Best Korean Desserts You Need to Try
Best Korean Desserts You Need to Try
Korean desserts don't get nearly as much attention as Korean BBQ or fried chicken — but they absolutely should.
Over the past few years, we've made a point of tracking down desserts across Seoul, Busan, and beyond — from street stalls in winter to shaded dessert cafes in summer. What surprised us most wasn't just how good they were, but how different each one felt. This guide covers the ones worth going out of your way for, organized by where and when you'll find them.
Quick Overview: Korean Desserts at a Glance
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| Korean desserts top 7 at a glance guide 2026 bingsu 빙수 shaved ice ₩8,000-₩18,000 yakgwa 약과 honey cookie hotteok 호떡 sweet pancake bungeoppang 붕어빵 fish-shaped dalgona 달고나 honeycomb tteok 떡 rice cake tanghulu 탕후루 candied fruit season price where to find foreigners beginner-friendly Seoul |
| Dessert | Korean | Category | Where to Find | Season |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bingsu | 빙수 | Shaved ice | Dessert cafes, chain cafes | Summer |
| Yakgwa | 약과 | Traditional honey cookie | Tea houses, bakeries, convenience stores | Year-round |
| Hotteok | 호떡 | Sweet filled pancake | Street stalls, night markets | Winter |
| Bungeoppang | 붕어빵 | Fish-shaped sweet pastry | Street stalls, near subway stations | Winter |
| Dalgona | 달고나 | Honeycomb sugar candy | Street stalls, themed cafes | Year-round |
| Tteok | 떡 | Rice cake | Markets, rice cake shops, cafes | Year-round |
| Tanghulu | 탕후루 | Candied fruit skewer | Street stalls, tourist areas | Year-round |
Traditional Desserts: Older Than They Look
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| Korean desserts traditional vs modern comparison 2026 yakgwa 약과 honey cookie newtro yakgetting 약켓팅 2023-2024 tteok 떡 rice cake sikhye 식혜 sujeonggwa 수정과 bingsu 빙수 summer essential Squid Game dalgona 달고나 2021 croffle 크로플 indie cafes Sulbing 설빙 less sweet Instagram-worthy foreigners guide |
약과 (Yakgwa) — The Comeback Cookie
Yakgwa is a traditional Korean honey cookie made from wheat flour, sesame oil, and honey — dense, chewy, and deeply sweet. For decades it was considered an old-fashioned grandparent snack.
Then the 2023–2024 "newtro" (new + retro) trend hit, and yakgwa became one of the most talked-about desserts in Korea. Specialty yakgwa shops opened in Hannam and Gangnam, convenience stores added their own versions, and the phenomenon of "yakgetting" (약켓팅 — lining up to buy limited-edition yakgwa) became a real thing. Today you can find it at traditional tea houses, markets like Gwangjang Market, Paris Baguette, and most convenience stores.
It's a genuinely great souvenir too — it keeps well and tastes like nothing else.
떡 (Tteok) — Rice Cakes Worth Knowing
Tteok is a broad category of Korean rice cakes — chewy, soft, and often subtly sweet. The variety is enormous: injeolmi (인절미, coated in roasted soybean powder), songpyeon (송편, half-moon shaped with sweet fillings), and countless others.
Look for tteok at traditional markets, dedicated rice cake shops (떡집), and increasingly at modern cafes that reinterpret them with seasonal flavors. They're not always sweet by western standards — but they're worth trying.
식혜 & 수정과 (Sikhye & Sujeonggwa) — Traditional Drinks That Double as Dessert
These two traditional drinks are often served as palate cleansers or dessert accompaniments:
- 식혜 (Sikhye) — a sweet, slightly fermented rice drink, served cold. Mild and refreshing.
- 수정과 (Sujeonggwa) — a spiced cinnamon and ginger punch with dried persimmon. Warming and aromatic.
Both are widely available in cans at convenience stores — worth trying at least once.
Modern Cafe Desserts: What's Trending Now
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| Korean desserts seasonal guide 2026 summer bingsu 빙수 essential Yeonnam-dong 연남동 Seongsu 성수 Ikseon-dong 익선동 Sulbing 설빙 winter hotteok 호떡 bungeoppang 붕어빵 street stalls year-round yakgwa 약과 dalgona 달고나 tteok 떡 tanghulu 탕후루 where to find foreigners practical guide Seoul |
빙수 (Bingsu) — Summer's Essential Dessert
If you're in Korea in summer, bingsu is non-negotiable. Finely shaved milk ice topped with sweet red beans, condensed milk, fruit, or tteok — it's simultaneously refreshing and indulgent. The phrase "Summer in Korea = Bingsu" is not an exaggeration.
Where to go:
- Local indie cafes (Yeonnam, Seongsu, Ikseon-dong) — most creative, often seasonal flavors
- Dessert specialist shops — highest quality shaved ice texture
- Chain cafes (Sulbing 설빙, Cafe Bora) — consistent, widely available
Prices typically run ₩8,000–₩18,000 at cafes, more at premium spots.
달고나 (Dalgona) — From Neighbourhood Snack to Global Icon
Dalgona is a simple Korean street candy made from melted sugar and baking soda — poured flat, stamped with a shape, and sold to kids who try to cut out the shape without breaking it. It was a childhood staple for decades.
Then Squid Game happened. After the 2021 Netflix series featured it prominently, dalgona became one of the most recognizable Korean foods internationally overnight. Themed cafes, dalgona-making experiences, and street stalls multiplied almost immediately.
It's sweet, slightly bitter, and tastes like caramelized nostalgia.
크로플 (Croffle) — The Cafe Staple
A croissant pressed in a waffle iron — crispy outside, flaky inside. Less distinctly Korean in origin, but now a fixture on virtually every Korean cafe menu. Usually served with cream, jam, or ice cream.
Street Desserts: Best Eaten While Walking
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호떡 (Hotteok) — Sweet Winter Pancake
A thick, doughy pancake filled with brown sugar, cinnamon, and crushed nuts — cooked on a griddle until the outside is golden and the filling is molten. One of the most satisfying winter street foods in Korea.
Find them at street stalls near traditional markets and tourist areas from autumn through early spring. Usually ₩1,000–₩2,000 each.
붕어빵 (Bungeoppang) — Fish-Shaped Pastry
Fish-shaped pastry filled with sweet red bean paste (팥, pat), custard, or chocolate. A beloved winter street snack with a long history in Korea — the fish shape is completely unrelated to the filling. Look for them near subway station exits from November through February.
탕후루 (Tanghulu) — Candied Fruit on a Stick
Originally a Chinese street food, tanghulu has become a fixture on Korean streets over the past few years — particularly in tourist areas and near schools. Fresh fruit (strawberry, grape, mandarin) coated in a hard, crystal-clear sugar shell. Visually satisfying and refreshingly tart.
Available year-round at street stalls, priced around ₩2,000–₩5,000 depending on the fruit and location.
FAQ
Q: Where's the best place to try bingsu? For the best experience, head to a dedicated dessert cafe in areas like Ikseon-dong, Yeonnam-dong, or Seongsu — these tend to use higher-quality shaved ice and seasonal ingredients. Chain options like Sulbing are reliable and convenient if you just want a quick bowl. Avoid tourist trap versions near major landmarks, which can be overpriced.
Q: Where can I buy yakgwa? Almost everywhere now. Traditional tea houses and Gwangjang Market are great for the real thing. Convenience stores (CU, GS25) carry packaged versions. Paris Baguette and other bakery chains also stock them. If you want specialty or limited-edition versions, look for dedicated yakgwa shops in Hannam or Gangnam.
Q: How sweet are Korean desserts compared to Western ones? Generally less sweet overall — especially traditional ones like tteok and sikhye. Modern cafe desserts (bingsu, croffle) lean sweeter. Street snacks like hotteok and tanghulu are intensely sweet but small. Most people find the balance more manageable than expected.
Q: Are any Korean desserts vegan-friendly? Several traditional options are naturally plant-based: tteok (rice cake), sikhye (rice drink), sujeonggwa (spiced punch), and fruit-based tanghulu tend to be vegan-friendly in their basic form. Bingsu is often made with milk — ask for a soy milk or sorbet version at specialty cafes. Always confirm ingredients at the counter, as recipes vary.
Start Sweet, Then Go Deeper
The best approach to Korean desserts is the same as everything else in Korea: start with one, find what you like, and follow that thread. Begin with hotteok or bungeoppang in winter, bingsu in summer, or yakgwa any time of year — and let the rest unfold from there.
Related posts:
- Best Korean Cafe Tips for First-Time Visitors — how to navigate Korean cafes like a regular
- A Foreigner's Guide to Korean Street Food — the full street food picture beyond desserts
- Best Korean Instant Noodles to Try (Ranked) — for when you want something savory after all that sweetness
Found a Korean dessert we didn't include? Tell us in the comments — the list keeps growing.
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