Jjimjilbang Snacks: Why Koreans Eat Sauna Eggs and Sikhye

The classic snacks of a Korean jjimjilbang (bathhouse and sauna) are baked eggs called maekbanseok gyeran and a cold, sweet rice drink called sikhye. You buy them at the snack counter inside the sauna area, eat them in your sauna clothes on the heated floor, and for many Koreans the trip doesn't feel finished without them. Here is what they are, why they belong together and how to order them on your first visit.

What are jjimjilbang eggs?

Jjimjilbang eggs are hard-boiled-style eggs that are slowly roasted for hours, traditionally in the heat of a sauna kiln or a special egg oven. The long, dry heat turns the shell a speckled brown and the white a caramel-tan colour. The texture is firmer and a little chewy, and the flavour is deeper and slightly smoky compared with a normal boiled egg.

The name maekbanseok gyeran comes from maekbanseok, a type of mineral stone often used in Korean saunas and cooking, and gyeran, egg. You will also hear them called guun gyeran (roasted eggs). Some places sell eggs that have been slow-cooked until the white turns a reddish brown; these are a popular variation.

How to eat them like a local

• Crack it on your forehead. This is a famous Korean joke move, seen in countless dramas and variety shows. It is completely optional, but if you do it, people around you will smile.
• Dip in salt. Eggs usually come with a small pinch of salt on the side.
• Peel slowly. Roasted eggs can be a little stubborn, so peel over a napkin or the small tray they come on.

What is sikhye?

Sikhye is a traditional Korean rice drink. It is made by steeping cooked rice in water with malted barley, which turns the starch into natural sugar. The result is a pale, sweet, very lightly grainy drink, usually with a few soft rice grains floating at the bottom of the cup. It is served icy cold, often with crushed ice, and it is non-alcoholic.

Koreans also drink sikhye after big holiday meals because it is said to feel light and help after a heavy meal. At the sauna it does a simpler job: it is the perfect cold, sweet thing after sweating in a hot room. You will also find canned sikhye in convenience stores, which is a good way to try it before your visit.

Why eggs and sikhye go together

The pairing works for very ordinary reasons. After sitting in hot rooms you are thirsty and a little hungry. Eggs are filling, salty and easy to eat with your hands. Sikhye is cold and sweet. Together they make a small, cheap reward, and the combination has been repeated so often in Korean TV and films that it has become a symbol of the jjimjilbang itself. Many Koreans connect it with family weekends and childhood visits.

Other jjimjilbang snacks worth trying

• Misutgaru: a nutty drink made from roasted grain powder mixed with milk or water.
• Patbingsu or ice cream: shaved ice with sweet red beans, especially in summer.
• Ramyeon: instant noodles are a standard late-night order.
• Bibimbap, tteokbokki or kimchi stew: larger jjimjilbang often have a full snack bar or small restaurant.
• Cold sujeonggwa: a cinnamon and ginger punch, sold at some places.

How to order and pay

Most jjimjilbang have a snack counter or maejeom in the shared area where men and women meet in their sauna uniforms. Menus are usually on the wall in Korean, sometimes with pictures. Prices are generally modest, but they vary by place, so check the board.

Payment works in different ways. Some places let you pay by card or cash at the counter. Many use the key or wristband you got at the entrance: staff scan it and you settle the total when you leave. If you are not sure, simply show your wristband and ask.

Simple phrases that help:

• Gyeran du gae juseyo — Two eggs, please.
• Sikhye hana juseyo — One sikhye, please.
• Kadeu dwaeyo? — Can I pay by card?

Yara from POPORO CITY puts it simply: "Hot room, then cold sikhye. That's the whole plan."

Quick tips

• Eat in the shared lounge areas, not inside the hot rooms or the bathing area.
• Hydrate with water too; sikhye is sweet and won't replace water after a long sweat.
• Keep your wristband safe; it may be your wallet for the whole visit.
• Try canned sikhye from a convenience store if you want a taste before you go.
• New to bathhouses? Read the etiquette basics first so you feel relaxed on the day.

Planning your first visit? See our Jjimjilbang Etiquette guide for first-timers, and for more everyday snacks, the Korean Convenience Store Guide.

FAQ

Are jjimjilbang eggs the same as boiled eggs?

No. They are roasted with dry heat for a long time, which gives a brown shell, a tan-coloured white, a firmer bite and a slightly smoky flavour.

Does sikhye contain alcohol?

No. Sikhye is a sweet, non-alcoholic rice drink made with malted barley. It is not the same as makgeolli, which is a rice wine.

Do I really have to crack the egg on my head?

Not at all. It is a playful tradition from Korean pop culture. Cracking it on the table works just as well.

Can I bring my own food into a jjimjilbang?

Rules differ by place. Many prefer that you buy from their snack bar, and some forbid outside food, so check the signs or ask staff at the entrance.