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Bungeo Ppang -
Korean Another street favorite in Seoul - Bungeo Ppang are fish shaped pastries, chewy-crispy on the outside, and filled with a slightly heavy sweet bean paste on the inside. Very tasty, especially when they're extra warm. 3.5 stars. Would I try again? Yes. Where I found it: Han Ah Reum (Ridgefield store.) |
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Cinnamon Rice
Cake - Korean Glutinous (I think) rice cake studded with a few imbedded nuts. A shiny rich, brown color - it looks great! But I didn't take any cinnamon - it seems to be add color only - the cake is very bland and tasteless. Manufactured by Jinga. Would I try again? No, nope, nope. Where I found it: Han Ah Reum (Ridgefield store.) |
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Ddeok/Tteok
(Korean
Rice Cake) - Korean The Korean version of mochi. Pronounced something like "t-d duck". It's chewier, a bit tougher, and slightly saltier. It comes in a million different varients, some of which I love (see Tteokbokki), some not so much. Here are the ones I've tried: Baram Rice Cake - As featured in the last January article by the Honolulu Star Bulletin. Unlike Japanese mochi, this stuff isn't solid through and through. It's a pocket, like a ravoli (done in wonderful colors, I have to admit.) The red bean paste is injected into the center hollow, and the whole thing is coated with sesame oil. It's okay, although more sweet/salty than a Japanese mochi eater is used to. And they really harden up by day two, so eat them right away. Injulmi - Hard squares of ddeok, covered with bean flour. Wasn't honestly fond of the flour, and ended up washing it off. The stripped tteok did taste much better with Tobasco sauce, though.... Would I try again? Not the injulmi, nor the Baram. Where I found it: Han Ah Reum For more information: See the webpage for the Korean National Tourism Organization |
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Hotteok -
Korean (Sweet Bean Pancake) A street favorite in Seoul, hotteoks (pronounced ho-duck), are griddle fried pancakes, with a sweet honey/cinnamon nut filling, warm and gooey in the center. They were hard to find in my area (NYC), but the search is over. They're real, and they're spectacular. (Okay, well, they're very tasty, anyway.) I can only imagine how they would taste in the winter months, when they're traditionally sold. Try one. 3.9 stars! Would I try again? Yes. Where I found it: Han Ah Reum (Ridgefield store.) |
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Manju - Korean
(and Japanese/Chinese) This treat is also called Manju in Japan, but the only time I've seen it written out was in a Korean bakery, hence the current inclusion here. Basically, a bread type pastry, stuffed with sweet bean, and other delicacies like chocolate. Mine was chocolate, cinnamon, and kind of tasted like a chocolate knish (in a good way.) Not bad, although nothing amazing either. Would I try again? Nah ...maybe. Where I found it: Koryodang |
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Mugwort Cake -
Korean Mugwort (a type of plant), glutinous rice, honey, soybean flour and sugar. Admittedly, this is so green and fuzzy that it looks like it's grown mold. But hey, I don't mind things like that. What I do mind is that it was really, really dry, and tasteless, and not even sweet. Maybe it was the baker? I don't know. Maybe it deserves a second try somewhere else. Would I try again? No way. Where I found it: Han Ah Reum |
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Pat Bing Su -
Korean Shaved ice, topped with syrup, chunks of sweet fruit, and ddeok (Korean rice cake). It's very similar to the Malaysian treat ABC. I've also heard it's available with ice cream on top, too, although I haven't tried it yet. Would I try again? Yes - it was quite refreshing on a hot August day, and filling. At $5.00, a bit expensive, but worth the taste! Where I found it: KR-Space |
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Persimmons
(Dried) - Korean Dried persimmons, with white naturally condensed sugar on top. The ones I had were actually pinker and more moist looking than the picture (different variety?) . These traditional snacks get bonus points for sweetness, but I didn't care for the texture too much, which was a little too wet for me. So, this is a non-repeater. Would I try again? No - too mushy Where I found it: Han Ah Reum |
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Tart - Korean I have no idea what these are officially called. They're your basic pastry tarts, with a hollow center, and filled with jam/slices of fruit. They're reasonably priced, and I tried one. Nice - the pastry was standard, flaky - the jam was sweet and tasty. No, it was nothing special. But it was okay, and it looked pretty. A moderate thumbs up, if you're in Little Korea on a jaunt. Would I try again? Nah - but only because it's probably pretty caloric. Where I found it: Koryodang |
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Wine Rice Cake
- Korean By Jinga. It's a white rice cake with a few nuts/fruits studded on top, and a semi-glutinous top coating. Judging by the name, it's also partially soaked/baked with wine. Other than a nice, slightly moist texture, this cake didn't have much going for it. Rather bland, sadly. Would I try again? No - there's no point. Where I found it: Han Ah Reum |
