By Kim Hayeon 
Photos = screen captures from CNN website

CNN has named gimbap (seaweed roll) and tteokbokki (spicy rice cake) to its list of the top 50 street foods in Asia.

The American news network on Aug. 24 released its list of the "50 best street foods in Asia."

"Kimbap, or gimbap, seems like it was designed to be portable," CNN said. "Not unlike Japan's makizushi (rolled sushi), these rice rolls wrapped in seaweed sheets are cut into easy-to-devour slices that hawkers fill with a wide assortment of ingredients."

"Spinach, lotus root, eggs, cucumbers, bulgogi and crab sticks all make regular appearances, as do pickled daikon radish, kimchi and roasted sesame seeds."

On tteokbokki, CNN said, "The humble rice cake is a much-loved comfort food in South Korea," adding, "Tteokbokki, meaning 'stir-fried rice cakes,' are incredibly versatile."

"The most famous variation stars spicy red chili paste and fish cakes, but rice cakes can also be prepared with a milder soy sauce-based dressing, with cheese."

The network also recommended soup and hotpot versions of tteokbokki. 

Vietnam's banh mi (sandwich) and pho (noodles), Singapore's chili crab and kaya toast, Hong Kong's egg waffles and curry fish balls, Taiwan's bubble tea and stinky tofu, China's xiao long bao (steamed bun), Japan's takoyaki (ball-shaped snack), the Philippines' halo-halo (ice dessert), Thailand's crab omelets and Malaysia's asam laksa (noodle dish) were also on the top 50 list. 

Hailing Asian street foods, CNN said, "When it comes to street food, Asia delivers big on variety and flavor," adding, "This vast region sprawls across equatorial tropics and mountain ranges, volcanic islands and frenetic megacities, so it's no surprise that diversity abounds."

hayeounk8@korea.kr