What comes to mind when I say the word Korean Chicken? If you imagine fried chicken (with a side of beer), you are not alone. Korea and chicken go hand in hand, like, well… Korean fried chicken and beer. Almost every restaurant we visited in Seoul has at least one Korean chicken dish on the menu, so much so that I am surprised Korea doesn’t have a national chicken day.
Saying that, there is more to Korean chicken than the famed Korean fried chicken. Here are some types you ought to try while in Korea for both cultural and foodie experience
Dakgalbi ━ Spicy Stir Fried Korean Chicken
Where to eat? Shin Mi Kyeong Hongdae Dakgalbi ━ 364-22, Seogyo-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul 1F.
If you eat Dakgalbi in Korean restaurants, the marinated raw chicken will usually be placed onto a large shallow pan on the table equipped with a gas stove. Then, it’s the patrons’ job to cook the chicken, but you can also ask for the server’s help. But I prefer to do the cooking myself because it’s fun. By cooking, I mean tossing, turning and waiting before eating the spicy marinated chicken cubes communally.
Yoogane Dakgalbi Then and Now
Dakgalbi was the first Korean chicken I had in Korea during my first trip to Seoul. We went to Yoogane on our first night there and had Dakgalbi (and squid) and later addition of rice, fried on the spot using the leftover spices from the same pan.
On Christmas night during the recent Korean trip, I took Fafa to Myeongdeong Yoogane and repeated the exact order. It was good but not as good as I remembered it to be. This time, the flavour has toned down ━ not in a good way. So, when a friend recommended another Dakgalbi restaurant called Shin Mi Kyeong Hongdae Dakgalbi we gave it another go.
Shin Mi Kyeong Hongdae Dakgalbi
Once inside, we were seated and provided a menu with only a few options. We choose the classic Dakgalbi. First came the free green onion pancake batter, which I cooked like how I would cook Indian dosa. Then came plates of banchan. Eventually, the marinated raw chicken came with a bit of vegetables. This time the waiter cooked it for us. Maybe she saw how badly I cooked the pancake and took pity on us. But it mattered not because we both agreed it was the best stir-fried Korean chicken ever. It was flavourful with an authentic Korean spiciness to it.
My favourite part was the tteokbokki that came with it.
The restaurant was at the back of a building and a bit hard to find, but it was well worth the hassle of finding it. Also, they have a cheese menu and add-on if you are into a cheesy version. But, if you come here, avoid peak hours as the waiter has no qualms about telling you the Korean version of “no seat, come next time”.
In case you are more into seafood than chicken, I suggest going to Yoogane instead, and you can always ask for extra spicy paste if you are into spicy food. And if you are interested to learn how to cook Dakgalbi, I highly recommend taking a Korean cooking class while visiting Korea.
Chikin ━ Korean Fried Chicken
Where to eat? Zen Kimchi's recommendations. If not, Hanshin Pocha ━ 182-29 Nonhyeon-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, South Korea
Obviously, I have to mention Korean fried chicken ━ Fafa’s favourite version of the Korean chicken dish, in this post.
If you have to try it, Korean fried chicken is much smaller than KFC’s fried chicken. But it’s more flavourful, crunchier and tastier. They usually come in a plate of 6-12 or more pieces as the original (no sauce) or with a few different sauces, such as spicy, sweet, sweet-spicy and garlic. You can also opt for wings or thigh parts of the chicken. With many variations, you can pretty much find a favourite. Mine is Korean fried chicken wings with spicy garlic sauce.
The thing is, after extensive Googling and various discussions with Korean friends, none can agree about the best place to eat Korean fried chicken in Korea. So I am going to leave it with you, it depends on whose opinion you trust.
Best Korean fried chicken in Seoul: UNGTEORI TONGDAK 엉터리통닭 (ITAEWON, SEOUL).
Dakbal ━ Spicy Chicken Feet
Where to eat? Hanshin Pocha ━ 182-29 Nonhyeon-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, South Korea.
I can’t believe that I only found out about Dakbal only less than a month ago! Dakbal, translated as chicken feet, is pieces of chicken feet served in a hot pot or plate.
Dakbal, especially the one served in a hotpot, IMO, is the best version of a Korean chicken dish ever!!!
While in Seoul, we went on a food tour where I learned there was such a thing as spicy chicken feet. The next night, on New Year’s day, we went to Hanshin Pochan, a chain restaurant in Hongdae, after a recommendation from the tour guide, Mike. Minutes after putting in the order, I sat in front of a pan of boiling chicken feet floating in red sauce. Since Fafa was not into it (he got Korean fried chicken from here, which according to him, was the best one he had during the trip), the Dakbal was all mine, and I am not complaining one bit. I finished every single one of them.
We came back two days later for a repeat order, and this time we also got a bowl of DIY rice with tuna and seaweed which you are supposed to make bowls yourself. It was a perfect companion to the super spicy chicken feet.
If you like chicken feet and spicy food, I can guarantee you Dakbal will give you a foodgasm. Nuff said.
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