Market chicken takeout in Gangbuk, Seoul: 8 drumsticks at Gimssi

What we took home from Gimssi Chicken in Suyu Market

I picked up mild dakgangjeong (small) and 8 chicken drumsticks from Gimssi Chicken in Suyu Market! This is Prieté 🍗

There were a ton of delivery orders coming in, and plenty of customers walking in too. I went on a weekday evening and orders kept piling up nonstop — it really seemed like a popular spot!

Is a traditional market chicken shop clean inside?

Even though Gimssi Chicken Suyu Market Branch is a shop inside a traditional market, I was surprised how clean and well-kept it was. I had this image of market chicken shops being a bit run-down and maybe questionable on hygiene, but this place was really spotless.

The prep counters and display cases were neatly organized, and the takeout containers were tidy too, so I trusted the hygiene side of things.

Choosing between mild, medium and spicy at Gimssi Chicken

There was a good variety of sauces to choose from, so I picked a few different things to take home. They're divided into mild, medium, and spicy levels, so it was easy to pick according to taste. Having the spice levels this finely divided so you can adjust to your own preference is a plus!!

Dakgangjeong and beer at home: how big is the small size?

Packed up like this... beer is a must..

They packed it generously, and the portion was substantial too.

It looked so appetizing >_<

Does Gimssi Chicken's dakgangjeong stay crispy after takeout?

I tried the Gimssi Chicken dakgangjeong first, and the sauce was applied in just the right amount. Maybe because they coat it in sauce right when you order, the fried coating wasn't pressed down soggy — the crunch was still alive.

Usually pre-made dakgangjeong turns soggy once time passes, but here they cook it fresh the moment you order, so there was none of that disappointment. Even after I got home and it sat for a while before I ate it, the crunchy texture stayed pretty much intact.

Honestly I had this bias that market chicken is mostly just batter and not that great, but this completely broke that assumption. The staff were so kind too, and maybe because they use clean oil, the frying smell wasn't heavy at all — it was clean, and with this level of quality I felt like it would be popular anywhere, market or not.

Dipping the fried chicken in seasoned salt was so good too..

The rice cake pieces in the dakgangjeong are the highlight

And the rice cake pieces mixed in throughout the dakgangjeong were a total delicacy too. Chewy to bite into, and the sauce soaked all the way into the rice cake, so the flavor was really on point. I was satisfied enough that I personally wanted to order the rice cake alone haha

Down to the very last piece!

How long is the takeout wait, and is Gimssi Chicken worth it?

One thing I liked about the service too — since I ordered takeout, the wait time estimate they gave was accurate. It was also fun to look around the shop while waiting for my order haha

Given it's said to be a 15-year-old shop, you can really taste the know-how built up over that time in the flavor. It's not just famous for being an old shop — the skill behind it is what has kept it loved for this long. If you're near Suyu Market and craving chicken, I strongly recommend Gimssi Chicken. And if you've had any bias against market chicken, I especially, strongly recommend giving this a try!