Spicy half-and-half nurungji chicken with corn cheese: Jangjakgun

Dandae-ogeori restaurant Jangjakgun — I went to eat spicy half-and-half nurungji chicken (crispy rice chicken) for a friend's birthday. The draft beer here is great too.

Location: 2F, 202/203, 340 Sanseong-daero, Jungwon-gu, Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea / about 300m from Exit 3, Dandae-ogeori Station

Hours: weekdays 4:30 PM–11:00 PM (last order 10:00 PM), weekends 4:00 PM–11:00 PM (last order 10:00 PM)

A third visit to Jangjakgun in Seongnam, this time for a friend's birthday

My friend's birthday fell around Chuseok, so we decided to meet before the holiday for a drink. My friend's algorithm led us straight to Jangjakgun, a Dandae-ogeori favorite — this was already my third visit, and it's packed every single time. It's outdoor-seating season now, so even on a Sunday, we would have had to wait if we hadn't reserved.

The Dandae-ogeori area has a lot of good restaurants and great spots for a drink, so it's a good place to meet up with friends. We came here for our second round, and honestly, just seeing that wood-fired chicken sign and catching the smell, I think I'd stop in every time I pass by.

How long is the wait at Jangjakgun on a Sunday evening?

Watching the nurungji chicken roast in front of the wood fire — I still want some right now. There were quite a few people picking up takeout, and when I arrived there looked to be at least 5 parties waiting. The outdoor seating was already full, so I was disappointed we couldn't eat outside. Next time I'll come right at opening and make sure to grab an outdoor table.

Draft beer poured by a certified beer master

One more thing about Dandae-ogeori favorite Jangjakgun — the owner actually holds a certified draft beer master qualification, so you have to try the draft beer. I really love draft beer, and Jangjakgun's is on another level. Wood-fired chicken with draft beer — just thinking about it makes my mouth water.

Even on a Sunday the place was buzzing, and with the cooler weather it seemed perfect for people who love outdoor seating. The inside also has plenty of space, good for group gatherings and family get-togethers~~^

What is spicy half-and-half nurungji chicken, 26,000 won?

We went in, looked over the menu, and ended up ordering the spicy half-and-half nurungji chicken (crispy rice chicken) — ₩26,000. The name alone sounded delicious, so I had high expectations. It's a menu where you get to enjoy nurungji (crispy scorched rice) along with the whole chicken, so it feels a bit different from regular fried chicken. If you like chicken, this nurungji chicken is a fun change of pace from the usual fried or seasoned chicken.

Self-serve yeolmu kimchi at the side bar

We got a table right next to the self-serve bar, which was even better. The yeolmu kimchi (young radish kimchi) is so good — putting it on top of the chicken is a real treat too.

The moment the food arrived, the presentation caught our eyes right away. The whole chicken was piled generously on a large metal plate, with a heap of spicy sauce on one side. The cheese helps cut through the spice.

There was also corn topping in the middle, which made it look even prettier and mouthwatering.

It was especially nice being able to eat corn cheese loaded with cheese alongside the chicken. Served warm, the cheese stretched in long strings, savory and sweet, and it paired really well with the spicy chicken.

The cheese wasn't cheap-tasting at all — really rich flavor — and the breast meat wasn't dry, it was moist and good (I'm a chicken breast person).

Whole chicken and draft beer: the birthday-dinner mood at Jangjakgun

While eating, we each ordered a round of draft beer too — of course you can't have whole chicken without a cold draft beer 🍺. With delicious chicken and draft beer together, it really felt like a proper birthday dinner.

The corn cheese we got through the review event also had crazy good visuals. Putting cheese on top of the spicy sauce is another treat entirely.

Thanks to my friend's birthday, we all got to gather together after a long time, eat good food, and talk a lot, which made it even more fun. I think you don't need expensive food for a special day — the best time is just laughing and talking with friends over good food♡. If you're looking for a Dandae-ogeori restaurant and thinking about chicken or whole chicken dishes, Jangjakgun is worth checking out. Next time I want to bring the kids and try some other menu items too.