Korean corn dogs offer a surprising twist on the classic American snack

In Portland’s vast and diverse corn dog scene, few varieties stand out more than the up-and-coming delicacy that is the Korean corn dog. More photogenic and exciting than their American counterparts, these distinct creations put a spin on what defines the classic snack.

After a long summer of ranking the best corn dogs in Portland, we found that Korean corn dogs deserved their own moment in the spotlight.

Korean corn dogs differ from the traditional fair-food variety in their filling, batter, breading and toppings — which is to say, basically everything. Their fresh take draws a newer and younger audience, said Jessie Welcker, who recently took over Sweet Seoul Korean Street Food in Beaverton’s largest food truck pod, BG’s Food Cartel.

Since relocating from the West Salem food truck pavilion Checkpoint 221 in May, the food truck has seen its business boom in Beaverton.

“It’s been a humongous increase, honestly, from where it was, especially in Salem,” said Welcker. “We’ve been very, very popular since being here.”

A staple element in most Korean corn dogs is the panko breading and the balance between sweet and savory.

“We use yeasty batter, and then we roll it in Japanese panko breadcrumbs, as opposed to a cornmeal, like the typical fair corn dog,” Welcker said. “We also dust it in sugar, which I think is, like, the best part.”

With options ranging from cheese-filled to spicy mayo and flaming hot Cheeto dust-topped dogs, variety is key. The family-run business, started by Welcker’s aunt, Nicole Fisher, was inspired by her Korean heritage and the exciting street food options she saw in Korea.

As an assortment of Korean corn dogs have been popping up in restaurants and food trucks around Portland, we set out to try each one and find out what makes them special.

Sweet Seoul Korean Street Food

First on the list, the tasty Korean food truck, Sweet Seoul Korean Street Food, lived up to its name, offering a mix of sweet and savory menu items. The cart specializes in Korean street food favorites, including corn dogs, gochujang chicken and taiyaki, a filled Japanese fish-shaped waffle.

The most popular item on the menu is the spicy corn dog, which comes topped with spicy mayo and flaming hot Cheeto dust. Another top choice is the churro dog with cream cheese, cinnamon and sugar.

I opted for the spicy corn dog, with half cheese and half beef with an extra drizzle of gochujang, a red chili sauce. This corn dog was definitely one of my favorites with spicy, sweet and savory flavors all mixing together in one bite.

I would also recommend going back for a dessert taiyaki, if you can manage it. With a long list of filling options, I chose a classic chocolate cream filled waffle to reward my first step into the realm of Korean corn dogs.

Sweet Seoul Korean Street Food, noon to 8 p.m. Monday and Thursday through Saturday, noon to 7 p.m. Sunday, 4250 S.W. Rose Biggi Ave., Beaverton, @sweetseoulog on Instagram.

— Chiara Profenna

TwoZone Chicken

With two locations in Portland, TwoZone Chicken specializes in Korean fried chicken and corn dogs. The options include beef, cheese, half and half and potato corn dogs.

The quick, diner-like atmosphere makes this stop a fun and easy way to try some classic Korean food in a pinch.

As this was one of the earlier stops of my list, I went for the good old regular corn dog with soy garlic sauce. The sauce options are where TwoZone Chicken shines, with 10 varieties to choose from. At just under $5, the regular corn dog was a tasty and budget-friendly treat.

It came unadorned in a brown takeout box, but the flavor was certainly there. The shop’s menu also includes a large selection of ramen, rice bowls and sandwiches.

TwoZone Chicken, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Sunday, 1200 N.W. 18th Ave., 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Sunday, 11 a.m. through 4 p.m. Sunday, 111 N. Failing St., twozonechicken.com

— C.P.

1st Street Pocha

A family-owned Korean restaurant in Beaverton, 1st Street Pocha, is a newer addition to Beaverton’s dining options.

The restaurant specializes in a variety of Korean foods, including jjamppong, a seafood noodle soup, and tteokbokki, stir-fried rice cakes and offers just one corn dog variety, labeled as simply a hot dog.

The restaurant’s interior offers a fun glimpse of Korean culture with a wall decorated in Korean movie posters and a collection of imported sodas and alcoholic beverages.

The corndog here was smaller than others we tried, served with a drizzle of ketchup and honey mustard on one side and a dusting of sugar on the other. For a Korean corn dog, the singular option was fairly basic, with a half beef, half mozzarella cheese filling.

With a special of three for $12, or $5 for a single, this corn dog mostly made me curious to try some of their other specials.

1st Street Pocha, 4-11 p.m. Sunday, Wednesday and Thursday, 4 p.m.-midnight Saturday and Sunday, 12590 S.W. First St. Suite B, Beaverton, 1ststreetpocha.twupro.com

— C.P.

Honey Spicy

Tucked into Southwest Barbur Boulevard strip mall, in a little storefront with orange bistro tables out front, is Honey Spicy. Here, you order by touchscreen, which comes with helpful food photos.

The interior is small with a couple benches to sit on while you wait for your food. Honey Spicy was quiet on the day I visited, with all the work happening out of view.

I ordered the potato half and half – half cheese stick and half hot dog — with sugar, which comes standard.

Here, the corndog wrapper is classic cornmeal crust, but the fried potato chunks and sugar take it to a different level of extreme greasy sweetness.

The real star of the show at Honey Spicy was the hot dog, which they call a sausage and which is big and juicy, the platonic ideal of a hot dog. If I were to do it again, say in two years when I am once again physically and emotionally prepared for a sugar and potato encrusted corn dog, I would opt for full sausage.

Before you go to Honey Spicy, give them a call. When we started this project, five locations were listed on the website. Now there are only two. Both of those appear to be open, but it never hurts to double check before you go.

Honey Spicy, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday and Wednesday through Friday, 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, 10075 S.W. Barbur Blvd. #4; 11:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Friday through Wednesday, 11963 S.W. Pacific Hwy., Tigard, honeyspicy.com.

— Lizzy Acker

Ko Sisters Seoul Food

In the Cartside Food Cart Pod on North Williams, this tasty Korean food truck offers an assortment of Korean comfort foods, including bibimbap, a Korean rice bowl, bulgogi plates and Japchae, a dish with stir-fried noodles.

Found halfway down the expansive menu was the object of desire: the mozzarella hot dog, served with a generous coating of sugar and packets of ketchup and mustard. The corn dog was served with half mozzarella and half fish cake inside, which was an interesting change from the typical beef filling. The panko breading adds a delicious and crispy exterior, even if the sugary coating may not suit everyone’s taste.

While this corn dog may not be the star of this food truck, it’s a fun and tasty option for those looking to satisfy a corn dog craving in the Eliot neighborhood. If you’re in the mood for something heartier, the rest of the menu offerings are more likely to impress.

Ko Sisters Seoul Food, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Sunday, 1825 N. Williams, @kosisterspdx on Instagram.

— C.P.

Mochinut

Mochinut on Hawthorne is the kind of restaurant you want to visit on a rainy day. The exterior of the shop is painted bright yellow and inside is an extension of that, with bright colors and cheerful vibes.

The Korean corn dogs here come in a vast array of flavor permutations. There’s your standard dog, or a half and half with cheese and a hot dog. You can also get corn dogs rolled in Hot Cheetos, cereal, fried potatoes, ramen or cheese. The final choice: sprinkled in sugar or not, though this is a donut shop, so go with the sugar.

I ordered the potato half and half with garlic mayo to dip it in, and, of course, sugar.

Mochinut’s corn dog separates itself by using rice flour dough, giving the already sweet and deep fried snack a satisfying chew.

This isn’t health food, but it is tasty. With the crunch from the potatoes, the chewiness of the mochi dough and the gooey cheese pull, this is dessert disguised as lunch.

But if you do want dessert, which I recommend, consider getting a mochi donut too. Sure, it won’t be as loaded as the dog, but after a cheesy, meaty corn dog, a simple mochi donut will feel like a palate cleanser.

Mochinut, 11 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Saturday, 10 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Sunday, 3616 S.E. Hawthorne Blvd.; 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 2830 S.W. Cedar Hills Blvd., Beaverton, mochinut.com

— L.A.

Two Hands

Part of a sprawling LA-based Korean corn dog chain with more than 80 locations, Two Hands specializes in fresh Korean corn dogs, slushes, sides and tea drinks. Their only Pacific Northwest store is in Hillsboro.

Two Hands offers seven varieties of corn dog toppings, including the more unique options of crispy rice and injeolmi, or roasted soybean powder.

The store offers a how to order banner once you step inside. Step one is to choose your topping of the aforementioned seven varieties, then choose your filling, which includes three sausage varieties (including a plant-based one), two cheese options and the ability to go half and half with some choices. The third and fourth step include ordering a side and drink, which I passed on, although their kimchi fries were certainly tempting.

With two smiling corn dogs painted on the wall inside of the store, I almost felt bad devouring my crispy rice corn dog in front of them. Nevertheless, the corn dog was delicious with ketchup and mustard drizzled on top and definitely scored points for originality.

Two Hands, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily, 2055 N.W. 185th Ave., Hillsboro, twohandsus.com

— C.P.

One Korean Restaurant

My last stop on the Korean corn dog adventure was One Korean Restaurant, a cozy sit-down location in Beaverton. The coveted Korean corn dog isn’t listed on their online menu, but I called ahead and was assured it was an option.

After placing a pickup order for my last corndog, I was pleasantly surprised by the simple corn dog which came garnished with herbs. My final foray in the realm of Korean corn dogs didn’t disappoint with classic panko breading and a dense mozzarella filling.

While One Korean Restaurant may not initially come to mind when thinking of Korean corn dogs, their version proved to be a tasty addition to Portland’s Korean corn dog scene. Beyond corn dogs, the restaurant boasts an extensive menu of Korean comfort food.

One Korean Restaurant, 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m., Monday through Saturday, 6159 S.W. Murray Blvd., Beaverton, onekoreancuisine.com

— C.P.

— Chiara Profenna covers religion, faith and cultural connections. Reach her at 503-221-4327; cprofenna@oregonian.com or @chiara_profenna

— Lizzy Acker covers life and culture and writes the advice column Why Tho? Reach her at 503-221-8052, lacker@oregonian.com or @lizzzyacker

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