Gangnam samgyetang restaurant with broth-soaked rice: Masamgyetang

This is the story of a hearty Gangnam Station stamina meal where I emptied the whole bowl, broth included, at Masamgyetang Bangbaeng Sageori Branch (마삼계탕 뱅뱅사거리점).

Why we chose Masamgyetang Bangbaeng Sageori Branch for dinner

After work, I went to Masamgyetang Bangbaeng Sageori Branch with my partner for samgyetang (ginseng chicken soup) as a stamina dinner. These days you can't help saying "it's getting hot," right? It's not midsummer yet, but the sun is pretty strong, and by the time I leave work, there are plenty of days my body just feels limp.

So we were wondering what to have for dinner, and I said, "Isn't it about time for samgyetang?" and we headed here. My office is nearby, and it was a place I'd been meaning to try while passing by at lunchtime. The Bangbaeng Sageori area is full of office workers, so deciding what to eat at lunch is a real struggle, and I heard this place has a half-chicken soup on the lunch menu, so it looked fine for a solo lunch too.

The plan: have the yam samgyetang properly with my partner at dinner, then come back another day for the half-chicken soup at lunch.

Masamgyetang Bangbaeng Sageori Branch location and opening hours

Masamgyetang Bangbaeng Sageori Branch is at 19 Dogok-ro 3-gil, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, on the first floor. It's open 11:00–21:00 and closed on Saturdays.

How to get there from Gangnam Station Exit 4

The restaurant is on the first floor of the Gangnam Station Seohui Starhills officetel. It sits between Gangnam Station Exit 4 and Bangbaeng Sageori, and it's also within walking distance from the Yangjae Station side.

Come out of Gangnam Station Exit 4, keep walking toward Bangbaeng Sageori, and at the Yeoksam Elementary School intersection turn in slightly toward Dongbu Church and you'll find it. We walked over after work, and the route was easy for a dinner near the office.

Is there parking at Masamgyetang?

The restaurant said 1 hour 30 minutes of free parking is available with a meal. Parking is often a headache at Gangnam restaurants, so for anyone looking for a restaurant near Gangnam Station with parking, this seems quite convenient.

What is the atmosphere like at Masamgyetang Bangbaeng Sageori Branch?

Maybe because it only opened recently, the whole place felt clean and tidy. When you think of a samgyetang place, it's easy to picture an old-school stamina-food joint, but this one was bright and easy to walk into.

It felt comfortable for two people after work, and not awkward for a solo lunch bowl either.

The neighborhood itself is full of offices, so the location clearly draws lots of people for office lunches or after-work dinners.

There's also a self-serve bar on one side, so if the basic side dishes run low, you can easily grab more.

Masamgyetang menu and prices

• Yam samgyetang (masamgyetang) ₩18,000 – a stamina dish known for its grated-yam broth
• Yam half-chicken soup (ma bangyetang) ₩11,000 – looks great for lunchtime
• Chicken porridge (samgye dakjuk)
• Braised spicy chicken (dakdoritang) – a good dinner dish

But for a first visit, shouldn't you start with the signature yam samgyetang~~!

I'd come straight from work and the weather was just starting to heat up, so we ordered a steaming clay pot each to eat properly.

How does the grated-yam masamgyetang broth taste?

The yam samgyetang arrived in a steaming clay pot (ttukbaegi), and the broth was smoother and nuttier than regular samgyetang. The moment I saw the broth bubbling, I thought, good choice. I worried that grated yam might make it too thick or unfamiliar, but it was far smoother and nuttier than I expected.

Rich but not heavy, mild but not bland.

Normally I leave some broth when I eat samgyetang, but maybe because of the yam, this broth went down smoothly and had a nutty richness that made it really easy to eat.

The chicken and the broth-soaked rice inside

The chicken was tender too, easy to pull apart, and even better dipped lightly in the broth.

The rice stuffed inside was really good too. It wasn't just the chicken and broth; the rice inside had soaked up the broth and went down nutty and soft. Scooping up rice and broth together on one spoon was a real treat.

Is Masamgyetang Bangbaeng Sageori Branch worth a return visit?

I stopped by Masamgyetang Bangbaeng Sageori Branch because my partner and I wanted a warm dinner after work, and we left far happier than expected. I thought grated yam might feel a bit unfamiliar, but the broth was actually smoother and nuttier, and my spoon kept going.

My office is nearby, so I'm planning to come back for the lunch-only yam half-chicken soup. When the weather starts heating up, there are times you just crave a hot bowl of samgyetang, right? If you're after a hearty meal near Gangnam Station or Bangbaeng Sageori, this is a place I'd think of again.