We’ve fallen in love with all things Korean as of late! Whether it’s listening to K-pop, binge-watching K-dramas, or switching up our beauty regime and embracing Korean products, we can’t seem to get enough of what Korea is producing.
And now, we’re copying their food trends too.
If you are on TikTok, you may have seen the #korencorndog trend blow up! Last year, the number of videos featuring Korean corn dogs rose consistently. The hashtag #korencorndog exploded throughout June and July after creator @dee.045’s taste testing videos went viral.
@dee.045 Part. 2 #koreancorndog #twohandscorndogs ♬ original sound – dee.04
But what is a Korean corn dog? And why is everyone going crazy for them?
Instagram-worthy corn dogs
Korean corn dogs take your senses into overdrive. Not only do they provide you with an explosion of different flavors, but they are also visually mouth-watering.
Much more colorful than their American counterparts, corn dogs are topped with lots of amazing things like hot Cheetos powder, bean powder, crunchy rice puffs, potato cubes, and drizzled in various sauces. As you can imagine, they are pretty filling, but they’re worth it!
What’s the difference between the US and Korean corn dog?
There are some key differences between a classic US corn dog and a Korean corn dog. So let’s take a look:
1. Korean corn dogs are served with more than just ketchup and mustard
In the US, when you get a corn dog, you will usually get a good helping of ketchup and mustard. While nothing is stopping you from doing this with your Korean corn dog, most people go for something a bit more unexpected!
We mentioned some of the top toppings in the previous section, but you don’t have to go down the savory route. In fact, a lot of people prefer more of a sweet finishing touch. Because of this, Korean corn dogs are sometimes given a quick roll in sugar prior to serving.
2. Korean corn dogs contain a mozzarella stick and a hot dog
Cheese lovers, your dreams have come true! While a classic corn dog is a hot dog that is coated in batter, a Korean corn dog also contains a mozzarella stick. This makes the texture completely different. You have the crunchy coating and the oozing of cheesy goodness inside. Delicious!
3. Korean corn dogs are coated in breadcrumbs
Rather than being coated in cornmeal batter, the Korean version is coated in basic, yeasted bread dough, then rolled in Panko breadcrumbs or crunchy Japanese-style breadcrumbs after frying. This gives it that delightful crunch that we all know and love!
Of course, one thing we know about the Korean corn dog trend is that it is very adventurous, and so we have seen vendors experiment with different coatings. Some use French fries or small cubed potatoes to coat their Korean corn dog.
How did the Korean corn dog trend start?
Corn dogs started to gain popularity as Korean street food back in the ‘80s. However, the current trend, which sees a whole host of exciting and vibrant toppings used, is usually credited to Myungrang Hot Dog, which is a chain that started in 2016 in a market close to Busan,
Within three years only, Myrungrang went from being a street-vendor staple to one of the biggest franchises in the country, amassing 650 stores across Korea.
Social media then saw this trend go to a new level, coinciding with the company’s expansion into the United States in 2018. They started with a store in Georgia, and the following year Myrungrang popped up in Los Angeles’s Koreatown. The establishment was so popular that they had to impose a restriction of five corn dogs for each person.
Since then, the trend has only grown in the United States, and this has been backed up by the huge spike in Google Search interest at the start of last year.
Korean corn dogs are taking over
A lot of businesses are capitalizing on this trend. A Korean-style corn dog franchise, Two Hands, welcomed customers to its first location in April in New York City. As of September, the company has 15 locations open across the United States, with 40 in the works.
This is not a one-off story. Mochinut, a chain known for mochi doughnuts but also selling Korean corn dogs, has 42 locations in the United States and has 72 more on the way.
Time to try the Korean hot dog trend!
The retro corn dog has been given a new lease of life with Korean inspiration, and there’s no limit to this trend, as the toppings are only getting more experimental and exciting.
If you have never tried the Korean hot dog trend before, what are you waiting for? This is a fun but delicious trend that has taken social media by storm. And while we all love watching food videos, nothing beats trying one of these tasty treats yourself.
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