Sindang Station chicken restaurant for a coworker dinner: Gyeryugwan

After wrestling with walls of text on a monitor all day, I always feel my energy slowly drain out of my whole body by the time I clock out.

Why I chose Gyeryugwan for an after-work get-together near Sindang Station

On a weekday evening after work, my coworker friends and I were craving a light chicken dish, so we went to Gyeryugwan (계류관), a wood-fired chicken place near Sindang Station. On evenings like this you don't want a heavy, greasy late-night meal. You want something with a gentle flavor that fills you up comfortably and still really blows off the stress.

As luck would have it, my coworker friends, who are totally on my wavelength, said they were also dying for light chicken that's the textbook definition of crispy outside and juicy inside, plus a cold drink.

Grinning at how well our tastes matched, we hurried over after work to Gyeryugwan, a hot spot in "Hipdang-dong" (the nickname for trendy Sindang) that's already known among food lovers as a must-wait place.

What is the atmosphere like at Gyeryugwan?

Gyeryugwan sits in a lively alley near Sindang Station, and the scent of oak drifts out softly from the entrance. That cozy oak aroma and warmth welcomed our tired group.

Inside, the clean interior with its homey, friendly feel caught my eye. It isn't too dark or cluttered, so it was a wonderfully cozy place to chat with friends and catch up.

The neatly arranged tableware and spotless hygiene made me trust the place even before I tasted anything.

We came after doing our research, and Gyeryugwan was packed with neighborhood locals and regulars who travel from far away, showing off all the dignity of a famous wood-fired chicken spot in Sindang.

Its original cooking method and deep experience, so different from ordinary franchises, seep into every corner of the place. It was a great choice for an after-work dinner with friends.

What did we order at Gyeryugwan?

We ordered Gyeryugwan's signature oak neungi wood-fired chicken (neungi is an aromatic wild mushroom) and a side of chicken gizzard and green onion fritters. We filled the table with the wood-fired chicken that gets the most love, plus the green onion fritters, said to be a treat you can't skip.

Oak neungi wood-fired chicken: crisp skin and moist breast

The oak neungi wood-fired chicken arrived in a big bowl. The faint oak aroma tickled my nose, and after long, careful grilling the grease was gone and the skin was golden and crispy. The exclamations just kept coming.

What surprised me was that even the breast, a part I usually avoid for being dry, was full of juice and so tender it melted the moment it hit my mouth. And the fragrant neungi mushroom sticky rice stuffed inside the chicken went with it like a work of art.

Chicken gizzard and green onion fritters: chewy gizzard, sweet green onion

The gizzard and green onion fritters we ordered alongside were a stroke of genius. It's an original dish you rarely find elsewhere: the chewy, bouncy gizzard and the sweet, fragrant green onion made a perfect team inside the crispy batter. One bite and you're calling for a cold drink, they go that well together.

The two dishes complemented each other, giving us variations of crispy-outside-juicy-inside and chewy. We were chopsticking away like mad with our friends, and all that food vanished like magic,

with a cleanness and depth of skill on another level from ordinary greasy fried chicken. I could completely understand why Gyeryugwan is always named the alternative to fried chicken and the best wood-fired chicken around Sindang Station. It was a moving moment.

Is Gyeryugwan worth going back to?

I went thanks to a nice opportunity, but honestly, the quality of the food and the value were so overwhelming that I'd happily open my own wallet and make it my weekly after-work hangout. From the clean prep that completely removes any gamey smell, to the precise thickness of the batter, to the staff who go above and beyond to make guests comfortable with friendlier service than I could have imagined, all three elements together made a great synergy.

My friends said it was easily top class among chicken restaurants they've tried lately, and agreed they have to book Gyeryugwan again for next month's alumni reunion. Seeing them praise it, I felt really proud for suggesting the place. If you want to experience proper crispy-outside-juicy-inside perfection, I'm sure you'll want to save it on your map app.

To sum up, Gyeryugwan was the best food oasis in the middle of the gray city, taking the most familiar ingredient and turning it into something refined and healthy.

Between the easy access close to the subway exit, the cute, homey atmosphere where nostalgia meets a modern touch, and the wood-fired chicken and distinctive green onion fritters you can't forget once you've tried them, there was nothing to complain about. A 100-out-of-100 restaurant. 🥰

If your day has left you especially worn out and you need a solid protein recharge and some comforting, or you want a no-fail after-work outing with friends or a partner, I strongly recommend keeping Gyeryugwan near Sindang Station in mind, with its oak aroma and generous hospitality! 🌟