Travel Phrases — Entry No. 0818
길거리 음식
street-food · noun
길거리 음식
street-food
[GILL-guh-ree UM-shik]
nounbeginner
Meaning
Korean street food sold by vendors in markets and busy streets, typically affordable and meant to be eaten while walking. Street food is central to Korean eating culture and iconic in modern Korean entertainment, representing authentic local flavors.
K-Pop & K-Drama Context
Street food is immortalized in K-dramas like ‘Itaewon Class’ and ‘All of Us Are Dead,’ where characters eat tteokbokki and hotteok between intense scenes. BTS members have discussed loving street food during trainee days, while NewJeans was spotted eating bungeoppang at Seoul markets. Aespa referenced street food in variety show episodes.
Example Sentences
명동에서 길거리 음식을 먹었어요.
Myeongdong-e-so gillgeri eumsik-eul meog-eoss-eo-yo.
I ate street food in Myeongdong (completed past action at famous location).
그 핫도그 가게는 유명해요.
Geu hatdogeu gakae-neun yu-myeong-hae-yo.
That hot dog stand is famous (characteristic/reputation).
한국 길거리 음식이 정말 맛있어요!
Hanguk gillgeri eumsik-i jeong-mal mas-iss-eo-yo!
Korean street food is really delicious! (exclamation with emphasis).
⚠️ Don’t use street-food when…
Many street stalls don’t have seating—plan to eat while walking or standing. Portions are small but very affordable (₩3,000-8,000). Vendors often close early (8-9pm), so visit during daytime or evening hours.
🎵 Heard In
- K-Drama: Itaewon Class — main character frequents street food vendors throughout the series, connecting memories to food.
- K-Pop: Stray Kids — ‘God’s Menu’ — members enjoy street food in behind-the-scenes content and fan interactions.
ℹ️ Editorial Note: The cultural context and example usage are for educational reference only. Artist names, song titles, and drama references are used descriptively to illustrate vocabulary in context. This content is AI-assisted and reviewed for accuracy. For official information, please refer to the respective artists’ or studios’ official channels.