Convenience store brands are diverse, with major chains including GS25, CU, 7-Eleven, Ministop, Emart24, and local convenience stores. You can visit convenience stores 24 hours a day, anytime. If you have a mobile carrier, you can also get discounts. You can eat inside or outside the store, making it great for solo snacks or enjoying late-night meals. They carry everything from food, merchandise, and daily necessities to medicine, e-cigarettes, SIM cards, and transportation cards. This article shares the best combinations and tips for each convenience store.
GS25
(Photo source: Magnficent)
GS25 convenience stores offer buy-one-get-one-free promotions and a service that cuts delivery fees in half for online shopping. As one of the top three convenience store chains, it carries a wide range of private brand products like triangle rice balls, boxed lunches, and coffee.
CU convenience store
(Photo source: CU 울산거마로점)
As one of the top three convenience stores, you can purchase a variety of boxed lunches, cup rice, sandwiches, soju, beer, and more, then cook and eat your food inside or outside the store.
Emart24
(Photo source: 우리동네 구석구석)
Emart is originally a large supermarket chain like Tesco or Lidl. So if you see an Emart building, I recommend checking it out. It’s a great opportunity to experience a Korean large supermarket. Emart24 is a small convenience store brand operated by Emart, where you can find many fresh foods and private brand products linked to the supermarket. However, compared to CU or GS25, the number of stores is smaller.
Recommended Convenience Store Food Combos Recipes
The Hottest Banana Milk Coffee
(Photo source: 호뚜의 뚜벅일지)
After buying a large ice cup, banana milk, and Cantata Iced Black Coffee at the convenience store, mixing the coffee and banana milk together makes it incredibly delicious. It’s the most popular convenience store drink overseas. This banana milk, in particular, is a very popular drink among Koreans.
Non-alcoholic cocktails in summer
After purchasing an ice cup, Pocari Sweat, and Bacchus, mix both together and enjoy them chilled for a sweet, non-alcoholic cocktail-like treat.
Spicy Fish Cake Tteokbokki x Triangle Kimbap x Cheese
(Photo source: 퓨처의 일상기록)
Tteokbokki and triangle rice balls go well together—the spicy broth pairs perfectly with the rice rolls. For the tteokbokki, simply add all ingredients, pour water up to the marked line, add cheese, and cook in the microwave. For the rice rolls, microwave for 20 seconds before eating.
Buldak fire noodles x Chapaghetti
(Photo source: 백부엉이 사는 이야기)
Try eating Buldak with Jjapagetti. This combination, where spicy and sweet jajang meet, is called Buldakghetti. Its addictive flavor makes it perfect for sharing between two people, as it combines two ramen noodles into one. If you can’t handle spicy food well, add just a little Buldak sauce.
Buldak fire noodles x Triangle Kimbap x String Cheese
(Photo source: 사진 속에 담길 과거의 시간)
The combination of spicy Buldak Bokkeummyun and cheese makes these the most popular items. After finishing the Buldak Bokkeummyun, place a triangle rice ball inside and mix it in. Then tear the cheese into thin strips, add it, and microwave for 20 seconds to melt the cheese. Enjoy it together for a spicy and savory taste.
Beef Bone Soup and Dumplings
(Photo source: 조합조아님의블로그)
When you want a mild, light broth, or when you crave soup after drinking, this is perfect for hangovers. Heat the dumplings in the microwave and prepare the sari gomtang by pouring hot water over it. After cooking, add the dumplings to the sari gomtang and enjoy them together.
Popular Convenience Store Items
(Photo source: 일상속 작은이야기, 그리고 삶의 여유공간)
At convenience stores, in addition to the above, the most popular triangle rice balls are Jeonju Bibimbap Triangle Rice Balls and Tuna Mayo Triangle Rice Balls. Also, the best-selling alcoholic beverages are Cass canned beer and Chamisul soju. Notably, Ministop differs from other convenience stores in that its Jumbo Chicken Drumstick Skewers are the most popular item, frequently purchased alongside canned beer.
Conclusion
Korean convenience stores offer a wide variety of brands and products. They are not just places to buy simple snacks or drinks, but spaces where you can easily discover delicious and unique items. Use the popular products and combinations introduced today as inspiration to create special memories in Korea.