Best Bungeoppang in Seoul: where to eat it and how
붕어빵
A fish-shaped pastry filled with sweet red bean — the smell of a Seoul winter.
- Price
- About ₩1,000 each, usually sold in twos or threes
- When
- Late autumn to early spring (roughly November–February)
- Spice
- Not spicy
What is Bungeoppang?
Bungeoppang means “carp bread”, but there's no fish in it: a thin batter is baked in fish-shaped iron moulds around a filling of sweet red bean paste. Carts appear on street corners and near subway exits when the weather turns cold, and locals buy a paper bag of them on the way home.
What does Bungeoppang taste like?
A light, crisp shell with a soft inside and a hot, earthy-sweet red bean centre. Custard (choux cream) is the other classic filling; some carts also do sweet potato or pizza.
How do you eat Bungeoppang?
Eat it hot, straight from the paper bag. Whether you start with the head or the tail is a genuine debate in Korea — pick a side.
Where can I eat Bungeoppang in Seoul?
Street carts near subway exits, markets and residential streets, mostly in the colder months. Carts move around, so locals use a Korean app called 가슴속 3천원 to find the nearest one. Bakeries and convenience stores sell versions all year, and Bungeo Ssamanko is the fish-shaped ice cream.
Good to know
- Carry cash. Many carts don't take cards, and some only accept Korean bank transfers.
- Red bean (팥, pat) is the classic. Ask for 슈크림 (shu-keurim) if you'd rather have custard.
- The shell is crispiest in the first minute, but the filling stays very hot.
Where to eat it
2 places
Bungeoppang · Jongno & Gwangjang
Chonggakne Bungeoppang
Gwangjang Market’s bungeoppang stall, pizza filling included.
