Tosokchon Samgyetang Restaurant 토속촌土俗村 (South Korea, Seoul)

Black Chicken Stew with Ginseng (Ogolgye Samgyetang) 22,000 KRW (S$27.50)

Tosokchon Samgyetang Restaurant 토속촌土俗村 is a well known restaurant in Seoul known for their signature Ginseng Chicken Soup (Samgyetang). It is popular with both tourist and locals. I have visited this restaurant a number of times in the past with my Korean friends when I was studying in Seoul. I still remember then they told me that the then President (now Late President Roh Moo-hyun) frequently visit this restaurant. This was the best Ginseng Chicken Soup (Samgyetang) I had during my stay in Korea. I would always recommend friends visiting Seoul to visit this restaurant.

Facade

Facade

Tosokchon Samgyetang Restaurant is located near Gyeongbokgung Station (subway line 3). I have read and heard that there could be queues at the restaurant at times. Luckily for us, there was no queue that day. In fact, I have never queued here before in all my past visits =D .

Tosokchon Samgyetang Restaurant has a large seating capacity. They have got several large rooms with floor seating

And some with chairs. They also have private rooms available for groups of 5 to 10 subjected to availability.

Menu

Menu

The menu and prices are now stated in both Korean and English Languages.

Complimentary drink and ginseng alcohol (in smaller cups). Some would drink the ginseng alcohol straight from the cup while some would pour the ginseng alcohol into their bowl of ginseng chicken.

Complimentary Kimchi and Radish

Complimentary Kimchi and Radish.

Chicken Stew with Ginseng (Samgyetang) 삼계탕 15,000 KRW (S$18.75)

This is the signature Chicken Stew with Ginseng (Samgyetang) 삼계탕 15,000 KRW (S$18.75) which majority of the people would order. This is a dish that we always order whenever we visit this restaurant in the past. For this trip, my partner ordered this. This is a must try! It was served pipping hot in a hot stone.

Chicken Stew with Ginseng (Samgyetang) 삼계탕 15,000 KRW (S$18.75)

The Chicken Stew with Ginseng consisted of a whole chicken (young free range chicken) stuffed with glutinous rice and a whole ginseng, topped with spring onions, black sesame seeds, pine nuts and sunflower seeds. The other ingredients include korea date, gingko nuts, ginseng, garlic as well as medical herbs and grains.

The white milky broth, slightly sweet with ginseng flavour was delicious. I would always finish every single bit in this bowl including drinking all the broth! (see photo at the end of the post).

Wild Ginseng Cultured Roots 6,000 KRW (S$7.50)

As I do not know when I will come back to Seoul, my curiosity resulted in me ordering the Wild Ginseng Cultured Roots 6,000 KRW (S$7.50). What a waste of money.. (at least to me)..

Black Chicken Stew with Ginseng (Ogolgye Samgyetang) 22,000 KRW (S$27.50)
with Wild Ginseng Cultured Roots 6,000 KRW (S$7.50)

I ordered the Black Chicken Stew with Ginseng (Ogolgye Samgyetang) 22,000 KRW (S$27.50). This is considered the premium version of the white chicken as it is more nutritious. In addition, it contains lots of antioxidants. This is also the reason why when you visit herbal soup stalls, nearly every stall would sell herbal black chicken soup.

Black Chicken Stew with Ginseng (Ogolgye Samgyetang) 22,000 KRW (S$27.50)
with Wild Ginseng Cultured Roots 6,000 KRW (S$7.50)

The Back Chicken skin and bone are black and its fresh is normally dark grey in colour. I added the Wild Ginseng Cultured Roots into the bowl to make it 'super premium' HAHA. The silly decisions I make  when I am overseas tsk tsk...

Black Chicken Stew with Ginseng (Ogolgye Samgyetang) 22,000 KRW (S$27.50)
with Wild Ginseng Cultured Roots 6,000 KRW (S$7.50)

The glutinous rice and a whole ginseng was stuffed into the Black Chicken. In terms of taste, you would likely not detect any difference between the black and white chicken. Personally, I find the black chicken more tender.

Interesting toilet signage.

Picture from previous stay in Korea

As mentioned earlier, I would always polish off all the whole bowl! Every drop of the soup would be drank and even the bones would be 'sparkling clean'. Yes, this is how much I love this! =D

Tosokchon Samgyetang Restaurant 토속촌土俗村 (South Korea, Seoul)

Seoul-si, Jongno-gu, Chebu-dong 85-1 대한민국 서울특별시 종로구 체부동 85-1

Tel: +82-2-737-7444

Opening Hours: Daily 10am - 10pm

Directions: From Gyeongbokgung Station (subway line 3) Exit 2, walk straight. After walking about 160 meters you will see GS (GS is a convenience store, similar to our 7-11). Take a left turn and walk in, you will see the restaurant on your left.

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Fu He Turtle Soup (Berseh Food Centre)

Fu He Turtle Soup located at the second level of Berseh Food Centre specialises in crocodile, frog and turtle soup. The stall takes up two units and seems to be one of the busiest stall in the food centre.

Turtle soup is made using the meat of a turtle and brewed in a mixture of Chinese herbs. It is considered a delicacy in many countries. Turtle meat is known to be low in calories while high in calcium, vitamin B, phosphorus and zinc.

There are many ways of cooking turtle meat such as fried, steamed, braised or in soup. Traditionally, turtle meat is cooked in soup so that the essence can be easily absorbed by our bodies.

Stewed Turtle Soup $8 and Yam Rice $0.60

Stewed Turtle Soup $8

I am not an expert in turtle soup, as this is only the second time I am eating turtle soup.

Stewed Turtle Soup $8

Stewed Turtle Soup $8

The turtle soup is nice, herbal and very tasty. It taste just like a normal herbal chicken soup. The main difference is the turtle meat.

The gelatinous skin was smooth and soft . The internal organ were rough, soft but fishy. As for the meat, some parts were tough, whereas other parts were soft. 

I would still prefer a normal bowl of herbal chicken soup any time compared to turtle. If you are interested in trying exotic, the turtle or crocodile soup would be an interesting try.

Food for thought: In total, turtle flesh has seven different tastes, depending on which part you cook and consume. 

Fu He Turtle Soup (Berseh Food Centre)
166 Jalan Besar
#02-40 Berseh Food Centre
Tel: 6294 9203
Opening Hours: Daily 11am to 9pm 
                         Closed Tue
Location

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