Pojangmacha (Korean: 포장마차; lit. covered wagon[1]), also abbreviated as pocha (포차), is a South Korean term for outdoor carts that sell street foods such as hotteok, gimbap, tteokbokki, sundae, dak-kkochi (Korean skewered chicken),[2]fish cake, mandu, and anju (foods accompanying drinks).[3] In the evening, many of these establishments serve alcoholic beverages such as soju.[4]
Pojangmacha is a popular place to have a snack or drink late into the night. The food sold in these places can usually be eaten quickly while standing or taken away. Some offer cheap chairs or benches for customers to sit, especially the ones serving late night customers who come to drink soju.[5]
As of 2012[update], there were approximately 3,100 pocha in Seoul.[6]
Jongno is the most famous area for Pojangmacha but you can still find some decent food in Gwangjang Market. Some pojangmacha in Jongno and other areas now offer set menus, with a combination of individual snacks put together in one plate.
Pojangmacha developed in the 1950s, after the 1945 liberation of Korea. Vendors operated then much as they do today, although their equipment has changed. Mobile food carts were made stationary, wooden poles were erected around the cart, and cotton cloth would be hung around the cart to protect it and the customers from the elements. Over time, wood changed to metal, and cotton changed to tarpaulin. Carbide lamps were converted to incandescent lights, fluorescent lights, and then to LEDs.[7]
Popular foods in the 1950s included naengmyeon (cold noodles), sundae (sausages), bindae-tteok (mung bean pancakes), mandu (dumplings), and grilled seafood. During this period, pojangmacha served refugees during the Korean War. Stalls also served alcohol, including soju, makgeolli, and beer.[7]
Since the 1980s, pojangmacha staple foods have reportedly remained relatively consistent. Around that time, stalls in Seoul, particularly in the Gangnam area, began receiving water dedicated water and electricity.[7]
In recent times, pocha has become an aesthetic in itself.[7] They feature prominently in South Korean dramas and films.[8] Some indoor restaurants and bars attempt to replicate the aesthetic, and are dubbed "indoor pojangmacha" (실내 포장마차).[7][8]
