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Korean-style drinking, whether you’re talking about crisp shots of soju or glasses of somaek, goes hand in hand with Korean snacks. Known as anju, this drinking food is imperative for cutting through the alcohol aftertaste as well as comforting your palate with satisfying flavors. Usually I’ll put on a bubbling pot of hot and spicy stew if I’m at home, or order a plate of chewy tteokbokki when I’m out—but sometimes I just need a drink and can’t be bothered with cooking.
When I’m traveling in Korea, I’ll often end the night at a convenience store. This happens whether it’s 5 a.m. and we’ve already been out for way too many rounds of drinks and we want to have just one more, or if it’s 9 p.m. and I want to skip all the hoopla. I’ll grab a few necessities, a couple cans of beer, and invariably, a few bags of snacks so I have something to munch on while I wind down.
I think of the snack aisle of any Korean grocery store as a veritable goldmine for anju. Maybe it’s all the brightly colored bags and adorable cartoon characters calling my name, or an innate response honed since childhood to seek out sweet processed treats. Or maybe it’s because these crunchy and craveable snacks are actually tailor-made finger food for eating when drinking.
Packaged Korean snacks can be categorized into four broad categories. Puffed cereal snacks are old-school, harkening back to my grandfather’s era, and pair well with creamy makgeolli, an unfiltered Korean rice wine. Fishy crisps are classic, referencing the dried fish jerky that many of us crave when drinking a cold beer. Chocolate cookies hit your sweet tooth and can also take the sting off a shot of soju. And, finally, nutty crunches are satisfying and filling and go well with makgeolli, beer, and soju alike.
Stock up on these snacks to share with friends or when drinking solo. Grab them en route along with a bag full of canned beer and soju bottles, or stock up so you can be ready at home with lots of options. The sheer variety means there’s always something new to try. Whether you crave something salty or sweet, crunchy or melty, there’s a snack here for you.
Shrimp Chips
These are the absolute GOAT of Korean bar chips and a great entry into the Korean snack world since they’re so easy to find. The crunchy twists are made with actual shrimp, but taste just lightly briny and salty, like a more flavorful oyster cracker.
Cuttlefish Chips
While I adore shrimp chips, I’m an even bigger fan of these crispy fish-flavored snacks. The cuttlefish-shaped chips have a lighter and airier waffle texture, making for a satisfying shatter.
Jolly Pong
These light brown cereal-like puffs look and taste similar to the American cereal Honey Smacks, but taste airier and less sweet. They’re often served in little bowls as a free bar snack. This makes them way too easy to grab by the fistful and scoop into your mouth alongside a glass of cold beer.
Homerun Ball Chocolate Snack
These baby pâte à choux are filled with chocolate cream, making perfectly poppable sweet balls that practically melt in your mouth. Heat them in an air fryer for a few minutes to make them extra crispy on the outside and gooey on the inside.
Ojingeo Ddang Kong
My dad, a diehard fan of nuts, can’t pass a store that carries these squid-flavored balls without purchasing a bag. Each crunchy piece is filled with a peanut. They’re his go-to beer snack, and they’re fun to play with too—rattle one and you can hear the little nut inside.
Honey Butter Chip
This chip is so famous it launched an entirely new flavor category. Honey butter can be found on fried chicken, fries, and even almonds, but these glazed potato chips, lightly coated in honey butter, set the standard with their delicate, sticky-sweet crispiness. I think they pair particularly well with makgeolli.
Onion Flavored Ring
Sure, you’ve had onion rings. But I always prefer the Korean-style onion-flavored rings over American Funyuns, which have too much of that processed dust coating for my taste. These rings are more minimalist, all the better for having just one more.
Matdongsan Peanut Crunch Snack
These crunchy sticks remind me of the best part of a candied apple: that caramel peanut coating. These are sticky, syrupy, and irresistible, especially when you eat a handful with some beer for refreshment.
Marine Boy Goraebab
Think goldfish crackers, but if they represented all the different fish in the sea. I’m amazed at the detail on these tiny puffed sea-creature-shaped snacks, like the curved shark’s tail or the expressive starfish. They’re fun to eat, but the salty seasoning is what keeps you coming back.
