If you’re a hot dog fan, no doubt you’re a corn dog fan. Originating back in the 1930s, this tasty sweet-and-savory treat has found its way into the hearts of the States and beyond. With a fluffy cornbread-like batter on the outside and a deliciously cooked hot dog on the inside, almost no one can resist a single bite. It’s truly become American fanfare at its finest. The fair-favorite corn dog is a permanent classic and has withstood the test of time.
But have you tried the Korean corn dog? This international version uses the classic batter concept with some new twists. Here’s why you need to try them yourself.
Why You Need to Try a Korean Corn Dog
Much like the corn dogs we already know and love, Korean corn dogs are hot dog-style sausages skewered on a wooden stick and deep-fried to crispiness within a sweet and savory batter. Typical batter ingredients include sweet rice, flour and dry yeast. They’re a popular street food in South Korea and have an almost perfect balance of sweet, savory and crispy. Who wouldn’t want to take a bite?
Here are the other Korean-inspired recipes you should try right now.
Types of Korean Corn Dogs
We adore Korean hot dogs because they’re not just a one-trick pony. Here are a few you need to try:
- Korean Cheese Dog: A gooey corn dog filled with mozzarella, cheddar or cream cheese. You can even choose to go full cheese or half-and-half.
- Potato Corn Dog: Also known as a “Gamja Hot Dog”, these corn dogs are coated with french fries or sweet potatoes. Don’t worry, you can even use frozen fries!
- Ramen Corn Dog: This dog is covered in dried ramen noodles for a superb crunch.
Can’t get enough cheese in your life? Try these kimchi grilled cheese sandwiches for your next lunch.
Where Can I Get a Korean Corn Dog?
While they tend to be more popular on the West Coast, we recommend checking your local area for Korean restaurants and Korean grocery stores. Kong Dog is a popular Korean restaurant across the country that can serve you an authentic experience (we’ve got 8 in Illinois alone).
If you love Korean flavors, don’t forget to make this kimchi soup.
How to Make a Korean Corn Dog
Angelo DeSantis/Getty Images
Ingredients
For the batter:
- 2 tablespoons raw sugar
- 1 teaspoon fine sea salt
- 1 cup warm water (about 120°F)
- 1 teaspoon active dry yeast
- 1 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/4 cup glutinous rice flour (sweet rice flour or mochiko)
For the filling:
- 4 hot dog sausages
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 3/4 cup panko breadcrumbs
- Cheese block (mozzarella, cheddar or cream cheese) (optional)
- Wooden skewers or chopsticks
For the sauce:
- Granulated white sugar
- Mustard
- Ketchup
Optional toppings:
- 2 cups cut french fries
- 1-2 packs instant ramen noodles, crushed
Directions
Step 1: Prepare your batter
In a large mixing bowl, combine your salt, sugar and warm water and mix well. Next, add the yeast and stir well before letting it settle and completely dissolve. Now incorporate your flour and rice flour and combine thoroughly until all clumps are gone. Cover with cling wrap and set off to the side for an hour to rise. Once it has reached double its original size, mix with a spatula and set aside.
Step 2: Prepare your toppings
If using french fries, carefully cut them into half-inch sections. If using ramen noodles, begin to break apart the noodles while still in their packaging and then place on a large plate off to the side.
Step 3: Assemble your ingredients
Start by filling a deep fryer or large pot with oil and bring to a boil. The oil is ready once it hits 350 degrees. Create one plate with flour and one with your panko bread crumbs. Line up your ingredients in a row: flour, batter, toppings (optional) and panko bread crumbs.
Step 4: Create your corn dog
Skewer your corn dogs down the middle with a wooden stick or chopstick. You may use an optional cheese block by cutting the hot dog in half and the cheese block in half and skewering both before covering in batter.
Start by covering it in flour completely. Then, using food-safe gloves, spin your hot dog around as you cover it in the batter. The batter should be thin and even. Next, you may cover the batter in optional toppings (french fries or ramen) and cover the rest of the empty spots in the panko. If you’re not using toppings, cover the entirety of the batter in panko.
Step 5: Fry your corn dog
Dip your finished corn dog in the oil for about four minutes, flipping at the halfway mark. Once the batter is golden brown and to your liking, remove it from the oil and finish off with white sugar, ketchup and mustard. Enjoy!
Fun Hot Dog Recipes to Try
Pigs in a Blanket
This baked hot dog recipe appeal to kids of all ages. Even my husband, Allan, admits to enjoying every bite! We like to dip them in ketchup and
mustard. —Linda Young, Longmont, Colorado
Go to Recipe
Hot Dog CasseroleThis hearty and satisfying hot dog casserole—layers of red potatoes, hot dogs and cheese, covered with a creamy white bechamel sauce—is just right for a casual side.
Homemade Corn DogsLove fair food like funnel cake and corn dogs? Here is how to make perfectly golden, hand-dipped corn dogs at home.
My Favorite Chili DogsThe very thought of a hot dog dressed in chili makes me giddy. To get that straight-from-the-ballpark taste, I combine ketchup, mustard, chili and pepper sauce. —Patricia Pauling, Adams, New York
Cowboy StewI made up this dish back in the early 1970s when I was down to very little food in the house. Since it's a combination of barbecue sauce, hamburger, hot dogs and beans, this one-skillet meal makes both children and adults happy. —Val Rananawski, Millville, New Jersey
Beefy Chili DogsFor years, people have told me I make the best hot dog chili out there. It’s timeless, it’s family-friendly, and I carry the recipe with me because people ask for it. —Vicki Boyd, Mechanicsville, Virginia
Don't feel like making your own?
These are the best hot dog joints in every state.
Mexican Hot DogsMy stepmom was born in Mexico and introduced us to hot dogs with avocado and bacon. We were instantly hooked. Now our whole family makes them. —Amanda Brandenburg, Hamilton, Ohio
These are America's best regional hot dog styles.
Fair-Favorite Corn DogsBring the county fair home to your kitchen with these corn dogs. A tip for dipping: Pour the batter into a tall Mason jar and dunk your dogs for an even all-over coating. —Taste Recipes Test Kitchen
Chili Cheese Dog CasseroleKids and dads alike will dive right into this hearty, comforting hot dog recipe. With a crispy cheese topping on a warm corn bread crust, this chili dog casserole recipe is a keeper. —Taste Recipes Test Kitchen
Mini Corn DogsThese bite-sized mini corn dogs are a hit with kids, and make a fun appetizer for adults, too.
Coney Island SauceA Coney Island sauce recipe is something every home cook should know—and it’s not just to top hot dogs!
Here are more
hot dog toppings you haven't tried yet.
Sweet Hoosier Dog SauceIn our area of Indiana, we love sweet coney sauce on our hot dogs! Our town still has an old drive-in that is famous for its sauce. —Jill Thomas, Washington, Indiana
Chili Dog PizzaMy girls love it when I make this mash-up pizza with hot dogs and chili. It’s a marvelous way to use up leftover chili. —Jennifer Stowell, Smithville, Missouri
Chicago-Style Hot DogsI decided to give a Chicago-style dog a healthy twist for my family. Our kids love it. You can use other fresh toppings to please just about anyone. —Gregg May, Columbus, Ohio
Indiana-Style Corn DogsOne of the best parts of the many fairs and festivals in Indiana is the corn dogs! My family loves corn dogs, so I fix them fairly often at home. —Sally Denney, Warsaw, Indiana
Barbecued Party StartersThis sweet and tangy hot dog recipe will tide over everyone until dinner. At the buffet, set out some fun toothpicks to make for easy nibbling. —Anastasia Weiss, Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania
Corn Dog CasseroleReminiscent of traditional corn dogs, this fun hot dog recipe really hits the spot on fall days. It's perfect for the football parties my husband and I often host. It tastes especially good right from the oven.
-Marcy Suzanne Olipane, Belleville, Illinois
Cincinnati Chili DogsMy in-laws are from Ohio, so we have
Cincinnati chili at many of our family gatherings. I spiced up this family classic with cinnamon and cocoa powder and then ladled it over hot dogs. It's perfect for game day, tailgates and potlucks. —Jennifer Gilbert, Brighton, Michigan
Bandito Chili DogsThese deluxe chili dogs are a surefire hit at family functions. Adults and children alike love the cheesy chili sauce, and the toppings are fun! —Marion Lowery, Medford, Oregon
Mini Mac & Cheese DogsWe wanted to get creative with hot dogs, so we made a mac-and-cheesy one. Pile on the extra cheese, relish and even bacon. —Julie Peterson, Crofton, Maryland
Dogs in a SweaterFor a new twist on an old favorite, try these skewered hot dogs wrapped with breadstick dough and baked. They're fun to dip in ketchup, mustard or ranch dressing. The dressed-up dog recipe comes kid-tested from the National Hot Dog and Sausage Council. —Taste Recipes Test Kitchen
Hot Dog SlidersTurn all-American hot dogs into a fun international treat at your next casual party. They get three special treatments in this recipe: Chicago-style, Bavarian and south of the border. Bet you can't eat just one! —Taste Recipes Test Kitchen
Pigs in a PonchoFor pigs in a blanket Mexican style, we add refried beans and green chiles. Spice it up even more with pepper jack, jalapenos and guacamole. —Jennifer Stowell, Montezuma, Iowa
Cheddar Corn Dog MuffinsI wanted to riff on hot dogs, so I made corn dog muffins. I added jalapenos to this kid-friendly recipe and won my husband over, too. —Becky Tarala, Palm Coast, Florida
Party FranksThis tiny, tangy hot dog recipe haa broad appeal. I prepare it often for holiday gatherings, weddings and family reunions. It's convenient to serve at parties since the sauce can be made ahead and then reheated with the franks before serving. —Lucille Howell, Portland, Oregon
BBQ Hot Dog & Potato PacksFor these nifty foil packs, small hands make quick work of topping potato wedges with a hot dog, onions and cheese. — Kelly Westphal, Wind Lake, Wisconsin
Hot Dog SlidersTurn all-American hot dogs into a fun international treat at your next casual party. They get three special treatments in this recipe: Chicago-style, Bavarian and south of the border. Bet you can't eat just one! —Taste Recipes Test Kitchen
Sloppy Joe DogsThere are so many different ways to top a hot dog, but this tasty sloppy joe version beats them all! —Kimberly Wallace, Dennison, Ohio
Crescent Roll Hot DogsOur crescent roll hot dogs recipe is just the kind of thing kids like to eat, and they can make them, too! With full-sized hot dogs, cheddar cheese and bits of bacon inside of crescent-roll blankets, they're super easy and pleasing.
Chili Coney DogsFrom the youngest kids to the oldest adults, everyone in our family loves this hot dog recipe. Inspired by the classic Coney dog, they’re so easy to throw together in the morning or even the night before. —Michele Harris, Vicksburg, Michigan
Hot Dog PieA co-worker who loves hot dogs shared this hot dog recipe with me. Baked in a purchased pastry shell, the pie is easy to assemble and is on the table in just 30 minutes. —Amy Bullis, Henryville, Pennsylvania
Chipotle Chili DogsLong live childhood favorites! I created this hot dog recipe for the 125th anniversary of a small town in Minnesota. The medium spice level means that people of all ages love the flavors. —Barb Templin, Norwood, Minnesota
Rhode Island Hot DogThis Rhode Island hot dog recipe pays tribute to the Rhode Island hot wiener. It's a regional classic that comes with seasoned meat sauce, onions, celery salt and mustard.
Corn Dog TwistsKids will have as much fun making as they will eating these cute twists on hot dogs and buns! Set out bowls of relish, mustard and ketchup for dunkable fun. —Melissa Tatum, Greensboro, North Carolina