We're suckers for free samples, and the Westside Market on 110th and Broadway has been hawking these in-house rice cakes for a while now.
They set them up with a variety of dips, right next to a "Magic Pop" machine that apparently produces the rice cakes (although it wasn't magically popping while we were there). After several free samples over two different trips, we finally bought a bag.
Now, we first have to say that we kind of like rice cakes. Sometimes we need a crunchy fix, and they are good vehicles for peanut butter. We found these to be a nice upgrade from the uniform, puck-shaped variety.
The ingredients are listed as brown rice, wheat flour, corn, salt, soybean oil, and sweetener. So, despite their low calorie content, they aren't necessarily packing a nutritional punch. They are, however, extremely crispy and have a salty-sweet flavor that tastes less stale and artificial than other rice cakes. We'd put them out with dips or chutneys as an appetizer for guests. 
This looks and sounds like the rice cakes I get at my local Hmart Korean Market. They have a similar-sounding machine, and when I saw and heard it I knew it was what my parents described to me from their childhood in Korea.
view Sans's profile
I shop at Westside Market fairly often, and I have seen the rice cake machine running. It smells nice and roasty, and it makes quite a loud "pop" sound when it turns out a rice cake.
I also agree that they are tasty - they have a more complex flavor than other rice cakes (the bagged, puck-shaped variety). Maybe it's the way they make them, or the addition of brown rice?
view ScienceandtheCity's profile
Oh, yummy, crunchy goodness. Any guesses on how to make these at home?!
view EmmaC's profile
EmmaC, I'm with you! Any recipes would be dearly appreciated and excitedly made!
view katiebug's profile
Not sure about making it at home, but I think it's called bbungtigi....bbung for the sound it makes when it pops, and tigi for the cooking process!
view Sans's profile
I've eaten these all the time since I was a kid in Seoul, and I still can't stop at just one... now they sell it by motorcycles during the Korean rush hour when everyone's stuck in traffic! Brilliant!
view jenniejenjen's profile