Tteokbokki started at snack bars outside schools and has become one of the dishes visitors seek out first. Cylinders of rice cake simmer with fish cake and green onion in a sauce built on gochujang (chili paste).
Kinds of tteokbokki
- Snack-bar style (bunsik) — the classic, eaten with gimbap, sundae (Korean sausage) and fried snacks.
- Jeukseok tteokbokki — a pot cooks at your table with rice cakes, ramen noodles and dumplings. Finish by frying rice in the leftover sauce.
- Rosé or cream tteokbokki — a milder, creamy twist that is very popular with young Koreans.
Good to know
Spice levels vary a lot from place to place. If you are new to Korean heat, choose the mild option and keep water or milk nearby.