My niece came over and saw the samgyeopsal on the grill. She pointed at it and said “Wow, sexy food~” I thought I misheard her. But nope. That’s a real thing now.
Is 존맛 Now Boomer Language?
Honestly, I still say “존맛” (jonmat, “crazy delicious”). But apparently to Korean teens, that’s already outdated.
존맛 (jonmat) → 꿀맛 (kkulmat) → 섹시푸드 (sexy food)
Slang evolves with each generation. And in 2025, a new food expression took over.
What Is Sexy Food?
섹시푸드 (seksi pudu) = Food that’s perfect in every way - looks, taste, texture, vibes
It’s not just “this is delicious.” It’s when food looks SO good that you’re impressed before even taking a bite.
How to use it:
- See delicious-looking food
- Point at it with your index finger
- Say it with exaggerated American energy: “WOW~ SEXY FOOD!”
Where Did This Come From?
It started on Workdol, a spinoff of the popular YouTube channel Workman.
NMIXX member Haewon said this during filming:
“Kids these days call delicious food ‘sexy food’”
The staff obviously didn’t believe her. But conveniently, some 20-year-old college students happened to be on set. When asked “What do young people call delicious food these days?”:
“Oh, sexy food~” (pointing at food with finger)
Fact-checked. It was real.
When Do You Use It?
Use it when:
- Thick meat is sizzling on the grill
- Cheese is stretching perfectly
- You see a mouth-watering food photo
- The food presentation is insane
Don’t use it when:
- Food is just normally good (just say “맛있다” / masitda)
- Around older adults (most don’t know this meme yet)
In a mukbang stream chat when the streamer shows sizzling samgyeopsal:
(Translation: “Sexy food wow” / “For real I’m drooling” / “Why are you showing this at this hour…” / “Total sekpu”)
The Abbreviation: 섹푸
When texting, Koreans shorten it to 섹푸 (sekpu).
| Expression | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 섹시푸드 (seksi pudu) | Original form |
| 섹푸 (sekpu) | Abbreviated |
| 완전 섹푸 (wanjeon sekpu) | “Total sexy food” = looks amazing |
Brands Are Using It Too
Marketing teams have already caught on.
Jinro Soju positioned their product as “sexy soju” and advertised it pairs well with “sexy foods” like tteokbokki, egg rolls, and naengmyeon.
More brands targeting Gen Z are incorporating this meme into their campaigns.
Korean Food Slang Through the Generations
| Generation | Expression |
|---|---|
| Born in 90s | 존맛, 존맛탱 (jonmat, jonmattaeng) |
| Born early 00s | 꿀맛, JMT (kkulmat, JMT) |
| Born late 00s | 섹시푸드, 섹푸 (seksi pudu, sekpu) |
When I say “존맛,” my niece laughs at me. I guess it’s time to update my vocabulary.
My Experience
NGL, when I first heard this I was like “what?” My niece (high schooler) looked at my homemade kimchi jjigae and said “Auntie, this is total sekpu!” I knew it was a compliment but I couldn’t help laughing.
After using it for a few days though, I get it. It’s more expressive than just “delicious” - the exaggerated reaction makes it more fun. I told my husband “dinner tonight is sexy food” and he just stared at me blankly. He had no idea what I was talking about.
Related Expressions
- ㄹㅇ (rieo) - “Real” / “For real”
- JMT (jonmattaeng) - Old school “crazy delicious”
- 꿀맛 (kkulmat) - “Honey taste” - still used but less fresh
Sources: Gogumafarm, Daum News, Club Korea