Sinwol-dong mild braised chicken, persimmon dessert: Songga Chueotang

This is a happy record of a warm, filling braised chicken stew at Songga Chueotang (송가네 추어탕), tucked in an alley in Sinwol-dong, Yangcheon.

Where is Songga Chueotang, and what's the parking and atmosphere like?

Songga Chueotang is at 16-1 Woljeong-ro, Yangcheon-gu, Seoul, on the first floor, and it's open every day from 10:30 to 21:30. There's a shared parking lot 10 meters away, and it offers reservations, baby chairs, takeout, group seating and Wi-Fi.

Walking along the Woljeong-ro alley near the residential streets of Sinwol-dong, a yellow sign caught my eye. The shared parking lot is just 10 meters from the restaurant, so driving here is easy. Stepping inside, the clean, pleasant atmosphere put me at ease. The neatly arranged wooden tables and chairs showed how well the place is kept.

Further inside, the space was bigger than I expected. There are long wooden group tables that suit a crowd, so it looked great for family gatherings or company dinners too.

The kitchen is open and bright, so you can see the cooking at a glance. The owner greeted us kindly, and I was in a good mood from the moment I walked in.

What's on the Songga Chueotang menu?

The menu lists loach soup (chueotang), snail loach soup and beef offal soup among the soups, plus jeongol (hot pot) dishes. That day I ordered the braised chicken stew for 2-3 people, which was on a poster on one side.

A big menu board with clearly marked prices hung on the wall.

How were the side dishes and the free boiled pork?

The basic side dishes came as a bossam (boiled pork wraps) spread, along with free boiled pork. We had green chili peppers, onion, ssamjang (seasoned dipping paste) and seasoned bean sprouts, plus green onion kimchi and napa cabbage kimchi.

The bossam that came as a basic side was really delicious. Crunchy green chili and onion, ssamjang and fresh seasoned bean sprouts arrived in tidy bowls. Even though it's just the standard setup, the care in it made me feel treated like a guest.

The free boiled pork was far better than I expected. I picked up a glossy slice and there was no gamey smell at all. The lean meat wasn't dry but tender, and with the bean sprouts the nutty flavor doubled.

I put a bit of well-ripened green onion kimchi on top of a slice and took a bite. The sharp scallion aroma and savory depth blended naturally with the richness of the pork.

Next I wrapped the pork in well-seasoned napa cabbage kimchi. The clean flavor of the kimchi seasoning meant I could finish a bowl of rice with just this.

Now and then I dipped a crunchy green chili in ssamjang, which neatly reset my palate.

Songga Chueotang's braised chicken stew: mild, not spicy

The braised chicken stew is ₩32,000 for 2-3 people, and it comes in a jeongol pot on a burner, generously loaded with chicken, potatoes, green onion and onion. The most impressive part was the clean broth that was neither spicy nor harsh.

Braised chicken stew (2-3 servings) ₩32,000

Soon a large jeongol pot was set on the burner. It's a 2-3 person portion, but the pot was packed with meat and vegetables. Big chunks of potato, green onion and onion went in, and the broth smelled wonderfully savory. The clean flavor, not spicy and not harsh, really impressed me. It was mild yet deep and easy on the stomach, so I kept spooning up the broth.

Every piece of chicken was thick and meaty, which I loved. The seasoning soaked right into the meat, and with every bite juices and broth flowed out together. It wasn't dry at all, and the texture, tender and coming apart along the grain, won me over.

Extra rice and a chicken drumstick

A bowl of rice at Songga Chueotang is ₩1,000. I added one to have with the stew's brothy sauce.

Bowl of rice ₩1,000

Chicken on top of freshly cooked, hot white rice was the best combination. With little artificial punch and such a clean broth, even rice soaked in the soup sat comfortably in my stomach.

I picked up a plump drumstick, and the meat was so well cooked that bone and meat separated easily. The mild, deep seasoning is something anyone, of any age, can enjoy without a second thought.

Watching the chicken shred along the grain reminded me of lovingly simmered home cooking.

Two persimmon slices for dessert

Near the end of the meal, the owner brought two slices of persimmon as dessert. A humble gesture, but so full of warmth that it made my heart feel warmer too. I finished the meal happily, rinsing my mouth with the sweet persimmon.

Verdict: easy-on-the-stomach braised chicken in Yangcheon

Songga Chueotang stood out for its gentle, comfortable broth and generous chicken. Everything, from the neatly served side dishes to the free bossam boiled pork, showed care. Thanks to the owner's kind, warm welcome, I want to come back soon. I modestly recommend it to anyone looking for a clean, filling braised chicken place in Yangcheon.

Why not comfort a tired body and mind today with a warm, tidy meal?

One cannot think well, love well, sleep well, if one has not dined well.