough to only go once. I will have to go back again soon!
