Best Tteokbokki Rice Cakes in the UK (2026)

Tteokbokki rice cakes are thick Korean rice cake sticks known for their dense, chewy texture and ability to carry spicy gochujang-based sauce. They are also called garaetteok or topokki rice cakes depending on the product and retailer. For UK shoppers, the main choice is between plain rice cake sticks that require a separate sauce and complete tteokbokki kits where the seasoning is included.

Quick Picks

• Best overall plain rice cake: APEXY Korean Rice Cake Sticks – cylindrical chewy rice cakes for homemade tteokbokki and other Korean dishes.
• Best UK chilled alternative: Jongga Tubular Rice Cakes 500g – Korean rice cakes specifically suited to tteokbokki and commonly available through UK Asian grocery retailers.
• Best convenient alternative: a complete topokki kit with sauce included – useful for first-time buyers who do not already keep gochujang and Korean seasonings at home.

How we judged tteokbokki rice cakes

The rice cake is the main texture in tteokbokki, so shape and chew matter more than branding. We focused on cylindrical stick-style cakes rather than sliced tteokguk rice cakes, which are better suited to soup.

• Stick shape: cylindrical garaetteok is the familiar form used for tteokbokki.
• Chew: good rice cakes should become tender while retaining a springy, substantial bite.
• Sauce absorption: the relatively neutral rice cakes should carry spicy or savoury sauce effectively.
• Pack format: smaller inner bags make portioning easier than one large opened pack.
• Plain versus seasoned: plain cakes offer maximum recipe flexibility, while complete kits prioritise speed.
• Storage requirements: shelf-stable, chilled and frozen products need different handling, so the label matters.
• UK availability: products found through established Korean and Asian grocery retailers are easier to replace when online marketplace stock changes.

Ranked pick

1. APEXY Korean Rice Cake Sticks for Tteokbokki

Best for: Homemade tteokbokki, Korean-style stir-fries and shoppers who want plain rice cake sticks rather than a complete sauce kit.

APEXY sells cylindrical Korean rice cake sticks designed for tteokbokki. The verified multipack contains individually packed portions inside the larger package, which is particularly useful because you can open only what you plan to cook.

• The stick shape is directly suited to tteokbokki rather than rice cake soup.
• Plain rice cakes let you control the chilli level, sweetness and sauce ingredients yourself.
• Smaller inner packets simplify portioning and storage.

Trade-off: The larger multipack is more than many first-time buyers need. Because no sauce is included, you also need gochujang or another sauce recipe before the rice cakes become a complete dish.

How to use: Prepare the rice cakes according to the current package directions, then simmer them in your chosen tteokbokki sauce until tender and chewy. Do not assume every vacuum-packed rice cake needs the same soaking time because storage and manufacturing methods differ.

Substitution: Jongga Tubular Rice Cakes are a particularly good UK specialist-shop alternative when you prefer a chilled Korean product in a smaller 500g format.

Jongga tubular rice cakes as a UK alternative

Jongga Tubular Rice Cakes are sold in 500g chilled packs through UK Asian supermarkets and are specifically described for tteokbokki. The current product uses rice as the main ingredient and comes in the long cylindrical format associated with the dish.

The main advantage is the smaller pack and established specialist-store availability. This can be more practical than importing a large Amazon multipack, particularly if you live near a Korean or Asian supermarket.

The trade-off is refrigeration. Chilled or fresh rice cakes need more careful delivery and storage than some shelf-stable products, so check the retailer’s delivery arrangements before ordering.

Plain rice cakes versus tteokbokki kits

Plain garaetteok contains no finished tteokbokki sauce. This is the better choice when you already have gochujang, gochugaru, soy sauce and other Korean pantry ingredients and want control over sweetness and heat.

Complete tteokbokki kits include rice cakes plus sauce or seasoning. They require less preparation and are particularly convenient for first-time buyers who want to understand the general dish before buying several separate ingredients.

For repeat cooking, plain rice cakes are more flexible. For an occasional snack, a kit can be simpler.

Stick rice cakes versus sliced rice cakes

Garaetteok sticks are cylindrical and substantial. They are the classic shape for tteokbokki because they stay chewy during simmering and hold thick sauce well.

Sliced oval rice cakes are commonly associated with tteokguk, Korean rice cake soup. The thin pieces cook more quickly and give a different texture.

If your goal is tteokbokki, buy stick-style cakes unless the recipe deliberately calls for another shape.

How to choose tteokbokki rice cakes

For traditional spicy tteokbokki: choose plain cylindrical sticks and prepare your own gochujang-based sauce.

For first-time cooking: a smaller 400g to 500g pack is easier than a very large multipack if you can find one locally.

For quick snacks: complete cup or pouch kits with sauce are more convenient and reduce the number of ingredients needed.

For families: larger bags or individually portioned multipacks make sense when several servings will be cooked at once.

For chilled delivery: make sure somebody can receive the parcel promptly and refrigerate it according to the retailer and product instructions.

What sauce goes with tteokbokki rice cakes?

The familiar spicy red tteokbokki sauce is built around Korean chilli paste and supporting seasonings. Exact recipes vary in sweetness, heat and savoury ingredients.

Rice cakes can also be cooked in milder soy-based sauces, creamy sauces and other modern variations. Plain garaetteok therefore gives you considerably more flexibility than a pre-seasoned kit.

When using a packaged sauce, follow its directions rather than automatically adding extra salt, chilli or sugar before tasting.

Where to buy tteokbokki rice cakes in the UK

Korean supermarkets and larger Asian grocery shops are usually the best places to find chilled and frozen rice cakes in the UK. Online Asian retailers also stock brands such as Jongga and can be a better source for smaller packs than general marketplaces.

Amazon can be convenient for shelf-stable multipacks, but check the exact pack quantity before ordering because listings frequently contain several inner bags or multiple full packs.

FAQs

What are tteokbokki rice cakes?

They are Korean rice cakes, commonly cylindrical garaetteok, cooked in a sauce that is often spicy and based on Korean chilli paste.

What should tteokbokki rice cakes feel like?

Properly cooked rice cakes should be tender but distinctly chewy rather than mushy.

Do tteokbokki rice cakes need soaking?

Some products benefit from soaking while others can be cooked directly. Follow the instructions on the specific pack.

Are sliced Korean rice cakes good for tteokbokki?

They can be cooked in similar sauces, but cylindrical sticks provide the more familiar tteokbokki texture and shape.

Can I buy tteokbokki rice cakes without sauce?

Yes. Plain garaetteok is widely sold separately so you can make your own sauce.

How should opened Korean rice cakes be stored?

Follow the package instructions carefully. Refrigeration or freezing may be required depending on whether the product is fresh, chilled, frozen or shelf-stable.

Conclusion

APEXY Korean Rice Cake Sticks are a practical Amazon option for homemade tteokbokki when you want plain cylindrical rice cakes and control over the sauce. Jongga’s 500g tubular rice cakes are an excellent UK Asian-supermarket alternative and may be more practical for smaller households. Choose plain garaetteok for flexibility and a complete tteokbokki kit when speed matters more than controlling every part of the sauce.