Crunch your way through the best Korean corn dogs in San Francisco and beyond.
Korean corn dogs, the classic state fair snack with a twist, have taken social media by storm recently.
They first made an appearance in 2016 on the South Korea street food scene.
Since then, their Insta-friendly appearance and addictive flavors soon conquered LA before the trend caught on at a few spots in the Bay Area too.
If you’re wondering what the fuss is about, picture a juicy hot dog on a stick, coated in a light, primarily rice flour mochi dough.
This gives it a slightly chewy texture, instead of the doughier cornmeal or regular flour version you might be familiar with.
The real excitement, however, comes with the addition of cheese–especially mozzarella cheese, which creates a satisfying “cheese pull” as you take a bite.
Combine that with crunchy outer toppings like potato, ramen, or even Hot Cheetos, slather it in your favorite sauce, and you have the perfect snack.
This delicious, elevated street food is quickly becoming a viral trend in the Bay Area’s diverse foodie scene, with new stores popping up all the time.
So, whether it’s your first time, or you’re already a superfan, head to one of these hotspots and try this trend for yourself.
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Map of Korean Corn Dogs in the San Francisco Bay Area
Stix Restaurant
Address: 1353 Taraval St, San Francisco, CA 94116
After a trip to Japan and seeing its popularity, Stix Restaurant owners Emily Hui and her fiancé decided to open a San Francisco Korean corn dog restaurant in the Sunset district.
Thanks to Stix, which serves all beef hot dogs with creative toppings and sweet accompaniments, the trend has taken off in the Bay Area.
There are now several great spots where you can eat Korean corn dogs in and near San Francisco.
Head to Stix for adventurous, crunchy toppings, such as chunks of french fries, cornflakes, and ramen.
Don’t forget to add spicy mayo, ketchup, mustard, or Hot Cheeto crumbs on the side, and wash it down with sweet banana milk or boba tea.
The owners have also recently opened a downtown Burlingame location. The Burlingame location is a little swankier and has indoor seating.
Seoul Hotdog
Address: 2505 Hearst Ave D, Berkeley, CA 94709
Located conveniently close to the UC Berkeley campus, Seoul Hotdog has a diverse Korean corn dog menu.
Choose your batter, cheese, and toppings to create your own delicious dog, then sauce it up at the condiment station.
Adventurous foodies gravitate towards the squid-ink batter, which adds a certain style to the street food.
The self-serve sauce dispensers are simple to use, so you can create a satisfying zig-zag pattern on your Korean corn dog for your Insta photo.
If you like a sweet-spicy combo, ask for the pepper jack cheese and have the corn dog rolled in sugar.
If you’re going for the Tik Tok-famous cheese pull, stick to mozzarella and get your spice kick from the sriracha mayo at the sauce station.
There’s plenty of outdoor seating on the patio and limited tables inside.
Myungrang Hot Dog
Address: 19540 Vallco Pkwy Suite 150, Cupertino, CA 95014
Before Stix brought the spotlight to the Korean corn dog in San Francisco, the South Korean franchise Myungrang Hot Dog introduced authentic Korean corn dogs in the Bay Area.
They have fewer choices compared to Stix or Seoul Hotdog, but the menu is solid and they serve vegetarian options.
It’s also primarily a take-out spot with a line of customers, so don’t expect to find much seating here. There are a few places to sit outside in the Plaza.
The rice flour batter coating the beef is light and crispy. It contrasts nicely with the cheesy center, crunchy coating, sugar, and toppings like the popular cubed potato and sweet potato options.
There are still a decent amount of choices here, so if you can’t decide between cheddar and mozzarella, ask for half and half.
You can then pair it with the mustard-cheese sauce for a flavor boost.
UMAI Hot Dogs
Address: 865 Market St, San Francisco, CA 94103
The menu at UMAI Hot Dogs is focused on Korean hot dogs with flavorful toppings, but the waffle-battered side orders come with serious main-course energy as well.
Try topping the waffle dog, which comes enrobed in a crispy waffle coating, with maple syrup or their deep-fried mozzarella cheese sticks and you’ll see what I mean.
Still hungry after your Korean corn dog?
Order one of UMAI’s elevated hot dogs, like their signature Truffle Dog, which is topped with white truffle sauteed Shiitake mushrooms and toasted black truffle.
Bazak Bazak
Address: 1710 Old Oakland Rd, San Jose, CA 95131
This hidden spot is in the food court of an H-Mart shop and offers super-thick, crunchy toppings around a light layer of batter.
Bazak Bazak is one of the most popular places for Korean corn dogs near San Jose, so pay a visit if you’re in the South Bay.
The potato coating with mozzarella is the most often requested menu item, which is best eaten slathered in ketchup.
Mochinut
Address: 2126 Irving St, San Francisco, CA 94122
Mochinut is a mochi donut chain with branches throughout California. Alongside the cute donuts, you can now order Korean corn dogs as well.
So, if you’re looking for Korean corn dogs in Concord, San Mateo, San Leandro, Hayward, or beyond, Mochinut is your best bet. They also have a location in SF.
The draw here is the thick, doughy rice flour batter around the hot dog, plus the Hot Cheetos topping, which is pretty genius if you think about it.
Don’t leave without a dozen donuts for a sweet post-corn-dog snack.
Two Hands Corn Dogs
Address: 3742 Fallon Rd, Dublin, CA 94568
Head to the East Bay for Two Hands Corn Dogs, the Korean corn dog restaurant chain that has taken Los Angeles by storm.
Opt for the classic gamja hot dog rolled in sugar with cubed potatoes, or ditch the rice flour batter for one of the classic American corn dogs, coated in cornmeal.
If you can’t decide, order a mega box, which comes with a selection of five different corn dogs.
There are also combo options, which come with a drink and a side of french fries. More locations are on the way, so keep an eye out for a franchise opening near you soon.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Sarah McDonald
Sarah McDonald is a travel writer based in the Bay Area. She writes for the national parenting website Red Tricycle and on her own family travel blog, Tiny Trailblazers. She loves exploring California’s outdoors and has a weakness for a national park gift shop.
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