Today I will introduce in detail the characteristics of Korean convenience stores and the 5 Best Convenience Store Food in Korea. Korea is a very safe country, so restaurants are open until late, but if you want to have a quick meal or eat at your hotel, you should definitely try convenience stores. Convenience stores in Korea are cheap and many of them are open 24 hours a day.
Features and types of Korean convenience store culture
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The Korean convenience store culture has evolved into a very unique and diverse space that offers a wide range of services.
1. Various services: Korean convenience stores are more than just a place to sell goods. They offer everyday services such as package delivery, ATM services, utility bill payment, and more recently, laundry, printing, and delivery services.
2. Food diversity: Korean convenience stores offer a wide variety of foods, from convenience foods like triangular kimbap, bento boxes, and cup noodles to ready-to-eat foods like chicken, hot dogs, and fish cakes.
3. Adoption of the latest technology: We introduce innovative services utilizing 4th industrial revolution technologies such as facial recognition payment systems, smart vending machines, and robot baristas, and operate mobile stores in areas lacking digital infrastructure to provide convenience to customers.
4. Social contribution activities: Some convenience stores are demonstrating their social responsibility by partnering with the Fire and Rescue Service to act as “mini fire stations,” or with local governments to provide supplies and volunteer activities for vulnerable populations.
5. 24-hour operation: Most Korean convenience stores are open 24 hours a day, so you can get what you need at any time.
Major convenience store brands in Korea include CU, GS25, 7-Eleven, E-Mart 24, and Ministop. Each of these convenience stores offers unique features and services and caters to different needs of customers. In addition, some of these stores are open 24 hours a day and sell daily necessities, while others do not. Other convenience store brands include Ministop, Nonstop Convenience Store, Login Convenience Store, WithMe Convenience Store, Sea Space Convenience Store, Sun Mart Convenience Store, Barocosa Convenience Store, and Bestoa Convenience Store.
5 Best Convenience Store Food in Korea
Some of the most popular foods at Korean convenience stores include
1. Samgak Gimbap
Samgak gimbap is a very popular convenience food in Korean convenience stores, and it comes in a variety of flavors and fillings. As the name suggests, Samgak Gimbap is a triangular-shaped steamed rice wrapped with rice and various fillings, such as cheese & mayonnaise, ham & kimchi, and garlic butter lobster. It’s portable and can be a quick meal anytime, anywhere, making it a great choice for busy people.
How to open a samgak gimbap!!!!
- Open the wrappers in order, starting with number 1 on the wrapper.
- Grasp number 1 and pull down, then peel off numbers 2 and 3 in turn.
Samgak Gimbap is one of the iconic foods of Korean convenience store culture, and is often used as a quick breakfast, snack, or even a late-night meal. New flavors are constantly being released to give consumers a new experience4. If you’re visiting Korea, we recommend trying a variety of Samgak Gimbap!
2. lunch boxes
Lunch boxes at Korean convenience stores are loved by many people for their variety and flavors. Convenience store lunch boxes are popular among busy people because they offer a wide variety of menus at an affordable price. Major convenience store brands have their own unique lunch boxes and offer a wide range of options, from healthy menus to lunch boxes in collaboration with restaurants.
CU Convenience Store Lunch Boxes
- Baek Jong-won Lunch Box: This bento is branded by celebrity chef Baek Jong-won, and is popular for its price-quality ratio. There are various menus such as Jeyuk Hanpan, Double Dakgalbi Set, and Spicy Bulgogi Bansang, with prices ranging from 4,300 won to 5,500 won.
GS25 Convenience Store lunch boxes
- Hyeja Dosirak: Named ‘Hyeja’s home-cooked lunch box’, it is characterized by its cost-effective and hearty side dishes. It includes squid bulgogi, stir-fried ham and potatoes, and bean sprouts, and costs between 4,500 and 5,000 won.
7-Eleven Convenience Store lunch box
- Recently, 7-Eleven launched a lunch box with bulgogi bibimbap and jeonju-style bibimbap with Joo Hyun-young, and the price is around 4,500 won.
In addition to this, convenience stores also release new lunch boxes according to the season or special events. Recently, there have been a number of initiatives such as healthy lunch boxes and collaborations with famous restaurants, and these bento boxes are providing a new dining experience for many people who visit convenience stores. Korean convenience store lunchboxes are a delicious, value-for-money meal option, making them an attractive choice for busy people to enjoy on the go.
3. Ramyun
Ramyun, sold in Korean convenience stores, is known for its variety of types and flavors. Korea has a developed Ramyun culture and is loved all over the world, and you can easily find a variety of Ramyun at convenience stores.
Features of Ramyun in Korean convenience stores
- Variety: Korean convenience stores sell more than 400 different types of Ramyun. This includes products from brands such as Nongshim, Samyang, Ottogi, and Faldo.
- Cup Ramyun and bagged Ramyun: Ramyun is divided into two main types: cup Ramyun and bagged Ramyun. Cup ramyun can be eaten by simply adding water, while sachet ramyun must be boiled in a separate container.
- Popularity of spicy flavors: Korean Ramyun is known for its spicy flavor, and spicy Ramyun, such as buldak fried noodles, is very popular both at home and abroad.
Popular types of ramyun
- Shin Ramyun: Known for its spicy flavor and chewy noodles, Shin Ramyun is one of the most popular Ramyuns in Korea.
- Nuguri: Featuring a soup that captures the flavors of the sea and thick udon noodles, Nuguri is rich in seafood flavor and spicy.
- Jjapaghetti: A Ramyun take on the Chinese noodle dish, Jjapaghetti features a black bean sauce soup and slim noodles.
- Buldak fried noodles: A Ramyun take on the spicy stir-fried fried chicken dish, Buldak fried noodles are made with gochujang and red pepper flakes for a strong spicy flavor.
Ramyun is popular in Korean convenience stores for its ease of preparation and variety of flavors and forms, making it an accessible part of Korean food culture, especially for foreign tourists. If you’re visiting Korea, we encourage you to try a variety of Ramyun and enjoy the rich food culture of Korea! We wish you a happy time with our delicious Ramyun.
4. Montan Pork On Ban & Montan Onion Meat Fried Rice
Monttan Pork On Banh and Monttan Onion Meat Fried Rice, sold in Korean convenience stores, were developed by GS25’s premium convenience food brand, Simply Cook, in collaboration with the famous restaurant Monttan. These products are convenience food reproductions of popular dishes from Monttan restaurants located in the Seoul Triangle, making it easy to enjoy the flavors of Monttan at convenience stores.
Montan Pork On Ban
- Price: 5,500KRW
- Calories: 383.5 kcal
- Ingredients: Onban broth, rice, and disposable spoon
- Instructions: Heat the onban soup pouch in the microwave for 4 minutes, heat the rice separately for 2 minutes, and eat together
- Features: Clear and thick broth, good flavor of meat without off-flavors, and several large pieces of meat, making it a hearty meal
Montan Onion Meat Fried Rice
- Price: 5,500 won
- Calories: 516 kcal
- Composition: Onion rice sauce, fiery flavored oil, fried meat pouch, instant rice, spoon
- Instructions: Heat the rice in the microwave for 2 minutes, then add the stir-fried pouch and sauce, mix well, and cook for 1 minute and 30 seconds. Finally, add the fire-flavored oil and stir to combine.
- Features: The fried rice replicates the taste of Montan, a straw grilled restaurant, with a subtle flavor of fire and a crunchy texture of kimchi and corn kernels
These two products are easy to prepare in your convenience store and are a great way to bring the flavors of a Montan restaurant to your home. If you’re looking for a quick and delicious meal to fit into your busy life, these are the products to try!
5. Miltop Red Bean N Milk Bar
Miltop Red Bean & Milk Bar, sold in Korean convenience stores, is an ice cream bar inspired by the famous shaved ice restaurant Miltop’s milk shaved ice. This product is sold in CU convenience stores and is designed to make it easy to enjoy the flavor of Miltop shaved ice.
Product features
- Size: Compact, measuring approximately 8 cm long, 5 cm wide, and 2 cm high.
- Calories: 156 Kcal in 80 ml, which is a moderate calorie count for a snack.
- Price: 1,500 won, making it a popular value snack.
Flavors and composition
- Red bean paste: Contains 28% red bean paste and is characterized by a sweet and mild red bean flavor.
- Milk: Contains milk, processed butter, mixed milk powder, milk cream, sweetened condensed milk, and more to give you a savory milk flavor
- Design: Two-tone color, like a candy bar, with a light beige color on top reminiscent of red beans and a warm white color on the bottom.
Consumer reaction
- Many consumers describe the flavor as similar to the red bean flavor of wheat top shaved ice, and say it reminds them of what red bean shaved ice tastes like when it melts.
- The overall flavor is sweet and delicious, especially with the red bean paste filling.
Miltop Red Bean & Milk Bar is one of the most popular snacks available in Korean convenience stores, and it recreates the flavor of miltop bingsu in the form of an ice cream bar. It’s a great way to cool off in the summer, and is recommended for those who love the sweet red bean flavor.
Conclusion: Convenience Stores in Korea
Welcome, foreign visitors to South Korea!
Korean convenience stores offer a wide variety of products and services and are always ready to welcome you warmly. Convenience stores in Korea will make your trip more enjoyable and comfortable. We hope you have a great trip and enjoy the flavors and culture of Korea!
Frequently asked questions
Here are some frequently asked questions about convenience stores in Korea and our answers to them:
Q: Why are there so many convenience stores in Korea?
A: South Korea has a very large number of convenience stores, with approximately 40,000 as of 2022. This translates to about 115 convenience stores per 100,000 people, making it one of the most convenience store-rich countries in the world. Korea has a large population and high population density, which provides a good environment for convenience store operations. In addition, Koreans recognize the convenience of buying a variety of products through convenience stores, and the business is profitable, so the number of convenience stores continues to grow.
Q: What was the first convenience store in Korea?
A: The first convenience store in Korea was 7-Eleven, which opened in Songpa-gu, Seoul in 1989. The world’s first convenience store was 7-Eleven, founded in Texas, USA in 1927, and unlike today, it was not open 24 hours a day.
Q: Can convenience stores be opened without distance restrictions?
A: The law does not stipulate a distance limit for convenience stores. However, CU, GS25, 7-Eleven, Ministop, C-Space24, and E-Mart24, six companies that belong to the Korea Convenience Store Industry Association, have a voluntary code that restricts the opening of new convenience stores within 50 to 100 meters from January 2019.
