Jinju Hadae-dong chicken restaurant: boneless soy jjimdak, Tongkeun

I recently visited Tongkeun Sotddukkeong Dakbokkeumtang in Hadae-dong, Jinju. I've always liked dakbokkeumtang (spicy braised chicken), so the name alone caught my eye. Their signature dish is apparently a generous dakbokkeumtang served in a hot pot lid, but since I was with my kid, I ordered the boneless soy-braised chicken instead.

Tongkeun Sotddukkeong Dakbokkeumtang 216 Dodong-ro, 1st floor, Jinju-si, Gyeongnam 16:00–01:00

Where the Jinju Hadae branch is, and is there parking?

The Jinju Hadae branch of Tongkeun Sotddukkeong Dakbokkeumtang is located at 216 Dodong-ro, 1st floor, in Hadae-dong, Jinju, Gyeongnam. It's open from 16:00 until 1 a.m.

True to being a dakbokkeumtang specialist, this looked like a place to enjoy a generous chicken dish.

It was raining that day, so there was an umbrella stand by the entrance, and the red signboard was hard to miss.

Inside the restaurant: seating and space

Walking into Tongkeun Sotddukkeong Dakbokkeumtang, the space was bigger than I expected.

The tables were spaced out comfortably, so it looked like it wouldn't feel cramped even with a bigger group.

I visited during dinner time, and there were already customers eating,

and it looked like a solid spot for a family meal or dinner with friends. The big round green and orange gas tank-looking things (?) really caught my eye.

There was a sign saying they use 100% domestic Korean chicken.

There were menu photos and posters on the wall, so I could see the dishes visually,

and each table had a large gas tank, which seemed to be used for cooking in the hot pot lid.

The menu and the boneless soy-braised jjimdak, 18,000 won

Tongkeun Sotddukkeong Dakbokkeumtang also had a sotddukkeong (hot pot lid) set menu and Chuncheon dakgalbi, but we ordered the boneless soy-braised chicken.

Simple but tidy side dishes came out right away while we waited for the main dish. The pickled cucumbers in particular were refreshing and tasted like summer. There was no self-serve bar, but the owner walked around refilling the side dishes for us.

Soy-braised boneless chicken, ₩18,000. As soon as it arrived, the glossy soy sauce glaze caught my eye.

The boneless soy-braised chicken came out in a big hot pot lid and was cooked there first. Once it started boiling hard, it was transferred to a pan on the table.

Inside were boneless chicken pieces cut into bite-sized portions,

along with chunky-cut potato, sweet potato, carrot, and green onion.

I liked that you could just eat right away without having to pick meat off the bone.

How does the boneless soy jjimdak taste, and how spicy is it?

With jjimdak (braised chicken), the sauce matters but so does the texture of the chicken, and the boneless chicken at Tongkeun Sotddukkeong Dakbokkeumtang was soft and juicy, which made eating it satisfying. I ordered it at regular spice level, and for my taste it was a bit spicy.

This would also be a great dish to pair with drinks.

The savory depth of the soy sauce came through without being too intense, so it was easy to eat without feeling overwhelmed.

The sauce soaked well into the chicken, and it tasted even better paired with rice.

Being boneless made it easy to eat, and I thought it was a dish that felt effortless to share with my kid.

Not just the chicken but the vegetables mixed in went well with the sauce too, making it a filling meal.

Final verdict on this Jinju chicken restaurant

Tongkeun Sotddukkeong Dakbokkeumtang, a well-known spot in Hadae-dong, Jinju, was a good place to visit on a day when you want a generous chicken dish. I was curious about their signature sotddukkeong dakbokkeumtang, but the boneless soy-braised chicken I had this time was satisfying too. Being boneless made it easy to eat, and the sweet-salty soy sauce made it a flavor that people of any age could enjoy comfortably.

It seemed like a solid choice especially when looking for a family dinner spot or craving a hearty evening meal. Next time, I'd definitely like to try their signature sotddukkeong dakbokkeumtang. If you're in Hadae-dong, Jinju and craving chicken, I'd recommend Tongkeun Sotddukkeong Dakbokkeumtang.