Why Koreans Are Obsessed with “Yashik” (Late-Night Snacks)
In many parts of the world, eating after 9 PM is considered a “guilty pleasure” or a dietary mistake. Kitchens close, restaurants lock their doors, and people go to sleep.
In Korea? 9 PM is when the party starts.
If you look out the window of a Seoul apartment at midnight, you won’t see darkness. You will see an army of motorbike headlights zipping through the streets. They are the heroes of the night, delivering happiness in plastic bags.
We call this culture “Yashik” (야식), which literally means “Night Food.” But calling it a “snack” is a bit of an understatement. We aren’t talking about a bag of chips here. We are talking about full-blown, caloric feasts consumed right before bed.
Why is a nation so obsessed with health and beauty also obsessed with eating fried chicken at 11 PM? Here is the delicious truth behind Korea’s late-night eating culture.
1. The “Work Hard, Eat Hard” Cycle
To understand Yashik, you have to understand the Korean schedule. Students study in Hagwons (academies) until 10 PM. Office workers grind until late in the evening. By the time they get home, shower, and relax, it’s 10 or 11 PM. They are hungry, tired, and stressed. In Korea, food is the ultimate stress reliever. We don’t just eat to survive; we eat to wash away the day’s exhaustion. Spicy food, in particular (like spicy chicken feet or fire noodles), is believed to sweat out the stress. Yashik is the reward for surviving another intense day.
2. The Best Delivery Infrastructure on Earth
Let’s be honest: We eat late because we can. Korea has the most sophisticated food delivery ecosystem in the world. Apps like Baedal Minjok or Coupang Eats are on every phone. You can order anything—steamed pork, sushi, pizza, dessert, or even a single cup of iced coffee—at 2 AM, and it will be at your door in 30 minutes. When gratification is this instant, willpower goes out the window.
Fun Fact: You can even order food to a specific park bench by the Han River. The delivery driver will find you.
3. The Holy Trinity of Yashik
If you are going to partake in this culture, you need to know the menu. It’s not just random food; there is a hierarchy.
Chimaek (Chicken + Beer): The undisputed King. Korean Fried Chicken is crispier and more addictive than any other chicken on the planet.
Ramyeon: The quick fix. Watching a K-Drama where the actor eats instant noodles? You will inevitably find yourself boiling water 5 minutes later. It’s a psychological trigger.
Jokbal & Bossam: Braised pigs’ feet and steamed pork belly. It sounds heavy for midnight, but wrapped in lettuce with garlic? It’s pure heaven.
4. It’s a Bonding Activity
In the West, late-night eating is often a solitary, shameful act done in front of the open fridge. In Korea, Yashik is social. It’s about roommates ordering chicken together to gossip. It’s about a family gathering around the TV with a tray of bossam. It’s about drinking Soju with friends at a Pocha (tent bar) until the sun comes up. It’s a communal language of affection.
5. “Food Porn” TV (Mukbang)
You can’t escape it. Turn on the TV at night, and half the channels are showing people eating delicious food. This is the land that invented Mukbang. Visual stimulation is everywhere. When you see a celebrity slurping noodles at midnight on a variety show, your brain mirrors that desire. It’s basically national peer pressure to eat.
Final Thoughts
Is Yashik healthy? Probably not. Will your face be puffy the next morning? Definitely (we call that Ramyeon face). But is it worth it? Absolutely. So, if you visit Korea, don’t go to bed hungry. Download a delivery app, order the spicy chicken, and join us in our favorite national pastime.