HUNTR/X can do it all. Just as their incredibly catchy diss track declares, they can take down armies of demons and a group of secretly evil K-pop hunks — but that’s not all. Rumi (Arden Cho), Mira (May Hong), and Zoey (Ji-young Yoo) can also take down entire rolls of kimbap in a single gulp. These demon hunters aren’t just master warriors who use the power of song to defend the world from Gwi-Ma (Byung Hun Lee). They’re also master snackers.
While it’s fun and mouth-watering to see all the food that HUNTR/X puts away, there’s a deeper meaning to the food that’s core to who these characters are, making them “a different kind of female superheroes — ones that are not just cool and badass, but also flawed and imperfect, who are silly, who love food and eat too much — the type of women that I’ve always wanted to see on screen,” says writer and director Maggie Kang.
With its vibrant animation style and soundtrack of endless bops, KPop Demon Hunters is a feast for the senses. The vast variety of Korean cuisine, prominently featured in key scenes throughout the brightly colored musical, adds to the sensory experience — and it may even leave your mouth watering and stomach growling. But what exactly are the dishes, drinks, and nibbles gobbled up by the gang?
Keep scrolling for a full breakdown of all the lovingly animated Korean food, from the traditional to the trendy, eaten in KPop Demon Hunters. You’ll want to add them to your must-try list.
Right before we first experience HUNTR/X in battle mode, fighting off demons and then wowing a crowd of thousands with an epic musical performance, Rumi, Mira, and Zoey are deep in preparation. Huddling together on their private jet, which they don’t yet realize has been hijacked by demons, the pop idols say, “OK, this is our biggest show yet. The most songs. The most moves. Which means, the most carb loading!” Then, all in the name of the fans, they dig into a drool-worthy spread that includes:
When they do discover that demons have taken over their plane, thus interrupting their preshow snacking ritual and making them late to a stadium packed with screaming fans, HUNTR/X is not happy. As they get ready to take on the demons, who are poorly disguised as flight attendants, Mira slurps on a milk tea and Zoey munches ketchup-flavored potato sticks. The fight sequence, which is set to “How It’s Done,” culminates with all three downing the most important staple of their performance preparations: HUNTR/X-branded ramyeon. After beating the demons with a scalding kettle, they fill their custom-made Rumi, Mira, and Zoey instant-ramyeon cups with hot water, continue to slay as they wait the requisite three-minute cook time, then slurp the noodles before skydiving into the arena.
“I personally had a lot of fun designing the cup noodle packages for the three girls, and to imagine different flavors,” says art director Celine Daehyu Kim. “I gave a few street food and packaged references to our artist Rebecca Shieh to do snack designs.” And the grub look irresistible for a reason. No detail was too small, as the filmmakers highlighted “authenticity in the girls’ pregame snacks, from the spec on the kimbap, to the melamine green plates,” according to writer and director Chris Appelhans.
As HUNTR/X’s grueling tour comes to a close, Mira and Zoey are eager to take some much-needed time off to recharge. For them, that means vegging out on the “Couch! Couch! Couch!” Cozied up in robes and slippers, each carries a massive pile of munchies, including popcorn, pizza, chips, doughnuts, and more kimbap and bubble tea. But perhaps the most enticing item in this snack lineup is the strawberry bingsu, a milk-based shaved ice dessert.
What better way to cheer up a friend than by taking them out for some comfort food? That’s exactly what Mira and Zoey do after Rumi breaks down right before the first live performance of their new single “Golden.” Over a bowl of Seolleongtang — ox bone soup — Rumi confides that she’s losing her voice. Zoey assures her that, together, they can get through anything, and then she springs into action, coming up with a plan to fix Rumi’s voice before the Idol Awards in two weeks. The support and sustenance go a long way to lift Rumi’s spirits, and of course, no Korean comfort meal would be complete without banchan, an array of shared side dishes. On their table, HUNTR/X has kkakdugi, cubed radish fermented with gochugaru, garlic, ginger, and fish sauce; dotori-muk, acorn jelly; eomuk bokkeum, fish cakes; and broccoli seasoned with sesame oil.
Of course, presentation matters, and the filmmakers paid attention to “everything from how the table was set, making sure the rice and the soup, and how you would put spoons and chopsticks down,” says Kang."
In HUNTR/X’s first run-in with Saja Boys, a K-pop boy band made up of demons sent by Gwi-Ma to distract the fans, they perform “Soda Pop” in the city square. Not only do they woo fans with their smooth vocals, but they also win over the crowd by blowing kisses, passing out presents, and perfectly preparing hot dogs at a food stall. In Korea, hot dogs are among the most popular street foods. They’re fried and served on a stick, making them closer to American corn dogs. The batter often contains chunks of potato, and the dogs are sometimes finished with a sprinkle of sugar. HUNTR/X’s agent, Bobby (Ken Jeong), is an especially big fan.
Zoey brings Rumi to Healer Han (Daniel Dae Kim) to help address her vocal issues. After trying hard to “understand the whole” of the emotionally closed-off Rumi, he sends her away with a box of supposedly medicinal tonics. Later, when she resolves to give the tonics a try in order to have a fighting chance against Saja Boys at the Idol Awards, Rumi discovers that Healer Han has just pasted a new label over plain old grape juice pouches.
After discovering that Rumi is also part demon, Saja Boys’ leader Jinu reveals how he came under Gwi-Ma’s control 400 years ago. Jinu and his family lived in extreme poverty, and when he failed to provide for them by busking on the street with his only possession, a traditional Korean instrument called a bipa, he heard the demon king’s voice. “You can’t do anything for your family,” Gwi-Ma said. “You’re not good enough for them, but I can help you be good enough.” Desperate and full of shame, Jinu listened, and his fate changed overnight. The Korean royal court took notice of his voice, and he and his family moved onto the palace grounds. In exchange, however, he was condemned to the demon world. Jinu’s tragic story is told in a heartbreaking flashback, and when his luck first turns around, he and his family are shown enjoying an immaculate royal feast, which includes:
As the end credits roll and “Takedown” plays once again, the film’s beloved characters are shown doing various adorable activities in a different animation style. They munch on potato chips, Pringles, and more ramyeon, kimbap, and hot dogs. Then additional street food staples are introduced, as Zoey’s head bobs along, chomping on Pikachu tonkatsu, a deep-fried Pokémon-shaped pork or chicken cutlet on a stick, and tteokkochi, rice cakes on a skewer.
