Lotus root in dakgangjeong at a Danyang Gugyeong Market chicken shop

Walking Danyang Gugyeong Market until the smell stopped us

If you're in Danyang, you can't skip Danyang Gugyeong Market! While traveling around Danyang, we browsed all kinds of market food and picked out souvenirs and gifts too.

While wandering around, suddenly a delicious smell drifted over from somewhere ~~ 👀 We both stopped in our tracks at the same time haha. We were starving, and there was no way we could resist that smell..🥹 Following our noses led us straight to Danyang Heukmaneul Nurungji Dakgangjeong (단양흑마늘누룽지닭강정)!

Danyang Heukmaneul Nurungji Dakgangjeong: location, hours and parking

Danyang Heukmaneul Nurungji Dakgangjeong is right inside Danyang Gugyeong Market, so it's easy to stop by while browsing the market.

• 📍 31-1 Dojeon 4-gil, Danyang-eup, Danyang-gun, Chungcheongbuk-do, South Korea
• ⏰ Daily 10:00 – 20:00 (last order 19:30)
• 📦 Takeout and delivery available
• 📞 Phone reservations accepted
• 🚗 Free public parking available
• ※ May close early once ingredients run out

There were quite a few other people picking up takeout when we visited too. It was so interesting to see how many garlic-based foods Danyang has. And as we walked around the market, so many people were carrying containers of dakgangjeong or bread haha. We thought, "everyone's buying one to take home~" and, well, we ended up carrying one out too 🤭

They toast the nurungji fresh on the spot?

The name itself is what makes Danyang Heukmaneul Nurungji Dakgangjeong special — the nurungji (crispy scorched rice) that goes into the dakgangjeong is made fresh right there in front of you.

Watching the nurungji get made on the spot was oddly fascinating 👀 Once it's crisped up and mixed into the dakgangjeong, it gives a completely different feel from regular fried chicken!

While we waited, the owner handed us a piece of nurungji to try — warm, crispy, and so savory it was almost overwhelming 😖

What the double black garlic dakgangjeong tastes like

Since Danyang is famous for garlic, there are all kinds of garlic-based foods around. If you're looking for Danyang Gugyeong Market food, this kind of Danyang-only specialty menu is worth trying. What makes the market's dakgangjeong special isn't just that it's fried chicken — it's made with Danyang black garlic!

The garlic flavor comes in two options — double black garlic or original — so you can pick to your taste.

Since we'd come all the way to Danyang, we wanted the full punch of black garlic flavor, so we went with the double black garlic option 🤍 It's something you can only really get in Danyang, so it made the trip feel all the more like a proper getaway ✨

And wait.. it's actually been featured on TV quite a few times 👀🤍

Black garlic makgeolli: two bottles for 10,000 won

They also sell black garlic makgeolli (rice wine) 🍶

It's a set of two bottles for ₩10,000, and it comes packed with a handle, which made it really easy to carry around.

I'm a makgeolli lover, so..🤍 there was no way I could walk past it haha. Danyang market dakgangjeong paired with black garlic makgeolli — that combo's got to be unbeatable, right? And since it comes with a carry-handle package, it would make a great trip souvenir or gift too 🎁 If you're traveling in Danyang, it might be nice to pick up a bottle for family or friends.

Opening the box at home: nurungji and lotus root inside

We ate it the second we got home haha. My boyfriend and I kept picking pieces off, saying how good it was over and over 🤤

And eating the nurungji mixed in between bites added an extra crispy texture that kept our hands reaching back for more..

The dakgangjeong had lotus root mixed in along with the nurungji, so we got both crispy and crunchy textures throughout!

Eating delicious dakgangjeong while feeling like we were also getting some healthy ingredients in was such a nice bonus 👀✨ I'm personally naming this a top pick for Danyang dakgangjeong 👍🏻 Out of all the famous dakgangjeong I've had while traveling around Korea, this one stands out as one of the most memorable. And the portion was generous too — enough for two people to eat until full!

How to store leftover dakgangjeong

Since the portion is generous, you might have some left over! They said leftover dakgangjeong can be frozen and reheated in the microwave later. Honestly I'm the type who also loves dakgangjeong kept in the fridge and eaten the next day haha, and it was still delicious the next day too 🤍

On this trip with my boyfriend, we went looking for good Danyang Gugyeong Market restaurants and checked out all kinds of Danyang Gugyeong Market food, and Danyang Heukmaneul Nurungji Dakgangjeong was truly satisfying 😖💛 If you're heading to Danyang Gugyeong Market, definitely look for this spot with the savory smell while you're browsing all the food 🤍 If you want to eat well and pick up souvenirs and gifts on your Danyang trip, this is the place I'd recommend as a must-eat at Danyang Gugyeong Market 🥰