Street Food That Tastes Like Grandfather and Grandmother's Homemade Cooking

“Grandpa~ Grandma~ The nostalgic black rubber shoes you wore when you were young!”♬

Let's be honest. Have you ever walked down the street, caught a whiff of a savory food aroma, and wondered, "What kind of food is that?" feeling excited? Recently, with outdoor mask mandates lifted, the editor finally fulfilled a long-held dream. During the COVID-19 pandemic, street foods that the editor wanted to try were only saved on a list. Then, by chance, the names of the regions, grandfathers or grandmothers, and food names all aligned... What a coincidence! With great anticipation, the editor made the long journey?so how was the street food they had been eagerly awaiting?

Dongdaemun Grandfather Crepe

The first stop was Dongdaemun to meet the grandfather. When you exit from Line 4 Dongdaemun History & Culture Park Station, Exit 13, container boxes line up to greet you. The place opens at 1 PM, and if you arrive at that time, it’s the only spot open, with many people waiting, so it’s easy to find. Even though the editor made a weekday opening run, they still had to wait about an hour.

The menu has only one item: crepes. A crepe is a thin wheat flour batter dessert with various toppings added. Ordering is simple. You choose between Nutella and Lotus jam, and strawberries or bananas. Strawberry+banana (ddalba) is also okay. Whipped cream and ice cream are optional. To enjoy a variety, the editor ordered Nutella+strawberry and Lotus+banana with whipped cream added.

Above all, despite being street food, cleanliness was evident. It was pleasant to see the grandfather neatly tidying up after completing each crepe. The prejudice that street food is unhygienic was completely shattered.

Who dislikes the Nutella+strawberry combo? Three large frozen strawberries are used, and during strawberry season, fresh strawberries are served. If you’re sensitive to the tartness typical of frozen strawberries, be sure to add whipped cream. It makes the taste smoother and sweeter.

The banana topping includes a whole banana, giving a feeling of fullness. However, the fresh banana flavor and aroma are not strongly noticeable against the rich Lotus flavor, which might be a slight downside. Therefore, it’s best to add whipped cream to enjoy it together.

Changdong Grandmother Toast

Now it’s time to meet the grandmother. The editor headed to Changdong Market in Dobong-gu, Seoul. Recently, the shop relocated, and it’s nice that you can now eat toast inside the store. Although accessibility is a bit lower, local residents keep coming.

Egg mixture with vegetables like cabbage and carrots is cooked in a large portion, and on top, a handful more of cabbage is added, making the size overwhelming. Bigger than the bread! Thick filling is placed between slices of bread grilled with margarine, then sprinkled with sugar, ketchup, and mustard.

Two tablespoons of sugar are sprinkled, but it’s not overly sweet. Even as the sugar and sauces melt from the warmth of the toast, the texture of the cabbage remains intact. The subtle flavor of boiled cabbage spreads in your mouth, followed by the savory margarine and egg. The large size makes you feel full with just one, but since it tastes so good, it’s a shame to eat only one?keep that in mind.

Photo by Yoon Eun-ae

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.