Late Night Feast

by Janice Jung

There’s something so satisfying, thrilling, almost magical, about snacking, or feasting, late at night.

There’s always a certain hollowness, an adamant emptiness, that overcomes me when the clock strikes midnight, and that’s when I know it’s time to indulge in my favourite meal of the day: the late night feast.

As the guiltiest meal of the day, it only makes sense to pair it with the guiltiest of foods, and the beauty of the late night feast lies in its infinite possibilities. You could choose to open the gates of greasy heaven with a Bear Sampler from Nasties, or even expedite breakfast with the classic Round House bagel from our beloved Collegetown Bagels. A simple trip down to 7Eleven gives you access to a myriad of guilty delights that will satiate your midnight cravings.

However, there’s more to the wonder of after-hour meals than those irresistible, freshly microwaved bagel bites. I’ve come to realize that it’s through those 1 AM adventures to Insomnia Cookies with your roommate, that collective Domino’s order in the middle of your late night prelim grind, and those countless Nasties and Louie’s indulgences with your friends after an eventful night out, that bring you and your loved ones closer. It’s no secret that food creates everlasting memories and bonds, and these meaningful connections only get stronger as the night grows darker.

Having grown up with the amazing diversity of food offered by Hong Kong, I was incredibly fortunate to have had access to so many different late night snack options to choose from. However, I want to share with you three dishes that are very near and dear to my heart, and to many other Koreans out there. These dishes are all very iconic choices for ya-shik, Korean for late night foods, and serve as not only the best guilty pleasures, but also as the most heart-warming comfort foods to the Korean people. Korean fried chicken Korean fried chicken, or just ‘chicken’ to Koreans, is arguably the most popular form of ya-shik and has proudly claimed that title for a long time, and for good reason. The abundance of flavours and sauces, ranging from the classics, like original fried and sweet chili, to the more adventurous, such as lemon honey and soy-bean black pepper, compounded with the lightning speed of Korea’s delivery services, make fried chicken a definite late night staple.

Jok-bal One cannot talk about ya-shik without gushing over jok-bal, pig trotters braised in soy sauce and spices. Wrapping a piece with rice, garlic, chilli, and your favourite sauce in lettuce is the best way to eat it and you’ll be wrapping another before you know it.

Tteokbokki (Spicy Rice Cakes) Tteokbokki is not only an incredible late night snack, but also a Korean street food staple. The chewiness of the rice cakes and fish cakes covered in an addicting spicy sauce may leave you in a sweat, but trust me when I say, every bite will be worth it.