If the Philippines is largely American-influenced with the smattering of American fast food chains like McDonald’s, Burger King, and KFC, Vietnam is Korean-influenced in some ways.

My default fast food is Lotteria.  Jollibee is way too far from my office and McDonald’s have yet to show it’s burger in Vietnam.  Indeed, Subway and Carl’s Jr. have made its way to the Vietnamese market, but they have a long way to go in terms of fully making a dent in the fast food market here.

We live in an area that was developed in collaboration with huge Korean construction companies and even our nearest mall-supermarket is Korean, Lotte Mart.  So it’s not at all surprising that we have more Korean neighbors than Vietnamese. 🙂

Here are my favorite Korean snacks:

Paired with Lotteria Iced Tea, Burger Tom is my default lunch food.  I know it’s not healthy but I need a break from all the “leaves”.  The taste of their Iced Tea is the closest commercial Iced Tea available everywhere in the fast foods of Manila.  Iced Teas usually served in restaurants here don’t have sugar so they have blah taste.  Even Carl’s Jr. serve Iced Tea na as in tea lang talaga.  You have to make your own sugared concoction.

Lotteria Burger Tom (image from Mary Eats)

encho is the Korean’s version to Nestle’s Pinipig Crunch BUT taste a whole LOT BETTER!  I kid you not!  My friend told me that it has something to do with Korean’s cow milk.  Masarap daw talaga!  Or dahil singkit lang?  Hehe.

encho

This Stick Biscuit is something I just picked up from a convenience store.  It’s my unhealthy snack number 3 but darn it tastes like real bacon!

I have had eaten in a couple of Korean restaurants but I am not a fan of spicy food.  So although I may be starting to like their snacks, it may take some time before my palate appreciates real Korean food.

Oh and you’ll never see me write anything about K-pop.