Rosé chicken with pasta course, Dandae-ogeori: Jangjakgun Main Branch

A Dandae-ogeori chicken favorite — a review of the wood-fired nurungji tongdak (scorched-rice whole chicken) at Jangjakgun's main branch.

I had some errands near Dandae-ogeori and started wondering if there was a famous restaurant around here, and it turned out Jangjakgun's main branch was right there. Well, that meant I had to go. Here's my review of the wood-fired chicken and pasta menu at Jangjakgun, a Dandae-ogeori favorite 🍗

Where is Jangjakgun Main Branch, and how do you walk there from Dandae-ogeori Station?

Jangjakgun is located near Dandae-ogeori Station, so it was easy to find from the station, and with a bus stop nearby too, it's a convenient spot to reach by bus or subway.

The exterior already had that classic 'good restaurant' feel, and I liked that you could watch the chicken being grilled over firewood right beside the entrance.

Open-air seating at Jangjakgun on an early weekday evening

Inside Jangjakgun Main Branch, the outdoor area is kept open, giving the whole space an open-air feel.

It really felt like eating chicken outdoors. True to its reputation, the tables started filling up from early on a weekday evening.

Extra side dishes were also self-serve, so you could grab as much as you needed.

Even on an early weekday evening, the place quickly started filling up. Watching the chicken roast over oak firewood while I sat down raised my expectations.

Jangjakgun menu and prices, from 21,000 to 27,000 won

Jangjakgun centers its menu on nurungji tongdak grilled over oak firewood, with a solid lineup of sauces and sides. Here are the main menu items.

• Herbal Nurungji Tongdak ₩21,000
• Corn Nurungji Tongdak ₩23,000
• Seasoned Nurungji Tongdak ₩23,000
• Spicy Seasoned Nurungji Tongdak ₩23,000
• Herbal Nurungji Padak ₩24,000
• Supreme Nurungji Tongdak ₩24,000
• Half & Half Nurungji Tongdak ₩26,000
• Corn Cheese Nurungji Tongdak ₩26,000
• Rosé Nurungji Tongdak ₩26,000
• Cheongyang Cream Nurungji Tongdak ₩27,000
• Whelk Salad & Somyeon Noodles ₩20,000
• Charcoal-Grilled Boneless Chicken Feet ₩18,000

What does the 3,000 won pasta add-on do for the rosé nurungji tongdak?

I ordered the rosé nurungji tongdak. Looking at the options, I saw pasta could be added, so I paid the extra ₩3,000 and picked that too. I figured that would basically turn it into a rosé pasta chicken, and ordered with that expectation.

When the whole chicken arrived, the visuals were excellent. Steam was rising and the rosé sauce was poured generously over it. It smelled amazing.

The staff member recommended trying the breast meat first and placed it on top for me. Tasting the moist breast meat, this was the softest chicken breast I'd ever had.

One bite and it just melted in my mouth. I'd never had chicken breast this delicious before. The meat, cooked moist over firewood, combined with the creamy rosé sauce for a soft, rich flavor all around.

Then I pulled out the pasta noodles laid underneath and tried them — it was basically a rosé pasta in its own right. This is a combination I'd recommend.

The noodles, soaked in rosé sauce, had a chewy bite, and eating them alongside the chicken was great.

Finally, I tried the scorched rice stuck to the bottom — a real specialty in its own right. The crispy scorched rice, soaked in rosé sauce and chicken juices, tasted great!

Is Jangjakgun Main Branch worth it for wood-fired chicken in Dandae-ogeori?

Jangjakgun lived up to its reputation, as delicious as ever. I'd been to another branch before and liked it enough to come back, and sure enough, the main branch had its own distinct flavor too.

The rosé nurungji tongdak I ordered this time was even better with the pasta added, so if you order the rosé flavor, I'd recommend adding the pasta too. Finishing with the scorched rice at the end made it feel like enjoying three menu items as a course.

Had a great meal, thanks!

• A wood-fired chicken restaurant favorite near Dandae-ogeori: Jangjakgun
• Add pasta as a side with the rosé nurungji tongdak
• Moist wood-fired chicken with rosé pasta was delicious