Spice level 2 chicken feet set at a Yeonnam-dong bar: Cheongnyeon 1987

Back at Cheongnyeon Dakbal 1987, a regular Hongdae bar

In Hongdae I usually chase new bars over regulars, but when I want spicy chicken feet, this is the place I always end up at. I normally come here with my husband, but this time I wanted to eat properly spicy, so I brought a friend instead.

It's in Yeonnam-dong, not far from Hongik University Station, so it's an easy stop after a day out. We'd been strolling along the Gyeongui Line Forest Trail, dropped by the bar, took photos, had dessert — the whole day just flew by.

Can you drink outdoors on the terrace?

Cheongnyeon Dakbal 1987 Hongdae Branch has terrace seats where you can do yajang (outdoor drinking), which is perfect in this kind of weather — even on a weekday evening it was packed. And I don't often see guys who love chicken feet, but this place clearly has enough of a reputation to pull in a lot of male customers too!

The moment I saw the menu, the dakbal hansang (chicken feet full set) caught my eye and that's what we ordered. A set like this where you get to try several dishes is exactly my style.

What comes with the chicken feet full set

The bean sprout soup that comes as a default side can be eaten on its own or added into the chicken feet. It also works great as a light starter before the mains arrive.

After waiting eagerly, our dakbal hansang finally arrived. Both of us had been holding back on spicy food in front of our boyfriends, so we decided to fully indulge today. True to its name, the set came out so generously loaded the table barely had room for it.

Mukbap and tuna mayo rice balls

The cold mukbap is bouncy and delicious on its own, but it's also perfect for neutralizing your mouth after spicy chicken feet. The broth is naturally an icy naengmyeon-style broth, so it's cold enough to make your teeth ache in a good way. I already loved this dish, so it didn't disappoint.

Tuna mayo rice balls are non-negotiable with chicken feet. I always feel a bit let down when there's no pickled radish in tuna mayo rice balls, but this place gets it right — there's a reason it's a beloved Hongdae bar. Nice touch.

Mixed up well and dipped in the spicy chicken feet sauce, it's delicious — and just as good eaten plain.

Why the kalguksu noodles steal the meal

Honestly, I wondered why a bar would even have kalguksu (knife-cut noodle soup), but it turns out to be an essential item on the menu. There's nothing fancy in it, yet it rivals plenty of dedicated kalguksu restaurants.

The seasoning soaks in well, and with the weather turning slightly chilly, it suited the outdoor terrace mood perfectly. Who knew kalguksu at a bar could taste this good.

I really loved this combination — taking a bite of kalguksu together with the spicy chicken feet is just as good a pairing as the rice balls, in a totally different way. The spiciness eases up a bit and goes down smoothly, so you keep reaching for more. Ah, I want it again already.

How big is the fried chicken skin portion?

Fried chicken skin also came out. Since the dakbal hansang itself isn't expensive and comes with a lot of food, I expected each individual item to be on the small side. Turns out the side dishes were generous too — enough that the set felt like it could feed 3-4 people at a bar.

The fried chicken skin pieces were big and properly crispy. Dipping them in the chicken feet sauce or mayonnaise worked really well.

How spicy is spice level 2, really?

The chicken feet come already cooked, but they let the other add-ins finish cooking before serving. Mayonnaise and cheonsachae (glass noodle-like vegetable strands) are a winning combo. We ordered level 2, and it was just the right amount — spicy enough to feel it, but manageable.

It also felt different from the usual spicy food I eat, because there's no capsaicin — it's a natural kind of heat. Places that force spiciness with capsaicin sometimes leave an unpleasant lingering taste on your tongue. Cheongnyeon Dakbal 1987 uses only cheongyang chili and chili flakes, so the heat felt clean, not unpleasant.

The food was good enough that we drank three bottles straight through without even needing a second round. It's not easy for a Hongdae bar to be fully packed on a weekday evening, but Cheongnyeon Dakbal 1987 was already full by 7pm. I could see why places become beloved neighborhood regulars.

Final verdict on Cheongnyeon Dakbal 1987

Since getting married, I don't come to Hongdae as often, but it was just as good as I remembered even after a while. My friend was happy too, which made me happy in turn. I should come back a few more times to enjoy the terrace seats before it gets too cold!