What is Anju? Guide to Korean Drinking Snacks

South Korea has quite a prevalent social drinking culture. It’s very common for friends and coworkers to convene at bars, not only for drinks but for snacks and food too, enjoying a relaxed environment to bond and unwind.

Whether you’re visiting a Korean bar and aren’t sure what to order or are planning a party with top-tier snacks, check out our anju guide to point you in the right direction!

What is Korean Anju?

The term anju refers to side dishes and snacks that are typically enjoyed at bars alongside alcoholic drinks. Anju encompasses a wide array of foods, with some specifically paired with particular drinks.

Some translate anju as ‘alcohol blocker’, with the idea being that the food will help you feel the effects of the alcohol less!.

Many of today’s popular anju dishes originate from traditional jumaks, which were similar to western inns – i.e. an establishment where weary travellers could rest and enjoy a bite to eat with a drink.

Popular Korean Bar & Drinking Snacks

Anju dishes are largely savoury, and there is quite a variety to choose from. As is the case with lots of Korean dishes, hot and spicy foods are popular here. Anju encompasses a range of traditional dishes with some modern evolutions as well.

Simpler finger foods like nuts and even fruit can also be enjoyed as anju. Ultimately, it’s all about tasty bites that you can enjoy with a drink and friends! Here are some of our favourites.

Fried Chicken

Crispy, a little greasy and bursting with spicy flavours, fried chicken is an anju staple. Popular fried chicken dishes are typically served with a sweet and spicy sticky sauce, often incorporating gochujang for that moreish kick. Various deep-fried foods are often paired with beer or soju in Korea.

Shredded Squid

Dried shredded squid is a great snack and finger food. With sumptuous umami and salty flavours, it's a tasty option on its own, or it can be stir-fried with seasonings. Ojingeochae muchim is a seasoned dried shredded squid dish that makes use of the sweet, spicy and tangy flavours of gochujang.

Savoury Pancakes

Jeon refers to a category of savoury pancake-like fritters, which can incorporate an array of meat, seafood and vegetable ingredients. One popular variety is pajeon, which is a savoury Korean pancake that features spring onions/scallions as one of the key ingredients.

Korean Blood Sausage

Soondae is a type of blood sausage made by combining pork blood, barley, dangmyeon noodles and other additions such as seafood and kimchi into a flavourful sausage. As well as being an anju classic, it is also a popular street food when out and about. Soondae-bokkeum is a popular variation, which is when the sausage is stir-fried.

Corn Cheese

This dish is pure comfort food. A simple combination of sweet corn, melted mozzarella cheese, and mayonnaise, you can eat corn cheese as is with a fork or use it as a dip for crackers and crisps.

Grilled Pork Belly

Samgyeopsal-gui and other pork belly dishes are often served with lettuce leaf wraps and sauces such as ssamjang. Grilled pork belly is also incorporated into a range of dishes, such as stir-fries, giving you the perfect way to fill up on good food.

Braised Pig Trotters

Another popular pork anju dish is jokbal, which consists of pig trotters braised with soy sauce and spices for a succulent bite bursting with strong flavours. It is also enjoyed as ssam, meaning it’s wrapped in a lettuce leaf and enjoyed with sauces.

Meat & Vegetable Skewers

Skewers that combine a range of seasoned meats and veggies are also a favourite. Something like sanjeok combines slices of beef with vegetables, which are then grilled. You will find all sorts of variations with different ingredients, with some skewers including rice cakes.

Kimchi Stew

Kimchi is an absolute staple, so it shouldn’t be a surprise to find it on this list! Kimchi jjigae is a stew that combines the sweet, tangy, fermented and spicy flavours of kimchi with a range of common stew ingredients like pork, tofu and spring onions. It’s a hearty, warming dish great for colder weather.

Korean Army Stew

Budae jjigae is another popular stew and comfort food. The Korean-American fusion dish combines classic Korean flavours and ingredients such as kimchi, gochujang and ramen noodles with processed American foods like spam, baked beans and cheese slices. The result is a riot of flavours and textures.

How to Pair Anju With Alcohol

While there are no strict rules when it comes to what drink you should enjoy with which dish, some food items are thought to pair better with particular drinks.

• Beer: Fried foods and comfort dishes like corn cheese
• Soju: Spicy dishes, stews and grilled meats
• Makgeolli: Savoury pancakes

If you fancy making any of these dishes yourself, look no further than our selection of Korean food and ingredients, including plenty of authentic staples.

You can also check out our Korean alcohol options for the perfect anju pairings.