Tosokchon (토속촌) samgyetang 삼계탕

A trip to Korea is never complete until you’ve had samgyetang (ginseng chicken soup). Traditionally served in summer for its nutrients to replace those lost through physical exertion during the sultry months of the year, the dish is made with a whole young chicken stuffed with glutinous rice and boiled in a broth of Korean ginseng, garlic, dried seeded jujube fruits, etc.

The recipe at Tosokchon includes a garnish of pumpkin and sunflower seeds. The obligatory kimchi and ginseng alcohol are part of the course and included in every meal. Located near the Gyeongbukgung Palace in Seoul, Tosokchon is one of the most famous places to have samgyetang in a traditional Korean setting. Apparently, it was frequently visited by former President Roh Moo-hyun.

Tosokchon is typically crowded during lunch hours, so arrive early. That said, the place has a maximum seating capacity of 420, so the queue moves pretty fast. Inside, Tosokchon is a flurry of activity as the staff moves around quickly bringing trays of ginseng chicken soup to patrons. The chicken used isn’t greasy or oily, so it makes the dish as healthy as it is tasty. Definitely worth a visit if you are in Seoul.

What you see when you first step in.

Within Tosokchan are many areas of different sizes to accomodate the crowd. Shoes are left outside.

Here’s the menu, and bill.

How to get there:
From Gyeongbokgung Station (Seoul Subway Line 3), take Exit 2 and go 200m north towards Seoul Tongui-dong Post Office (서울통의동 우체국). Then turn left onto Jihamun-ro 5-gil and go straight for 10m.