Korean Convenience Store Guide 2026: Viral Combos & What Tourists Actually Buy

Korean Convenience Store Guide 2026: Viral Combos & What Tourists Actually Buy

For many travelers, a Korean convenience store is not just a place to grab a snack. It is a tourist attraction.

In 2026, spending by foreign visitors at Korea’s major convenience store chains jumped by around 70% compared to last year. Travelers film their convenience store hauls for TikTok, mix their own drinks with ice cups, and line up for the latest viral desserts.

So what do foreigners actually buy at Korean convenience stores? We looked at real sales rankings from CU and GS25 and the most viral combos on social media. Here is your ultimate guide.

Part 1. The Viral Ice Cup Combos

The most famous Korean convenience store hack is the ice cup (얼음컵). Grab a cup of ice from the freezer, pick one or two drinks, pour, mix and enjoy. It’s like making your own café drink in under a minute.

1. Banana Hazelnut Latte (바나나 헤이즐넛 라떼)

The No. 1 convenience store combo among foreign travelers, and it went viral on TikTok. Even model Hailey Bieber posted about it after her trip to Korea, saying she would keep thinking about it.

What you need:

• Binggrae Banana Milk (바나나맛 우유)

• Cantata Ice Hazelnut coffee pouch (칸타타 아이스 헤이즐넛향)

• A large ice cup (얼음컵)

How to make it:

1. Fill the ice cup with banana milk, about half to two-thirds full.

2. Pour the hazelnut coffee into the rest of the cup.

3. Stir and enjoy!
   

   

It costs about 3,000 won in total and tastes like a sweet banana latte from a café.

Tip: Not a coffee fan? Swap the coffee for a Hershey’s chocolate drink to make a banana chocolate latte.

2. Lychee Strawberry Latte (리치 딸기 라떼)

What you need: Strawberry milk + Mogu Mogu lychee drink (모구모구 리치맛) + ice cup

How to make it: Pour the Mogu Mogu into the ice cup first, then add the strawberry milk on top.

Heads up: Mogu Mogu has small jelly pieces that can get stuck in a thin straw. Grab a wide straw if you can.

3. Fanta Float (환타 플로트)

What you need: Fanta + vanilla ice cream (Binggrae Together, 투게더) + ice cup

How to make it: Pour Fanta into the ice cup, add a scoop of vanilla ice cream, then pour a little more Fanta on top to make it foamy. It tastes like a creamsicle!

4. “Mojito” Cola (모히또 콜라)

What you need: Sol-ui-nun (솔의눈, a Korean pine needle drink) + Coca-Cola + ice cup

How to make it: Fill the ice cup halfway with Sol-ui-nun and top it up with cola. The pine flavor gives the cola a fresh, herbal twist.

Part 2. What Foreign Tourists Actually Buy Most

These are the real best sellers among foreign customers, based on 2026 sales data from Korea’s biggest convenience store chains.

5. Banana Milk & Strawberry Milk (바나나맛 우유, 딸기맛 우유)

Binggrae Banana Milk is the No. 1 item foreigners buy at CU, with Strawberry Milk right behind at No. 2. The cute round bottle has been a Korean favorite for decades, and it is the first thing many travelers buy when they land in Korea.

6. Greek Yogurt (요즘 그릭요거트)

At GS25, the Yozm blueberry Greek Yogurt became the No. 1 item among foreign customers in 2026, even beating banana milk. Thick, creamy and topped with fruit, it is a healthy breakfast pick.

7. Seasoned Boiled Eggs (감동란)

Soft-boiled eggs with a lightly salted, jammy yolk, ready to eat straight from the pack. They rank among GS25’s top sellers for foreigners and make a perfect protein snack.

8. Instant Noodles: Buldak & Sesame Ramen (불닭볶음면, 참깨라면)

Ramyeon is one of the top purchases for foreign tourists.

• Buldak (불닭볶음면): The famous spicy fire noodles. A must for spice lovers.

• Sesame Ramen (참깨라면): Mild and nutty, with an egg block and sesame oil. Great if you can’t handle too much spice.
  

  

Tip: Use the store’s free hot water machine and eat in the store. When you are done, pour leftover soup into the special bin for liquid waste.

9. Honey Butter Almonds (허니버터 아몬드)

Sweet, salty and buttery almonds in a convenient pouch. One of the most popular snacks to bring home as a gift.

Part 3. Trending Desserts in 2026

10. Dubai Chewy Cookie (두바이 쫀득 쿠키)

The hottest convenience store dessert of 2026. Inspired by the viral Dubai chocolate trend, these chewy cookies are filled with pistachio cream. It ranks No. 3 among foreign shoppers at GS25 and No. 6 at CU.

11. Yonsei Milk Cream Bun (연세우유 크림빵, CU)

A soft bun stuffed with a generous amount of fresh milk cream. Reported to have sold over 100 million units, it is a CU exclusive, and new flavors come out regularly.

12. Ice Brûlée (아이스 브륄레, GS25)

Ice cream with a crunchy caramel top you crack with a spoon, just like a crème brûlée. A GS25 favorite with special collab flavors.

13. Fresh Cream Choco Pie (생크림 초코파이, 7-Eleven)

A chilled Choco Pie filled with fresh cream instead of marshmallow. A 7-Eleven exclusive, so grab one if you see it.

Tips for Shopping at Korean Convenience Stores

• Look for 1+1 and 2+1 deals. Buy one, get one free, or buy two, get one free.

• Check the official apps. Pocket CU, Our Neighborhood GS and 7-Eleven apps show stock and current deals.

• Payment options: Most stores accept international credit cards. Some chains also support WeChat Pay, UnionPay and more, often with special discounts for foreign visitors.

• Use the hot water and microwave. They are free for customers.

• Top up your T-money card at the counter.

Explore Korea Like a Local with KOncierge

Want to know where to find the latest viral snack, or which store near your hotel has it in stock? With KOncierge, you can ask our local team anything about your trip in Korea, 24 hours a day, from food recommendations to directions and local tips.

Happy snacking in Korea!