Best Instant Tteokbokki: Where To Buy It and How To Make It
If you like Korean food, then you’ve probably heard of the spicy goodness of tteokbokki. Not as spicy as Buldak Ramen, but still spicy if you ask me. Tteokbokki is a side dish or street food that is commonly purchased by teenagers for after-school snacks, a spicy pick-me-up, or a late night street food cart favorite. You can easily find tteokbokki at street food carts in districts like Hongdae and Myeongdong as well as prevalent in Korean traditional markets.
If you’re not in Korea though, or just want to enjoy this spicy Korean dish at home, keep reading. Here are some of the best instant tteokbokki options and how to make them even better!
Table of Contents
- What is Tteokbokki?
- Tteokbokki, topokki, ddeokbokki, or dukbokki
- The different types of instant tteokbokki
- How to prepare tteokbokki like Koreans do
- Best Instant Tteokbokki
- Tteokbokki vs. Rabokki: What is the difference?
- Pay attention to the expiry date
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What is Tteokbokki?
Tteokbokki (떡볶이), also known as spicy or simmered rice cakes, is a popular Korean dish crafted from miniature gare-tteok, or rice cakes, named tteokmyeon. This ddeok is a chewy white cylindrical rice cake which is then topped with a spicy gochujang sauce. It was first made back in the late 1800s during the Joseon dynasty.
Tteokbokki can be prepared in various ways, be it in a pan or heated up in the to-go container it comes with depending on the type you buy. Today, there are a variety of options when it comes to the sauce as well. Don’t want the super spicy version? Try what specialty that comes from Tongin Market just west of Gyeongbokgung Palace.
Tteokbokki, topokki, ddeokbokki, or dukbokki
Don’t be confused by the different spellings. As with many Korean dishes, when it comes to romanizing the words, there are quite a few variations. They all refer to the same hot fiery dish though.
The different types of instant tteokbokki
Do you know how many different kinds of instant tteokbokki there are now? If you’ve only enjoyed the dish in a traditional market like Gwangjang Market in downtown Seoul or at the street food carts in popular districts like Hongdae, then you might like to know how easy it is to have tteokbokki right at home. Generally, there is classic, medium spicy, sweet and spicy, and fiery spice options. But, there are more and more options added every year.
An instant tteokbokki option usually comes with some sort of sauce be it spicy, hot, or cheesy as well as carefully curated rice cakes. Sometimes meat like fish will be added to the mix as well. You can have all of these variations in the comfort of your own home after pretty minimal preparation. So, if you tasted some delicious tteokbokki in Korea on your last trip and want to reminisce in those flavors again, you can!
How to prepare tteokbokki like Koreans do
Don’t just eat the tteokbokki straight from the container if you’ve got more time. It tastes better when pan-fried and with the addition of a few ingredients, you can really have a great dish on your hands… or in your belly. Koreans will add a variety of other foods to amp up the dish and counteract the spice.
Tteokbokki has evolved over time to the point where people even include ramyun noodles, dumplings, seafood, and even hotdogs in the dish. The sky’s the limit if you really want to experiment with it.
What usually comes in an instant tteokbokki packet:
- Sauce Packet
- Dried Meat
- Rice Cake Packet
- Collapsible Spork
What you need to cook tteokbokki at home
A Large Pan: While the microwave is the easiest way to prepare instant tteokbokki and there are microwave directions on the packets, doing it in a pan where you can control the coating of the rice cakes as well as add anything else on the go is a must for getting the best taste and experience out of it. In the microwave, the tteokbokki may be heated poorly and not thoroughly and the sauce won’t thicken as much. Use a pan for the best results.
What Koreans add to tteokbokki to make it a meal
- Egg: Similar to dishes like ramen, the egg, be it raw or even hard-boiled can drastically improve the sauce mixture as it simmers in the pan.
- Scallions: A great way to add an extra little kick to the dish. You can’t really go wrong with scallions, and preparing them is simple as well. Just bring a cutting board and kitchen knife!
- Fish Cake (Eomuk): This one is commonly included with the instant container version, but is a great choice nonetheless when it comes to making your own version from pure ingredients.
- Garlic: Garlic is a classic used to add more flavor when the rice cake and sauce just aren’t enough to suit your tastes.
- Green Cabbage: Want to go down the healthy route? Adding any sort of green that can be simply chopped and distributed is a perfect option when cooking for your family or making it more nutritious in general. This also adds a different texture to every bite.
Cooking Pointers:
- Make sure that the sauce has properly boiled and fused with the water so it thoroughly coats the rice cake and whatever else you have added to the sauce. The sauce shouldn’t be too watery.
Best Instant Tteokbokki
Samyang Carbo Buldak Spicy Chicken Roasted Tteokbokki (삼양 까르보 불닭 떡볶이)
One of the most popular for sale on Amazon, this one comes in a bowl for easy preparation. Word to the wise, if you aren’t a fan of spice, this may not be the one for you. If you do like spice though, the combination of the spicy gochujang sauce with the Buldak roasted chicken sauce is really enticing. The tteok is thick and chewy and once the sauce thickens, it’s delicious… you just might need a glass of milk to wash it down.
Purchase Now: On Amazon, Shopee, or Yamibuy
Samyang Buldak Tteokbokki (삼양 불닭 떡볶이)
For any fan of spice, this is the tteokbokki for you to try. Just one bite and your inside will be heralded with the fluids of rapid lava through your digestive tract. For anyone else, you may want to be prepared with some milk to stave off this rumbling that courses around your throat like an expanding plague from the fire gods. It’s spicy but extremely delicious. Samyang does some of the best instant tteokbokki out there.
Purchase Now: On Amazon, Shopee, or Yamibuy
Yopokki Sweet & Mild Spicy Tteokbokki (요뽀끼 달달한 순한맛 떡볶이)
This dish is a smack in the face for those adverse to spice, but when you add a friend like a scallion to the mix, it really fills out the flavor. The tteok is soft and chewy and the spiciness is a bit more moderate so if you’re working your way up that spicy scale, try this one after something on the beginning of the scale. The heat is tolerable but it’s there alright.
Purchase Now: On Amazon, Shopee, or Yamibuy
Yopokki Cheese Tteokbokki (요뽀끼 치즈 떡볶이)
If you’re not ready for the super spicy and like pasta, this could be a good one to start with. With a pinch of spice in the cheesy goodness, this is a relatable option for many new to the world of tteokbokki. The rice cakes are soft and chewy as they should be. I recommend adding scallions to create a strong dichotomy of taste and texture. With even a small serving size, this dish will leave you full but craving more.
Purchase Now: On Amazon, Shopee, or Yamibuy
Yopokki Jjajang Tteokbokki (요뽀끼 짜장떡볶이)
The luscious black sauce may remind you of ribs at first glace, but that not at all what it tastes like. The sauce really permeates through your mouth and throat and if you’re not quite prepared for the spiciest of tteokbokkis, this is where to start. The black soy sauce is more approachable and adds a sweetness to the mix.
Purchase Now: On Amazon, Shopee
Yopokki Onion Butter Tteokbokki (요뽀끼 양파버터 떡볶이)
If you are adverse to spice, go for this dish that is a little more classic and easy to get into. This is a great intro to tteokbokki. Butter and onion add a sweet twist and this dish will make you feel full and satisfied in no time. Round out the meal with variety of vegetables. For fans of sweet stuff and not spicy, take this ttepkbokki for a spin!
Purchase Now: On Amazon
Samjin Carbonera Tteokbokki (삼진 카르보네라 떡볶이)
Another one for the entry level tteokbokki lover. A combination of cheese and fish flavoring might not sound quite right but is way better than you might expect. The creamy goodness of the rice cake melts together terrifically with the whole combo plus scallions. This simple meal can provide your mouth with so much enticing flavor. Give it a try and become a fellow cheesy fish enthusiast.
Purchase Now: On Amazon
Samjin Butter Garlic Tteokbokki (삼진 버터마늘 떡볶이)
Rich, flavorful, and full of protein, Samjiin will get you your garlic fix in an easy and accessible way. Included is an irresistible sauce as well as a scrumptious fish cake for a great meal. This is another great entry level tteokbokki option if you like pasta but aren’t so sure about saucy rice cakes yet.
Purchase Now: On Amazon
Goodpokki Tteokbokki (굿볶이 떡볶이)
This tteokbokki sauce is sweeter than others on the list so if you’re not a fan of that mix of spicy and sweet, then go for another option. If you are looking for something on the sweeter side though, then this is a great option. More suited to a kid’s palate, it’s a different option for a different taste.
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Wonderpokki Carbonara Rosé Cream Tteokbokki (원더포키 까르보나라 로즈크림 떡볶이)
While being mild in spice (which is a boon to many) the essence of this tteokbokki comes from its flavorful taste and addictiveness. The authentic sweet and spicy kick is a perfect addition to a meal or for simply just snacking. It’s quick to prepare and great for a milder spicy lover.
Purchase Now: On Amazon
Surasang ’88 Korean Tteokbokki (수라상 ’88 국물 떡볶이)
This dish is an old-timey classic, inspired by street carts and quick sidewalk restaurants in Seoul. It has a more soup-like take on tteokbokki and was inspired by Korean comfort snacks. Salt is something that can be added to increase its flavor output but the flavor still stands vigilantly on its own. Prepare it on the stove to really get your sauce good and thick and enjoy it to the max.
Purchase Now: On Amazon
Tteokbokki vs. Rabokki: What is the difference?
Rabokki (라볶이) is a combination of tteokbokki and ramyeon (라면) (also known as instant ramen noodles). While tteokbokki is mainly built around sauce and rice cake, rabokki focuses on the communion between rice cake and ramyeon. You get to double up on the texture that you wouldn’t find in each of the dishes alone.
Pay attention to the expiry date
Checking the expiry date is essential to ensure you are getting high-quality products. If the use-by-date has passed, you might not be able to consume it safely. Rice cakes need to be stored properly and should be eaten within a day or two of the expiry date at the latest. Rice cakes can go bad, so make sure you pay attention to this.
Get ready to dive into your delicious bowl of tteokbokki!
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