One of my favorite parts of any destination I visit is the food. Although I have traveled to South Korea in the past, since the pandemic I have not returned (especially since airfare has nearly doubled since pre-pandemic era). However, whenever I get the opportunity to visit Asia, I never skimp out on the opportunity to eat at local airports as they offer some of the most authentic treats and snacks. Recently I had the opportunity to fly to Taipei with a stopover in Seoul. The airport was enormous and featured a variety of Korean cuisine to try. These were some of my favorite finds in the airport during this 5-hour layover.
Gimmari
These are crispy, lightly seasoned deep fried seaweed rolls. They are a popular snack at street stalls in South Korea. Gim refers to seafood and mari means rolls. Gimmari consist of seaweed-wrapped glass noodles that are deep fried to perfection. The snack is cherished for its crunchy texture and savory flavor and is served often as a side dish or snack. The airport Gimmari was surprisingly crunchy and savory and fairly authentic compared to ones I’ve had in Canada.
Tteokbokki
This is one of Korea’s most beloved comfort foods. It is made of chewy rice cakes and cooked in a spicy, sweet-and-savory sauce. It has a long cultural significance in Korean cuisine with an addictive flavor, and it made for the perfect airport snack as I waited for my flight during the layover. Despite having made this at home, I still much prefer those in the restaurant since cleaning up can be such a hassle for this dish.
Fish Cake Soup (Odeng and Eomuk)
Odeng-guk is a classic street food originating from the Japanese word “oden” and with simmering ingredients in a soy-flavored broth. Eomuk is the Korean word for fish cake, which is made by grinding white fish into paste and mixing it with flour, starch, and seasoning
This soup combo was so savory I was already craving it as my return flight left for Canada. There were many toppings in the soup including scallions, tofu slices, and radishes and garlic. These are relatively easy to make at home as well and can be a great way to warm up on a cold day.
This set came with some side dishes, including kimchi and pickled daikon, which added flavor and complexity to the dishes.
Korean Hot Cocoa Cookies
Although I don’t have much of a sweet tooth, these cookies are a unique twist on your usual hot chocolate cookies. They use a sweet rice flour for a chewy texture and also have a filling that mimics the gooeyness of melted marshmallows. I enjoyed these so much that I brought back a few for friends and family.
