Korean restaurant by Siheung Central Library: cockle set, Jeongjeong-a

After stopping by the library a while ago, I went for a hearty lunch with friends at Jeongjeong-a Sikdang (정정아식당), a well-known restaurant in Jeongwang-dong. It's an old local rice joint, and the deeply flavored chicken stew made it a perfect lunch. I wondered why I hadn't come sooner. Besides the chicken stew, I also tried the life-changing seasoned cockles, so here's my honest review.

Where is Jeongjeong-a Sikdang Jeongwang Branch?

Jeongjeong-a Sikdang Jeongwang Branch is a 15-minute walk from Jeongwang Station and a 10-minute walk from Jungang Library. It's on the ground floor of the Onmotel building next to Sikjajae Wang Mart, right by the road, so it's easy to find.

Is parking free at Jeongjeong-a Sikdang?

You can use the building's underground and surface parking lots for free, and there's also parking in front of and behind the restaurant.

And if it's full, there's a free public lot next to Hwasin Officetel in front of the restaurant.

Parking in the Jeongwang-dong alleys is a pain, so not having to worry about it was great.

Jeongjeong-a Sikdang exterior and dining room

From the outside, Jeongjeong-a Sikdang has the aura of a truly local favorite that's been loved for years.

Step inside Jeongjeong-a Sikdang Jeongwang Branch and the place is very spacious and kept clean, so my first thought was that it's perfect for company dinners, group gatherings or family meals in Jeongwang-dong.

The staff all greeted us kindly, which put us in a good mood even before eating.

Jeongjeong-a Sikdang menu and set combinations

The main menu at Jeongjeong-a Sikdang is chicken stew, cockles and two grilled codari (half-dried pollack), and there are five set menu combinations.

• Main menu: chicken stew, cockles, 2 grilled codari
• Set menu: cockles + acorn jelly
• Set menu: cockles + boiled squid
• Set menu: acorn jelly + boiled squid
• Set menu: seafood pancake + cockles + acorn jelly noodles
• Set menu: seafood pancake + cockles + acorn jelly

The signature dishes are said to be the premium chicken stew made with 100% domestic fresh chicken, and fresh cockles delivered straight every morning from Yeojaman Bay, then cleaned and prepped in the restaurant.

What we ordered for lunch after the library

😋 We went with the great-value Set 1 (cockles + acorn jelly), a small chicken stew (serves 2) at "not spicy (level 1)", and added extra rice for a generous spread.

By the way, the chicken stew here can be adjusted from not spicy to level 2 (Shin Ramyun-level) and level 3 (very spicy), so I think both spice lovers and people who can't handle spicy food can enjoy it.

Side dishes: water kimchi and napa cabbage kimchi

The side dishes are cool water kimchi and crunchy napa cabbage kimchi, which set off the main dishes.

🥢 Honest dish-by-dish review

💯 Seasoned cockles that beat the ones I had in Beolgyo

The seasoned cockles (kkomak-muchim) were served first, and they looked overwhelming from the start. Maybe because they're domestic cockles sent straight from the source every morning, they were really plump, and every bite carried the fresh flavor of the sea.

The secret soy sauce-based seasoning wasn't too salty, and its sweet-and-savory depth was a work of art. The moment I took a bite I said, "Wow, this is really good!" They felt much fresher than the cockles I once ate in Beolgyo itself, and the seasoning had soaked right in. It had that deep flavor reminiscent of my mother's loving home cooking when I was little, so I'd absolutely recommend it, either on its own or as a side with drinks!

💯 Seriously bouncy acorn jelly salad

The acorn jelly salad (dotori-muk-muchim) in Set 1 came tossed with plenty of fragrant, nutty seaweed flakes and crunchy fresh vegetables. The jelly itself didn't break apart and was so springy that you could feel its elasticity even when picking it up with chopsticks.

It had a great chew in the mouth, and the tangy-sweet, appetite-boosting seasoning went perfectly with the vegetables, making it an ideal appetizer before the chicken stew.

💯 Tender chicken stew with a fantastic broth

The chicken stew (dakbokkeumtang), the main dish here, quickly comes to a bubbling boil on the burner. The pot is packed with fresh green onions and onions, with plenty of fluffy, well-cooked potatoes layered on the bottom, so the generosity is surprising. Perhaps because they carefully select only 100% domestic fresh chicken, there wasn't the slightest gamey chicken smell.

I tried the broth first, and its deep, rich savoriness clinging to the mouth was superb.

The seasoning had soaked all the way into the chicken, and the meat was so tender and soft that bone and flesh separated easily.

I mashed the fluffy potato and mixed it into my rice with the rich broth, and it was truly a "rice thief" (a dish that makes you eat lots of rice), so I couldn't stop gobbling it up.

As we ate, the broth reduced a bit, and a kind staff member noticed first and refilled the stock for us. That attentive service was touching. I want to eat it again!

Verdict: Jeongjeong-a Sikdang Jeongwang Branch, 100% would return

Hidden in a Jeongwang-dong alley, Jeongjeong-a Sikdang Jeongwang Branch was a perfect value-for-money spot with all three: the deep broth of the chicken stew, the freshness of the straight-from-the-source cockles and the bounciness of the acorn jelly!

Thanks to the friendly service and generous portions, I felt happy and full throughout the meal. Next time I want to come in the evening with coworkers, have some cool makgeolli (rice wine) or soju, and try the other set menus too. If you're looking for a proper Korean restaurant in Jeongwang-dong or a no-fail spot for a company dinner, go to Jeongjeong-a Sikdang without hesitation. Of course, I'm 100% coming back.