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.

View FoodieFC's South Korea Food Map in a larger map

Xu Yang Tonic Soup 旭阳敦品 (Ang Mo Kio)

Xu Yang Tonic Soup 旭阳敦品

Xu Yang Tonic Soup 旭阳敦品 has been serving herbal soup for the last 30 years since the 1980s. They have received several recognition from food shows, newspapers and magazines.

This stall is located in Coffee City at Ang Mo Kio Ave 6. This is within Ang Mo Kio Central, just 10 minutes walk from Ang Mo Kio MRT Station.

I have been patronising Xu Yang Tonic Soup 旭阳敦品 since young, upper primary in fact. As far as I can recall, this stall is very famous. Most people who visit this coffee shop patronise this stall. Some people of my age hates herbal soup (especially the smell). The very first time I tried herbal soup was at this stall. After some many years, I still come back specially for this and noticed that the owners still look the same, so young! (should be the herbal soup!)

Menu (a)

Menu (b)

Over 16 varieties of soup to choose from! Oh yes, patrons who frequent this stall will notice that they have a new look now. The coffee shop was renovated recently in October 2011. As expected, there was a price increase.

'Tian Qi' Black Chicken $6.00

I always order the 'Tian Qi' Black Chicken every time I come here, with the exception of ordering the Herbal Turtle and 'Chong Cao' Herbal Black Chicken once or twice. I did not stop ordering them because they were lousy, but the reason was more that I like the 'Tian Qi' Black Chicken too much.

More herbals and chicken hidden below. Lucky me, I got the bowl with chicken leg! The black chicken is tender and tasty even though it has most likely been steamed for a long period of time. Moreover, the taste of herbals has sipped into the chicken. The soup is concentrated with herbals and is not salty. Nor is it diluted. No Salt, No MSG!

Over the years, I have noticed that the amount of herbals and black chicken being given has decreased. Despite this, this is still one of the best herbal stall. Most other herbal stall elsewhere serve worse herbal soup that seems to be added with salt.

Ginseng Frog $8.00 with Plain Rice $0.50 

 $8.00 

Had craving for frog legs, hence ordered the Gingseng Frog Soup. Generous portions of frog meat was given. Not too bad, but I would have prefer Frog Legs to be cooked with spring onion and ginger or dried chilli to give more flavour and fragrant to the frog meat.

Overall, I still find this stall provides soups that are quite value for money despite the increase in price. Hopefully, the standard does not deteriorate. I will definitely be back and I have no idea why I am interested in trying the Herbal Turtle Soup as I am typing this.

Xu Yang Tonic Soup 旭阳敦品 (Ang Mo Kio)
Blk 450 Ang Mo Kio Ave 10
#01-1747, S-11 (AMK 450) Food House
Singapore 560450
Blk 728 Ang Mo Kio Ave 6
Coffee City #01-4200
Tel: 9144 8248
Opening Hours: Mon to Sat 11am - 930pm
                          Closed on Sun
Website