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Convenience Store 편의점

7 convenience store foods explained — what's in each one, how spicy it is, and how to order it.

Korean convenience stores (pyeonuijeom, 편의점) such as GS25, CU, 7-Eleven and emart24 are on almost every corner, most open 24 hours, and work as cheap restaurants: triangle gimbap, lunch boxes and cup noodles, with a microwave, hot water and a counter to eat at.

Good to know

Labels are in Korean, so the dishes here explain what you are looking at. For what to buy and how the hot water and microwaves work, see the Korean convenience store guide.

Quick picks

From our dish notes. Recipes vary, so ask if an ingredient matters to you.

Not spicy

Usually vegetarian

바나나우유Banana Milk

No pork

Questions about convenience store foods

Can you eat inside a Korean convenience store?

Yes — most have a counter or a small table, a microwave for lunch boxes and a hot water dispenser for cup noodles. Clear your table and put the rubbish in the bins when you finish.

What is the most popular convenience store food?

Triangle gimbap (rice balls in seaweed), with tuna-mayo as the bestseller, plus cup ramyeon and lunch boxes. Banana milk is the classic drink.

Which convenience store foods are not spicy?

Not spicy: Triangle Gimbap, Banana Milk, Fish Cake Bar.