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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Chin Seng Cooked Food (Tekka Centre)

Wanton Noodles $3

Chin Seng Cooked Food is a noodles stall located at Tekka Market and Food Centre run by an elderly couple.

The stall owners make the Char Siew themselves each morning. The lady owner explained that making the Char Siew themselves is nicer compared to buying it (outside). Although their opening hours is from 7am to 3pm daily, they have to come before 5am to prepare. And after closing, they would also need to wash the dishes, clean the stall and prepare for the next day. Sometimes they have to stay till as late as 5pm. It is literally a 12 hours job. Despite that, they do not have any rest day as they need to earn a living.

This is also partly the reason why, you would see them wrapping wanton / dumplings whenever they have any free time.

Wanton Noodles $3

For just $3, this plate of Wanton Noodles (mee) is value for money. It came with lots of noodles, char siew, vegetables and a bowl of wanton soup.

Wanton Noodles $3

Lot at the amount of carbo (noodles) give. The noodles was not overcooked and there was lots of sauce underneath it. The char siew which they made themselves was delicious. It was not dry and had a good balance of lean meat and fats.

Wanton Noodles $3

There were five pieces of wanton given. The wantons were delicious. They were so generous with the meat  fillings and seasoned it well.

Dumpling Noodles $3 (with Char Siew $0.50)

On another occasion, I ordered the Dumpling Noodles $3 and topped up $0.50 for their char siew.

Dumpling Noodles $3 (with Char Siew $0.50)

The char siew which they made themselves was so delicious. I love the charred bits at the exterior!

Dumpling Noodles $3 (with Char Siew $0.50)

Four pieces of dumplings was given. These were big and delicious! They have probably added pieces of chestnuts into it to give it a crunchy bite.

Chicken Chop Noodles $3

I also tried their Chicken Chop Noodles $3. The chicken is fried just before serving. In bite sizes, children will love this!

I can forsee myself coming back for more wanton noodles and dumpling noodles! The food here is cheap and good! 

Chin Seng Cooked Food (Tekka Centre)

665 Buffalo Road 

#01-294 Tekka Centre 

Singapore 210665
Opening Hours: Daily 7am to 3pm

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Milkcow Singapore: Free Milkcow Ice Cream at Star Vista (10 May 2015)

Source: Milkcow Singapore

Milkcow Singapore 밀크카우: Free Milkcow Ice Cream (flavours M1-M5)at Star Vista (10 May 2015)

- Valid on 10 May 2015 at 12pm at Star Vista
- 1 redemption per person
- Limited to the 1st 150 in queue
- To redeem ysimply "LIKE" Milkcow on their instagram page and show it to them at the point of redemption