Amsa Market chicken shop with call-ahead pickup: Gimssi Chicken

I was looking for a good dakgangjeong (sweet-spicy fried chicken bites) spot at Amsa Market to buy as a snack for my daughter, and that's how I found Gimssi Chicken Amsa Market Branch, tucked inside Amsa Market.

I already walk through Amsa Market pretty often, and seeing the crowd never let up here made me think there had to be a reason this place is known as an Amsa Market dakgangjeong favorite.

Looking closer at the sign, it read "one of Seoul's three best dakgangjeong" along with a note about 15 years of tradition. It felt less like just another market stall and more like a place with its own history and story.

Where is Gimssi Chicken Amsa Market Branch, and when is it open?

Known as a dakgangjeong favorite at Amsa Market, Gimssi Chicken Amsa Market Branch is about 200m on foot from Amsa Station Exit 1. It's located at 1F #105, 21 Olympic-ro 98-gil, Gangdong-gu, Seoul, and if you walk straight into Amsa Market, the red sign catches your eye. There's no dedicated parking, so the Amsa Market parking lot or nearby public lots work fine.

It's open daily from 11 AM to 10 PM, and runs mainly as a takeout-focused dakgangjeong spot at Amsa Market.

Gimssi Chicken menu: dakgangjeong spice levels, sizes and piece counts

The menu was pretty varied, covering dakgangjeong, old-school fried chicken, drumsticks, bone-in fried chicken, wings, drumettes, and even chicken gizzards. Dakgangjeong comes in mild, medium-spicy, and spicy, with sizes from medium up through large and extra-large, making it easy to order based on how many people you're feeding.

Drumsticks are sold in sets of 4, 6, 8, or 12, so it's an easy pick whether you're eating alone or feeding the whole family. After browsing the menu board, I decided on the medium-size dakgangjeong, planning to share it with my daughter.

I wasn't sure how big the portion would actually be, but once I got it, the medium size turned out to be plenty for two. If you're eating alone as a snack or sharing with a kid, medium should be more than enough.

Call ahead, shop the market, and skip the wait at pickup

Since Gimssi Chicken Amsa Market Branch always has such a crowd, I figured I'd be stuck waiting if I just showed up, so I called ahead to place my order before heading out to do some grocery shopping. Timing my return to when the chicken would be freshly fried meant I picked it up with zero wait. This, I think, is exactly the point that explains why this Amsa Market dakgangjeong spot draws so many people — a steady stream of freshly fried batches keeps the line going nonstop.

The bag was still warm in my hands, which really drove home how fast their turnover is.

A free taste of sauced fried chicken while waiting

During the short wait for my order, the owner handed me a piece of seasoned fried chicken to try, telling me to taste it while it was still warm. That little gesture of thoughtfulness really stood out.

One bite in, the well-seasoned crispy coating had me already excited, even from just that small taste. Little moments like this taste sample made me understand, even faintly, why this place has such a reputation as an Amsa Market dakgangjeong favorite.

How the Amsa Market dakgangjeong tastes as a kid's snack

Back home, the moment I opened the box, my daughter was already delighted. What I liked most was that there was zero gamey chicken smell. That smell is often the reason I end up skipping chicken as a snack for her, but here that wasn't a concern at all.

The sauce had a sweet, slightly spicy savoriness that kept pulling me back for more without ever getting tiresome. The coating was crispy while the meat stayed juicy inside, so both my daughter and I kept reaching in without hesitation.

The rice cakes mixed in were also well-coated in sauce and just as tasty as the chicken itself. Even though I'd ordered the medium size, the portion was bigger than expected — we ate together and still had a little left over.

Her daughter's verdict: a big thumbs-up

What stuck with me most was my daughter's reaction. After one bite, her eyes went wide and she gave a big thumbs-up. It felt like a more convincing compliment than words, and watching her, I couldn't help but feel happy too.

She's usually picky about a lot of things, so seeing her reach for more without any complaints told me this really was that good. Watching her made me get why Gimssi Chicken's dakgangjeong has the reputation of being one of Seoul's three best.

A kind owner, and why Gimssi Chicken is worth a return visit

What I appreciated most was how kind the owner was. Even while busy, they made sure to confirm my reserved order and handle the packing with care, so the wait never felt uncomfortable. Seeing them go out of their way to offer a taste of the seasoned fried chicken made me feel like they truly care about how they run this business.

Good taste, generous portions, and a kind owner — that's plenty of reason to come back to this Amsa Market dakgangjeong favorite. It'll likely be the first place that comes to mind whenever I need a snack for my daughter or a simple chicken meal at home.

Next time, I'd like to try the large size instead of medium, or maybe the old-school fried chicken. If you're near Amsa-dong or Amsa Station looking for a dakgangjeong spot at Amsa Market, Gimssi Chicken Amsa Market Branch, known as one of Seoul's three best dakgangjeong, is worth a visit.