Your Pancake Needs an Update: Meet the Hotteok

When the weather starts to get cold, everyone seeks warm, comforting food. In South Korea, one of these foods is called “hotteok.” This yummy handheld snack is a favorite for people of all ages throughout the peninsula, and it’s a personal favorite with an oddly similar taste to that of a snickerdoodle. 

What is a Hotteok?

A hotteok is, in its simplest form, a filled pancake. It's about the size of the palm of your hand. These pancakes are about half an inch thick, and they’re served piping hot. A traditional hotteok is often filled with peanuts, cinnamon, peanut butter, and brown sugar. However, their savory counterparts are filled with meat and vegetables. In fact, hotteok can be stuffed with just about anything. Traditional versions are chewy, but you can find crispy variations in food stalls throughout different neighborhoods in South Korea—each of the country’s regions has a local twist on the treat. While peanuts and cinnamon are more common in Seoul, Busan likes to include sunflower and pumpkin seeds in addition to brown sugar. 

Where to Find Hotteok

The most convenient place to find these chewy treats are at street food stalls or carts in many local neighborhoods. They will begin to appear as the sun sets and people start leaving work. However, you’ll likely only find traditional, sweet hotteok here. If you want to try something savory, you’ll need to search for a hotteok shop. One of the more famous ones is located in the Seoul neighborhood of Insadong. Samcheongdong Hotteok is about five minutes by foot from the main shopping center. While they still have the sweet, chewy treats with honey and cinnamon, they also have a savory version filled with japchae and a variation of vegetables. The establishment is also known for its sauce made with soy, apples, jujubes, and peppers. While there’s an abundance of places to purchase hotteok, the prices often vary between 600 to 1,000 won, or about 51 cents to 86 cents in USD. 

If you want to try your hand at making this classic Korean street food, YouTuber Seonkyoung Longest has a great step-by-step recipe that's easy to follow. You can check out that video here!