An international student came back from a bus trip and asked me this. "I only meant to use the restroom at the rest stop, but everyone was eating udon and walnut cakes. Why do people eat snacks on the highway?" I was at a loss for words. I had always just assumed that's simply what rest stops are like. ## The Only Restaurant on the Road Once you get on the expressway, it's hard to get off midway and look for a restaurant. So the rest stop became the only restaurant on the road. During the holidays, traffic gets so bad that people sometimes spend hours at a time in the car. So people crowd into rest stops, and the food has gradually become more varied. It was only natural that a place to rest became a place to eat. ## Walnut Cakes and Udon Walnut cakes (hodu-gwaja) are a famous snack from Cheonan. I heard many people stop by to buy them on their way south from Seoul. Udon comes out hot and fast, so it suits people who are worn out from a long trip. Many rest stops also sell local specialties from their region. So some people even go out of their way to visit rest stops. ## Tips You Can Use Right Away Express buses stop at rest areas for a set amount of time. Be sure to check the departure time when you get off. There are lots of buses, so it's easy to find yours if you take a photo of the license plate. Menus and prices can change, so check on the spot. Since that day, I've eaten a bowl of udon at rest stops differently.