Euljiro has become one of our favourite neighbourhoods in Seoul with its mix of retro and modern vibes. Hidden within the alleys of Euljiro are not only hip cafes and pubs but also old-school restaurants such as Sarangbang Kalguksu.
This restaurant has been operating since 1968 and focuses on one thing: Chicken.
The exterior of the restaurant retains an old-school look while looking slightly shabby, rundown, and cluttered. However, this spot is so famous that it’s been featured on local Korean media on shows like ‘I Live Alone’, ‘Tasty Guys’ and ‘Wednesday Foodtalk’.
The waiting line can get crazy, especially on weekends, hence we did an open run and visited it first thing in the morning.
Best Chicken Soup in Seoul
The menu here is so simple, featuring Kalguksu (7,000won), Chicken Gomtang (6,500won), and Baekban (9,000won).
If you’re coming in a large group, you can also opt to purchase the Whole Boiled Chicken for 35,000won.
While the name of the restaurant suggests the place is known for its knife-cut noodles, they’re actually known for its boiled chicken. This also explained why the moment we stepped in, the cute grandma staff immediately asked if I wanted a serving of their Baekban.
The Baekban (9,000won) comes with a bowl of white rice, a small pot of clear chicken soup topped with chopped spring onions, a side of kimchi and half a boiled chicken.
It was a simple meal, but it was one of the best meals I’ve had in Seoul.
The chicken itself was off-the-bone tender (refer to our video below), and there weren’t any gamey hints. A great way to elevate the experience is to pair it with some of their kimchi, crisp and spicy – just how we like it.
The MVP had to be the unassuming bowl of soup – which was simple yet deep and fragrant. There was a hint of garlic in there, but each mouthful felt so warm and comforting. Needless to say, I cleared the entire pot.
In fact, I cleared almost everything served together with the Baekban.
Solo Restaurant in Seoul
The restaurant menu itself makes this spot perfect for solo travellers, but as someone who visited alone, I didn’t have the stomach capacity to try their Kalguksu as well. If you’re visiting in a group, I would suggest ordering a mix of both.
However, if you’re planning on visiting alone like us, go for the Baekban.
While Seoul is known for hip and cute restaurants, it was nice to be able to discover more local spots and food which highlight the essence of Korean cuisine.
Sarangbang Kalguksu (사랑방 칼국수)
서울 중구 퇴계로27길 46
46 Toegyro 27-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul
Mon-Fri, 10:30am-9:40pm, Sat-Sun, 10:30am-9pm (Closed every first Sunday of the month)
Nearest Subway: Euljiro-3-ga Station (Line 2), Exit 11 or Chungmuro Station (Line 3/4), Exit 6
Naver Maps
*This was an independent review by MiddleClass
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