“Meals"
(Korean Convenience Stores)
From gig to desk jockeys, convenience stores supply the time-crunched workforce with a variety of prepackaged meals. These offerings can complete a balanced-ish breakfast, lunch, dinner, or in-between.
Here are some highlights.
Instant Ramen
Instant ramen claims a good chunk of physical space in most stores. Cups and packages jam aisles with endless options.
You’ll find classics like Shin Ramen. Oddities like the Cheese Paldo. Some “how’s” like jajangmyeon (black noodles). And “why’s” like jjamppong (seafood).
Want to burn off your taste buds? Find a cup of Buldalgbokk Eummyeon (불닭볶음면). Its legendary spice brought many teenagers to the soda aisles for relief.
Dining In
So you’ve chosen and paid for your cup of noodles (and sodium). Now what? Look for meter tall towers of cylindrical metal. These aren’t drink dispensers.
Peel back the corner to your cup ramen and take out the flavor packet. Now, slip the dispenser nozzle inside and let loose a torrent of steaming water. Use your chompers to tear the flavor packet. Sprinkle and mix. A few minutes later, your sub-₩3,000 lunch is ready.
Triangle Gimbap
Convenience stores stock plenty of rolls of old fashion gimbap (김밥). But don’t skip the triangle gimbap (samgak; 삼각김밥).
The palm sized snacks follow the same recipe. Rice, veggies and meat wrapped in seaweed.
Look at the top of the triangle. There’s a tab. Peel it back. The cellophane strip will follow pre-cut lines, presenting the crispy seaweed shell.
Lunchboxes
Below the gimbap and crustless sandwiches, you’ll find plastic wrapped trays. In the west, they’re called lunchboxes. In Korea, they’re known as dosirak (도시락), what wives and mothers prepare for their familial workers.
Inside a typical convenience store dosirak, you’ll find a plot of rice, a main meat dish, and various banchan (side dishes; 반찬). These side dishes might include kimchi, jeon (전), sliced egg roll, and more.
Beware! Some lunch boxes have spicy surprises.
Hot Bar
Mill around the street vendors in Seoul’s Myeongdong (명동). You’ll discover many varieties of what we would call ‘meat on a stick.’ Koreans refer to it as hot bar (핫바), as in ‘a hot bar of meat.’
Convenience stores also serve up hot bar. However, they don’t earn the ‘hot’ title like their flame-licked cousins.
In the open refrigerators hang vacuum sealed sticks of meat. There are many unique flavors to try. Quattro cheese. Garlic sausage. Tteokgalbi (떡갈비; spicy meat).
Ready-to-Eat Crab
Want a quick gourmet option? Try ready-to-eat crab meat. This delicacy is a fusion of traditional Korean seafood flavors and modern convenience. The crabs, typically steamed or boiled, are immediately packaged to preserve their fresh taste.
This convenient seafood treat is not only flavorful but also nutritious, offering a healthy dose of lean protein and omega-3 fatty acids. Perfect for a quick lunch or a savory snack, this ready-to-eat crab provides a hassle-free way to enjoy seafood without the need for cooking or preparation.
Boiled Eggs & More
Training for a big boxing match? Need protein? Don’t want to slurp down a glass of raw eggs. Convenience stores are on it! Try some hard-boiled eggs.
Eggs come in a pair with a variety of textures and flavors. The core recipe? Same. Take an egg. Boil it in water. Package it up.
& More
You thought the fun ended there? Oh, you’re wrong. Fill your gullet with some pre-packaged hamburgers. Pop it into the microwave and nuke them for a few minutes.
And want a more conventional approach? Convenience stores stock sandwiches, both familiar and unfamiliar. They have egg sandwiches. Ham and cheese. Chicken. Even strawberries and cream. Simple. Delicious. Crust-less.
Microwave Magic
Got a frigid hamburger? Chilly bowl of rice? Cold plate of mandu? Convenience stores, once again, save the day!
Most convenience stores have a microwave tucked away somewhere. In smaller stores, they might be behind the counter. Larger stores center their food reactor in a small kitchenette, available for all customers.
Not sure how to heat your food? Check the back of the packaging. You’ll see a microwave or circle with colon separated numbers (01:15). You guessed it. Minutes and seconds.
Pop it in. Beep, beep, beep. Chow down!
Corn on the Cob
Amidst the myriad of quick bites and snacks, a unique and comforting item graces the shelves of Korean convenience stores: Pre-roasted Corn. Each cob is pre-roasted to perfection and wrapped in vacuum-sealed packets capturing the essence of traditional Korean street food. Weighing around 250 grams each, these golden delights are a wholesome alternative to the usual chips and candies, providing both flavor and nutrition.
Enjoying this snack is simple. Just warm it up in the microwave available in the store, and it’s ready to eat. The natural sweetness of the corn, combined with the smoky, roasted flavor, makes for a delicious and comforting snack.
