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Five Must-Try Korean Chicken Spots
- Chicken wrapped in spicy mixed noodles (bibim-guksu): Geomam-dong, Incheon — ‘Nadeulmok Nurungji Tongdakgui’
- The endless possibilities of chicken: varied chicken dishes at Sindang — ‘Gyeryugwan’
- Tender roast chicken with crispy nurungji: Gwang-an-dong, Busan — ‘Nangman Jangjak’
- Celebrity-favored takeout chicken: Hannam-dong — ‘Hannam-dong Hanbang Tongdak’
- Hearty portions with chewy glutinous rice: Anyang-dong, Anyang — ‘Harabeoji Chamnamu Jangjakgui’
When the skin turns golden and that savory aroma fills the air, Korean roast chicken makes an instant impression. Fresh from the fire, the outside is satisfyingly crisp while the meat inside stays juicy and tender, delivering big flavor in every bite. The technique looks simple, but temperature, timing, and prep make all the difference. It’s an unfussy dish that reliably hits the spot, which is why it’s been beloved for so long. Here are five spots where the chicken truly shines.
Chicken wrapped in bibim-guksu: Geomam-dong, Incheon — ‘Nadeulmok Nurungji Tongdakgui’
They smoke the chicken over oak for more than 90 minutes, rendering out excess fat and concentrating flavor. The two-person set is the usual order—pair the young-radish bibim-guksu (spicy mixed noodles) with the nurungji (crispy scorched rice) chicken for a delightful contrast of textures. They serve plenty of sauce so you can dip the noodles with the chicken; if you prefer something milder, simply ask for less sauce.
See more on Siksin: ‘Nadeulmok Nurungji Tongdakgui’
- ✔Location
1F, 4-14 Seunghak-ro 495beon-gil, Seo-gu, Incheon, South Korea
- ✔Hours
Daily 5:00 PM – 12:00 AM
- ✔Menu
Nurungji Tongdak 19,900 KRW (≈ $14.93), Nurungji Corn Chicken 22,000 KRW (≈ $16.50), Nurungji Seasoned Chicken 22,000 KRW (≈ $16.50)
The endless possibilities of chicken: varied chicken dishes at ‘Gyeryugwan’
If you’re tired of the same old fried chicken, Gyeryugwan is worth a visit. This place is known for oak-and-neungi mushroom wood-fire roasting and house-made noodles. A rising-star chef runs the kitchen, and the menu goes beyond roast chicken—think cold sliced chicken, deep-fried chicken gizzards with scallions, and assorted chicken pancakes. The clean, modern interior and inventive dishes keep people coming back. If you want chicken that’s been reimagined, this is the place.
See more on Siksin: ‘Gyeryugwan’
✔Location
102–103, 15-17 Toegye-ro 87-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul, South Korea
✔Hours
Daily 4:00 PM – 11:00 PM
✔Menu
Oak-and-neungi Mushroom Wood-Fire Roast 22,000 KRW (≈ $16.50), Assorted Chicken Pancakes 25,000 KRW (≈ $18.75), Fried Chicken Gizzards with Scallion 15,000 KRW (≈ $11.25)
Tender roast chicken with crispy nurungji: Gwang-an-dong, Busan — ‘Nangman Jangjak’
‘Nangman Jangjak Nurungji Tongdakgui’ is a Gwangalli favorite, so expect a wait at peak times. Their nurungji “volcano” chicken is a popular novelty, but the classic nurungji wood-fire roast is the standout. They grill over oak for a clean, savory flavor and extra-crisp skin. The nutty taste of the nurungji (crispy scorched rice) makes the dish especially addictive.
See more on Siksin: ‘Nangman Jangjak’
- ✔Location
47 Muhak-ro 10beon-gil, Suyeong-gu, Busan, South Korea
- ✔Hours
Daily 4:00 PM – 11:00 PM; closed Sundays
- ✔Prices
Nurungji Wood-Fire Roast Chicken 20,000 KRW (≈ $15.00), Nurungji Volcano Chicken 23,000 KRW (≈ $17.25)
Celebrity-favored takeout chicken: Hannam-dong — ‘Hannam-dong Hanbang Tongdak’
The TV show The Manager highlighted Hannam-dong Hanbang Tongdak as a gentle option that Lee Young-ja turns to when she needs something easy on the stomach. That appearance helped put the shop on the national map, and it’s also known as a favorite of Chung Yong-jin, vice chairman of Shinsegae Group. From the street you can see long skewers of whole chickens slowly turning. The roast is infused with herbal notes, the meat stays tender, and the skin remains crisp. Untie the legs and you’ll find sticky rice, jujube (red dates), ginkgo nuts, garlic, and eleutherococcus tucked inside. Wrapping a bite of chicken in the served kimchi is a revelation.
See full details on Siksin: ‘Hannam-dong Hanbang Tongdak’ ▶
- ▲Location
38, Daesagwan-ro 34-gil, Yongsan-gu, Seoul, South Korea
- ▲Hours
Mon–Thu 4:00 PM–12:30 AM / Fri–Sat 4:00 PM–1:30 AM / Closed Sundays
- ▲Price
Hanbang Tongdak 22,000 KRW (≈ $16.50)
Hearty portions with chewy glutinous rice: Anyang-dong, Anyang — ‘Harabeoji Chamnamu Jangjakgui’
Locals in Anyang tipped us off to this place. It started as a food truck and became so popular the owners opened a shop. The stacked oak logs outside are a good sign they’re serious about wood-fire roasting. The menu is simple—a whole roasted chicken—and it nails the balance between ultra-crispy skin and soft, juicy meat.
See more on Siksin: ‘Harabeoji Chamnamu Jangjakgui’
- ✔Location
20-4 Yanghwa-ro 25beon-gil, Manan-gu, Anyang, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea
- ✔Hours
Daily 1:30 PM – 8:00 PM; closed Wednesdays
- ✔Price
Wood-Fire Roast Chicken – 17,000 KRW (≈ $12.75)
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