Solo-dining Korean restaurant in Seocho: chogyeguksu at Seocho

I went to a great restaurant near Seocho Station — good for solo dining too. It's right by the Supreme Court, so it's the spot that comes to mind when you've finished your business there and think, I want Korean food, but today I'm craving dak-kalguksu / dak-bokkeumtang (dak-doritang) / a whole chicken / boiled chicken.

This place in particular sells chogyeguksu, but it's summer-season only, so go grab it before summer ends! Break time is 3 to 5 PM. Closed only on September 25 for Chuseok, otherwise open as usual! It runs nonstop with no closed days, making it the perfect Seocho Station Korean restaurant for a daytime Chuseok drink — Seocho Jeonggye.

Seocho Jeonggye, a restaurant near Seocho Station

I don't regret coming at all — honestly, just glad I made the trip. Seocho Jeonggye, a Korean restaurant near Seocho Station. It's such a good dak-doritang spot that I really want to recommend you seek it out;;; Was dak-doritang always this good? But dak-doritang is actually a dish with a low ceiling — that said, it's not a dish with a low floor either.

What I ordered at Seocho Jeonggye and what it cost

The chogyeguksu I was most looking forward to. 12,000 won. The noodle portion was generous too, so it didn't feel like a waste of money. You know you have to eat plenty of chogyeguksu or naengmyeon-type dishes before summer ends, right? Once fall comes~ How did I even hold back from ordering soju that day?

The long-awaited dak-doritang, the 2-3 person size, arrived. Whole dak-bokkeumtang for 32,000 won. I ordered the original flavor, and also added the dak-odolppyeo bokkeumbap for two at 8,500 won. I ordered it along with the dak-doritang, but the fried rice came out right away. My tip: if you're ordering the fried rice via the tablet, order it separately later after you've had your fill of the dak-doritang!

Inside Seocho Jeonggye: is it comfortable for eating alone?

The exterior looks upscale, doesn't it? It's popular at weekday lunch, so it's a Seocho Station Korean restaurant where you need to register on the waitlist.

The interior. I visited during dinner peak hours and there were 3 tables of solo diners, including me.

What to drink: soju to Korean traditional liquors

Chamisul Fresh and Chamisul Original of course, plus Cass and Terra. No Kelly though.

They also sell Andong Soju Ilpum Gold 40%, which won the grand prize at the 2015 Korea Traditional Liquor Awards, along with Jangsu Makgeolli, Jipyeong Makgeolli, Babambam Makgeolli, Cheonnyeon Sansamju, Dameun Makgeolli, and Ugok Saengju — such an impressive traditional liquor lineup that I felt it would really delight foreign friends if I brought them along.

The side dishes that come with your order

The side dishes were radish pickles topped with yuzu sauce and fresh cabbage kimchi (geotjeori).

The brassware really gives off that Korean-food feeling.

I was hungry, so I moistened my tongue with the geotjeori first.

Whole dak-bokkeumtang, 32,000 won: seasoning spot on

The dak-doritang, the 2-3 person whole portion, came out faster than expected — 32,000 won. It's quite a lot for one person to eat alone. I'd recommend going with a friend rather than flying solo. Wow... how did they nail the seasoning so perfectly? The sauce had soaked well into the chicken too, making for a very satisfying dak-doritang.

The chogyeguksu had shredded chicken meat, finished with egg garnish and julienned carrot toppings, and a broth with floating ice shards.

Summer-only chogyeguksu, 12,000 won

I still remember vividly the first time I tried chogyeguksu, and since I can't travel far, I tried the chogyeguksu at this nearby Korean restaurant near Seocho Station, Seocho Jeonggye. It's a dish you absolutely must eat before summer ends! It cools you down all the way through.

Slurp.

There was plenty of shredded chicken too, so it never felt lacking.

Back to the dak-doritang — there were 3 potatoes inside. Next time, I'll skip the fried rice and order two extra rounds of potatoes instead. Total potato addict.

I'm a breast-meat person, so you all can have the drumsticks. If we're eating chicken together, I'll give you all the legs.

Dak-odolppyeo bokkeumbap: two servings minimum

The sweet-flavored dak-odolppyeo bokkeumbap. Sold in 2-serving portions only. No single-serving option!

Two sunny-side-up eggs on top. They get along well together.

The broth and seasoning themselves are the GOAT, so it's delicious even mixed with an order of plain rice.

On top of the dak-odolppyeo bokkeumbap: hand-shredded gim (seaweed) flakes and chopped green onion.

Free-flow sikhye to finish the meal

For dessert, I enjoyed unlimited sikhye (sweet rice punch).

Wow, the sikhye is really rich and delicious. Finished the meal in 32 minutes. I basically inhaled it...

Refilled the sikhye once more and drank it

Took one trip to the restroom before heading home. The women's restroom is in the basement level 1, with hand wash and paper towels available, which was convenient. Seocho Jeonggye is a place I want to come back to with Michael in tow — 30,000% chance I'll be back.