Mayak Eggs (Korean Soy Marinated Eggs)

5 from 17 votes
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Mayak eggs went viral in Korea a few years ago- I remember seeing it everywhere for quite a while. Some of my non-Korean friends were even asking me about it, but I had never actually made it before.

It’s basically a soy sauce marinated egg that is boiled to your preference, and it’s actually so addicting!

“Mayak” means drugs and it is meant to describe how addictive this dish is. Don’t worry, there aren’t any actual drugs in this recipe. It’s really easy to make, you just have to be patient and let it marinate before you can eat it.

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Ingredients 

  • Eggs- boiled to your preference. I will provide boiling times for soft jammy eggs vs. hard boiled eggs in the recipe card below. You will also need salt and vinegar to boil the eggs.
  • Marinade– soy sauce, water, sweetening syrup, black pepper, & sesame seeds.
  • Aromatics- garlic, green & red chili pepper, green onion, & cilantro (cilantro is not traditional, I just really like it in my mayak eggs).
  • Sesame oil- I prefer to drizzle this over my eggs as needed instead of putting it into the marinade, because sesame oil starts to taste weird when it’s been sitting in a marinade.
  • Roasted seaweedyou can also use furikake here if you prefer! This will add a bit more umami to your mayak eggs, especially over fresh steamed rice.

Pro tip

Do not add any sesame oil to the marinade! I LOVE sesame oil, but it tastes funky when it has been sitting in a marinade over some time. I prefer the way sesame oil tastes when it is freshly added to a dish right before serving. Drizzle some sesame oil over your mayak eggs as you eat them for the best results.

How to store

If you hard boil your eggs (solid yolks), they can last in the fridge for up to 7 days.

If you soft boil your eggs (jammy yolks), they can last in the fridge for up to 2 days.

Store in the fridge together with the marinade according to how you’ve prepared your eggs. Just make sure that the eggs are refrigerated within 2 hours of boiling them, and never leave eggs out at room temperature for more than 2 hours.

More egg recipes

If you like this recipe, try some of my other banchan recipes using eggs!

5 from 17 votes

Mayak Eggs (Drug Eggs)

Soy sauce marinated eggs
Prep: 5 minutes
Cook: 6 minutes
Total: 6 hours
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Ingredients 

  • 6-8 eggs, boiled to your preference
  • 1 tbsp white vinegar
  • sesame oil, as needed
  • roasted seaweed or furikake

Marinade

  • 1/2 cup soy sauce
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 1/4 cup rice syrup, or honey, corn syrup, sugar
  • 1/4 tsp black pepper
  • 3 garlic cloves, minced
  • 2 green onions, chopped
  • 1 jalapeno, chopped
  • 1 red chili pepper, chopped
  • 1 tsp sesame seeds
  • 1/4 cup cilantro, optional

Instructions 

  • In a pot, bring enough water to cover 6-8 eggs to a boil then add vinegar 
  • Boil your eggs to your liking. I like runny yolks, so I bring my eggs to room temp and then gently drop them in the boiling water for exactly 6 minutes. But NOT a rolling boil. That much heat and movement may cause the eggs to break and leak. A little breakage is ok, but if your egg starts to leak then the heat is too high.
    *for hard boiled eggs, boil for 12 minutes
  • Immediately place the eggs in an ice bath to stop the cooking until they have completely cooled.
  • Mix all the marinade ingredients together
  • Carefully peel the eggs. If you soft boiled them, they will be squishy (not too firm) to the touch, so be gentle.
  • Pour the sauce over the eggs in an air tight container and refrigerate over night.
  • When ready to eat, drizzle over a little sesame oil and serve with rice and roasted seaweed or furikake.

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Additional Info

Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 6 minutes
Total Time: 6 hours
Cuisine: Korean
Keyword: Korean
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About Stella

I come from a multicultural background, and cooking has been one of the best ways for me to stay connected to my heritage. My recipes are tried and tested, many of them passed down through family. I hope you enjoy these recipes as much as we do!

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5 from 17 votes

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17 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    This mayak eggs recipe hits the spot everytime!!! thank you for sharing bomb recipes! I posted his on my IG and other people wanted the recipe, pointed them to yours!

  2. 5 stars
    My husband and I love these eggs! It goes perfect with everything. We like eating it with rice or noodles or by itself. It has a great umami taste to it!

  3. 5 stars
    I have become absolutely addicted to Mayak Eggs and your recipe is a staple in our home. The flavors are an egg-stravaganza! They are simply little bites of joy. I love the spicy kick and savory yummy-ness. Highly recommend this recipe for everyone to try! Thanks for sharing

  4. 5 stars
    This is my go to recipe when I’m too lazy to meal prep. It’s so simple, but so tasty and addictive! If you follow her tip for foolproof eggs, the shells really do come off easily, so don’t forget the salt and vinegar! I like adding some of the sauce to the rice along with sesame oil for a delicious lunch! Yum! <3

  5. 5 stars
    This was the recipe that made me start following you! After making this, I was hooked on these eggs. I have done quite a few of your recipes but this one is so easy, quick and delicious!