Chuseok rush at Uijeongbu chicken shop Dalgom's: fried rice cakes

It's early autumn weather these days, and the sky is clear with a cool breeze — so nice! Staying home felt like a waste, so I finally went back to Jeil Market in Uijeongbu after a while. Wandering the lively market and grabbing snacks here and there was so much fun. But the place that stood out most was Dalgom's, the dakgangjeong (Korean fried chicken) shop everyone in the market talks about. So let me share my honest, hands-on review now haha😆

What is Jeil Market in Uijeongbu like just before Chuseok?

Dalgom's is a dakgangjeong shop tucked into an alley of Jeil Market in Uijeongbu. Maybe because Chuseok was around the corner, the market was really crowded. Between the bustling alleys, a sweet, savory dakgangjeong smell drifted past and just stopped me in my tracks. Catching that delicious smell in the middle of the market's lively energy somehow made me even hungrier.

When I got to the shop, there were customers inside waiting for their takeout, so I hesitated for a second — but the owner worked so fast that the line cleared quickly, so I ordered right away. Just watching the chicken fry up crispy while I waited was already making my mouth water.

How long is the wait at Dalgom's, and how to order ahead

If you order ahead for pickup, you can grab your order without waiting, so I'd recommend using Naver order or calling ahead before you visit. There are also delivery app perks, so if that works for you, ordering that way seemed convenient too.

What comes in the 1.5-chicken set at Dalgom's?

At Dalgom's you can split the 1.5-chicken set across different flavors, so I ordered a total of three: garlic soy, sweet, and spicy garlic dakgangjeong. I think being able to mix flavors is a real strength of dakgangjeong. When you order just one chicken with one flavor, you sometimes wish you'd picked something else — but here, the varied set lets you choose exactly the flavors you want.

After bringing it home and opening the box, the portion was generous for the price, which made it feel like excellent value. Seeing the fried rice cakes and the clean, glossy sauce coating each flavor I'd picked instantly put me in a good mood.

How do the sweet, garlic soy and spicy garlic flavors taste?

All three flavors were crispy outside and juicy inside, and it was delicious how the juices and sauce mixed together with every bite. First up, the sweet dakgangjeong tasted exactly like its name — a sweet yangnyeom chicken flavor. It's such a universally loved, crowd-pleasing taste that it would probably be the top pick for kids or anyone who doesn't love spicy food.

Next, the garlic soy dakgangjeong was salty with a subtle garlic aroma that kept me reaching for more, and the spicy garlic dakgangjeong had a sharp cheongyang chili kick that cut through the richness — spicy, sweet, and salty, one piece after another. The balance across all three flavors was excellent, so I could eat through the whole thing without getting tired of it.

Is Dalgom's worth it? Verdict and visiting tips

• Location: 56 Simin-ro 143beon-gil, Uijeongbu-si, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea — Dalgom's
• Hours: Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat, Sun 10:00–21:00 (closed Mondays)
• Parking: Jeil Market parking lot available (free 1-hour parking ticket given)

So today I finally tried the famous dakgangjeong at Jeil Market in Uijeongbu. True to the market's generous spirit, both the portion size and the flavor were satisfying, and I get why it's so popular. Everyone in my family enjoyed it, so I think I'll come back whenever I'm at the market again. How about a market date this weekend while you're out doing your Chuseok shopping too?