Understanding K-Drama: Tasty Street Food Scenes

Many k-dramas feature at least one scene with mountains of tempting tasty-looking street food.

In "Bride of the Century," Yang Jin Sung introduces Lee Hongki to baked sweet potatoes, something the young chaebol enjoyed as a child but had not eaten for a while.

In "Secret Love Affair," Yoo Ah In hurries his friend out of the house for some noodles from a street stand because he doesn't want her to see the woman he loves, played by Kim Hee Ae.

In "Boys Over Flowers," Gu Hye Sun's onscreen family introduces Lee Min Ho's character to fish sticks from a street vendor. He likes them so much he can't stop eating them even though it might bankrupt the poor family.

In "Princess Hours," Yoon Eun Hye introduces Joo Ji Hoon to tteokbokki on the sidewalk after school. As the crown prince he never had a chance to try them.

What are these street foods and why do they look so tasty?

Here's a rundown of just a few savory street foods. Be sure to try them out if you ever visit Korea.

Tteokbokki: These cylindrical rice cakes are served in a spicy red sauce. They can be eaten with a toothpick. The noodles are made from rice, fish and vegetables such as onions, cabbage, and carrots, and then marinated with red pepper paste.

Eomuk: There are two kinds of fish sticks commonly served by street vendors. Eomuk are noodles that taste like imitation crab meat. They are skewered in a way that folds them up and you eat them off the skewer. Eomuk is usually served with broth that is flavored with radishes and kelp. The broth is said to be a good cure for a hangover. There are also deep-fried fish sticks made from fish and flour.

Noodles: It's easy to find street vendors serving a variety of noodles and these shops are usually open late. The stands keep broth bubbling and throw in the ingredients when you place your order. A noodle meal costs only a few dollars.

Baked sweet potatoes: This common winter treat is typically cooked in large iron barrels. Baked sweet potatoes taste sweeter than steamed sweet potatoes and are an inexpensive, nutritious snack.

Besides these tasty foods, there is also bungeoppang, which are shaped like fish but are filled with bean paste. There's a variety of fried treats, fried savory and sweet pancakes, as well as roasted chestnuts.

Which drama foods have you been inspired to eat?