You’ll smell it before you see it. Beondegi (번데기) is steamed silkworm larva. These little critters are the same things that produce all the silk that makes your soft and beautiful silk clothing. But did you know that they also double as one of Seoul’s most popular street snack?
People who have travelled to Taiwan are no doubt familiar with Taiwan’s famous “stinky tofu”. This type of tofu has such a distinctive, rotting garbage smell, that many travelers can’t get over to try it. Beondegi is Seoul’s stinky tofu. It has a certain characteristic smell that some people love, but others can’t abide.
Beondegi has a woody, earthy taste to it that some people believe makes it great for a perfect in between meal snack, whereas other feel like they just taste like dirt. However, if you are daring enough to try it (and even begin enjoying it), you will be that much closer to acculturating into the truly authentic, traditional Korean cuisine culture.
Beondegi is a very common street snack that you can find in all pedestrian areas. It’s also sometimes served in Korean style pubs as a drinking snack. If you’re in the vicinity of Hangang Yeouido Park, there is always a man selling beondegi right at the park entrance.