Hongdae chicken feet set with fried chicken: Cheongnyeon Dakbal 1987

These days, when I want a proper drink with a proper snack around Hongdae or Yeonnam-dong, nothing beats chicken feet. This time I was craving dakbal, so I headed to Cheongnyeon Dakbal 1987 Hongdae Branch.

If you're looking for a chicken feet place around Hongdae, the location is solid and there's a good range of chicken feet styles to pick from depending on your taste. What I liked most was that instead of just eating chicken feet on its own, the dakbal han-sang (chicken feet full set) came with several dishes together, which felt really satisfying.

Cheongnyeon Dakbal 1987 menu: which chicken feet to pick

At Cheongnyeon Dakbal 1987, you can choose your chicken feet based on preference — boneless, bone-in, tulip-cut, or soup-style — so it was easy to order in whatever style I usually like.

I went with the dakbal han-sang since it lets you try several menu items together, and the spread that came out was more varied than I expected — great as a drinking snack.

The chicken feet were spicy in that way that keeps you reaching for more, with the chewy texture that's distinctive to dakbal intact. As the heat builds, you naturally start reaching for the side dishes.

What comes with the dakbal han-sang: mukguksu, kalguksu, rice balls, fried chicken

Something that's quietly important when eating chicken feet is the side dishes, and the han-sang set delivered here. First, the mukguksu (acorn jelly in cold broth) paired well with the spicy chicken feet. Taking a bite of the cool, clean mukguksu in between bites of dakbal felt like it reset my palate, so it was great to have on hand throughout.

On top of that, there was kalguksu (knife-cut noodle soup) to enjoy too, making it feel as filling as a proper meal. What started as a drinking snack ended up turning into a full meal by the time the kalguksu was gone!

And of course, the rice balls can't be missed. Chicken feet and rice balls are just such a good combination. Eating the spicy dakbal alongside the savory rice balls balanced out the heat nicely, and I kept going back for more.

Fried chicken came out too, so instead of eating chicken feet the whole time, I could switch it up with crispy fried chicken in between. Being able to enjoy a variety of flavors instead of sticking to just one dish felt like the real strength of the dakbal han-sang.

Is Cheongnyeon Dakbal 1987 a good Hongdae and Yeonnam-dong drinking spot?

Personally, I thought this was a great spot to visit with friends for a drink. The chicken feet themselves pair well with alcohol, and since mukguksu, rice balls, kalguksu, and fried chicken all came together, I didn't have to order a bunch of separate dishes to get variety at the table.

If you're looking for a Hongdae bar or Yeonnam-dong bar and craving something spicy, Cheongnyeon Dakbal 1987 Hongdae Branch is a solid choice.

For chicken feet fans, I also liked that you can choose based on preference — whether you like boneless, bone-in, or the easier-to-eat tulip-cut style.

If you're into soup-style chicken feet, that's an option too, so just order whichever style suits you.

On a day when you're craving chicken feet in Hongdae and want more than just dakbal alone, I'd recommend Cheongnyeon Dakbal 1987 Hongdae Branch for a full, generous spread.

After trying it this time, I really liked the combo of spicy chicken feet and the variety of side dishes, so I'd recommend it to anyone looking for a good Yeonnam-dong dakbal spot.

It's great for a casual drink with friends, and also good for a group looking to dig into the dakbal han-sang together.

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