I love Korean snacks! I might be addicted! Opening the individually wrapped, single serving snack is such a joy. No really, they’re just so good. I usually have at least one kind in my apartment and handbag at any given time. 

It all started in the teacher’s office at my school. Someone offered me a snack.  I’m always really grateful to receive them. One Friday, before I left for the day, the science teacher suggested I take a hand full of snacks home. She said I could eat them throughout the day, in case I got hungry or tired. I happily accepted them.

The day Korean snacks became an obsession was when I attended a workshop for all the EPIK English teachers in my town. As I walked toward the information table by the entrance door, all I could see were two baskets filled with a variety of Korean snacks. Let’s just say I sampled all of them. Since then I’d been hooked. The cutest thing about them is that they’re small, good for one person and individually wrapped. They make the perfect gift.

There are snacks to suit different taste buds, but most are either sweet or salty.  In Korea, you can purchase these snacks from any convenient store like the CU or GS for the exception of pancakes; they’re sold in local supermarkets. All snacks can be purchased online or in supermarkets.

Here are 6 Korean Snacks You Must Try:

Lotte or Orion Choco Pie It’s so good. When you’re really hungry, try this snack. It tastes extra delicious on a hungry stomach. How do I know? Another office story is coming up. The staff members always offered snack just when my stomach decided to make public service announcements. It’s a cake-like sandwich with marshmallow filling that’s covered in chocolate. This snack melts in your mouth with each bite. Shop here: Amazon, Gmarket (ships internationally)

Crown Saltine Crackers with Cheese Cream Remember that workshop I mentioned earlier? I might have tried about five of these salty cream cheese crackers. I had to be sure of the taste. Wink wink. Nothing brings more joy to my heart then when my stomach growls in the middle of a day of teaching and I find one of these in my handbag. This snack is made up three saltine crackers with cream cheese filling. Shop here: Amazon, Gmarket (ships internationally).

Lotte Custard Cream Cake  I must thank my school again for introducing me to this sweet custard filled snack. I’ve been hooked ever since. The thought of just taking that first bite is enough to make me run to the local NongHyup supermarket to get my fix. This mini cake is filled with custard. There’s also chocolate, strawberry, and other fillings. Shop here: Amazon, Gmarket (ships internationally)

CW Pancake It looks more like a pancake sandwich. This bite size snack is so scrumptious and addictive. The pancake is bread-like with a sweet nugget filling. Shop here: Gmarket (ships internationally)

Lotte Pepero Nothing gets my students more excited like revealing a box of Pepero. This crunchy candy – snack is super delicious. My favorite is the white cookie because it reminds me of cookie and cream. Shop here: Amazon, Gmarket (ships internationally)

Seasoned Seaweed This isn’t your typical snack. Koreans usually eat seasoned seaweed with rice or meat dishes. I was first introduced to them in the US at Trader Joe’s; one pack cost about $1. Each pack has about 15-18 sheets inside. In Korea, each pack is sold in bundles of 3, 6, 10, 15, or 16 or in large sheets that need to be cut. I love to munch on these, especially when I’m working late on a project.  Shop here: Amazon, Gmarket (ships internationally),

Getting hungry? Don’t say I didn’t warn you. These snacks are too good.

*Disclaimer: The links to Amazon (U.S. based) and Gmarket (Korean based) are only suggestions. I purchase Korean snacks from local supermarkets.