When thinking about South Korea, convenience store food is probably not the first thought to come to mind. Most people would first think of common staples such as kimchi, tteokbokki, and mandoo. However, food readily available at Korean convenience stores is actually quite delicious, and most of them sell everything from soda and snacks to ramen and meats. Whether one is craving something sweet or intending on making a substantial meal, most convenience stores (open 24 hours) have all the necessary ingredients and supplies.

Pastries

Convenience stores usually stock a wide range of pastry-type foods. These can be small snack cakes, such as the custard cakes or choco pies, or larger pastries like the different variations of 단팥빵 (dan-pat-bbang). 단팥빵 is a bun with sweet red bean filling, oftentimes accompanied by a cream or custard filling. They’re sweet, but not too sweet, and make for a great light breakfast. There are usually pastries with other flavored fillings as well, such as strawberry or apple. Most of the pastries are more bread-like, but there are also some that taste more like cookies and are better suited as a snack than breakfast food.

Lunch Boxes

도시락 (do-shi-rak), or lunch boxes that resemble the Japanese bento box, are common in Korean convenience stores. Though cheap, they offer very filling lunch (or even dinner) options. 도시락 contain various foods, but there is usually a “main” food that will come in a larger portion, surrounded by rice and side dishes. Main dishes include everything from bulgogi (Korean braised beef) and donkatsu (breaded and fried pork) to various types of chicken and seafood. The rice is usually white rice, but other healthier options are also available. The side dishes are typical foods one would expect for a Korean-style meal such as kimchi, egg, stir-fried vegetables, and more. Though the portions of the sides are small, most lunch boxes have around 4-6, making these simple items into full-fledged meals.

Kimbap

For a great anytime snack, convenience stores carry a wide range of kimbap, usually in the form of 삼각김밥 (sam-gak-kim-bap; “triangle kimbap”). This kimbap contains a filling wrapped in white rice which is then covered in seaweed and sealed in plastic wrap. This style of kimbap originated from the Japanese onigiri rice balls, which are also wrapped in seaweed and come in the shape of a triangle. The Korean versions can be filled with kimchi, tuna, chicken, pork, and many more. 삼각김밥 are easy to eat and leave no mess behind (other than the wrapper, of course). Since they’re mostly made of white rice, they are also quite filling and can be a great breakfast, lunch, or late-night snack option.  

The “Mark Meal”

In terms of hearty, more complete meals, one option anyone can make right at the convenience stores is the “Mark Meal.” This concoction was actually named after Mark of GOT7, after a fan of his entered her simple recipe into a contest sponsored by a Korean food brand. After the fan won the contest, she dubbed her creation 마크정식 (ma-keu-jeong-shik), literally “Mark Meal” in Korean. The recipe went viral online and began to trend on Twitter, with people sharing their photos of their own recreations. Many posts were also uploaded to Instagram and blogs on NAVER and other similar services detailing how to make the dish, different variations, and other fans’ attempts at the dish.

This filling meal is made up of some very common convenience store basics: tteokbokki, spaghetti (in a cup like ramen), sausages, and cheese. Even fans who don’t live in Korea can make this meal by visiting a Korean grocery store in their area or substituting ingredients easily available. Though more high-calorie than some of the other foods mentioned, this meal is sure to please most, especially during the colder months.

The Mark Meal Recipe

Note: Recipe is adapted from http://biz.khan.co.kr 

Ingredients (from Korean convenience stores):

1.     Giant tteokbokki (자이언트 떡볶이)

2.     Spaghetti cup (스파게티컵) 

3.     Sausage (such as 의성마늘프랑크)

4.     Cheese (any kind)

Steps:

1.     Begin with the package of tteokbokki. Add the included sauce packet and fill with boiling water (enough to cover the rice cakes). Stir the sauce and let it cook for about two and a half minutes. If at a convenience store, there will be boiling water or room temperature water and a microwave available right in the store.

2.     Remove the packages from the cup of spaghetti. One of these will be vegetables, one will be sauce, and the other will be powdered cheese. Add just the vegetables and some boiling water. Let it cook for about three minutes.

3.     Tear the sausage into bite-sized pieces (or buy the pre-sliced kind) and toss it into the cup of tteokbokki. Add the cooked spaghetti noodles and stir well.

4.     Now add the remaining packets from the spaghetti cup (the powdered cheese and sauce). Stir one more time to mix it up well.

5.     Finally, place the cheese over the mixed dish and let it melt. It’s now ready to eat!