If your idea of “Asian snacks” is just Pocky and regular chips, you’re still in the tutorial level.

Korean snacks are on a different level: sweet, salty, crunchy, spicy—sometimes all in one bite. And when you don’t know the brands, the snack aisle can feel like a gamble: cute packaging, loud mascots, and zero clue where to start.

Think of this as your safe starter pack.

This guide walks you through 10 beginner-friendly Korean snacks that are easy to love, even if you’ve never tried Korean food before. Many of these are the exact brands you’ll see in Korean convenience stores, now in one place on MyFreshDash.

Whether you want a movie-night haul, a study snack stash, or you’re building a Korean snack gift box, start with these ten.

TL;DR:

Discover 10 must try Korean snacks for beginners, from Choco Pie to Honey Butter Chips, and build an easy first Korean snack haul at home

1. Orion Choco Pie

If Korean snacks had a national ambassador, it would probably be Choco Pie.

Soft, cake-like layers with a fluffy marshmallow center, all coated in chocolate. It feels like a mix between a mini cake and a cookie, and it’s one of those snacks that shows up in school lunch boxes, road trips, and drama scenes.

Choco Pie has been around in Korea since the 1970s and quickly went from “new treat” to comfort classic. Generations grew up eating it during exam season, after-school snack time, and family gatherings, so when you bite into one today, you’re not just eating a snack—you’re tasting more than 40 years of Korean snack nostalgia.

Why beginners love it:

• Familiar texture and flavor

• Not too sweet, not too heavy

• Perfect with coffee, tea, or milk

2. Pepero (Lotte) – The Classic Cookie Stick

Thin biscuit sticks dipped in chocolate. Simple concept, dangerous execution, because finishing a whole box “by accident” is very normal behavior.

You’ll find everything from classic chocolate and almond-crusted sticks to white chocolate, cookies & cream, and all kinds of limited-edition flavors that disappear before you even learn how to pronounce them. Pepero is so loved in Korea that it has its own holiday: Pepero Day, celebrated on 11/11 because the date looks like four Pepero sticks lined up in a row.

One popular story says it started in the ’90s, when middle school girls exchanged Pepero sticks while wishing to be “slim and tall” like the snack. Whatever the exact origin, it turned into a full-on cultural moment—now people swap Pepero with friends, coworkers, and crushes, kind of like a snack-themed Valentine’s Day. You’ll even see it pop up in K-dramas, where a simple Pepero box suddenly turns into a “wait… do they like each other?” moment.

Why beginners love it:

• Easy to share or gift

• Light but satisfying crunch

• Tons of flavors to experiment with

  
  

3. Honey Butter Chips

These chips caused real chaos in Korea when they first dropped. For a while, they were sold out everywhere and people were literally hunting for bags.

They’re potato chips with a sweet, buttery, slightly salty flavor. Not sugary like candy—more like “honey drizzle on warm toast” in chip form.

When Honey Butter Chips launched in 2014, they started a full-on “honey butter craze” in Korea, proving that yes, people will absolutely lose their minds over a potato chip.

Why beginners love it:

• Sweet–salty balance

• Super snackable, goes well with drinks

• Feels different from any regular potato chip

  
  

4. Turtle Chips (Kkobuk Chip)

Imagine four chips stacked together but puffed and airy. That’s Turtle Chips. They have a unique layered shape and a super light crunch.

Popular flavors include corn soup, chocolate churro, and in some versions, spicy or savory twists.

Why beginners love it:

• Very crunchy but not heavy

• Fun, layered texture

• Sweet and savory flavor options

  
  

5. Banana Kick

If you read “banana corn puff” and got confused, that’s normal. Then you try it and suddenly you understand.

Banana Kick is a light puffed corn snack with a sweet banana flavor—basically banana milk turned into a crunchy, melt-in-your-mouth treat. Kids are obsessed with it, and so are adults who swear they’re “just trying one” and then suddenly realize the bag is mysteriously empty. It’s even got K-pop star power behind it: Jennie from BLACKPINK has talked about how much she loves Banana Kick, even bringing a bag on The Jennifer Hudson Show and joking about how it’s one of her go-to Korean snacks. So when you eat it, you’re not only snacking like a Korean kid… you’re snacking like a global pop star.

Why beginners love it:

• Light and airy

• Not greasy

• Weird idea, great execution

  
  

6. Saeukkang-Style Shrimp Chips

These are crispy shrimp-flavored chips that have been around forever in Korea. They smell like shrimp, taste like pure umami, and are classic bar snacks when paired with beer.

Shrimp chips have been a Korean snack staple since the early 1970s, so they’re a must-try if you want that “real Korean snack” experience.

Why beginners love it:

• Super savory and crunchy

• Great with drinks or ramen on the side

• Iconic Korean snack experience

  
  

7. Haitai Oh Yes – Mini Chocolate Cakes

Haitai Oh Yes is like a little dessert in snack form. Soft sponge cake with a creamy filling, covered in chocolate. It’s more cakey than Choco Pie and feels a bit richer.

Some versions have chocolate cream, others have different fillings, but they all feel like a “treat yourself” moment.

Why beginners love it:

• Feels like a mini patisserie cake but super convenient

• Individually wrapped, great for lunch boxes or coffee breaks

• Good step into Korean “dessert-style” snacks

  
  

8. Orion O Tube

Orion O Tube is a fun, tube-shaped snack that brings crunch and flavor together in a very snackable form. Think of a hollow, crisp tube that’s light and airy but still satisfying.

Depending on the exact flavor, it can lean more savory or a bit sweet, but either way, it’s the kind of snack you keep grabbing without noticing how much you’ve eaten.

Why beginners love it:

• Very light, easy to munch on while watching something

• Shape and texture make it feel different from regular chips

• Great starter snack if you want something crunchy but not too intense

  
  

9. Haitai Choco Homerun Ball

Haitai Choco Homerun Ball is basically a bag of tiny chocolate cream puffs pretending to be a snack.

Each piece has a light, round pastry shell with soft chocolate filling inside. They’re airy but creamy, not too heavy, and absolutely live in the “I’ll just have a few” danger zone.

Why beginners love it:

• Cute, bite-sized, and easy to pop one after another

• Light pastry + creamy chocolate combo feels like mini bakery treats

• Great for sharing (or not sharing, depending on your mood)

  
  

10. Vic Pie – The Underrated Cake Cookie

Vic Pie feels like the cousin of Choco Pie that doesn’t get as much spotlight but still shows up and quietly steals fans. It’s another chocolate-coated cake-style snack with a soft interior and sweet filling.

Depending on the brand version, the texture and flavor might be slightly different from Choco Pie, which makes it fun to compare side by side.

Why beginners love it:

• Familiar, cake-like comfort snack

• Perfect if you already love Choco Pie and want a similar but slightly different vibe

• Great with tea, coffee, or as a late-night sweet bite

  
  

How to Build Your First Korean Snack Haul

If you’re totally new and don’t want to overthink it, here’s a simple starter combo:

• One classic cake snack: Orion Choco Pie or Vic Pie

• One stick snack: Pepero (classic) + one special flavor

• One sweet chip: Honey Butter Chips or Turtle Chips

• One “fun” snack: Banana Kick, OTube, or Choco Homerun Ball

• One savory snack: Shrimp chips for something bolder

That gives you a mix of textures and flavors without going too wild. From there, you’ll quickly figure out if you’re more on the sweet, savory, or spicy side.

On MyFreshDash, you can add these to your cart in one go and basically recreate a mini Korean convenience store at home.

Final Bite

Korean snacks are fun because they’re playful without being too unfamiliar. Even beginners can find something they love on the first try.

Start with these ten, experiment with different brands and flavors, and sooner or later you’ll have strong opinions like, “this Honey Butter Chip brand is better than that one.” That’s when you know you’re in deep.

You can grab most of these snacks directly from the Korean Snacks section on MyFreshDash and build your first Korean snack haul without leaving your couch.

FAQ: Korean Snacks for Beginners

Are Korean snacks very spicy?

Not all Korean snacks are spicy. Many of the most popular ones for beginners—like Choco Pie, Pepero, Honey Butter Chips, Banana Kick, and Choco Homerun Ball—are sweet or mild. Spicy snacks usually say things like “hot,” “spicy,” or show chili peppers on the packaging, so they’re easy to spot.

What Korean snack should I try first if I don’t like spicy food?

Start with something sweet and safe, like Orion Choco Pie, Pepero, Honey Butter Chips, or Haitai Choco Homerun Ball. They taste familiar enough if you like chocolate or sweet chips, but still give you that Korean snack vibe.

Where can I buy Korean snacks online in the US?

You can buy Korean snacks online in the US from MyFreshDash, where many of these exact items are grouped in the Korean Snacks section. Just add what looks good to your cart and build your own custom snack box.