Siheung Korean restaurant for team dinners and ₩3,900 soju

Jeongwang-dong dakbokkeumtang after golf practice

For some time, I had been craving spicy-sweet dakbokkeumtang (spicy braised chicken)! As luck would have it, after an enthusiastic golf practice session at a nearby driving range, I clutched my hungry stomach and headed straight over.

The place I visited was the already much-talked-about Jeongjeong-a Sikdang Jeongwang Branch. It is right beside Sikjajaewang Mart's Siwha branch, so it was really easy to find. Those driving will not need to worry about parking, either. There is both basement and ground-level parking in the building, plus a large free public parking lot beside Hwashin Officetel directly in front of the restaurant, so I parked with ease before heading in.

Jeongjeong-a Sikdang Jeongwang Branch 106, 107, 108, 20 Seochonsangga 4-gil, Siheung-si, Gyeonggi-do Mon–Sat 10:30–22:00 Closed every Sunday

Spacious seating and an easy self-service setup

The interior had a warm, familiar atmosphere marked by the traces of a place that has been there for a long time. The homey décor put me right at ease. The space was roomy with plenty of tables, and I saw quite a few guests there for group gatherings or Jeongwang-dong company dinners.

Water, alcohol, and drinks are self-service here, which was actually convenient because I could help myself freely without feeling self-conscious.

Dakbokkeumtang and ₩3,900 drinks

Looking over the menu, I found their signature dakbokkeumtang, plump cockle salad, crispy grilled cod, value-priced set menus, worthwhile add-ons, and meal dishes—a very full lineup. Considering that even a whole raw chicken for dakbokkeumtang costs ₩8,000 at the supermarket these days, ₩24,000 for two felt genuinely reasonable. And with soju and beer prices feeling downright scary lately, soju, beer, and makgeolli at just ₩3,900 each made it perfect for having a drink without the burden. I could immediately see why it is loved as a company-dinner spot.

We ordered the small dakbokkeumtang for two, fresh cockles, and a bottle of soju to have with the meal. You can adjust the heat level of the dakbokkeumtang, and since I am not great with spicy food, I chose level 1, the non-spicy option.

Starting with sweet-savory cockle salad

After ordering, the table was set with clean-tasting dongchimi (radish water kimchi) and two kinds of kimchi as banchan (side dishes). As I refreshed my throat with the cool, crisp dongchimi broth, the appetizing cockle salad arrived first.

Peeled cockles and half-shelled cockles came thoroughly tossed in a red seasoning. One bite in, the sweet-savory sauce clung so nicely to my palate that I kept reaching for more with my chopsticks. The springy chew of the cockles and that addictive sauce were an absolutely perfect match.

A generous serving of level-1 mild dakbokkeumtang

Next came the small dakbokkeumtang, the main dish, and I was surprised by how generous it was even in the small size. There was plenty of broth, too, so adding ramen noodles or glass noodles would make it even more delicious. A quick taste of the broth revealed a rich, sweet-savory flavor; I think even children who cannot handle spicy food would enjoy it.

After letting it bubble away nicely for a while, we finally started picking out the chicken. The chicken itself was so fresh that there was no off smell or fishiness at all, and the seasoning had soaked right through, making every piece wonderfully tender.

A bite of tender chicken that melted softly in the mouth, vegetables, and umami-packed broth was simply heavenly. The well-cooked potatoes had a lovely fluffy texture too, and it was such fun to mash them lightly into the broth.

Taking home the leftover dakbokkeumtang

I was won over by the portions, then won over again by the flavor, and before I knew it I was absolutely stuffed. I really wanted to make fried rice—the final highlight—but there was so much chicken that we could not even finish that, so sadly I had to give up on the fried rice. We requested takeout for the remaining dakbokkeumtang, and for only a ₩1,000 packing fee, they neatly packed it into a container for us to bring home safely.

While dining in, I noticed so many people picking up takeout, and delivery-order alerts kept chiming, too. True to its reputation as a proven Jeongwang-dong company-dinner restaurant, it was loved by people of all ages. Jeongjeong-a Sikdang Jeongwang Branch gave my golf-weary body a filling, comforting meal! If you are looking for a Jeongwang-dong group-dinner spot where you can enjoy delicious dakbokkeumtang and cockles to your heart's content with affordable drinks, I highly recommend visiting at least once.