Casual Dining, Korean Food, Seoul, South Korea

[KOREA] JINOKHWA HALMAE WONJO DAKHANMARI (진옥화할매원조닭한마리) – Dongdaemun, Seoul

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If you’re looking for a famous local restaurant in Seoul, here we’ll share a recommended chicken restaurant, Jinokhwa Halmae Wonjo Dakhanmari (Jin Ok-hwa Original Chicken Restaurant / 진옥화할매원조닭한마리). This restaurant is famous among the locals since they first opened its doors in 1978 and has continued to be a much-loved restaurant on Jongno 5-ga for the past 30 years.

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Jinokhwa Halmae Wonjo Dakhanmari is situated at an alley in Dongdaemun (동대문) district. It’s not easy to find Jinokhwa Halmae Wonjo Dakhanmari. You can get there by Seoul subway and walk along a street with lots of local stalls (more details direction at the end of this post). There are many eateries in there. Among the few Dakhanmari restaurants in the same alley, Jinokhwa Halmae Wonjo Dakhanmari is said to be the first Dakhanmari restaurant to start their business in this alley.

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While many restaurants in this alley can claim originality, this restaurant is arguably one of the best when it comes to flavors. This restaurant has a long history in Seoul who has been mentioned in the Michelin Guide in May 2011 so this place must be on our #FoodInLoveKOREA bucket list. The place is not fancy of course, like any other legendary restaurant, but it’s comfy enough and air-conditioned.

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Once you seated down, the pot of chicken has already ready on your table. The restaurant only uses fresh young chickens, which are about 35 days old, and minimal seasoning to allow you to fully enjoy the tenderness of the meat. The chicken is first boiled to half-cooked in kitchen, oil scooped off and go to second boiling in front of customers.

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Dakhanmari, literally means ‘a whole chicken’ in English. It’s a Korean food that is not commonly found, and maybe totally not available in Indonesia. The chicken is cooked in Dakbaeksuk (Chicken Stew/Soup) whose recipe and ingredients are similar to Samgyetang (Ginseng Chicken Soup) and boiled with garlic and rice cakes. While Samgyetang is made with ginseng, various herbs, chestnuts, Dakbaeksuk consists of simpler ingredients, such as chicken, water, and garlic.

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The pot is perfect to share with 3 peoples, which is first served in a metal pot with a half-cooked baby chicken, some potatoes, and green onions. While we get ready our dipping sauce by mixing together soy sauce, yellow mustard, vinegar and their homemade chili paste, the waiter comes and cut the chicken into adequate-sized pieces and let it boil. While waiting for the soup to boil, you can take free-flow spicy Kimchi and water at the side counter.

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Taste-wise, we personally think that dipping of the condiments is a must, else the chicken would only taste ordinary, like a typical steamed chicken. The unique thing about the soup is for its garlic chicken soup taste while the chicken is deliciously juicy and tender, whereas the clear broth is definitely tasty. Rice cake (tteok) and noodles can be added to the soup at KRW 1,000 and KRW 1,500.

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The soup is clean and mild in taste, helmed with nourishing sweetness released from chicken, but you can also add their hot pepper chili into the soup to add more spicy flavor to it. This feast is surely satisfying and warm to the heart!

 

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Overall,  Jinokhwa Halmae Wonjo Dakhanmari is definitely worth to visit and experience eating something that will hard, even in Korea. The food and taste are unique even though the price is slightly expensive. But still, it’s a good option if you want to experience eating like a local and we personally enjoyed it much.

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How to getting there:
Take exit 9 of Dongdaemun Station (Seoul Subway Line 1, 4), Go straight 160m and turn left at the Industrial Bank of Korea (기업은행),  you will reach a street with lots of local stalls. Go straight 50m and turn onto the first side street to the right. Continue 100m straight until you see the signboard of Jin Ok-hwa Original Chicken Restaurant, with a portrait of founder on it.

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Jinokhwa Halmae Wonjo Dakhanmari / Jin Ok-hwa Original Chicken Restaurant (진옥화할매원조닭한마리)

18, Jong-ro 40ga-gil, Jongno-gu
Seoul, South Korea

Telp: +82-2-2275-9666

Opening Hours: Everyday (10.30 AM – 1 AM)

Website: www.darkhanmari.co.kr

How to getting there:
Take exit 9 of Dongdaemun Station (Seoul Subway Line 1, 4), Go straight 160m and turn left at the Industrial Bank of Korea (기업은행),  you will reach a street with lots of local stalls. Go straight 50m and turn onto the first side street to the right. Continue 100m straight until you see the signboard of Jin Ok-hwa Original Chicken Restaurant, with a portrait of founder on it.

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3 thoughts on “[KOREA] JINOKHWA HALMAE WONJO DAKHANMARI (진옥화할매원조닭한마리) – Dongdaemun, Seoul”

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