Bucheon samgyetang restaurant with lacquer chicken soup: Oi Samgyetang

Now that summer has passed and cool breezes are starting to blow in the mornings and evenings, I find myself craving a warm, nourishing meal. So I returned to Oi Samgyetang Bucheon Main Branch in Sang-dong, Bucheon, for samgyetang (ginseng chicken soup) as an autumn pick-me-up. I stopped by alone last summer and enjoyed the samgyetang so much. But I couldn't keep such a good place to myself, so today I brought my wife along. This time, we were going to warm up and recharge together.

How are the parking and access from Sangdong Station?

Oi Samgyetang Bucheon Main Branch offers free parking in the building's underground lot, so it is easy to visit by car. If you are taking public transportation, it is within a 10-minute walk from Sangdong Station Exit 2.

A comfortable restaurant even after the lunch rush

We arrived at Oi Samgyetang Bucheon Main Branch and headed inside. It was around 1 p.m., a little after lunchtime, but quite a few people were still eating. The interior was clean and there was plenty of space between tables, making it comfortable to dine.

We will serve you with our utmost care, with unwavering flavor and an unwavering heart.

The Oi (五利) in the restaurant's name does not mean cucumber, after all. It represents five good things the restaurant hopes to share with guests: health, happiness, enjoyment, flavor, and jeong, or heartfelt warmth. Knowing the meaning behind the name made me see the restaurant a little differently. They say they run the place with the intention of giving their all through consistent flavor and care, and the neatly organized dining room and kind service really did make for an easy meal. The food was good, of course, but I could also feel the care in the way they treated their guests.

Infused liquors are displayed throughout the restaurant. There are quite a few kinds, and they catch your eye everywhere rather than in just one corner. For a moment, I almost wondered whether I had come for samgyetang or to look at infused liquor. It made looking around the restaurant fun, too.

While looking around, I found a sign explaining Oi Samgyetang's history. It began in 1997 as a small shop in the basement of the Incheon Tool Complex. As its customers grew, it moved to a larger location in Jung-dong, Bucheon, in 2008, then relocated to its current spot in Sang-dong, Bucheon, in November 2017. It has been a long journey from that small basement shop to today. There must be a reason it has been loved for so long. True to the phrase, “flavor and care that do not change with time,” it seems they are still making samgyetang with the same heart. Knowing that story made today's bowl feel even more comforting.

The restaurant is spacious and clean. The tables are not packed together, so you can eat comfortably without worrying about the next table. With its wood-toned interior, the overall atmosphere feels warm and relaxing.

Hahoe mask decorations and wooden signboards around the restaurant also give it the cozy feel you would expect from a samgyetang place. There are comfortable seats for family meals, as well as private rooms called Cheonsam, Jasam, and Bongsam. They looked like good options for a quiet meal or a family gathering.

Ordering herbal mung bean samgyetang and lacquer chicken soup to share

Since my wife and I came together today, we ordered different dishes. My wife chose the herbal mung bean samgyetang, while I ordered lacquer chicken soup, which I had not tried on my last visit.

I also took a look at the ingredient-origin sign. It says that not only the chicken and duck, but also the chili powder, rice, mung beans, and napa cabbage are all 100% domestically sourced. Seeing it with my own eyes was reassuring for no particular reason. Ingredients matter in samgyetang, so I liked that they make a point of using domestic ingredients.

The basic side dishes arrived one by one: cucumber, chili peppers, kkakdugi (cubed radish kimchi), pickles, and pickled onions, all neatly arranged. They say the side dishes are made in-house with domestic chili powder. The crisp cucumber and peppers go well with samgyetang, refreshing your palate as you eat.

There is a separate self-serve bar on one side, and having two of them is very convenient. If you need more side dishes, you can simply pick up what you need from the closer one. More than anything, the areas around the bars were neatly organized and kept clean, which was nice to see. I liked that they paid attention to even these small details.

High chairs and children's tableware are available on one side, along with neatly prepared disposable aprons. They have clearly set up what families need so that eating out with children is not inconvenient.

Herbal mung bean samgyetang

This is the herbal mung bean samgyetang my wife ordered.

Looking into the earthenware bowl, I could see a generous amount of medicinal herbs, including licorice root and Dendropanax, as well as ginseng and jujubes. Most of all, they say they use Korean mung beans. My wife tasted the broth first and said she liked its subtle, savory mung bean aroma, then happily continued eating. The chicken was tender, and after finishing the warm broth too, it really felt like a proper restorative meal.

A tasting bottle of ginseng liquor in a small gourd-shaped flask also came out. You can request one complimentary bottle to try, while additional orders cost extra. My wife had a glass and said she liked the subtle ginseng aroma, drinking it with enjoyment. Having a glass of ginseng liquor alongside samgyetang really completed the nourishing-meal mood.

Lacquer chicken soup

I had the lacquer chicken soup. I had wanted to try it this time because I did not get to have it when I came alone before.

I started with a spoonful of the hot broth. It was rich but not overly salty or harsh, which suited my taste well. The chicken was tender, and eating it with the glutinous rice made for a filling meal. I had cucumber and chili peppers along the way, too. A bowl of samgyetang can become a little rich as you eat, but those fresh sides took care of that. It was even better eating together.

They have started delivery for the entire menu, so you can enjoy the same rich restorative dishes from the restaurant at home or at the office. Everything is neatly packed in dedicated bags, making delivery very convenient on rainy days or when it is difficult to visit in person.

After the meal, we finished with a warm, sweet cup of coffee from the vending machine by the entrance. Maybe because I had eaten so heartily, it tasted even better. With the flavor and care it has carried on since 1997, plus convenient parking and delivery, this is a good place for a family meal or a visit with your parents. When I am craving a warm bowl of samgyetang, I would like to come back again.