When it comes to food, we all know the internet has taken things to a whole new level of weird. But nothing – and I mean nothing – gets quite as bizarrely entertaining as mukbang.
This South Korean internet trend is an online sensation where people record themselves eating massive amounts of food while chatting with their audience. Yes, you read that right. People sit in front of their cameras, gorge themselves silly, and somehow, millions of us can’t stop watching. Welcome to the wonderfully weird world of mukbang!
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What the Heck Is Mukbang?
Mukbang (which, in Korean, loosely translates to “eating broadcast”) exploded onto the scene in the early 2010s, and it’s been a non-stop food frenzy ever since. But this isn’t your average cooking show or a quick YouTube recipe tutorial. No, this is hardcore. We’re talking about watching someone plough through kilograms of food while providing live commentary, weird noises, and, let’s be honest, a good bit of food-related ASMR. Slurping noodles, chomping on fried chicken, slamming down seafood platters—it’s all part of the mukbang charm.
For reasons that still baffle me, millions of people tune in regularly to watch others eat. It’s a foodie spectator sport, minus the sweat (unless the mukbanger’s tackling a spicy dish). Think of it like a food festival, except it’s happening in some random YouTuber’s living room.
Where Did it Come From?
It all started in South Korea (of course). The country already has a strong food culture, so it makes sense they’d be the ones to kickstart an eating trend. In 2009, the first mukbang shows popped up on platforms like AfreecaTV, a South Korean streaming service. It wasn’t long before the trend exploded globally, with YouTube mukbang stars raking in millions of views – and even some cash – for eating ungodly amounts of food. Not bad for a job that involves stuffing your face on camera.
But the appeal goes deeper. South Korea has a lot of solo diners, and mukbang somehow taps into the loneliness of eating alone. Viewers feel like they’re sharing a meal with the mukbanger, creating a weird sense of connection that makes the experience a little less… well, lonely. And let’s be honest: who hasn’t dreamt of just going to town on a mountain of food without judgment?
Why Do People Watch It?
Now, this is the million-dollar question: Why do people sit and watch someone else eat for hours? Well, the answers are as diverse as the mukbang menus themselves.
For some, it’s all about the food porn. Mukbangers tend to eat visually enticing food, like giant bowls of ramen, seafood platters, and absurd amounts of BBQ. It’s a feast for the eyes and stomach (especially if you’re hungry while watching). Others love the social aspect of mukbang. Viewers can interact with the host via live chat, asking questions or just being there for the ride. There’s a real communal feel—kind of like watching your mate scarf down burgers, but with less judgment.
And then, there’s the ASMR crowd. Mukbang videos are an unexpected goldmine for those who get satisfaction from sounds like slurping, chewing, and crunching. Apparently, it’s pretty calming. Who knew?
Of course, there’s also the element of sheer shock and awe. How on earth can one person eat that much? It’s like watching a competitive eater with none of the pressure. There’s a strange fascination in seeing someone polish off enough food to feed a small village, all while keeping a friendly conversation going with their viewers.
So, is it also sexual? Well for a decent amount of people that watch it, yes it is, for sure being thrown in with other food fetishes, such as sploshing, which I have also covered. And that is without also throwing in websites such as Hot Girls Eating.
Where Is it Most Popular?
While it began in South Korea (of course), it didn’t take long for the rest of the world to get in on the action. Unsurprisingly, South Korea still leads the pack when it comes to mukbang content. Popular South Korean mukbangers, like Banzz and Dorothy, are practically food royalty, with legions of fans tuning in to see what they’ll devour next. Would you guess it, but Japan would closely follow, although it is not as big in the land of Bukkake.
But it’s not just Korea that’s obsessed with watching people eat. The United States has become a mukbanging hotspot too, thanks to YouTube and Twitch. Western mukbangers have taken the concept and added their own flair—often leaning into challenges like eating the hottest wings or the largest slices of pizza imaginable. In fact, popular U.S. mukbangers like Nikocado Avocado have built entire brands around these outrageous eating spectacles, mixing comedy, drama, and food in a way that only the internet could produce.
Japan is also a mukbang-loving nation. Known for its unique food culture, Japanese mukbangers tend to focus on meals like ramen, sushi, and massive seafood bowls, blending the trend with the country’s fascination with food as both art and entertainment. In places like Thailand, Vietnam, and even China, the mukbang scene is growing too. It seems everyone, everywhere, is getting a slice of the mukbang pie – not to be confused with a cream pie…
Is there Mukbang in North Korea?
Is there mukbang in North Korea? Well whilst this might sound like a bat shit crazy thing to ask and while the answer is no, there are some nuances.
Many years ago a chap doing project called DPRK 360 by the name of Aram Pan filmed a lot of North Korean ladies eating, posted the content and it did pretty well. One could think of this perhaps as a niche between a niche surrounded by a niche? It was certainly popular.
Is There a Dark Side?
Not everything is sunshine and fried chicken in the mukbanger world. There’s been some criticism (understandably) about the potential health risks of consuming so much food in one sitting. No one’s saying you need to eat 10,000 calories for a show, but in the quest for more views and higher stakes, some mukbangers have pushed their bodies to the limit. With the pressure to outdo the competition, this can lead to unhealthy eating habits, weight gain, and even long-term health issues.
Then there’s the whole waste aspect. While many mukbangers (best word ever) finish their food (which is a feat in itself), others end up with piles of leftovers. In a world where millions still suffer from food insecurity, the visual of food excess can be a bit uncomfortable to stomach—pun intended.
Why Is Mukbang So Addictive?
The real question is: why do people keep coming back? There’s no denying that this thing has an almost addictive quality. It’s a blend of spectacle, social interaction, and sensory satisfaction that hits all the right dopamine buttons. Whether you’re tuning in for the food, the sounds, or just to see if someone can really eat that much sushi in one sitting, mukbang offers something for everyone.
It’s food as entertainment, plain and simple. And in a world where we can binge-watch entire seasons of reality TV or sit through hours of gaming streams, watching someone eat a plate of dumplings suddenly doesn’t seem that strange.
Final thoughts of a street food guy?
I have a dual pronged opinion on this in that watching chicks eat, no matter how hot does not get me my jollies. With that being said though I do love this as a concept, particularly as a foodie myself.
And, well you know while I might not be into it right now I am an open minded guy when it comes to all manor of kinks. I mean who the hell knows what I might be into when I get to old age? Surely something no one want to think about.