In Korea, there is a unique food culture of eating hot dishes to replenish your energy, especially during the hottest days of summer. In particular, during the "sambok" period, which refers to the three hottest days of summer, chobok, jungbok, and malbok, you can easily see people enjoying hot Samgyetang. Made by stuffing a young chicken with glutinous rice, ginseng, garlic, jujubes, and other ingredients before simmering it slowly, Samgyetang is one of Korea's most iconic summer health dishes.

Today, Our editor visited Mapo Wonjo Samgyetang, a restaurant where you can truly experience this Korean tradition of enjoying nourishing dishes.

In addition to classic Samgyetang, the restaurant also serves ogolgye-tang and ot-ogolgye-tang, made with dark-feathered black chickens, offering a chance to try even more unique Korean chicken dishes.

We recommend this restaurant not only to visitors trying Samgyetang for the first time during their trip to Korea, but also to those who have already tried regular Samgyetang and want to experience a more special nourishing dish.

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'Mapo Wonjo Samgyetang' | Why We Recommend It

• You can enjoy Samgyetang, Korea's iconic nourishing dish, just as it should be.

Samgyetang is a traditional Korean nourishing dish made by stuffing a whole chicken with glutinous rice, ginseng, jujubes, and other ingredients, then simmering it for a long time. We especially recommend it to foreign travelers because it offers a chance to experience Korea's summer food culture as well..

• You can compare everything from Samgyetang to Ogolgye-tang and Otgolgye-tang.

In addition to regular Samgyetang, the menu also includes Ogolgye-tang and Otgolgye-tang, making it fun to compare how the same type of chicken dish can vary depending on the ingredients and broth. Ogolgye is especially distinctive because its skin, bones, and meat are dark in color, so it can make a very striking first impression. Ogolgye is a special nourishing dish that was reportedly enjoyed by Korean kings in the past. Experience the unique appeal of traditional Korean nourishing cuisine with Ogolgye, a black chicken known for its deep, rich flavor, prepared as Ogolgye Samgyetang. Ogolgye is a traditional nourishing ingredient characterized by its blackish skin and bones and its deep, rich flavor. It has long been considered a precious delicacy, and offers a clean yet rich taste that is distinct from regular Samgyetang.

• It's easy for foreign visitors to compare the dishes and place their orders.

The menu was written in Korean, English, Japanese, and Chinese. Photos of each dish were also included, making it relatively easy for foreign travelers trying unfamiliar Korean foods such as Samgyetang and Ogolgye to choose what to order.

• You can also enjoy a variety of Korean side dishes, including chicken gizzards and seafood green onion pancakes.
• Pairing your meal with ginseng liquor lets you fully enjoy a complete Korean nourishing meal.

That day, Samgyetang, Ogolgye-tang, Otgolgye-tang, chicken gizzards, seafood green onion pancakes, and ginseng liquor were ordered together. With the table filled with dishes, we were able to experience a wide variety of Korean food, from steaming nourishing dishes to pancakes, stir-fried dishes, and traditional liquor. We'll introduce each one in detail below!

'Mapo Wonjo Samgyetang' | Our Visit

An Atmosphere Filled with the Charm of a Long-Established Korean Restaurant

When you step inside 'Mapo Wonjo Samgyetang,' you first notice the atmosphere of a local Korean restaurant that has stood in the same place for many years, rather than that of a modern restaurant with flashy decor.

The dark wooden pillars, solid wood tables, and warm lighting come together to create a comfortable and welcoming atmosphere. Old newspapers and notices are posted throughout the walls and pillars, naturally adding to the sense of history.

In particular, the old-style CRT television and telephone in one corner, along with the traditionally styled furniture and decorations, caught our eye. It felt even more special because the restaurant seemed to have preserved its original appearance from many years ago.

The seating is divided among several tables, with a separate area toward the back. It looked suitable for everyone from solo travelers and small groups to those dining with larger parties.

Samgyetang, Ogolgyetang, and Lacquer Ogolgyetang All Together

What caught our eye first that day was, of course, the three earthenware pots.

We ordered regular Samgyetang, Ogolgyetang (black-boned chicken soup), and Lacquer Ogolgyetang all at once, and although they may look like similar chicken dishes, their appearances were distinctly different.

Each dish arrived bubbling hot in an earthenware pot, giving us the feeling of enjoying a hearty Korean restorative meal from the moment it was placed on the table.

In particular, ordering all three dishes together made it easy to compare the difference between regular chicken and black-boned chicken, as well as the difference between the clear, milky broth and the slightly richer broth at a glance. It was perfect for sharing and comparing when visiting with a group.

If you want to start with the classic, try 'Samgyetang'

If this is your first time trying Samgyetang in Korea, we recommend starting with the classic version.

A whole chicken comes in the earthenware pot, topped with various ingredients such as jujubes and ginseng. The chicken is simmered for so long that the meat is tender enough to pull apart easily with a spoon or chopsticks.

When we gently lifted the chicken, we could enjoy the ginseng and chicken meat inside in one bite.

Rather than eating just the chicken, Samgyetang is best enjoyed with the glutinous rice and other ingredients inside, mixed with the broth. At the end, we also recommend stirring the glutinous rice into the broth and enjoying it like porridge.

Try the broth as it is first, then add a little salt or kimchi from the table to suit your taste.

It also pairs wonderfully with ginseng liquor!

What Is Black Chicken? 'Ogolgyetang'

Next, we tried Ogolgyetang.

When you take the chicken out of the hot stone pot, the biggest difference from regular Samgyetang immediately catches your eye. The chicken's skin and some of the meat have a deep

color, which may come as a surprise to foreign visitors seeing it for the first time.

However, this is exactly what makes the black-bone chicken special. Ogolgye is a type of chicken with dark purplish-black skin and bones, commonly described in English as Silkie chicken or black-bone chicken.

When our editor lifted the chicken out, the strikingly different color compared with regular Samgyetang also made an impression.

The broth is milky white, creating an even stronger contrast with the dark-colored black-bone chicken. If you would like to try a Korean chicken dish that is a little different from the Samgyetang you usually enjoy, this is a great menu to try.

If You Want to Try an Even More Special Nourishing Dish, 'Lacquer Tree Silkie Chicken Soup'

Of the three dishes, the Lacquer Tree Silkie Chicken Soup had the most unique appearance.

The dark color characteristic of silkie chicken, combined with the broth made with lacquer tree, gave it a noticeably deeper color than regular Samgyetang or Silkie Chicken Soup.

Samgyetang → Silkie Chicken Soup → Lacquer Tree Silkie Chicken Soup Comparing the dishes in this order, you can naturally see that Korean nourishing dishes come in many varieties, depending on the ingredients, rather than just one standard form.

If you have already tried regular Samgyetang or want to try something a little more unusual in Korea, we recommend ordering the Lacquer Tree Silkie Chicken Soup as well.

A Crispy Side Dish, 'Haemul Pajeon'

We also ordered Haemul Pajeon along with the three soup dishes.

It came spread across a large plate, almost filling it completely. Packed with chives and a variety of other ingredients, it was cooked until golden and crispy all the way to the edges, making it look incredibly appetizing.

A soy sauce dip was served in the center, making it easy to tear off a piece at a time and enjoy alongside the meal.

Taking a bite of the crispy pancake between bites of hot, tender Samgyetang added a nice change in texture and made the meal even more enjoyable.

'Jeon' is a Korean dish that is perfect for sharing, with everyone taking a piece from the center of the table, so we recommend ordering it as a side dish if you're visiting with a group.

Chewy Korean Drinking Snack, 'Chicken Gizzard'

This time, we also ordered chicken gizzard, a popular dish often enjoyed at drinking gatherings in Korea.

Made with the chicken's gizzard, this dish is known in English as chicken gizzard. The name may sound a little unfamiliar, but in Korea, it is a familiar drinking snack that is often stir-fried or deep-fried.

Unlike the tender chicken in Samgyetang, chicken gizzard is all about its distinctively chewy texture, so it was fun to alternate between the two.

If you want to try not only Samgyetang but also a more local Korean dish, be sure to order this one as well.

Enjoy Ginseng Liquor with Your Meal

At 'Mapo Wonjo Samgyetang', you can order ginseng liquor separately. It was fun to enjoy ginseng, one of the key ingredients in Samgyetang, in the form of a drink as well.

When poured into a glass, it has a clear golden color. With each sip, you can taste the distinctive yet delicate aroma of ginseng, which pairs naturally well with Samgyetang.

If you have already tried soju or beer in Korea, pairing ginseng liquor with this nourishing dish would be a unique way to experience traditional Korean liquor.

Our editor's recommended order

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If you're ordering several dishes, Samgyetang → Ogolgye-tang → Ot-ogolgye-tang recommends tasting a little of each broth in this order first.

Starting with the lightest Samgyetang makes it easier to compare the differences between each dish.

In between, share some seafood pancake and chicken gizzards, and if you'd like, enjoy a glass of ginseng liquor with your meal.

Once you've eaten most of the chicken in the Samgyetang, mix the glutinous rice inside into the broth and enjoy it warm to the last bite for a hearty finish.

Don't Be Surprised by Ogolgye, a Chicken You May Be Seeing for the First Time!

As a foreign traveler, you may be surprised to see black chicken meat when the Ogolgye-tang is first served at your table.

Unlike ordinary chicken, Ogolgye is a breed with naturally black or deep purple skin and bones. It has not been improperly cooked, this is simply a natural characteristic of Ogolgye, so feel free to try it.

If you want to try a dish that is not commonly found outside Korea during your trip, it can become a truly memorable meal.

In Conclusion

If you want to experience not only famous Korean dishes but also the traditional health food culture that Korean people genuinely enjoy, we recommend Mapo Wonjo Samgyetang.

It was especially fun to compare the most classic Samgyetang, black chicken soup, and lacquered black chicken soup, which even has a different-colored broth, all in one place.

Ordering a large seafood pancake, chewy chicken gizzards, and ginseng liquor as well gives you a much more varied Korean-style meal than simply enjoying a bowl of Samgyetang.

We also appreciated that the menu includes multiple languages and photos, making it easy for international visitors unfamiliar with Korean food names to compare the dishes and place their orders.

Whether you want a hearty meal featuring comforting Korean health food or have already tried regular Samgyetang and would like to challenge yourself with something a little more special, be sure to stop by!

'Mapo Wonjo Samgyetang' | How to Get There

'Mapo Wonjo Samgyetang' is located near Mapo Station.

Exit through Exit 3 of Mapo Station.

Continue straight.

Turn right at the alley.

You have arrived at 'Mapo Wonjo Samgyetang'!